IMPHAL, February 21: Under initiative of the Andro MLA Th Shyamkumar the historic holy place of the Meiteis, Chingoi Baruni Shiva Mahadeva (Nongpok Ningthou), is going to developed into an attractive tourist spot.
As a start today, locals of Andro Constituency rushed to the top of Nongmaijing Ching to clean up the area using JCB and manual labour. Under this scheme, this and other holy places will be developed and trek routs made to them for pilgrims.
In the sidelines, the Shyamkumar told a media team that this historic heritage site of Manipur has been under atrocious neglect since many years. However the people of his constituency has come to know the potential of the place therefore the effort at cleaning the place up and to cut a path to the place so that it may become a beautiful tourist and pilgrimage centre.
He further said that people can view various places of Imphal and other locations from this vantage because of its altitude.
“From April we are plan to start a passenger service from Imphal to Khallong and Andro to Khallong where the temple is located”, Shyamkumar said.
Fortunately, the place also has a huge potential to be a tourist spot as Mother Nature has endowed the place with breath taking scenery.
“We will create the place a family friendly spot and a place of God” he added.
He further said that development of an attractive tourist place here would develop the economy of the surrounding settlements and give employment to the youths as well.
Shyamkumar said till date there have been no financial assistance extended to the project by the State or Central government.
He however expressed hope that once the project becomes a success a recreation centre, the State and Central governments will take interest to further develop place.
Andro Khulakpa Gandhar Meitei said the decision to develop tourist infrastructures at this place was taken in a recent meeting of Andro people as per advice from the area MLA.
The place is one of the most important places among our ancient sites of worship. If the state government extends some support, the place will become the most attractive tourist spot in NE states, he proudly claimed.
Later, people of the area conducted drive to destroy poppy plants growing in the nearby hill.
In this connection Shyamkumar said that it is very unfortunate that some individuals have been desecrating the place with such activities. He also lamented the massive deforestation of the hillsides to grow poppy plants.
He called upon the concern Forest Department officials to look into the matter.
He further warned that if any individual henceforth indulge in these activities he or she will be rewarded punishment as per the Andro community’s traditional law.
