Activist urges Governor to intervene in Shirui Heritage Project implementation

Social activist Anthony Naulak from the hill districts of Manipur has submitted a memorandum to Governor of Manipur, Ajay Kumar Bhalla, raising urgent concerns over the execution of the Rs. 64.99 crore project for “Development of Infrastructure for Shirui Heritage Village and Bakshi Ground,” sanctioned under the Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI) scheme.
In the memorandum, Anthony Naulak highlighted that Shirui Lily (Lilium mackliniae), discovered 75 years ago and declared the State Flower in 1989, has long been the pride of Ukhrul. However, despite repeated promises over the years, concrete efforts to develop Shirui as a heritage tourism destination have failed to materialise.
Tracing past commitments, he recalled that in 2017, the then Chief Minister N. Biren Singh pledged to establish a permanent heritage site with necessary infrastructure during the inaugural Shirui Lily Festival. In 2022, a blueprint worth Rs. 46 crore, including a ropeway project, was announced but remained only on paper. He pointed out that even basic amenities like sewage systems, reliable electricity, and functional tourism facilities remain absent, leaving the people disillusioned.
Referring to the recent sanction order issued on August 20, 2025, Anthony Naulak welcomed the Governor’s approval of Rs. 64.99 crore for the Shirui project under SASCI Part-I for 2025-26. However, he expressed strong objections to the subsequent decision of the state Tourism Department on September 11, 2025, which handed over execution to the District Rural Development Agency (DRDA) Ukhrul. The activist argued that DRDA, with only four technical staff and no experience in executing projects of such architectural or cultural scale, was not suited for the heritage project.
He questioned why established agencies such as PWD, MPHC, PDA, MANIDCO, MTDC, and others with proven expertise were bypassed. “Why is a rural agency with negligible credentials being considered for a Rs. 64.99 crore project that symbolises the pride and identity of the Tangkhul people?” the memorandum stated.
Anthony Naulak also cited a history of misappropriation of development funds in the hill districts through Autonomous District Councils, where RTI activists such as P. Johnson Samo, P.R. Amose, Kh. Inoch, and S.P. Benjamin faced threats for seeking accountability. He warned that entrusting the Shirui project to DRDA risks repeating past practices of diversion of funds under political or militant influence.
The memorandum stressed the significance of Shirui Heritage Village and Bakshi Ground. Bakshi Ground, he noted, is the only large venue for ShiRock, mega concerts, and sports in Ukhrul, while Shirui Heritage Centre is envisioned as a landmark eco-tourism hub that could attract over 20,000 annual visitors and benefit artisans, homestay owners, and youth entrepreneurs.
Anthony Naulak placed several appeals before the Governor, including constitution of a high-level committee to oversee the project, ensuring transparency in tendering and execution, protecting RTI activists and monitors from intimidation, mandating third-party and social audits, and involving local stakeholders in monitoring.
Concluding his memorandum, he urged the Governor to safeguard the sanctioned funds through transparent and professional implementation. “Unless the sanctioned Rs. 64.99 crore is safeguarded, the people of Ukhrul will once again witness promises wither like unattended blossoms,” he wrote, calling for the Governor’s personal intervention to ensure that the Shirui Lily continues to bloom as a symbol of pride and justice for the people of Manipur.