Manipur News

By Amar Yumnam
During the second and third century of the Christian era, there were religious leaders who professed that revelation was the ultimate and philosophy did not have any more role to play in human life. They characterised Aristotle as wretched assuming that since the God had spoken directly, the period of philosophising was to be given a burial. They simply ignored the fact that the rationality of the antiquity founded on the rational mind of the Greek philosophers was the strength of the contemporary religion itself; the two were not to be considered as complements at all they felt. The absurdity of this approach is being revealed by contemporary researches in Economics, Sociology, History and philosophy.

Why The Reference: Now I must explain why I have taken this reference to the denial of relevance of antiquity as possessing any explanatory value in understanding a society and the contemporary attempts to restore and re-appreciate the value of antiquity in understanding a contemporary society. The reason is to be found in happenings at home. In recent years, Manipur has been characterised by moves and counter-moves to destroy or rescue the future of the land. While the move to wreck the future of the land as an entity is founded more on not-so old religious-politico arguments, the counter-move for rescue is founded on antiquity.

Politics Without Antiquity: I understand that certain developments in the wake of the beginning of Hinduism in Manipur and post-merger policy failures in the development front have caused ruptures in the original spirits that animated the traditional societal life of the land and people of Manipur. But the question to be answered is: Can we really write off our antiquity and simply start off with a new history? Are there examples of successful civilisations not founded on antiquity, or development experiences sustained only on contemporaneous religio-politico arguments? Can a newly-found rationale serve at all as the soul of a society in place of the antiquity? These are simple as well as serious issues to ponder for while emotions may succeed to create a society temporarily, the long run costs are huge. Here we have many lessons to absorb from the developmental failures and lapses of Indian policy-making in this part of the country.

A land is much more than the geography and form of administrative relations, and it involves people and their history based on the strength of antiquity. Examples are hard to find where mid-course reasons and arrangements evolved out of those have served the cause of a sustainable society. In a world with intensifying interactions and increasingly heterogeneous population groupings, there is little else which can serve as the binding soul of a society than the shared antiquity. This is because it is only antiquity which can serve as the specific foundations of any civilisation and development; newer arrangements can hardly be so in this highly interconnected world. Defending a development and a civilisation based on antiquity is definitely much simpler than sustaining one based on newly articulated rationale. The new articulations naturally are a product of the mind of a few, and it may never attain the status and power of the shared antiquity. We should remember that there are lots to be engaged and miles to go before we can make ourselves fully competitive with the rest of the world.

Here we mayrecall the Nicomachean Ethics of Aristotle. He had advised us that a societyand a state has a tendency to persist along with the initial and inherentqualities. A successful republic has necessarily to be founded on the virtuesof the people, and a bad moral state is difficult to modify if once created. Antiquityhas been accepted as the best foundation for the generation of the virtues ofthe people, and not transient arrangements. There are always issues for leadingthe individual as well as the collective mind successfully and unitedly towardsa common goal. And the question remains: Can we at all create a common goalwhich is fully cut-off from the antiquity?

ManipurToday: Manipur today stands at a historical juncture wherewe need to mobilise our individual and collective energies to take on the worldwith confidence by reinvigorating our strengths and ameliorating ourweaknesses. In fact, the land and the people here have no alternative to thisroute. There is neither space nor necessity now for converting thefamiliarities into problematic. The only option now is to evolve a successful arrangementbased on the familiarities. We cannot and should not subject the people anymore to issues of doubts about the outcomes of the proposed alterations torelationships, for the world today is for preparation for competition and notfor articulations along ethnicity, groups or such partisanship.

When theforce of antiquity is destroyed, the time to generate another force as a successfulreplacement would take centuries. No group, ethnic or otherwise, in Manipurtoday can afford to waste time and energy for the generation of this new forcein place of the antiquity. We are already far behind in the global race fordevelopment, and time is not on our side.

Read more / Original news source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Kanglaonline/~3/rzqzqTavKzk/

By Chitra Ahanthem
“Is Manipur tourist friendly?” happens to be a very popular question doing the rounds in the virtual sphere(read internet, and particularly social networking sites). Those saying “Aye” point towards the emergence of a fancy hotel in Imphal that looks like a 3 star hotel and even has a behind the scenes bar with drinks served in open spaces (Manipur being a dry state besides having the moral guardians on prowl means all other hotels also serve guests in their room with inflated bills); the setting up of tourist parks around the state and plans for hotels on the card. Those shouting out “Nay” to the question points out to the lack of footfall of tourists to the state despite the lifting of the PAP for foreigners; that the filth in the city keeps away people and that it is better other people do not see how much of dirt Imphal town is living with anyway; that law and order is a big turn off for people to visit the place.

To begin with: we must first look at what the Tourism department has set its visions on as part of the “Incredible India” brand. On the national domain, the “Incredible India” brand and media campaign is pitched on the unusual sights, sounds and experiences of India: its people, places and culture. The media advertisement campaigns are full of colour and there is a dedicated handbook along with a web site, brand ambassadors, tourism festivals etc. The problem with the Tourism department in Manipur is that it has not broadened its own horizons. Unlike many other states like Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra or even our next-door neighbours like Assam and Meghalaya, there is no separate buzz being created to highlight Manipur. Tourist information on the state is left to a few insipid web sites and annual calendars that decorate Government department offices.

A genuine reason for not pitching the state may well be the fact that infrastructure for tourist footfall is not up to the mark at all. Apart from the one fancy hotel and its bar, the Government related hotel in Imphal is notorious for its total unprofessionalism: room service and the in house restaurant never ever give service within time (some guests that I had recommended the hotel to stay in came back with feedback that a breakfast order would be served at lunch time, lunch at dusk and dinner immediately after dusk!). The guest-houses at certain places that I know of (Sendra for one) are falling apart while the matter of whether civilian guests are allowed to stay there lies unknown. If there are other guest-houses anywhere else, we are none the wiser about them.

The setting up of tourist parks here, there and everywhere is mystifying: at least for me. They have been set up with huge costs but with what purpose? All they seem to attract are Manipuri film crews and youngsters with cameras in tow. Will we wake up one day to see a surge of tourists going to these “eco-parks”? But when people do not come to the state, how can they go to the said parks ever? If they came, what is there in the parks here that they have not seen in parks in their own home state? Are there indigenous crafts stalls around the parks? No. Are there decent food stalls near the parks (apart from the perennial dark roomed “Fast food” places)? No. So? Who goes? Sadly, not even many local people head to the parks (apart from film crews and young people dating).

Yet, not everything is lost for the state has great potential that needs to be strategically thought of and implemented. The 9 districts of the state have their own unique locations and the gifts of nature: greenery, hills, meadows, small lakes and water falls, peaks and places for sighting birds. Every community in Manipur has their own colourful festivals and dances which can be pitched for tourist tours (think the boat race in Kerala or the Rathyatra festival in Puri, Orissa that brings in thousands of tourists). More pressingly, there has to be support systems in place for receiving tourists and ensuring that they have experineces that they will recommend to other people. Yes, hotels and transport facilities in the state are practically non-existent at present. It would be mistaken to be content with good places to stay in Imphal only: every district should have facilities for private stays in hotels. Or there should be well oiled (read, run efficiently) Government tourist lodges in the districts. There needs to be conversant tourist guides (does the Kangla Fort even have a guided tour for tourists who are interested?) as also setting up Government approved vehicle rates. This is mainly because most out of Imphal travel is taken either by the NGO community or media people who come in from outside the state who hire privately managed vehicles. End result? Inflated travel costs for the common folks!

End-point:
Tourism in the state is in its infancy given the lack of support systems. But all it needs is for out of the box options and rising up to the challenge. The Tourism department needs to also think of bringing in other people and agencies (the Churches can be brought in as an integral partner in the districts as providers for home stays for a fee given the lack of accommodation facilities). They would do well to also study neighbouring Nagaland and its famed Hornbill festival to begin with: how it is pitched and what it comprises of; how the state works with different stakeholders (bloggers, travel writers, photographers) to ensure maximum visibility. The world of possibilities are endless given the range of places, festivals, food and culture that exist in the state and all that is needed would be concerted efforts for the Tourism Department to think a bit unconventionally.

Read more / Original news source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Kanglaonline/~3/0pDtGO38m4Y/

IMPHAL July 2: To relieve from mud and water filled lanes marred by potholes on the Sagolband Salam Leikai and Wahengbam Leikai under Sagolband A/C stretch along the Imphal-Jiri highway resulted from the on going construction works conducted by the government under various developmental projects, several truck loads of stone chip and sand were donated today to the Sagolband joint development committee by Rajkumar Imo Singh, an active member of Congress I as a part of a temporary arrangement initiated for the aggrieved local populace of Sagolband A/C.

N. Kuleshwor, secretary, SJDC, while meeting media persons said that various inconveniences are faced by commuters especially in this area due to the construction works. Heavy down pour since the past few days has added another difficulty for the commuters, he added.

Condemning the local MLA Sagolband A/C for being silent on their repeated pleas for a viable solution from such inconveniences, the secretary lamented that it as very unfortunate.

However, on the other hand, the committee expressed contentment on various projects carried out by the government for the development of Imphal. The Sagolband joint development committee was formed after thorough consultation with local responsible residents for efficient development in Sagolband A/C, he added.

Rk. Imo said that the construction works of various developmental projects has adversely affected the commuters for the time being. He added that the temporary arrangement was instituted keeping in view of such condition and ease atleast some of the difficulties faced by the commuters till the constructions of the projects are completed.

Read more / Original news source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Kanglaonline/~3/g-f8SqCfPok/

IMPHAL July 2: To relieve from mud and water filled lanes marred by potholes on the Sagolband Salam Leikai and Wahengbam Leikai under Sagolband A/C stretch along the Imphal-Jiri highway resulted from the on going construction works conducted by the government under various developmental projects, several truck loads of stone chip and sand were donated today to the Sagolband joint development committee by Rajkumar Imo Singh, an active member of Congress I as a part of a temporary arrangement initiated for the aggrieved local populace of Sagolband A/C.

N. Kuleshwor, secretary, SJDC, while meeting media persons said that various inconveniences are faced by commuters especially in this area due to the construction works. Heavy down pour since the past few days has added another difficulty for the commuters, he added.

Condemning the local MLA Sagolband A/C for being silent on their repeated pleas for a viable solution from such inconveniences, the secretary lamented that it as very unfortunate.

However, on the other hand, the committee expressed contentment on various projects carried out by the government for the development of Imphal. The Sagolband joint development committee was formed after thorough consultation with local responsible residents for efficient development in Sagolband A/C, he added.

Rk. Imo said that the construction works of various developmental projects has adversely affected the commuters for the time being. He added that the temporary arrangement was instituted keeping in view of such condition and ease atleast some of the difficulties faced by the commuters till the constructions of the projects are completed.

Read more / Original news source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Kanglaonline/~3/g-f8SqCfPok/

IMPHAL July 2: To relieve from mud and water filled lanes marred by potholes on the Sagolband Salam Leikai and Wahengbam Leikai under Sagolband A/C stretch along the Imphal-Jiri highway resulted from the on going construction works conducted by the government under various developmental projects, several truck loads of stone chip and sand were donated today to the Sagolband joint development committee by Rajkumar Imo Singh, an active member of Congress I as a part of a temporary arrangement initiated for the aggrieved local populace of Sagolband A/C.

N. Kuleshwor, secretary, SJDC, while meeting media persons said that various inconveniences are faced by commuters especially in this area due to the construction works. Heavy down pour since the past few days has added another difficulty for the commuters, he added.

Condemning the local MLA Sagolband A/C for being silent on their repeated pleas for a viable solution from such inconveniences, the secretary lamented that it as very unfortunate.

However, on the other hand, the committee expressed contentment on various projects carried out by the government for the development of Imphal. The Sagolband joint development committee was formed after thorough consultation with local responsible residents for efficient development in Sagolband A/C, he added.

Rk. Imo said that the construction works of various developmental projects has adversely affected the commuters for the time being. He added that the temporary arrangement was instituted keeping in view of such condition and ease atleast some of the difficulties faced by the commuters till the constructions of the projects are completed.

Read more / Original news source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Kanglaonline/~3/g-f8SqCfPok/

By Bobo Khuraijam
Two fortnights of displacement from the keyboard and monitor earns up excuse easy enough to convince the editor. That Leipung had to take leave for two fortnights. The leave was applied via the mobile cellular service. Without any hitch the leave was granted. The call cost one rupee and twenty paisa of Indian currency. People close to him would know. Our editor does not speak much. Keeps always to the point, has a good bass vocal but seldom heard him sing. May be he had tried in his school days. Experience must have taught him not to sing in the public. Some says his speech is not as good as his writing. You don’t find him commenting on the headlines in the morning taret makhai pao. In the evening when he is immersed in work, almost buried among the keypads of his laptop mono syllables like ‘o’, ‘um’ would be his words. He would beam a smile when you crack a silly joke. We hope he would spare Leipung for digging up on his quirks. As dubious as we may sound we had to take leave anyway. We are not as fortunate as the government employees. Like those who are posted in the hills. They can swap with a dummy. The largest democracy in the world can have proxy voters. But we reaffirm ourselves that there cannot be proxy Leipung – as simple as that.

COUNT YOUR BLOOD: Have not we mentioned? The leave we asked our editor cost one rupee and twenty paisa. Here are some more price tags for a few things. A unit of blood cost rupees two thousand and three hundred only on Indian currency. An income tax statement for not being a tax payer cost rupees one thousand and five hundred only on Indian currency. Allow us to elaborate. Someone not from the leikai, not from the valley; a wife of a husband from a hill district had to be admitted to the hospital following her complains of extreme fatigue for quite some days. They have modest income but no sangga-pangga in the valley. The couple headed straight to a private hospital as they could not muster up enough patience to wait for a decent bed in the government hospital. They were told that she was suffering from anemia. She needed rest and two to three unit of blood without delay. Her hemoglobin count was below the normal. The blood bank in the private hospital could give them only one unit. As per the rule they have to replace it back by a donor. The husband volunteered to be the replacement donor. He had to arrange the remaining from some other blood bank. The husband went to the blood bank of a well known government hospital. He was told to buy a ticket from the emergency counter. It was the mandatory charge for cross matching the blood sample: Rupees eight hundred. The husband had a sign of relief when he was told that blood is available in the bank. He was told to wait for sometime. After a while he was gently told that he have to pay rupees one thousand and seven hundred only. Not at the counter but at a room near the blood bank. The husband thought for a few seconds. He decided not to argue. Instead he requested the man with the thick register to reduce the money. They settled with rupees one thousand and five hundred only on Indian currency note. So, dear all, who donates blood regularly. Please keep up your priceless humanitarian act of donating blood regularly. We have faith in each of the individuals who donates blood. From civil voluntary organization to defense personals, from patriots who donate blood on the eighteenth of June to officers of lions and tigers club; every single drop of your blood is going to save someone’s life; more than that every single drop of your blood is going to make someone’s purse swell. Keep donating and keep saving life. As for the leipung members, we are going to demand our share of money from the man with the register every time we donate blood.

PAY YOUR TAX: “I am a tax paying citizen and I know my rights as a citizen of a democratic country”, this is a statement oftentimes used by educated citizens whenever they mean to assert their rights. The government spent huge sum of Indian currency to persuade citizens to pay their tax well in time. They even honour celebrities who pay tax regularly. It is obligatory for everyone to pay tax. People who earn in enormous amount like industrialist and celebs of the tinsel town have to pay more tax for they earn more. What about those who do not earn or earn a little? Well, they do not need to pay income tax. At the most they have to pay electricity and water bill. Sometime back some one from the Leikai who runs an embroidery centre, with a little amount of saving decided to launch a NGO. We have no idea at whose advice she was doing that. We know that she is active in leikai meira paibi besides her embroidery centre. Not too old to get married. We heard she is standing in the next Panchayat election. Someone must have told her that an NGO would be a good option to give opportunities to people. And she can earn well if she has heijara singjaragadi quality. She opened a bank account and got a PAN card in her name. All that while, she had little idea when her PAN card would come to a use. It anyway looks beautiful with her photo and signature on it. Much better than the electoral ID card. She was advised to get her organisation registered. After that she can run for government funding. One fine day news came in that her project report got approved from the authority. She has to sign an agreement with the authorities. Along with the signed agreement she has to furnish income tax assessment order for a financial year. She got baffled. How on earth? She has never paid any kind of income tax. At last some one prepared her income tax statement after spending rupees one thousand and five hundred only on Indian currency. She tried to argue that nobody had asked her to pay income tax so far. And on the contrary how can she be asked to furnish a statement like that. Someone convinced her that once anyone got a PAN card in their name, he or she would be considered a tax payer. She was happy. All these while, sitting on the Leipung we got message after message in the mobile phone. That a ‘gyanpack’ worth subscribing is in the offer; rupees Seven only on Indian currency, we hardly press any of the keys on the phone; then we got a congratulatory message that we have just subscribe the ‘gyanpack’. Rupees seven gone without touching keys: miraculous, is not it? It reminds us of a graffiti written on the wall of a public toilet – save the earth, die now. So be it, Bharati Airtel!

FOOTNOTE: Not again, our political fat cats are up to building a five star hotel in the heart of the town. That too at the cost of causing displacement to many families, Leipung Ningthou calls it, “thi chaamba heitringaida tie punnaba hotnaba”.

Read more / Original news source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Kanglaonline/~3/qvfSf8-r0so/

By Bobo Khuraijam
Two fortnights of displacement from the keyboard and monitor earns up excuse easy enough to convince the editor. That Leipung had to take leave for two fortnights. The leave was applied via the mobile cellular service. Without any hitch the leave was granted. The call cost one rupee and twenty paisa of Indian currency. People close to him would know. Our editor does not speak much. Keeps always to the point, has a good bass vocal but seldom heard him sing. May be he had tried in his school days. Experience must have taught him not to sing in the public. Some says his speech is not as good as his writing. You don’t find him commenting on the headlines in the morning taret makhai pao. In the evening when he is immersed in work, almost buried among the keypads of his laptop mono syllables like ‘o’, ‘um’ would be his words. He would beam a smile when you crack a silly joke. We hope he would spare Leipung for digging up on his quirks. As dubious as we may sound we had to take leave anyway. We are not as fortunate as the government employees. Like those who are posted in the hills. They can swap with a dummy. The largest democracy in the world can have proxy voters. But we reaffirm ourselves that there cannot be proxy Leipung – as simple as that.

COUNT YOUR BLOOD: Have not we mentioned? The leave we asked our editor cost one rupee and twenty paisa. Here are some more price tags for a few things. A unit of blood cost rupees two thousand and three hundred only on Indian currency. An income tax statement for not being a tax payer cost rupees one thousand and five hundred only on Indian currency. Allow us to elaborate. Someone not from the leikai, not from the valley; a wife of a husband from a hill district had to be admitted to the hospital following her complains of extreme fatigue for quite some days. They have modest income but no sangga-pangga in the valley. The couple headed straight to a private hospital as they could not muster up enough patience to wait for a decent bed in the government hospital. They were told that she was suffering from anemia. She needed rest and two to three unit of blood without delay. Her hemoglobin count was below the normal. The blood bank in the private hospital could give them only one unit. As per the rule they have to replace it back by a donor. The husband volunteered to be the replacement donor. He had to arrange the remaining from some other blood bank. The husband went to the blood bank of a well known government hospital. He was told to buy a ticket from the emergency counter. It was the mandatory charge for cross matching the blood sample: Rupees eight hundred. The husband had a sign of relief when he was told that blood is available in the bank. He was told to wait for sometime. After a while he was gently told that he have to pay rupees one thousand and seven hundred only. Not at the counter but at a room near the blood bank. The husband thought for a few seconds. He decided not to argue. Instead he requested the man with the thick register to reduce the money. They settled with rupees one thousand and five hundred only on Indian currency note. So, dear all, who donates blood regularly. Please keep up your priceless humanitarian act of donating blood regularly. We have faith in each of the individuals who donates blood. From civil voluntary organization to defense personals, from patriots who donate blood on the eighteenth of June to officers of lions and tigers club; every single drop of your blood is going to save someone’s life; more than that every single drop of your blood is going to make someone’s purse swell. Keep donating and keep saving life. As for the leipung members, we are going to demand our share of money from the man with the register every time we donate blood.

PAY YOUR TAX: “I am a tax paying citizen and I know my rights as a citizen of a democratic country”, this is a statement oftentimes used by educated citizens whenever they mean to assert their rights. The government spent huge sum of Indian currency to persuade citizens to pay their tax well in time. They even honour celebrities who pay tax regularly. It is obligatory for everyone to pay tax. People who earn in enormous amount like industrialist and celebs of the tinsel town have to pay more tax for they earn more. What about those who do not earn or earn a little? Well, they do not need to pay income tax. At the most they have to pay electricity and water bill. Sometime back some one from the Leikai who runs an embroidery centre, with a little amount of saving decided to launch a NGO. We have no idea at whose advice she was doing that. We know that she is active in leikai meira paibi besides her embroidery centre. Not too old to get married. We heard she is standing in the next Panchayat election. Someone must have told her that an NGO would be a good option to give opportunities to people. And she can earn well if she has heijara singjaragadi quality. She opened a bank account and got a PAN card in her name. All that while, she had little idea when her PAN card would come to a use. It anyway looks beautiful with her photo and signature on it. Much better than the electoral ID card. She was advised to get her organisation registered. After that she can run for government funding. One fine day news came in that her project report got approved from the authority. She has to sign an agreement with the authorities. Along with the signed agreement she has to furnish income tax assessment order for a financial year. She got baffled. How on earth? She has never paid any kind of income tax. At last some one prepared her income tax statement after spending rupees one thousand and five hundred only on Indian currency. She tried to argue that nobody had asked her to pay income tax so far. And on the contrary how can she be asked to furnish a statement like that. Someone convinced her that once anyone got a PAN card in their name, he or she would be considered a tax payer. She was happy. All these while, sitting on the Leipung we got message after message in the mobile phone. That a ‘gyanpack’ worth subscribing is in the offer; rupees Seven only on Indian currency, we hardly press any of the keys on the phone; then we got a congratulatory message that we have just subscribe the ‘gyanpack’. Rupees seven gone without touching keys: miraculous, is not it? It reminds us of a graffiti written on the wall of a public toilet – save the earth, die now. So be it, Bharati Airtel!

FOOTNOTE: Not again, our political fat cats are up to building a five star hotel in the heart of the town. That too at the cost of causing displacement to many families, Leipung Ningthou calls it, “thi chaamba heitringaida tie punnaba hotnaba”.

Read more / Original news source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Kanglaonline/~3/qvfSf8-r0so/

IMPHAL, July 1: In what could be termed as an odd discovery, not a single copy of the Detailed Project Report (DPR) of the Loktak Hydro Electric Project’s was available with the Electricity department of Manipur.

The discovery was made by an RTI appellant, one Kambam Seityajit, 36, s/o Kambam Ibohal Singh of Khurai Chingangbam Leikai, while seeking information under the Right to Information (RTI), Act, 2005 on Loktak Project.

In the extract copy of the response made available to the media, the appellant had sought information if any agreement existed between the electricity department and the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation Limited (NHPC) while the Loktak project was transferred to the NHPC limited.

In response to the question the chief engineer, (power) electricity department stated that no official records are available in this office about the transfer of the project to NHPC and any agreement thereof. He further speculated that all formalities could have been done before the establishment of the electricity department, in the year 1971.

The appellant claimed the response as misleading and false. On contrary to the response of the chief engineer, he stated that the NHPC was formed in the year 1975 much later than the electricity department, Government of Manipur which was seperated from the Public Work Department, Government in the year 1971 and held that it will not be possible for the NHPC to execute Loktak Hydro Electric Project without any agreement with the state.

Besides that the appellant further claimed that as per his findings the Loktak Hdyro Electric Project’s DPR was prepared in the year 1965 when the Electricity department was associated with the PWD and many copies of such DPR are available in different courts for adjudication of various disputes in the state of Manipur.

On the pretext of the non availability of the DPR the chief engineer further mentioned that it could not provide information for rehabilitation of individuals who had been affected by the said project.

The appellant further stated that the official data available on June 19, 2011 shows that the demand met for power in the state was 58 MW at 0800 hours and the total requirement was shown to be as 65 MW as requested by the electricity department to the Power System Operation Corporation Limited, Shillong. And power supply position at 2000 hours demand met is shown as 49 MW against 90 MW, which is quite contradictory as that of the respondent’s figure of 110 MW at peak hours during summer, according to the extract copy of the response made available to the media.

In terms of state wise power supply position in Million Unit (MU) the requirement of Manipur is shown to be 1.330 MU against the consumption of 1.096 MU which is quite low as compared to that of Meghalaya state consumption of 4.153, MU against their requirement of 5.626 MU which is about the same size and population as Manipur, the appellant further mentioned.

While noting the chief engineer’s response that there is no provision of uninterrupted power supply or VIP line in existing system the appellant further contradicted the claimed stating that uninterrupted power supply are being supplied to certain brick fields in the valley areas as well as certain top contractors, sub-contractors, highly influential individuals, bureaucrats etc and opined that he could furnish sufficient evidence to prove his assertion at any point of time.

The extract copy further showed that the electricity department was found to be having no technical audits and no branch office of the joint electricity regulatory commission for Manipur and Mizoram at Imphal.

Read more / Original news source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Kanglaonline/~3/MpcUI4B5g4o/

IMPHAL July 1: Women society of Ekou bazaar under Khundrakpam A/C, Imphal east consisting of various communities today protested against the imposition of heavy monetary demands and threats met out to them by an alleged hill based proscribed outfit.

A sit in protest was held in this connection at the Ekou bazaar from 9 am to 4 pm today, demanding the alleged proscribed outfit to rethink and revoke their demands and refrain from any activities that may compromise the peaceful co-existence of different communities in Ekou area.

Agitated at the heavy monetary demands and the accompanying threats, one of the villagers, L. Leibakleima, ex-secretary, Meira Paibi Lup (women society) Ekou bazaar lamented that the demand is unreasonable and is beyond their meager source of income, who survive predominantly from petty agricultural activities.

It may be mentioned that a heavy monetary demand of Rs 2 lakhs was imposed on one S. Ibochouba with dire consequences if he failed to meet within July 3.

Initially, it was said that the demand was for 1 lakh. However it was increased with another one lakh as a consequence of one of the alleged outfit’s associate being apprehended by a commando team during frisking on his way to a place at Sapermeina.

The arrested individual was accompanying S. Ibochouba and a relative for a meeting called by the alleged outfit.

S. Angoubi devi, secretary, Meira Paibi Lup Ekou bazaar said that the 1-2 lakhs demand is impossible for them to manage. She added that they condemned imposition of the monetary demands and other threats that may endanger the very foundation of communal harmony in the area.

The women society further lamented that the said outfit is also imposing illegal tax from shops and other small commercial establishment in Ekou bazaar.

Further, they alleged that previously on many occasion, the said outfit was involved in many unlawful activities that created apprehension and concern to different communities living in Ekou.

Read more / Original news source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Kanglaonline/~3/5b_GjkGtreQ/

By RS Jassal
The recently held seminar on the subject as above organised by the Loktak Brigade & LDA in conjunction opened with many angles but definitely closing on one that is locals, LDA authorities were lacking desired closeness in interaction, short falls in achieving target on part of LDA and a third angle, local community leaders blurred perception about the ‘role of Army’ or call it SFs i.e., why so many including CRPF, IRB and at far ends of lake the deployment of BSF too are there. This seminar was vividly marked by straight thoughts from all angles in a relaxed atmosphere.

LDA/ Ithai Barrage had started with very high hopes and aspirations for the Government & the people so far water management and power generating perceptive is concerned. To give full quantum of water backup into the reservoir, Irang river waters were supposed to be tunneled into Loktak. In initial stages, limited category of people were allowed to avail trolleys to go inside deep into huge well as part of curiosity and adventure, but steadily hampered & progress retarded thereafter by the UG activities, unsocial elements & vested interests is the story well known to everyone till 2004-2005 set in with SFs operations started with code name ‘All Out Clear’. Army officer as a speaker that too CO of a Battalion from the area was well thought of and it clarified many hither-to-fore not too well known facts to the locals. Loktak & Thanga, Khodrak areas were undeclared ‘Liberated Zones’ used for the rendezvous of various categories of people for various purposes. In fact revelation by Col. N. Bhardwaj gave fillip to the job of DPIR, Govt. of Manipur who could hardly enter those areas then, forget about the awareness campaigns which the Deptt or LDA authorities were expected to do. As regards to exposing Acts & Regulations connected with management of LDA affecting locals around were well brought out by the speakers. It appeared some of them needed incorporation into LDA’s latest regulations; but all were in existence independently whether effective or otherwise. The vision 2015 Loktak projected by Ibobi Singh Director LDA Project stood tall in its own stand. He exhorted locals to take it as their welfare project & to take interest more than, the Army is doing. They need coming forward to take LDA effort forward. Locals especially fishermen stood mired in their conviction that most of the developmental activities were to up root them or affect their hereditary claims to cultural livelihood. Another aspect argued was on Phumdi clearance which was considered as disturbing ecology resultant to extinction of a large variety of fish culture & non acceptance of invitation by the migratory birds (now) due to climate change. However none of the speakers attributed change in environs due to activities of various groups of undergrounds which invited military action. One speaker attributed disturbance to the fishes & Sangai, state pride animal to the high decibels of noise pollution being created by the three hovercrafts inducted into the lake for fighting insurgent activities & but ignored sounds of aircrafts which start lowering down at Tulihal airport everyday so on so forth. Whatsoever emanated from the speakers rostrum, all were true in their own respects and details.

Based on above, author feels that;
(a) Ignoring recent past & two decades of inter and intra connectivities disturbed by insurgent activities & LDA developmental slow activities, LDA project needs to be strengthened. AS Ho’nble MLA, Shri Ratan said on ‘sideline of the seminar’ that K.Pro & LDA did suffer due to lack of coordination among themselves and K Pro’s infrastructures could not reach on time as planned.
(b) People of the lake & LDA must endeavour to have more connects. People must see of realistic advantages accruing out of well completed project underscoring initial discomforts of the fishermen. They will still be there on their holdings in one way or the other. They must eye on eco tourism to follow. So many more openings on Forestry, horticulture etc will come up.
(c) Govt. of Manipur is fully equipped with dedicated Depts. of Fishery, Forestry, Horticulture and Ecological Environs and Tourism. They can work in tandem with LDA but maintaining clear independence from Manipur Loktak Lake (Protection) Act 2006. If all such Depts. area if added with LDA it will make LDA management encumbersome. Their main job is to generate Power & Water management resultant out of this. If tunneling could not be holed successfully for channelising water of Irang then and there is no hope of its happening now. LDA may explore means to channelise waters down streams from nearby hills for waters flow into Loktak as additional WATER quantum is essential for producing electricity. There is no doubt if LDA succeeds as per their initial inducting onto mission and Govt. of Manipur determinately puts up Tipaimukh Hydro project through, these two water cities in the offing will have positive changes as Light House of Manipur – which will be adhesive and integrative of people than current divisive scenario Where there is sunshine, clouds also have to follow. One sub head is second session in this seminar; on why various groups of UG had selected LOKTAK as saviour to carry their mission ahead which failed. LDA objective too and excessive difficulties from media in reflecting motive of Op “All Out Clear’” and frontal onslaught by frontal organisations to turn every single mistake of the Govt. and SFs in linkage to HR violation so on & so forth; would have done completed job of DIPR also.

In fine: Seminar was great success as it brought affected people, LDA and Security Forces Perspective into one line of accommodating one another rather finding faults with any system. To this end Brig. Laove Verma, Ritesh Kumar WISA, New Delhi, Th. Ibobi Singh, Project Director LDA and Hemamcha Sobha of Moirang Thangjing Yangeirol deserve congratulations. Retd VC (MU) Dr. H.Tombi Singh and Prof. Amar Yumnam of MU gave sterling touch to the moderation part of both the sessions. We hope to see such similar collective Seminars/ Workshops in future to come. To my reading this seminar has definitely established its relevancy which was required.

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