The Shi-Yomi district administration has begun preparations for the eighth edition of Adventure@Mechukha (A@M) which is scheduled to be held later this month at picturesque Mechuka Valley.
Legislative Assembly Speaker P D Sona held a preliminary preparatory meeting in this regard on Thursday during which he sought the contribution of all stakeholders to make the annual event a grand success.
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Chairing the meeting, Sona, who is also the local legislator said, “Though A@M has already achieved its primary objective of creating a brand visibility and recognition for Mechukha as one of the key tourist hotspots in the country, the focus of the festival this time would not be on a single high-impact or short duration event, but on organizing a series of events throughout the calendar year.”
This, the Speaker said would not only make Mechukha a year-long tourism destination but also help the area project its seasonal variation and breathtaking natural landscape to the outer world.
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Sona, who is also the festival chairman, however, expressed grave concern over past year’s untoward incident wherein a few tourists were allegedly attacked and appealed everyone concerned to ensure no such episode is repeated.
Sona on the occasion also informed that the dates of the festival this year would be extended due to it coinciding with the International Tourism Mart.
The A@M is normally held from November 23-25.
He, however, said that the new dates will be fixed in due course and announced accordingly.
Earlier, festival director Moji Riba presented a detailed overview on the event and informed that following feedbacks and suggestions from the stakeholders and well wishers concerned, the organizing committee has decided to restructure the festival from this year onwards.
Shi-Yomi deputy commissioner Mito Dirchi, superintendent of police Gothombu Dajangju, Mechuka ADC Bairo Sorum and district tourism officer Rita Yorung also spoke on the occasion.
The district’s heads of department and personnel from the Indian army and ITBP also participated in the meeting and shared their suggestions.
Adventure@Mechukha, a three-day adventure extravaganza organised every year at Mechukha aims to promote adventure tourism in the State.
The festival involves a range of activities for adventure junkies such as propelled glider and micro-light glider rides, aero-modelling, paragliding, trap shooting, mountain biking, river crossing, rappelling, rafting, trekking, zorbing and rock climbing.
Earlier, in the day Sona attended the valedictory function of the 4-daylong statue consecration ceremony of Guru Lhuhe Rigzin at the Samtem Choeling Monastery.