Phayeng Village, Imphal West

Phayeng Village is located at the foothills of Kangchup Hill Range of Lamshang sub-division, about 13 kilometers to the North-West of Imphal. The village is considered sacred with seven holy places (Laipham Taret) of local deities. These holy places are looked after by the village committee. The villagers celebrate Lai Haraoba once a year in Phairen (February). The villagers here have their own community norms towards conserving its forests resources. Cutting down of trees and spitting is forbidden in the village and the villagers believe that it will bring them the wrath of God. As a result, the surroundings of this village is quite clean and gives a lush green look as its is covered with dense forests which gives the village its own unique micro climatic conditions.

Phayeng village has a population of 7000 and is administrated by Sarpanch (Head of Village) who is elected representative of village. The villagers depend on work activities mainly related to agriculture, cultivation and piggery to earn their livelihoods. The Maklang River which flows through the village is the major source of water for the villagers.

NABARD, has taken up a project, “Model Carbon Positive Eco – Village in Phayeng of Manipur” from 2016-2020 with a finance of Rs. 10 Crore and executed by Directorate of Environment, Government of Manipur. The purpose of the project is to bring more agricultural land under irrigation, crop diversification, various interventions like SRI, rain water harvesting practices, creation of carbon sink, scientific piggery etc. Also, development of eco-health resort for promotion of traditional knowledge and use of sustainable energy like solar street lighting is being undertaken in the village.

As the theme of World Tourism Day, 2017 is, “Sustainable Tourism – A Tool for Development”, Phayeng Village has the right setting as a venue for celebrating the day. The observation of World Tourism Day at Phayeng will help highlight the village as a favoured eco-tourist destination. It will also be a step towards promoting and furthering the efforts of the villagers in conserving their eco-system in their own indigenous ways. Manipur Tourism Officials has also carried out a recce of the village and found the venue suitable for holding the event.