Development / Manipur

IMPHAL, April 24: The Manipur Science and Technology Council (MASTEC) has rejected any claim questioning the originality of the pedal operated 'rice mill' invented by its senior scientific officer Surendranath, as reported in some local dailies today. The MASTEC, in a press release issued today by its executive director RK Shyamananda said that the pedal operated rice mill which won the National Invention Award-1999 and a place in the Limca Book of Records-2001 was developed by the council under the supervision of its senior scientific officer T Surendranath. This was an achievement of his...

IMPHAL, April 23: Delay in completion of the pre-survey work for the proposed World Bank funded Manipur road development project has caused considerable anxiety over the fate of the project. The pre-project survey, being undertaken with the Spain-based TYPSA Company as consultants, was targeted to be completed and the survey report submitted in January 2001. That target could not be met, and the World Bank was asked to allow till February 2001 for the completion of the survey work. Despite the extension, however, the survey report has still to be submitted. The proposed World Bank road...

IMPHAL, April 23: The director of research, central agriculture university, M Rohinikumar Singh, and the district agriculture officer, Chandel, O Nobo Singh, raised strong objection to the claim and subsequent publication in focal media, that a new high yielding strain of rice paddy has been developed by an individual. While not ruling out the possibilities that such a rice strain has been developed, the two experts said the manner in which it was announced was not legal as it can mislead people. They said this is a serious matter and can have grave consequences on the state if the claims are...

IMPHAL, April 22: A high yielding new variety of rice has been introduced during a function at the Moirang Thangjing Temple Complex today. Ex-deputy speaker L Ibomcha and Moirang Thanjing Phamnaiba A Amuyaima were the chief guest and president of the function. The new variety of rice named Ayang Lairembi Phou will be first cultivated at the fields of Moirang Thangjing before it is released for public cultivation. Speaking at the occasion, A Jugindro, Director Bio Research cum Extension Services said the Ayang Lairembi Phou is a variety well suited for the State. The around 100 cm tall variety...

IMPHAL, April 20: In order to boost Indo-Myanmar trade, the State authority has urged the Union Minister for Commerce and Industries, Murasoli Maran to provide permission for Indian registered vehicles for its entry into Myanmar territory. The member of the Parliament from this tiny state representing half of the population, Holkhomang Haokip had apprised the matter by submitting an official letter to the Union Commerce minister-recently. Elaborating the steps which are being taken up by the MP in connection with the upgradation of the Indo-Myanmar trade agreement, which was formally signed in...

IMPHAL, April 15: The Public health Engineering department minister O Joy said that a project was being taken up to provide safe drinking water to people in order to solve the problems of drinking water scarcity faced by the people living in the town areas of Manipur. Talking to The Assam Tribune, O Joy said that once the project was commissioned, the current problem of water scarcity would be solved once and for all. It may be mentioned that owing to financial crunch, the developmental works of the State government had to be halted mid-way. However, for extending supply of safe drinking water...

IMPHAL April 12: In what could be described as a death blow to aspiring entrepreneurs of the state, the directorate of commerce and industries has kept frozen a total amount of Rs 64,66,000 deposited by aspiring entrepreneurs for supply of industrial machinery by the directorate. The amount had been collected from altogether 853 applicants towards the end of 2000 in the form of bank drafts for the purpose of supply of various types of industrial machinery, according to informed sources. The machinery which were to be supplied include 600 insulated boxes, 200 rice mills, three pulse mills and...

IMPHAL, April 8: The Assisted Bio-diversity and Tribal Development Project initiated under the United Nations Development Programme has proved to be an immense boon for the all round development of the people of Tamenglong. Ten villages in Tamenglong district have received great benefits from the two-year project, which began last year. During a consultative workshop on 'Bio-diversity Conservation - From a Project to a Policy', held at Hotel Imphal today, representatives of the ten villages expressed their profound gratitude over the positive developments they have received from the project...

IMPHAL, April 7: Even though the State Cabinet has agreed to hike power tariff on April 5, no specific decision has been taken regarding the rate of increase till now and the Government has not issued any order in this connection. Highly placed sources said the rate of increase is likely to be from the Rs 2.03 charged per unit by the Electricity Department to Rs 2.80 per unit. However, the Government has not issued any notification on the exact rate of increase. The rate of Rs 2.03 per unit was earlier fixed by the department for domestic, agricultural, industrial and other sectors at an...

IMPHAL, April 7: The state precautions committee, formed recently with the objective of taking up disaster management and mitigation measures had its first meeting on April 4 last in the office chamber of the MAHUD minister, L Jayentakumar. During the meeting, a sub-committee was formed to look into the earthquake vulnerability of existing buildings and structures based on the reports of the Imphal Municipal Council's specially constituted taskforce. The sub-committee includes L Mangi, senior architect of the PWD as chairman, N Gitkumar, architect, town planner as convenor, and six members...