Day: March 22, 2012

By Wahengbam Ibotombi Singh
Imphal, Mar 22 : While discussing a motion moved by Dr L Ibohalbi, the Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh worked out a brief roadmap for reducing the congestion in the Imphal City. Though what he suggested is a huge task and a lot of difficulty will arise in making Imphal City a planned city. Nevertheless, one feels it is the right time to address the issue of this growing city.
The consequence of this massive growth over the last few years has led to not just traffic congestion but has also affected other aspects of our day to day lives like sanitation, security etc. Task as the CM pointed out, solving this problem is not a matter of joke but for an able leader like him who can stir the boat through difficult times and issues, he should be able to work out a solution. It is also a good sign on the part of the CM to invite suggestions from the general public in solving the problem of congestion of Imphal City. The government should incorporate the ideas and and suggestions from the public in formulating and implementing a policy to decongest the city.
It is generally noticed that whatever ideas, policies or programmes, howsoever fantastic it may be, when it comes to actually implementing, there is lack of commitment. Take for instance, the idea of developing nearby townships to reduce congestion in the main city area. How can it be achieved? Have we addressed the connectivity and accessibility issues of the townships with the adjoining areas? Have we prioritized or developed area specific licensing of shops and marketing channels? Have we ever pondered on the distribution of facilities like banks, healthcare and education in that area? Until and unless one finds a pharmacy from where one can buy ones medicines, until and unless one finds a bank from where he can encash his salary, one has to come to Imphal City, there is no way out.
If one engages in a little brainstorming, it becomes clear that it not only widening of roads, building huge infrastructure but a proper thought out utilization and judicious management of available resources. One cannot ignore the fact that every day women vendors have to be chased away from the roadsides even after the construction of three huge markets for them. A large number of traffic and other police personnel are used daily to maintain order and ease congestion in the main Imphal market which would translate into huge amount being spent by the state exchequer, all because of lack of a long term policy and plan.
Another very unfortunate aspect which contributes greatly to congestion is the undue concern and concessions shown to the VVIPs, which puts the general public to a lot of inconveniences. There are always special considerations or rules and norms for VIPs, be it traffic rules or VIP electricity lines. It not surprising that a totally VIP centric plan, that of constructing super flyover from Keisampat to Tulihal Ariport, is doing the rounds. It stands to reason that as far as the traffic jam around the Keisampat Junction is concerned, only a small passage which does not intersect the junction will serve the purpose. Over and above that the huge expenditure such an exercise would entail could well be used for more urgent and pressing requirements.
All said and done, the Chief Minister’s initiative of inviting suggestions to solve the congestion problem of Imphal City is a good step.

The writer is a World Bank awardee for grass root initiative 2007.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/traffic-congestion-in-imphal-city/

By Wahengbam Ibotombi Singh
Imphal, Mar 22 : While discussing a motion moved by Dr L Ibohalbi, the Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh worked out a brief roadmap for reducing the congestion in the Imphal City. Though what he suggested is a huge task and a lot of difficulty will arise in making Imphal City a planned city. Nevertheless, one feels it is the right time to address the issue of this growing city.
The consequence of this massive growth over the last few years has led to not just traffic congestion but has also affected other aspects of our day to day lives like sanitation, security etc. Task as the CM pointed out, solving this problem is not a matter of joke but for an able leader like him who can stir the boat through difficult times and issues, he should be able to work out a solution. It is also a good sign on the part of the CM to invite suggestions from the general public in solving the problem of congestion of Imphal City. The government should incorporate the ideas and and suggestions from the public in formulating and implementing a policy to decongest the city.
It is generally noticed that whatever ideas, policies or programmes, howsoever fantastic it may be, when it comes to actually implementing, there is lack of commitment. Take for instance, the idea of developing nearby townships to reduce congestion in the main city area. How can it be achieved? Have we addressed the connectivity and accessibility issues of the townships with the adjoining areas? Have we prioritized or developed area specific licensing of shops and marketing channels? Have we ever pondered on the distribution of facilities like banks, healthcare and education in that area? Until and unless one finds a pharmacy from where one can buy ones medicines, until and unless one finds a bank from where he can encash his salary, one has to come to Imphal City, there is no way out.
If one engages in a little brainstorming, it becomes clear that it not only widening of roads, building huge infrastructure but a proper thought out utilization and judicious management of available resources. One cannot ignore the fact that every day women vendors have to be chased away from the roadsides even after the construction of three huge markets for them. A large number of traffic and other police personnel are used daily to maintain order and ease congestion in the main Imphal market which would translate into huge amount being spent by the state exchequer, all because of lack of a long term policy and plan.
Another very unfortunate aspect which contributes greatly to congestion is the undue concern and concessions shown to the VVIPs, which puts the general public to a lot of inconveniences. There are always special considerations or rules and norms for VIPs, be it traffic rules or VIP electricity lines. It not surprising that a totally VIP centric plan, that of constructing super flyover from Keisampat to Tulihal Ariport, is doing the rounds. It stands to reason that as far as the traffic jam around the Keisampat Junction is concerned, only a small passage which does not intersect the junction will serve the purpose. Over and above that the huge expenditure such an exercise would entail could well be used for more urgent and pressing requirements.
All said and done, the Chief Minister’s initiative of inviting suggestions to solve the congestion problem of Imphal City is a good step.

The writer is a World Bank awardee for grass root initiative 2007.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/traffic-congestion-in-imphal-city/

Manish Desai
Director (Media), Press Information Bureau, Mumbai.
They were once everywhere? Chirping and flapping their wings at the window sills, on top of cupboards and on the branches of trees. Where have all the little sparrows gone? This is the most frequently asked question about sparrows these days.
The association between humans and the house sparrow dates back to several centuries and no other bird has been associated with humans on a daily basis like the house sparrow. It is a bird that evokes fond memories of childhood and adds a freshness to households through its presence. Many bird watchers and ornithologists recall with fondness how the house sparrow gave flight to their passion for observing birds. The nests of sparrow dotted almost every house in the neighbourhood as well as public places like bus stands and railway stations, where they lived in colonies and survived on food grains and tiny worms.
Unfortunately, the house sparrow has now become a disappearing species. Like all other plants and animals which were once abundant and are now facing an uncertain future, their numbers are also declining across their natural range. A study conducted by the Andhra University, Visakhapatnam highlighted that population of house sparrows fell by over 60 percent even in rural areas of coastal Andhra Pradesh. A survey conducted by the British Trust for Ornithology showed that house sparrow population in Britain has declined by about 58 percent since 1970.
The Reasons?
Certainly, there is no one single reason for the decline of house sparrow. Scientists and experts say that severe changes in the urban ecosystem in recent times have had tremendous impact on the population of house sparrows whose numbers are declining constantly. Mobile tower radiation and excessive use of chemical fertilizers are aggravating the problem and have been identified as potent sparrow killers. In addition, sparrows have also become targets of poachers, who have been marketing them as aphrodisiac and a permanent cure for sexual ailments.
There have been many theories put forward for the almost worldwide decline of the House Sparrow. It is said that sparrow chicks, who require insect food for their survival in their early days, have not been getting adequate supply from their parents. This has triggered large scale deaths of chicks leading to gradual decline of their population.
Urban landscape too, has been dramatically altered over the years. Old houses with courtyards in front and backyards, have made way for concrete multi-stories, with little greenery. No longer are sparrows able to find the tiny nooks, crannies and holes where they used to build their nests. Habitat degradation and loss have taken their toll in not only on populations but in the variety of species as well.
World Sparrow Day
March 20 is being observed as the World House Sparrow Day, across the globe to raise public awareness about the decline of the house sparrow and throw light on the problems faced by the species in its daily fight for survival. National and international organizations, voluntary organizations, clubs and societies, universities, schools and individuals across the world celebrate the event by organizing awareness programs.
The idea of celebrating the World Sparrow Day came up during an informal discussion over tea at the Nature Forever Society’s office in Nashik, Maharashtra. “The idea was to earmark a day for the House Sparrow to convey the message of conservation of the House Sparrow and other common birds and also mark a day of celebration to appreciate the beauty of the common biodiversity which we take so much for granted.” says Mohammed Dilavar of the Nature Forever Society.
The theme for the World Sparrow Day 2012 is ‘Chirp for the Sparrow; Tweet for the Sparrow’. The Nature Forever Society has called upon all the citizens to observe the World Sparrow Day – by gathering more information about sparrows, writing blogs, tweeting about the World Sparrow Day messages, making films, organizing talks in schools and colleges etc.
Typically, sparrows were never an issue of concern for us with their diminutive presence in our households. Perhaps, it is this diminutive presence because of which even their gradual disappearance has gone unnoticed. Mohammed Dilavar is rightly called the ‘sparrow man of India’, as he has been successful in drawing the attention of the world about the declining number of house sparrows.
The reason being that house sparrows are important bio-indicators and their decline is a grim reminder of degradation of the urban environment and the danger from it to the humans in the long run. (PIB Feature.)

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/sparrow/

Manish Desai
Director (Media), Press Information Bureau, Mumbai.
They were once everywhere? Chirping and flapping their wings at the window sills, on top of cupboards and on the branches of trees. Where have all the little sparrows gone? This is the most frequently asked question about sparrows these days.
The association between humans and the house sparrow dates back to several centuries and no other bird has been associated with humans on a daily basis like the house sparrow. It is a bird that evokes fond memories of childhood and adds a freshness to households through its presence. Many bird watchers and ornithologists recall with fondness how the house sparrow gave flight to their passion for observing birds. The nests of sparrow dotted almost every house in the neighbourhood as well as public places like bus stands and railway stations, where they lived in colonies and survived on food grains and tiny worms.
Unfortunately, the house sparrow has now become a disappearing species. Like all other plants and animals which were once abundant and are now facing an uncertain future, their numbers are also declining across their natural range. A study conducted by the Andhra University, Visakhapatnam highlighted that population of house sparrows fell by over 60 percent even in rural areas of coastal Andhra Pradesh. A survey conducted by the British Trust for Ornithology showed that house sparrow population in Britain has declined by about 58 percent since 1970.
The Reasons?
Certainly, there is no one single reason for the decline of house sparrow. Scientists and experts say that severe changes in the urban ecosystem in recent times have had tremendous impact on the population of house sparrows whose numbers are declining constantly. Mobile tower radiation and excessive use of chemical fertilizers are aggravating the problem and have been identified as potent sparrow killers. In addition, sparrows have also become targets of poachers, who have been marketing them as aphrodisiac and a permanent cure for sexual ailments.
There have been many theories put forward for the almost worldwide decline of the House Sparrow. It is said that sparrow chicks, who require insect food for their survival in their early days, have not been getting adequate supply from their parents. This has triggered large scale deaths of chicks leading to gradual decline of their population.
Urban landscape too, has been dramatically altered over the years. Old houses with courtyards in front and backyards, have made way for concrete multi-stories, with little greenery. No longer are sparrows able to find the tiny nooks, crannies and holes where they used to build their nests. Habitat degradation and loss have taken their toll in not only on populations but in the variety of species as well.
World Sparrow Day
March 20 is being observed as the World House Sparrow Day, across the globe to raise public awareness about the decline of the house sparrow and throw light on the problems faced by the species in its daily fight for survival. National and international organizations, voluntary organizations, clubs and societies, universities, schools and individuals across the world celebrate the event by organizing awareness programs.
The idea of celebrating the World Sparrow Day came up during an informal discussion over tea at the Nature Forever Society’s office in Nashik, Maharashtra. “The idea was to earmark a day for the House Sparrow to convey the message of conservation of the House Sparrow and other common birds and also mark a day of celebration to appreciate the beauty of the common biodiversity which we take so much for granted.” says Mohammed Dilavar of the Nature Forever Society.
The theme for the World Sparrow Day 2012 is ‘Chirp for the Sparrow; Tweet for the Sparrow’. The Nature Forever Society has called upon all the citizens to observe the World Sparrow Day – by gathering more information about sparrows, writing blogs, tweeting about the World Sparrow Day messages, making films, organizing talks in schools and colleges etc.
Typically, sparrows were never an issue of concern for us with their diminutive presence in our households. Perhaps, it is this diminutive presence because of which even their gradual disappearance has gone unnoticed. Mohammed Dilavar is rightly called the ‘sparrow man of India’, as he has been successful in drawing the attention of the world about the declining number of house sparrows.
The reason being that house sparrows are important bio-indicators and their decline is a grim reminder of degradation of the urban environment and the danger from it to the humans in the long run. (PIB Feature.)

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/sparrow/