The recent controversies arising out of reports of non-completion and the subsequent failure of the state government to furnish Utilisation Certificates for various time-bound development projects in the state, as well as the counter claims of Manipur Development Society (MDS), the implementing agency alleging non-release of funds on time has proved to be yet another debilitating blow to the efforts to boost tourism in the state and a major detriment to the much awaited and needed step in the right direction as the region, lagging behind in almost every sphere of development due to the unique and difficult geographical situations, has been facing increasing number of disturbances and unrest, not to mention the deteriorating financial conditions and dwindling job opportunities with limited resources and an almost non-existent industrial atmosphere adding to the woes. Despite the overwhelming prospects favourable for development of tourism in the region as it has been endowed with an amazing variety of natural resources and favourable conditions which will positively mitigate, if not remove, a major portion of the problems the region is facing. The ugly and murky administrative mismanagements have hampered a very real and inviting prospect of alleviating the financial and social conditions of the state, as with the development of tourism, one can expect better public amenities and improvements in infrastructures, better roads and transportation systems, cleaner environment, higher and better opportunities for works and earnings, not to mention the increased interaction and connectivity with people from different parts of the world, thus broadening the understanding and tolerance of different cultures and traditions, among other things. But all these prospects need to be based on concrete steps by the Government towards building the right atmosphere and facilities. Until and unless the Government works in right earnest, the potentials will remain untapped. Planning and actual action on the groundwork has
to be taken up immediately. The practice of stashing away huge portions of the funds meant for public development activities even before the commencement of the actual work on the ground have made every project or scheme, however beneficial and empowering each one of them might have proved to be if implemented properly, a mere opportunity for enriching themselves at the cost of the society at large. These blatant acts of vandalism have even spawned various groups of social parasite who takes extreme risks to snatch a bite of the loot, and having has their share, turns a blind eye to the goings-on. Enough have been written, discussed and verified about tourism in the state, with nothing much to show for it till now, except for a few haphazard, disjointed and abrupt excuses for activities. What we need is results of their long-drawn discourses on the ground. The public will not settle for anything less.
