Environment / Manipur

SHILLONG, Aug 23 ? Social activists in the North East are up in arms against the construction of mega dams in the region claiming it would bring ?untold suffering and land alienation among the indigenous poeple,? reports PTI. The Citizens Concern for Dams and Development (CCDD), a forum of people movements, NGOs, professional associations and leading citizens here said that the respective governments proposed to construct 168 large hydro-electric projects in the region and 28 of them were at the implementation stage and some others were also being developed.

Talking to media after its three...

Imphal, June 11: Among several factors contributing to the gradual extinction of fresh water Loktak Lake defunct of Loktak Development Authority and administrative inconvenience between concerned ministries have been cited, according to official source. While fund constraints has been cited for the LDA failure lack of coordination between the LDA and Forest & Environment Ministries in respect of executing respective assignments at the largest fresh water lack in Eastern India is the main cause of gradual rot of Loktak Lake. Another important factor is engaging Engineering experts rather than...

New Delhi, Dec. 10: The Uranium Corporation of India Ltd (UCIL) has decided, in principle, to start uranium mining in the Domiasiat area of Meghalaya. Pre-project activities like preparation of environment impact assessment, environment management plan report and a project report have been initiated and application for mining lease has been submitted to the state government.

Replying to a question in the Rajya Sabha, Union minister of state for mines Ramesh Bais said Domiasiat will have a modern open-pit mine with adequate safety measures from any possible radiation. Attention must be paid to...

Guwahati, May 23: The agitation against the Tipaimukh dam in Manipur has finally reached the United Nations.

The UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, during its second session, which ended today in New York, discussed the threat posed by the Rs 1,078-crore multipurpose project to local tribals.

Raising the issue in the UN forum, representatives of the Centre for Organisation Research and Education (CORE) told the forum, ?The dam will mean virtually the total destruction of the worlds of the Hmar and Zeliangrong tribes and also have a long-term impact on many other indigenous tribals in...

IMPHAL, May 3: The indigenous Manipuri pony, though small in size, is known for its swiftness, sturdiness and tolerance in the game of polo. But it is on the verge of extinction in Manipur – the birth place of this game (polo). Efforts to develop and preserve the local breed of ponies at the Regional Pony Development Farm at Tingkai Khunou in Manipur’s Bishnupur district suffered a fatal fate, Manipur Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Minister told the Assembly recently. Of the 70 pony breed species introduced initially at the farm under an ambitious project in 1988, a staggering 54 ponies have...

IMPHAL, April 20 — Manipur is proud of her rich avi-fauna with Mrs Hume’s barred back pheasant (Syrmaticus humiae) and Blyth’s tragopan found in the state being quite spectacular. The Khaleej pheasant found in Manipur is a rich mixture of steely black and white. The Burmese peafowls and jungle fowls are the other long feathered pheasants found in Manipur. But of late, several rare bird species are gradually disappearing from Manipur due to negligence and inactivity of the authorities concerned. Illegal trade in rare birds goes on right under the nose of the law protectors. These activities...

IMPHAL, April 18 –The Citizens Concern for Dams and Development(CCDD), a common platform of various bodies belonging to different communities, has strongly reacted to Chief Minister O Ibobi’s statement on the proposed construction of controversial Tipaimukh dam. The convenor of the common body and an eminent Naga women activist Aram Pamei while talking to reporters at the white palace hotel here said that the recent statement of the Chief Minister is “totally against interest of the people”.

Quoting reports Pamei said, ‘‘He should not make such a statement if he really felt the sentiment...

Imphal, April 15: For the better part of his life, Heisnam Megha Singh has been the voice of the campaign to safeguard the sangai, the world’s most threatened species of deer. Little did he know that Manipur police would one day hound him in the same manner this graceful animal is stalked by poachers.

In a strange turn of events, Megha Singh has found himself on the police’s “wanted” list for allegedly instigating militants to open fire on two local poachers.

It all began on January 19, when activists of the Environmental Social Reformation and Sangai Protection Forum caught the two poachers...

Imphal, February 27: A one day conference of village chiefs /NGOs of Chandel against the construction of Tipaimukh Dam" organized by Chamdil Khubul Social Welfare Arts & Culture Assn was held today at the Community Hall of Chamdil Khubul. Some of the important participants at the conference included the village chiefs of Japhou, Chandel Khullen, representatives of Anal Naga Taongpi, ANTA, RDS, Christian Social Devt Organization, CKSWA-CA, UTDP, UNC-M Chandel, RTC Imphal, WAD Imphal and Zeliangrong Women Union. Deliberating on the pros and cons of the Tipaimukh Dam, the participants at the...

Imphal, Febuary 15: The Power minister Phungzathang Tonsing today appealed to all without to cooperate with the government in construction of the Tipaimukh dam project so that the state could benefit from the project. Out of the 1500 MW of power the state government will be getting 12 percent of power free he said. The government will not construct the dam without considering the ecological, environmental and all other aspects he assured. The government will properly conduct survey so that people will not have any grievances. Compensation will be given equally to all the people affected he...