IMPHAL, December 19: The government is on the look-out for a means to find a permanent venue for the Manipur Sangai Festival, State Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh told the House today.
The CM who also holds the tourism portfolio was replying to a ‘discussion on the matter of public interest motion’ raised by Sagolband MLA RK Imo Singh after the Question and Answer session during the second and last day of the ongoing Winter session of the 10th Manipur Legislative Assembly.
MLA Imo moved a motion on “Discussion on the need of establishment of a permanent infra-structure for Sangai festival.”
The CM further said that the Tourism department has been acting as the nodal agency of the Sangai festival and as such the festival has been held at a temporary site.
However, means are being explored and deliberated on finding a permanent site for the festival, he expressed.
Elaborating further, the CM said that in order to construct the permanent site for the festival, the first feasible step would be to find a suitable location, and as such the search is on.
The selection of the site will be made only after confirming whether the necessary components could be “incorporated” into the site, the CM observed.
Although a small state, Manipur is famous for its rich cultural heritage, and so the selected permanent site for the festival need to be “multipurpose in nature”, he expressed.
It is also necessary to include a site for the demonstration of the state’s indigenous games inside the permanent site, the Chief Minister further elaborated.
However, processing such a project into action would require huge capital, he also said before adding that it is necessary to discuss from where to get the required capital, whether to go to the concerned Tourism ministry or to the DoNER ministry.
The project also needs massive support from the public and an architectural drawing, he said.
The Chief Minister also declared before the House that the motion raised by the MLA is ‘genuine purpose’ and further assured to realise the concept into action.