IMPHAL, Nov 23: Even though Khuman Lampak is one of the three main venues for the ongoing Manipur Sangai Festival, the section where adventure and water sports are held looks ghostly with only unilluminated streets greeting visitors, officials as well as players.
The entire length of the road leading to Khuman Lampak Sports Complex from Minuthong remains unilluminated even though it has been three days since the grand festival was opened.
On the contrary, the other two venues; Hapta Kangjeibung and Lamboi Khongnangkhong are well illuminated with bright electric bulbs and decorative lights.
Khuman Lampak has been set aside for children entertainment programmes but the light illuminating the rowing canal is so dim that parents are fearful of letting their children play in the canal.
Apart from the poor illumination, there are no adequate toilet facilities.
Notably, Khuman Lampak has been selected as the venue for different events/activities like water jobbing, land jobbing, spider net, burmese bridge, trampoline, ATV bike, rock climbing, speed motor-boat, water surfing and water roller.
Rock music concerts of different bands belonging to Manipur and other North Eastern States are also held at Khuman Lampak everyday.
Perhaps on account of lack of publicity and dedication on the part of the Government, the number of visitors to Manipur Sangai Festival at Khuman Lampak is quite low.
Manipur Mountaineering and Trekking Association (MMTA) president Bijoy Kakchingtabam said that they have been asking the authority concerned to illuminate Khuman Lampak as well as the roads leading to it properly before the festival started.
“Forget about visitors, even we felt uncomfortable when we come to the festival venue by the unilluminated road”, Bijoy said. Even though MMTA has been taking key roles in organising adventure and sports events as a part of the Sangai Festival, many of their key officials had to run from one post to another seeking passes.
They were given passes by Sports Department at the end but the passes are of sub-standard quality, he decried.
At first, organisers were not allowed to take meals inside Khuman Lampak but after much persuasion they are allowed to take in meals only after 2 pm.
Bijoy said that they appealed to the Chief Secretary, Principal Secretary (Tourism) and top officials of Power Department to illuminate the road leading to Khuman Lampak but to no avail so far.
There is lack of coordination between different departments, particularly Tourism and Sports Departments, he remarked.
Meanwhile, hot air ballooning facility has been opened at the northern portion of Khuman Lampak Main Stadium since today.
Source: The Sangai Express
