Day: September 12, 2012

SHILLONG, Sept 12 NNN : As part of promoting livelihood, the central government is all set to promote by double the fish production in the North Eastern region by 2020, officials Tuesday said.“We are targeting a total production of seven lakh tones of fish by achieving a per capita availability of 15 kg by 2020”, Director of Odisha-based Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture (CIFA) Dr P Jayasankar said.
Jayasankar was addressing at a “consultative conclave on Aquaculture Development” for the stakeholders of North Eastern states including Sikkim held in in Shillong on Tuesday.
He further informed, “We are already on the job” adding “ We have set a target for the region to double its fish production in another eight years.”
Mentionably, the conclave aimed at identifying the critical gaps in aquaculture development in the region and to develop an strategic action plan to match the requirements of the region.
Further the CIFA director said, “The NE states has been identified as “rich” in natural resources for fisheries” adding “A total of 14,648 km of reverine fisheries resources like rivers, lakes, ponds, streams and flood plains are ideal environment for development of fisheries in the region.”He however lamented on the increased exploitation of aquatic resources and said that expansion of fishery resources could open opportunities in aquaculture development.
Presently, the region produces over three lakh Metric tonne of fish in a year with Meghalaya contributing to 4,577 MT, Assam 2.3 lakh MT, Manipur 20,200 MT, Mizoram 2,901 MT, Nagaland 6,585 MT, Tripura 49,231 MT and Sikkim 180 MT.
Speaking at the conclave as the chief guest, State Chief Secretary WMS Pariat informed that the state government is taking up fishery on high scale. He said, the government had even launched a state flagship programme for promoting fishery development in the region.
He said, “Development in fishery sector will generate wealth and employment for the people of the region and it will also prevent crores of rupees from being drained out of the state by importing fish.”
He however called upon financial institutions to support the people’s friendly initiatives of fishery development in the region.
Pariat also dwelt at length on the need to developed strategies to preserve conservation of fishes in their natural habitat and advised the stakeholders to upgrade and equipped themselves with skills and also to be educated from the daylong deliberations of the conclave.
Meanwhile, Meghalaya Principal Secretary of Fisheries department KN Kumar said, “The state government is raising 100 fish sanctuaries to promote tourism.”
He informed, “Apart, the government has set a target to produce 25, 000 Mt of fish in a year from these sanctuaries” adding “Investment would also be raised from Rs 3 crore to 1200 crore a year.”

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/fish-production-to-be-increased/

AIZAWL, Sept 12 NNN: Expressing its grave concern over the decision of the Principal of Sainik School, Imphal (Manipur) to expel 19 Mizo students as the latter could not clear their school fees, the largest students’ body of Mizoram known as the Mizo Zirlai Pawl (MZP) apprised chief minister Lal Thanhawla regarding the problem being faced by the Mizo students by submitting a written request to him to help the Mizo students of Sainik School in Imphal.
The MZP submitted their letter to Lal Thanhawla in which it mentioned that 25% of the students’ fees is to be paid by the Mizo students of Sainik School on their own while 75% is to be paid by the Mizoram school education department, and added, “The state school department on its part is still unable to pay its share for both 2011-12 sessions and 2012-13.”
The Mizoram students’ body then said that the Mizo students of Sainik School, Imphal are now in great despair since the Mizoram government could not pay its share of the students’ fees. “We had also informed the same to the Mizoram Education department a number of times and even Sainik School officials had also sent letters to the Education department regarding the fees due to be paid,” disclosed the Mizo Zirlai Pawl.
In the written request to Mizoram chief minister Lal Thanhawla, the MZP said, “We earnestly request you to kindly take steps to solve the problem of the students at the earliest.”
It can be noted here the Mizo Zirlai Pawl has been dealing the problems faced by students and education institutions.
On September 2, after a long struggle by Mizo Zirlai Pawl (MZP), funds for different colleges of Mizoram for progress and betterment, under XIth Plan colleges of Mizoram were sanctioned.
University Grant Commission had sanctioned funds to various colleges in Mizoram such as College Development Fund and ‘Merged Scheme’. There are 14 head fund allocation under Merged scheme. This fund are directly given to the college principal for various allocation plan viz: Women Hostel, Sports Infrastructural, Development Grant (Construction, renovation, Infrastructure, etc. and Additional grant for developing Infrastructure (Equipments/Teaching aids, Furniture, Library books).
The University Grants Commission (UGC) provides financial assistance to eligible colleges which are included under Section 2F and declared fit to receive central assistance (UGC grant) under Section 12 (B) of UGC Act, 1956 as per approved pattern of assistance under various schemes. Seeing on these schemes, there are 21 colleges in Mizoram has 2F and 12B, they received College Development Fund & Merged Scheme under XIth Plan from UGC while Govt. Saiha College used to get UGC fund allocation under Xth Plan mention in this aforesaid conference.
MZP had revealed that some colleges in Mizoram used to received 59.35 lakhs for their college fund and some colleges received Rs.93.25 lakhs from UGC. The fund amount which come from UGC are to be utilized to form various committee like Purchase Committee, Building Committee and Equal opportunity, so that colleges of Mizoram can utilize neat and fairly and to plan for making Planning Board in Mizoram UGC proposed.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/mizo-students-body-concerned-with-problems-of-mizo-students-in-imphal/

MNS:- Minister of Civil Aviation ShriAjit Singh launched the first Air India B787 Dreamliner Aircraft at a function at the Indira Gandhi International Airport today. 27 Boeing 787 will be delivered from 2012 to March 2016. The first of the aircrafts had arrived in New Delhi on 8th September 2012.
Later Shri Singh held a press conference addressing a variety of issues on Air India and civil aviation sector in general. The salient points of the statement of the Minister on the occasion are as follows:
1. Air India signed an agreement for purchase of 68 aircrafts (23-B777, 18-B737, 27-B787) in December 2005. 27 B787 due for delivery in September 2008 to October 2011 will now be delivered from 2012 to March 2016. The first B787 has already arrived in Delhi. Air India is going to get 5 more B787 in the current year upto December 2012.
B787 will commence flying to Europe and Australia from Winter-2012 and it is expected that the aircraft will be a game changer for Air India.
2. B787 has 3 distinct features
a) Fuel Efficiency – In terms of less fuel consumption to the extent of 15% as compared to aircraft in the same class (Airbus330). (This would be 30% less if compared with B777).
b) Passenger Comfort – Apart from passenger comfort in terms of comfortable & bigger seats, inflight entertainment, mood lightings, lavatories, large windows, the most distinguished feature of this aircraft is the Cabin Pressure Control, which allows cabin pressure to be set at lower levels i.e. equivalent to 6000 feet for B787 in lieu of 8000 feet. Besides, it is equipped with a Gaseous Air Purification System. Both these features provide enhanced passenger comfort in terms of less fatigue and more freshness during long-haul flights.
c) Less Carbon emission, thereby causing less environmental pollution.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/civil-aviation-minister-launches-first-b787-dreamliner-aircraft-of-air-india/