Kangla Fort in Imphal

Manipur government is planning to reconstruct ‘Nongpok-thong’, the eastern bridge of the historic Kangla fort in Imphal shortly.

A decision has been taken in this regard during the Kangla Fort Board (KFB) meeting with the state chief minister N Biren Singh in the chair inside Kangla fort premises earlier on Thursday.

The eastern bridge of Kangla will be reconstructed over Imphal River. For which, Manipur police housing corporation has been entrusted to take up the work in consultation with director (Municipal administration, housing and urban development) and director (arts and culture) and commissioner (Arts and Culture), according to official sources available in Imphal.

It also decided to replace existing statue of Maharaj Narasingh at the western gate by a new one of appropriate shape and size. Maharaj Narasingh shifted his capital to the existing Kangla fort in 1844 AD from Langthabal, near present campus of the Manipur University.

The meeting also resolved to plant 10,000 saplings of local fruit bearing trees inside the Kangla fort in collaboration with concerned parties including the police and horticulture departments within one week’s time.

In his patriot’s day address in 2017, chief minister Biren had expressed the need to reconstruct Nongpok-thong as it was an important gateway according to Puya which is an old manuscript in Meitei script containing traditional lore.

It may be worth mentioning here that Kangla, the sacred capital of the ancient state of Manipur is located in the heart of Imphal town covering an area of 237.62 acres of land though its size was one square mile before the Anglo-Manipur war of 1891.It is the holiest place for all the Manipuris who are residing at Manipur, Assam, Bangladesh and Myanmar etc.

Sobhapati Samom is Northeast Now Correspondent in Imphal. He can be reached at: [email protected]