Development / Manipur

Imphal, June 13: Though the Indo-Myanmar free trade agreement signed between the two countries has resulted in an import of Rs 5 lakhs items from Myanmar per day, the quantity and the category of trade items being exported from India to Myanmar still remains a big question. Following the agreement, the Myanmarese Government had constructed a massive market complex at Namphalong on the Myanmar side and selling numerous items thereby generating a big income to the Government. Above this, Myanmarese traders even descend on Moreh in the Indian territory for selling vegetables, fruits etc earning...

Imphal, June 12: The modified' MoU draft of Tipaimukh Dam has been handed over to the State Government for further examination. This was announced by Planning Advisor of North Eastern Council (NEC) PL Thanga to a group of reporters at Hotel Pinewood, Shillong recently. It may be recalled here that PL Thanga IAS was earlier the Additional Chief Secretary before he was sent on deputation to the NEC. Earlier, the PR Government under Ved Marwah had submitted a MoU draft on the Tipaimukh Dam to the Centre. The Centre after a thorough perusal recommended some modifications in it. The modified MoU is...

GUWAHATI, June 12 ? Internationally reputed experts on forest resources and scientists have recommended some urgent steps to be taken by North Eastern States to mitigate the ?catastrophic famine? that is likely to hit the region subsequent to ?gregarious flowering of bamboo? predicted to occur during 2005-2007. Scientists have predicted that gregarious flowering of bamboo will occur in an estimated area of 18,000 square kilometre in the States of Mizoram, Tripura, Manipur and parts of Assam and Meghalaya during 2005-2007. The epicentre of bamboo flowering will be Mizoram. It is calculated that...

Imphal, June 06: Major construction works on the Khuga multipurpose dam has resumes in full swing from the beginning of this month, with the O Ibobi Singh government giving top priority to its completion, according to the irrigation and flood control minister, Dr N Mangi Singh. According to Dr Mangi, the target for completion of the project has been refixed as the year 2004. He expressed confidence that the project will be commissioned by March 2004, providing irrigation and drinking water and power to the inhabitants of Churachandpur, Saikot and Kumbi assembly constituencies. He said the...

Imphal, May 14: Due to unchecked encroachment and alleged issue of land allotment orders to encroachers by the Settlement and Land Records Department, the original area of the Langol Reserved Forest has been reduced by 50 percent. said a source in the State Forest Department. A large portion of the 7.45 sq kms area of the reserved forest which serves as the "green lungs" of Imphal valley has been occupied by new settlers and the 'forest area' has shrunk to a mere 350 hectares. Besides large scale deforestation of the Langol Hills has been going on, he said. Contending that encroaching and...

IMPHAL, May 13 ? The transporters? strike in Manipur, which entered its fifth day on Monday, has affected Indo-Myanmar trade at the border town of Moreh in Chandel district, official sources said, reports PTI. Keeping in view the huge financial loss, government was considering various strategies to strengthen security measures along the Imphal-Moreh NH-39, the sources said. The Imphal-Moreh Road Transporters Joint Action Committee which had launched the indefinite strike since May 9 was demanding government action to check extortion from vehicle owners and some government offices by the...

MOREH (Manipur), May 10 ? Indo-Myanmar border trade in this border town in Chandel district was severely affected due to non-plying of vehicles between Imphal and this border town following demand for ?heavy tax? from vehicle owners by underground NSCN(I-M), reports PTI. Sources in the police and Vehicle Owner?s Association said they would not ply vehicles unless adequate security arrangements were made by the State authorities. The NSCN(I-M) had served notices to all owners of vehicles plying along Imphal-Moreh National Highway No. 39 that unless tax was paid by them, they would not be...

Imphal, May 09: Indo-Myanmar border trade has been severely affected following the indefinite transport strike called by the Imphal-Moreh Road Transporters' Joint Action Committee on the Imphal-Moreh Road from today protesting the imposition of hefty vehicle "taxes" by UGs. Goods and items worth several crores of rupees are transacted daily at Moreh and its adjoining Myanmar town, Namphallong. Plying of both passenger and goods vehicles came to a screeching halt on the Imphal-Moreh road as a result of the strike. Trucks and auto-rickshaws have not been allowed to ply. The JAC has made stern...

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 05: To enhance revenue of the State exchequer, the State Government has decided to increase tax of different categories of land including the Hill House tax. According to an official source the Hill House tax will be increased from its present tax of Rs 6 per year to Rs 50 annually. The last revision of the Hill House tax was effected in 1975 when the tax was raised from Rs 3 to 6 per year. The Government has also decided to impose grazing tax to the tune of Rs 1 per cattle head in the Scheduled Hill Areas including those belonging to Nepalese. Land tax of Rs 52 annually per...