IMPHAL, March 15: The Panam Ningthou Meihoubirol which is an important historical site of the State will be put on the world tourism map, Andro MLA Th Shyamkumar said today while announcing that construction work for a facelift of the palace will being after April.
The MLA was speaking at the inaugural function of the Ahallup Pana and Naharup Pana Shanglen (halls) which were constructed as part of a development project of the Panam Ningthou Meihoubirol.
Soon after their inaugural, Shyamkumar handed over the two halls to the people of Andro.
He said the sacred place is today gaining in popularity and attracting tourists.
Even foreign tourists have also started coming to see the holy fire of Andro, which has been kept burning since time immemorial, he added.
Unfortunately, the infrastructure and buildings surrounding the main temple are becoming aged and needs major upliftment, he said.
He added with proper permission from the Luishang members, we also need a beautification and landscaping of the surrounding areas to make it more tourists friendly and bring it to a world class level.
The local MLA further assured the people that the garden inside the temple will be beautified and developed in such a manner that every visitor will be impressed.
All these works will begin after this year’s annual Andro Lai Haraoba, he said and added construction of the compound fencing will also begin after April.
Continuing his speech, he said in order to meet the acute shortage of water supply in the area, dams will be constructed at Nungkut and Khuman area under centrally sponsored schemes and provide water in Andro.
Road widening process in Andro has already begun under the PMGSY at an estimated cost of Rs 9 crore, he said adding that initially the roads were supposed to be just 12 feet wide, but now it will be 24 feet wide and black-topped.
However, we need co-operation of the people to witness all of these developmental projects, he added.
The MLA further appealed to the Loisang executives to find a solution to the issue of land allocation for construction of Andro wine factory.
Once, we get the required permission from the State government, the Andro Wine will be exported to foreign countries which will improve the economy of the people of Andro, he assured.
Shyamkumar also maintained that the two halls inaugurated today were constructed from his own pocket and he had not used even the MLA Local Area Development fund or government funds.
He further sought suggestions and advice from the people of the constituency to bring more development in the constituency.
He said being a human, he is bound to make mistakes, but he requires support from the people to bring more development in his constituency.
Andro Khullakpa Ch Gandhar Meitei said the people have to preserve and conserve the customs and traditions which are all gifts from the forefathers.
He said the Nongmaijing Hills is also a gift of the forefathers.
He said the Nongmaijing Hills is not properly looked after and there are reports that some tribal villages are cultivating poppy by deforesting the area.
The Nongpok Ningthou/ Chingu Mahadeva temple another historically important site of the State is also not looked after properly, he said adding that with proper guidance of the MLA, the people have decided to maintain the site properly.
The place is traced to be the origin of the Meitei people, he added.