Development / Manipur

IMPHAL, April 5: The State will have an Information Technology (IT) cell soon with the State Cabinet recently giving its nod to the modality for setting up of the cell. According to sources, the files concerning the setting up of the cell are with the finance department and the department of personnel for the final touch. The science and technology department will look after the cell as the state does not have a separate IT department, the source said. With the ban on appointment and creation of a separate department still in force, the cell will be manned with the qualified staffs from other...

IMPHAL, April 3: As a first precautionary step towards disaster management and to be on the alert in the event of any natural disaster, the state government has constituted a 12 member Committee to take stock of the quality of the existing buildings in the context of safety measures against natural calamities. The Committee will meet tomorrow. The MAHUD Minister L Jayenta will head the 12-member Committee. Members include Commissioner (MAHUD), Director (MAHUD), Chief Town Planner, Chief Engineer, (Works), HoD of Earth Sciences, MU, Representatives of BMTPC, New Delhi. The Committee has been...

IMPHAL, April 2: After Moirangthem Oken, popularly known as 'Samballei' Oken, it's now the turn of another man from this tiny State who walked into the Limca Book of Records, 2001 for an innovative invention in the field of agricultural science. The new inventor is T Surendranath of Manipur Science and Technology Council (MASTEC), a registered government society, under State Science and Technology department. A scientific officer of MASTEC, T Surendranath has entered the 2001 edition of the prestigious Limca Book of Records, for his landmark invention of a pedal-operated rice mill. The new...

IMPHAL, March 31: The Chief Minister, Radhabinod Koijam expressed his desire for the work on the Rs 578.62 crore, Loktak Downstream Hydro Project to begin as soon as possible, during a meeting with the chairman-cum-managing director of the National Hydro Electric Power Corporation, NHPC, Yogendra Prasad at the Manipur Bhawan this morning. The project is designed to produce 90 MW of power and would be a boon for the state now reeling under an acute power shortage, the Chief Minister told Prashad. Koijam also told Prasad that he has requested the Union home minister, LK Advani, in a meeting...

IMPHAL, March 23: State Chief Minister Radhabinod Koijam has requested Union Petroleum Minister Ram Nayak to look into the ongoing petroleum crisis in Manipur following the indefinite strike called by the oil tankers' association. The oil tankers launched their indefinite ceasework strike in protest against the torching down of 15 oil tankers by unidentified gunmen near Kasrong in Senapati district on March 8 last. Replying to a call attention motion raised by the former Chief Minister and solitary Opposition member in the 60-member House of Assembly session on Thursday the Chief Minister...

IMPHAL, March 19: The Manipur University, the only university in Manipur faces a serious threat to its developmental activities due to financial constraints. The University falls short of its target for want of adequate resources. The grants-in-aid received from the State government are too meagre even to meet the salary and salary components of the employees. The University has not been able to make payment of salaries in time. Its classes are also disrupted by the frequent strike calls given by the students, staffs and even teachers of the University. The University has also failed to extend...

IMPHAL, March 18: The transaction volume of the Indo-Myanmar border trade has come drastically to an all time low of just Rs 3 crore from the earlier Rs 70 crore involved annually. Officials have attributed the decline to the hike of custom duty on the trade items. Talking to media persons in Moreh yesterday one official of the border trade expressed hope that the decline would be checked as the Customs duty has been reduced by 10 percent after the introduction of the Union Budget in the Parliament. He said the trade method continues to be in the barter system but the rate of export is greater...

IMPHAL, March 10: Manipur Chief Minister Radhabinod Koijam has urged the Centre to provide a rehabilitation package for surrendered militants. Koijam, on his recent trip to New Delhi, informed Samata Party leader and Union defence minister George Fernandes about the state's unemployment problem and lack of funds for rehabilitating surrendered militants. As there are no private industries and enterprises, the state's over three lakh unemployed youth depend on the government for employment, Koijam said. Requesting the defence minister to set up a "Manipur regiment" in the Army, Koijam asked him...

IMPHAL, February 22: Nongpok Keithelmanbi and the chain of villages along the Thoubal Barrage, must rank as some of the most backward and remote areas in the state although the former village is only around 13 km from Yairipok bazar in the Imphal East district. The other villages, Nongbrang, Kamuching, Bungba Khullen and Laikhong villages all have one thing in common; extreme underdevelopment in terms of basic infrastructures. Complete lack of attention and consistent neglect of the state authorities in regards of transportation, communication, health, education, water supply and electricity...

IMPHAL, February 20: Government apathy has become the bane of the villagers of Nongpok Keithlmanbi located in Imphal East as the village is lacking in every aspect of basic amenities. Villagers complained that they have been neglected for more than 19 years by the Government resulting in the present condition. Villagers told this reporter that the people of the area are mostly hand to mouth farmers. The people are caught in a time warp as no Government facilities have reached them. The farmers go to the hills in the winter to cut firewood. However, the simple lifestyles are at most of the...