Ukhrul: Ukhrul, one of the soccer lover hill districts in Manipur, gets its first synthetic football turf at Langdang village, around 10 km from Ukhrul town.
The astro turf was inaugurated by Ukhrul AC MLA Ram Muivah in the presence of Ukhrul DC Kengoo Zuringla, Imphal airport director Chipemmi Keishing, Ukhrul SP Ningsem Vashum and Lily Jajo, district project director, Ukhrul District Community Resource Management Society (UDCRMS/NERCORMP).
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According to UDCRMS official, the astro turf was constructed under the North East Council (NEC) and funded by Airport Authority of India (AAI) under their CSR program in 2019.
With an aim to train and invest on the talented youths of all ages and facility for the people in the district, the football turf was constructed at an estimated amount of Rs 1.35 crore.
The official also informed that the newly inaugurated astro turf will be maintain and manage by Ukhrul Football Club (UFC) under the supervision of UDCRMS.
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Speaking at the inaugural event as a chief guest, MLA Ram Muivah informed that the Ukhrul FC was first founded in 2010 by concerned Tangkhuls, including him, with an aim to explore young talents and create opportunity for the youths in football.
MLA Ram also recalled some of the iconic football players from the community namely Kazipmi Maung, James, Aleng Shimrah during his speech. He further said Tangkhuls are among the first in the state to play football since the days of Labour Corps in France.
Ukhrul DC Kengoo Zuringla, who is also the chairman of UDCRMS said that many parents still have preconceived notion about sports and said that one can build a career on sports.
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Meanwhile, MLA Ram also inaugurated several other developmental projects in Ukhrul town worth of Rs 4.5 crore. The projects include Subji Mandi/marketing complex at Wino Bazar, adjacent to TNL office and Viewland.
The marketing complex was constructed with an objective to create a market place where the farmers, young entrepreneurs and value added products can sell their products at right time, place and price. It is also to promote the marketing sector and generate direct and indirect employment opportunities in the rural areas in Ukhrul district.
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