Day: December 16, 2014

CHANDEL Dec 16: With the aim of keeping the town clean and celebrating Christmas with a healthy surrounding, residents and shopkeepers of Japhou town conducted an advent Christmas cleanliness drive in and around the town area under the aegis of the Japhou Bazar Authority today.

Scores of people young and old, men and women alike came out since 6 am and swept the roads, cleaned nullahs and drainages.

Garbage and filthy materials were collected and disposed off. The work lasted till 9:00 of the morning with all the shops.

Chairman of Japhou Bazar Authority Js Angam Anal told this scribe that the mass drive was carried out with the aim of keeping the town neat and clean. He also said that with few days left for Christmas, Japhou Bazar has become crowded with increasing numbers of people coming to the town for shopping thereby polluting the town in some way or the other.

He further appealed all to keep and maintained cleanliness in the town.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/12/cdl-shopkeepers-cleans-town-for-clean-christmas/

IMPHAL, December 16: `I spent around Rs. 1000 for transportation and accommodation to take part in the Orange Festival. Transporting the oranges to the district headquarter is the biggest hurdle we face`, said Akin.

Akin from Sibilong Village under Tamenglong District, stood first in the recently held Orange Festival in the district.

Talking to IFP, she continued `I grow around 200 orange plants in my farm. Each plant gives around 200 fruits in a year. If transportation is not a problem I wish to sell my oranges in Imphal`.

Adi Panmei, another orange grower of Akhui Village said `though Tamenglong District has well preserved forest, I think we are facing a strange climate phenomenon`. He pointed out that besides tackling the menace of insects, the farmers have to bear the brunt of heavy winds which destroy the flowers of orange plant especially during June and July month.

`It seems the winds are getting stronger in recent years which damage half of our produces`, Adi lamented. Citing the common problem of transportation, Adi added `My village is 12 Km away from the district headquarter. We do not get any help from the State Horticulture Department. Moreover, we don`™t know the process to avail the welfare schemes of the department`.

Sebuilui from Tamingjam Village, who was also a participant in the festival said she do not own any kind of orange farm as such. `They grow in plenty in our village. Every family has many orange plants growing here and there`, she said, before adding that availing the government facilities is one of the main problems besides transportation.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/12/transportation-is-the-biggest-hurdle-says-orange-fest-winner-akin-of-tlong/

By Okram Bimoljit

IMPHAL, December 16: `We are not issued telescopes by the university though we have installed a 9-inch, 12-inch, 14-inch telescopes on our own, estimated to cost of Rs 3 lakhs, 1 lakhs and 6 lakhs respectively`, said Prof. Kangujam Jugindro Singh.

The professor of Manipur University, in an informal conversation with this reporter at his Wangkhei Thangapat Mapal residence said his works has been appreciated by the Vice Chancellor of the university and has encouraged him to do more work on astrophysics.

It may be mentioned that Prof. Jugindro had already created history by discovering `Transient Pulsation of Sirius`, a name given by him, which is about the `low state`™ of Sirius, the brightest star in the visible sky in which the star shows up very high amplitude pulsation in the visual band of electromagnetic spectrum.

He has created history by becoming the first Indian to have been invited for giving two presentations at the 103rd Meeting of the American Association of Variable Star Observers (AAVSO) held at Woburn Hilton, Massachusetts, USA during November 6-8, 2014.

He further said that a photometric study of Sirius during the last week of January, 2014 has revealed that the star shows transient pulsation. `Observation of Sirius were taken with integration period of ten seconds in B and V bands using SSP3 photometer attached to a Celestron CGE1400 telescope and these observations were taken in the night of January 30, 2014`, he said.

It may be noted that Prof Jugindro has installed a private observatory at his residence. He along with his team of MU meets regularly at his house to watch the phenomenon of stars in the sky.

He shared that his team is the lone team not only from India but also in the whole Asian continent participating in the International Orion Project for production of high precision photometric and spectroscopic data of five bright variable stars of the constellation of Orion. The International Orion Project of Phoenix, Arizona, USA, has declared his team as the champion of Orion Project, Prof. Jugindro said.

`We have innovatively designed and constructed three observatories each costing few hundred USD for housing three small Schmidt-Cassegrain type telescopes namely Celestron CGE925, Celestron CGE1400, Meade 12`LX200GPS`, he said.

He further stated that Indian Space Research Organization, ISRO has given his group a project to do world class observation of a category of variable stars called “SU UMa” stars.

`Astronomy is one of the oldest sciences, and I have a vision to do more work for the advancement of subject and to attract more and more students in this field so as to generate employment and to interact with the people at the top level in the field in the world`, he noted.

He lamented that the Northeast as well other States in the country are lacking behind in terms of research works and enthusiasm in astrophysics and there is lack of funding as well from the government.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/12/mu-astronomer-wants-more-government-funding-in-astrophysics-projects/

IMPHAL, December 16: The State government today observed the Vijay Diwas remembering the Indian soldiers who had laid down their lives for the country during the 1971 Indo-Pakistan war.

The formal function attended by both Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh and the deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam was held at the Banquet Hall of the 1st Manipur Rifles.

During the function, the State government also honoured five soldiers from the State who had laid down their lives and handed over a cash incentive of Rs 10,000 to the families of the departed soldiers.

The martyrs are (L) Moirangthem Premkumar Singh, (L) Ningjangmang Vaiphei, (L) Doukhoj Kuki, (L) Khupkhogin Vaiphei and (L) HB Kongam Anal.

He said there were many soldiers from the State who had fought gallantly for the country during the 1971 Indo-Pak war and the 1999 Kargil War.

Calling for a united front against any challenge to the freedom of the country, the Chief Minister said freedom was won through tremendous sacrifices and should never allow anyone to challenge the integrity of the country.

The country should honour and respect its brave soldiers who had fought and sacrificed their lives for their motherland, he said adding that the people should follow in their footsteps and pledge to protect the country at any cost.

The sacrifices of the soldiers who martyred in the Indo-Pak war will always remain as glowing chapters in the history of the land, said deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam.

The function was also attended by ministers, MLAs, State DGP and several other government top officials and ex-servicemen.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/12/state-honours-indopak-war-martyrs-during-vijay-diwas-observation/

IMPHAL, December 16: The Awang Sekmai Nongthonband Youth Club, Awang Sekmai has set December 31, 2014 as the deadline for the State Public Works department to repair the condition of the approach road connecting the Gas Bottling Plant, Sekmai from the National Highway no 2.

Secretary general of the youth club Khwairakpam Dhananjoy Singh speaking to media persons at the club premises said the approach road will be indefinitely blocked starting January 1, 2015 in case the government fails to meet the deadline.

He said the club volunteers supported by the local public had blocked the road several times demanding the authorities concerned to repair the road which has been in a deplorable condition for long.

However, the authorities have continued to remain silent and ignore the condition of the road for more than seven-eight years, he said.

Protesting against the government negligence, he said agitations were launched from April 1, 2014 and again from May 3, 2014.

On May 7, 2014, representatives of the club met with the Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh at his office chamber along with the local MLA Kh Devendra Singh, IOC State co-ordinator KI Singh, the then deputy manager Stephe Guite, he said.

During the meeting, the Chief Minister had assured to take up the work after the rainy season by September/ October, following which the people lifted their agitation, he said.

However, the time assured by the Chief Minister has already passed, he said adding that the road is used by Gas Bullets, cylinder loaded trucks everyday leaving a dust storm behind them.

Meanwhile, rock boulders could be seen placed on the road to slow down the passing vehicles and at some places water pipelines of the water-supply were seen being used as water sprinklers.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/12/awang-sekmai-sets-yearend-deadline-for-repairing-of-gas-bottling-plant-approach-road/

IMPHAL/THOUBAL, December 16: The accused in the alleged trafficking of two lads including a 13-year-old from Yairipok Huidrom Leikai were produced before the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Thoubal today. Both have been remanded to police custody for another five days by the CJM for further police interrogation.

Laishram Ojit, 30, son of Shyamjai and Laishram Achou, 57 were earlier arrested by the Yairipok Police for their alleged involvement in alleged trafficking of the two young lads outside the State.

The victims Laishram Lukhoi alias Basanta, 21, son of L Kulabi Singh and Huidrom Pratap, 13, son of H Akajao Singh have both remained missing since December 2 after reportedly accompanying Ojit.

Meanwhile, on learning that the two accused will be produced before the court today, a huge mob had gathered outside the court premises at Thoubal Khangabok and demanded that the two be strongly punished.

The mob further demanded the custody of the two and even tried to force their way into the court premise, however, the police managed to control the mob and prevented any untoward incident from happening.

According to one of the protestors, Achou is a repeat offender and been to the jail on several counts. Putting him in the jail will not bring any desired result nor will the lads be found, instead the police should continue to interrogate him, the protestor added.

Meanwhile, the JAC formed in connection with the missing of the two lads also appealed to the government to look into the alleged trafficking of the boys and to find them.

Speaking to media persons today at the Manipur Press Club, co convenor of the JAC Meeraguni Devi said every section of the society should condemn such incident of human trafficking.

Elaborating further, she said the two had accompanied the accused Laishram Ojit Singh on the day.

Meeraguni said Ojit had taken them along with another 13 year old local boy identified as only Jetlee offering jobs and promising some advance payment, however, on the way he left Jetlee saying that there was not enough money to get the bus tickets for all of them.

Since that day the two lads have failed to return home, she lamented.

After the lads failed to return even after three days, the locals launched a massive man-hunt and then on December 7 made a complaint to the Yaripok Police. The same day, Ojit was summoned to the police station and interrogated during which he claimed that the two have already been trafficked to Moreh, she said.

Stating that the parents of the two lads are totally broken both emotionally and physically even requiring medical attention, the co-convenor further urged the concerned authority to conduct operations to save the lads.

The missing juvenile Huidrom Pratap is a class IX student and was preparing for his exam when he went missing.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/12/accused-in-missing-case-of-yairipok-lads-remanded-to-police-custody/

IMPHAL, Dec 16: The last rites of the two persons killed in yesterday`™s bomb blast at MG Avenue were performed today.

The two victims are Jailal Shah, 42, son of Shivaram of Bihar at present Paona Bazar and Naresh Sahani, 25, son of Rajender Sahani of Bhataulya district, Bihar at present Paona Bazar.

Post mortem examination of Naresh`™s body was conducted yesterday evening at the RIMS morgue, while that of the second victim was conducted this morning at the RIMS morgue.

Both bodies were taken to the Samsan ghat, Telipati by their family members and friends.

Meanwhile, it is also learnt that conditions of all those injured, other than the seriously injured victim Leishangthem Jila alias Tomba, 48, son of (L) L Govardhan of Thoubal Leishangthem, have improved considerably and are out of danger.

At the same time condemning yesterday`™s explosion betel leaves vendors in Thangal Bazar and Khwairamband Keithel remained closed for the day today.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/12/last-rites-of-mg-avenue-ied-victims-performed/

IMPHAL, December 16: The State cabinet today approved three different Bills to be tabled during the 9th session of the 10thManipur Legislative Assembly, however, missed out discussing the introduction of a Bill to implement the Inner Line Permit System in the State.

The Chief Minister chaired cabinet meeting was held today at his cabinet secretariat.

Following the meeting, government spokesperson Moirangthem Okendro Singh told media persons that today`™s cabinet meeting has decided that the government will table three bills during the three-day Winter session which will start from December 18.

He said the three Bills are Sangai National University Manipur Bill, 2014; The Manipur Protection of Interest of Depositors Bill, 2014 and another Bill for the establishment of the Dhanamanjuri University.

Elaborating further, he said the Sangai National University Manipur Bill is to set up a new private university in Churachandpur district.

The State, he said produces around 7500 to 8500 graduates annually, whereas the total post graduate seats available at the Manipur University is a mere 1240 and another 120 PG seats are available in the Indira Gandhi National Tribal University.

As such, approximately 60-70 percent of graduates from the State go outside the State for further studies, he added.

In such a juncture, the establishment of the private university will be of some help, the government spokesperson who is also the State Education minister said.

The second bill approved by the cabinet is to set up the Dhanamanjuri University, he continued.

He elaborated Dhanamanjuri University is among the 200 new universities to be set up under Rashtriya Ucchatar Shiksha Abhiyan, RUSA.

The Detailed Project Reports for the construction of the administrative block, classrooms are complete and the Ministry of Human Resource Development has already approved to sanction Rs 55 crore for the construction, the minister told the media persons.

He said the LMS Law College, DM College of Arts, DM College of Commerce, DM College of Science, Hindi College, GP Women College, etc. will be affiliated to the university.

Okendro also said that today`™s cabinet meeting also discussed and approved the previous target of the State government to upgrade the existing 50-bedded hospitals in the four hill districts of Moreh in Chandel, Senapati, Tamenglong and Ukhrul.

The cabinet also resolved to appoint the required 92 GNM (Nurses) for 26 Public Health Centres on contract basis under the State Health department, he continued.

He said the PHCs are in the interior parts of the State and local candidates will be given preference in their respective local PHCs.

Appointment of the seven teachers required for the Sanskrit Tol inside DM College campus was also approved by the cabinet, according to the government spokesperson.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/12/cabinet-decides-to-table-bill-for-new-universities-omits-bill-on-ilps/

IMPHAL, December 16: The Transporters and Drivers Council, TDC has drawn the State Chief Minister`™s attention to look into the condition of the National Highway no 37, highlighting that there has been no actual progress in the road condition even though the Border Roads Organisation has been tasked to handle the road improvement work.

The council`™s president H Ranjit told media persons today that the TDC is ready to take on the road improvement work if the BRO is unable to complete it soon.

He said the worst part is between Barak and Makru bridges.

Ranjit demanded the government to remove the BRO and replace it with another work agency.

The TDC, he said has been contributing in improving the road condition of the highway since 2010 and has helped in making it motorable.

He said the Imphal-Jiribam highway is a major lifeline of the State and the council had often times appealed to all concerned against involving politics in the road improvement works.

The TDC had replaced the wooden planks of the Makru Bridge in the past, however, since it has not been repaired for long the bridge is once again in a terrible condition. The planks are tightened with binding wires and the bridge is getting riskier by the day for the loaded trucks to cross it.

He continued that the council has already bought wooden planks to be used on the Barak Bridge.

He further charged the BRO of misappropriating the funds sanctioned by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highway Government of India.

The concerned Union Minister has already physically inspected the highway and the State government has also conducted surveys on two counts, however there is not much improvement in the road condition, he said.

He continued that even though the BRO had assured to complete the road repairing by March 2014, it is far from complete till date.

The BRO has been only claiming the fund constraint for the delay in the work, he said.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/12/concerned-tdc-urges-cm-to-look-into-sluggish-nh-37-work-progress/