Manipur News

IMPHAL, June 12: The football fever has reached its zenith in the State with football craze fans ready to embrace the biggest sporting event of the world – the FIFA World Cup, 2014, Brazil.

Dwelling into this aspect IFP learnt that the biggest concerned amongst the football enthusiasts so far is the erratic power supply in the State.

Even as the pre-paid system is catered to only limited consumers within some areas of Imphal the football craze people of the state are undeterred and readied themselves to prepare for the worst.

Ratan Athokpam, proprietor of Eastern Sporting Shop (dealing with sports items), revealed that he had purchased a generator exclusively for the football’s biggest event.

The eagerness was very apparently when he told IFP that he also purchased a TATA Sky set top box as back-up plan with no intention to miss a single moment.

Unlike, Ratan, others who cannot afford the luxury of generation or satellite channels, and have to be content with only the local cable networks have chart out plans by forming groups in their locality to watch the extravaganza at a friend’s house or at a neighbour’s.

Y Ranjit, a government employee from Singjamei Heirangoithong, suggested that the government should atleast provide electricity during the world cup matches.

“Manipur is a home to hordes of noted football players representing the country even in the international arena, so it would be wise for the Government to give full access to view the matches”, he continued.

More interesting is that these groupies, which have become a common phenomenon during world cup event, would host a feast or party, in wait of the game.

The degree of the fever apparently is quite high with local football tournaments taking place in every pocket of the State and fans in some places putting up posters of their favourite teams.

To be précised one can see such posters in the heart of Imphal, at Kakhulong kabui locality.

Coming to fans choice, Brazil still remains the top choice of the people.

8 out of ten fans prefer Brazil and are confident that the host would lift the coveted trophy.

Some choose the team for being the spiritual home of the beautiful game while some expected a lot from their star players like 22 year old Neymar (striker) and Oscar (mid-fielder or the so called game maker).

Others still merely believe in the good old Brazilian squad and all time favourite of the world.

Chaoba, panel coach of All Manipur Football Association (AMFA), is of the opinion that Brazilian squad are full of young players and lot to offer. The second favourite is the defending champion team Spain.

While many expressed their opinions based on their favourite and strategies of the particular team, but it remains to be seen as anything can happen.

 

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/06/football-fans-all-prepared-for-world-biggest-competition-kick-off/

KANGPOKPI, Jun.12: With the spirit and enthusiasm of people around Kangpokpi and Saikul, the powerhouse of football in Sadar Hills intensely growing high, Kuki Inpi Saikul Gamkai and Kangpokpi Youth Union today urged the deputy general manager (Power), Kangpokpi sub-division to ensure regular power supply during the Brazil FIFA World Cup, 2014 mega event.

Thangkam Lupheng, president Kuki Inpi Saikul Gamkai appealed to the State power department and the DGM (Power), Kangpokpi sub-division to ensure that the football lovers and the general public could watch the live telecast of the World Cup without interruption.

Not only football lovers, but people from all section of the society including the young, old, men, women, boys, girls, jhum cultivators, office goers are waiting for the start of the mega event, said the KISG chief.

Saikul being home ground of a noted football club of the State FC Khanglai, there are several youngsters who would like to make their career in the field of football from this remote area and the FIFA World Cup is the biggest opportunity for such youngsters to watch world class football players and learn new skill and tactics, he said.

In the meantime, Kangpokpi Youth Union earnestly appeals the deputy general manager (Power) in particular and the State Power department for regular supply of power in the town to ensure the biggest competition in the world is watched and enjoyed live by the people.

Hechon Singson, president Kangpokpi Youth Union said that our appeals to the concern power authority has become necessary to enable the general public particularly youngsters of Kangpokpi and its adjoining areas to enjoy the live telecast of the most lucrative sporting event.

“We have been experiencing epileptic power supply in the town occasionally, we appeal to the concerned authority to help us with electricity to enjoy and watch the Brazil FIFA World Cup,” added Singson.

 

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/06/kisg-kyu-urge-against-power-cuts-during-fifa-world-cup-2014/

LAMKA, June 12 (JNN): The Churachandpur Government College has submitted a memorandum to the Education minister M Okendro on Thursday through Dr Chaltonlien Amo, chairman of Hill Areas Committee during the minister’s visit to Churachandpur.

The college has highlighted in the memorandum, that the college is facing acute shortage of lecturers in the Chemistry department as only a lecturer is managing the department despite UGC norms mandating a minimum of six or seven lecturers per department.

It said the Sociology department has only two lecturers.

The memorandum also mentioned that the Botany department has only three lecturers including a part-timer, the Anthropology department has two lecturers including a part-timer, Economics department has three lecturers including a part-timer and the Geography department has only 3 lecturers.

Principal, Vanlallawm said the new session (2014-2015) will commence from July 2 and if immediate appointments or arrangements are not made before that the students community especially the science students will face inexplicable hardships.

Vanlallawm said, Churachandpur Government College is one of the premiere colleges in the hill areas of Manipur where tribal students can study both Arts and Science at the degree level with honours.

Many parents of the district don’t like to send their wards to study BA/B Sc outside the state anymore as Churachandpur Government College has made enormous stride in bringing quality education.

 

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/06/ccpur-college-facing-acute-shortage-of-lecturers/

IMPHAL, June 12: A Centre for Organisation Research and Education (CORE) executive team traversed the National Highway 37 – formerly known as NH 53 on 2nd June this year enroute to Jiribam from Imphal to participate in the celebrations of World Environment Day in the villages of Kaiphundai and Khangbor in Tamenglong and Churachandpur districts respectively, said a press statement.

Adding that, it means to state that a major portion of this much maligned national highway is comfortably motorable for any kind of vehicle. The journey revealed that there is much more to this important “lifeline of Manipur” than just a story of a neglected highway and an incompetent organisation entrusted with the task to maintain it.

The highway (NH 37), when they looked at it critically and in detail, is not always like the commonly shared image of mud, dirt and rocks throughout its length – first of all. There are many sections that are in excellent condition, so it is untrue to say that this entire highway is neglected. The road is in a very bad condition in several sections and places, and these sections have been more or less identified as chronic problem areas such as land and rock slide, sinking or perennially wet due to seepage of water, etc. So they looked at these sections with more attention to decipher the underlying factors for this chronicity. According to the team’s finding findings; The key bridges at Irang, Barak and Makru Rivers for example, and some of the larger associated culverts are just not given the urgent due attention that they deserve from the highways authority for many years, resulting in outdated and dangerous structures, it continued.

It seems to CORE that these crucial infrastructures for the maintenance of traffic on this highway have received no capital investment or planning exercise; The associated approach sections to these precarious bridges and culverts are naturally also in a very bad condition because of the neglect of these structures; There are a few well known “sinking sections” on this highway but no substantial effort to make a lasting shoring of these sections are seen from the authority organisation – these sections, which are few in number must be given high priority attention along with the bridges mentioned; There is a new threat to this highway that is not recognised at all. The constructions underway undertaken by the NFR (Northeast Frontier Railway) for the Jiribam to Tupul broad-gauge railway line is taking a very heavy toll on the highway in those sections where the railway will run in the vicinity of the road. Very heavy machinery and loaded trucks use these sections continuously with heavy loads and with great daily frequency. It is unclear to CORE whether the NFR’s railway construction budget for this works running into thousands of Crores of rupees includes a direct compensation to the highway authority and the state for its use, repairs and maintenance of road and drainage, maintained the statement.

In such identified sections where the NFR and its contractor firms are heavily using the road with heavy machinery and loaded vehicles, the NFR’s responsibility must clearly established, and such wear and tear that is seen on these sections must be Railway’s direct responsibility too BECAUSE as long as this construction works continue – well into 2018 and perhaps beyond, these sections will continue to be in jeopardy affecting the normal passenger and freight traffic drastically, said the release.

The government of Manipur must monitor usage of the highway by the NFR through a standing expert committee that constantly keeps an eye on the activities that affect and damage the highway, the environment, rivers, forests and tribal communities living nearby.

Further, there are hundreds of freight trucks plying on the NH 37 beyond permissible load limits, which cause very serious damage to the surface of the road and directly affecting the pitiable bridges. Permissible load limits on freight trucks must be regularly and stringently enforced.

CORE strongly urges the government of Manipur and concerned authorities such as BRTF, NFR, PWD, FCI, etc., that once these five priority areas are taken care of on urgent top priority basis, we can also stop passing the buck to anyone and everyone in an under-informed and summary manner, said a statement from the executive director.

 

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/06/core-deplores-nh-37-condition/