Environment / Manipur

Imphal, May 08: Though announced with much hype under the Prime Minister package at the fag end of 1998, the Loktak Downstream Project is yet to take off. Sources from the National Hydro Electric Project Limited, NHPC said the project is yet to take off because the State Government has failed to provide the required security cover and also because of the wrangling overcompensation for land acquisition. NHPC which is to be spearheading the project had taken an unofficial stand that they would not be able to continue work at the project if the State Government does not provide adequate security...

Imphal, May 04: To give more teeth to the State wildlife protection machinery and thereby make it more effective, the State Government has decided to revamp the Wild Life Advisory Board and appoint honorary wildlife wardens in both the hill and valley areas. A reliable source in the State Forest Department said today that the reserved forest area occupies five percent of the total forest area of the State. Under a new measure for protecting wildlife in National Parks and Sanctuaries, the Department will be working hand in hand with local residents. Their co-operation will be sought in every...

Imphal, March 21: The district forest officer of Thoubal district, Kakai Haokip, 45, was gunned down by unidentified unknown persons suspected to be Kuki militants this morning at his quarters located at the Langol National Games village, zone III. Family sources said the killers, who were two in number, came to the quarter on a bicycle this morning at around 7:30 am, and spoke with the deceased Kakai Haokip on the verendah. After about 15 minutes conversation, when Kakai tried to go inside the house, one of the youths pulled out a handgun and shot him dead. The two assailants fled on their...

Imphal, March 11: Governor Ved Marwah has stated that the Union Ministry of Power is holding back its decision on the proposed Tipaimukh High Dam for a temporary period as the Ministry if facing funding problems. The Governor gave the assurance when environmentalist Salam Rajesh called on him and submitted a representation signed by 26 environmentalists of the NE region today. Marwah also informed that NEEPCO is presently not willing to sign the memorandum of understanding on the dam due to lack of funding support. The representation was prepared during the 6th Consultation on Wild Life...

Imphal, February 06: A State delegation comprising Advisor K Kipgen, Chief Secretary Rakesh and Principal Secretary (Finance) V Chhibber signed an agreement for the Solid Waste Project and also held detailed discussion with representatives of the French Finance Ministry on funding of the Solid Waste as also the Imphal Sewerage Project, a source from the Principal Secretary (Finance) said. The tentative schedule of launching the project has been fixed for March 4 and a French delegation led by M Louis Oliver, Minister (Economic) in the French Embassy, New Delhi and MF Colson of M/S Aqua...

IMPHAL, Jan 31 — In a significant development, the French Government has agreed to sponsor a solid waste management project at Imphal at the initiative of the State Governor, Ved Marwah, sources said. It may be mentioned here that the rehabilitation programme of the old Kangchup water treatment plant having a capacity of 14.53 MLD has been completely implemented in the State with the help of the French government. The water treatment plant which is supplying drinking water to over 5,00,000 imphalites since its implementation was formally inaugurated by the State Governor, Ved Marwah, on...

ITANAGAR, Jan 13– Dr Suraj Bhan, Commissioner, Union Ministry of Agriculture and Co-operation has assured the State governments of the Northeast to extend all possible help in effectively arresting the menace of jhum cultivation in the region. State Government must come forward with a mega project to tackle this Herculean problem for which the Union Ministry would extend bilateral support,” Dr Bhan said. Dr Bhan was speaking at a workshop on ‘watershed management’ jointly organised by State agriculture department and the Union Ministry of Agriculture here on Saturday. He, however, insisted...

IMPHAL, Jan 1 — The survey work for laying the proposed 96-km Jiribam-Imphal railway lines will be taken up by the Tata Energy research Institute soon. Developmental work of the railway lines from Jiribam to Imphal is likely to be initiated at the earliest in order to remove the transport bottlenecks of Manipur. Earlier, the Union Railway Ministry planned to construct a railway line from Diphu (Assam) to Karong (Manipur) and then to Imphal which would have been about 210 km long and would have pass through difficult parts of Nagaland and Karbi Anglong in Assam. General Manager (Construction)...

IMPHAL, April 20: The Orchid Preservation Centre put up at Khongampat with the primary objective of rearing orchids found abundantly in the hills is now in a sorry state of affairs thanks to Government apathy and lack of patronage. Official of the centre said the number and variety of orchids at the moment is only 195. With no Government aid forthcoming the centre has not been able to rear and preserve a number of orchids. The centre was set up by the State Forest Department in 1976 and stands on a 50 hectare campus. Its primary objective is to rear and preserve the rare orchids found in hills...

KAKCHING, April 14: Two noble villagers from Tokpa Ching near Mondum Mahadeva and another person from Tangjeng Khunou in Thoubal district have handed over a wounded adult Sangai and a baby wild bear to a team of People For Animal, Thoubal Chapter today. The wounded adult Sangai was rescued by the two villagers identified as Oinam Bikram, son of Kunjabi and Oinam Meino both from Tokpa Ching near Mondum Mahadeva from the hands of some unidentified hunters of Kakching Khunou area in the last part of March this year. However, the Sangai has been given medical treatment at their house for a couple...