Manipur News

IMPHAL, July 27NNN : Different varieties of flavoursome rice items produced in Manipur can be sold to other big states of the country through System of Rice Intensification (SRI) after proper development of irrigation and drainage canals and paddy bun (dike).
“Surplus rice production through double cropping under India’s historic Green Revolution has so far been successful, but vast areas in North Eastern states including Manipur have remained unsuccessful in taking it up till now,” social worker and Irabot Foundation Manipur president Th Iboyaima told newspersons at the foundation office, Singajamei here on Saturday.
He said different varieties of flavoursome rice items produced in Manipur can be sold to other big states of India through System of Rice Intensification after proper development of irrigation and drainage canals and paddy bun in the state.
Irabot Foundation under its campaign for greening Manipur started since 2007 has been working jointly with farmers in the state for double cropping by cultivating vegetable crops in the fields which are left unused after seasonal rice cropping.
He said the annual total rice production of Manipur is 4, 10, 100 metric tonne but its actual requirement is 6, 37, 666 metric tonne per year—660 gm per head for daily for the total 26, 45, 911 population of the state.
Lack of proper dikes has destroyed 83, 850 pari (hectre) of paddy fields by Loktak Project, Tipaimukh Dam Project has ruined 25, 822 hectre of paddy fields and another 523 hectre has been submerged and destroyed by the Singda Dam Project in the state, he said.
Besides, another 700 sangam of paddy fields has been destroyed due to development of the International Airport after forced land acquisition in the area by the state Government, Iboyaima added.
A large number of oil pumps, private schools, brick fields, Government office buildings and private building have also been put up in a vast cultivated land areas in the state, he said.
The social activist also announced that a public discussion on the continuing emaciation of arable land in Manipur will be held on August 1 at MDU hall, Imphal during which different resolutions will be taken to stop this practice in the state.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/manipur-rice-can-be-exported/

IMPHAL, July 27: NNN : A panel discussion of tribal intellectuals has termed the move of Scheduled Tribe Demand Committee of Manipur Valley (STDCMV) as ‘backward process’.
The STDCMV has been demanding for converting the Meitei community who belong to the general category, to a Scheduled Tribe under the Constitution of India.Organised by All Tribal Students Union, Manipur (ATSUM) at Tribal Research Institute (TRI), Imphal, the programme after a prologed panel discussion on the theme ‘Constitution perspective of Scheduled Tribe vis a vis the communities of Manipur’ the tribal leaders present in the meeting adopted a unanimouse decision for the well being of the tribal people.
The meeting vehemently opposed the move of the STDCM as it is a backward process.
The meeting resolved that a ‘core committee’ inclusive of the members from various disciplines under the aegis of All Tribal Students Union, Manipur (ATSUM) be formed at the earliest.
It was also resolved that anything related to the administration of the hills should be referred to the Hill Area Committee (HAC) under Article 371(C) to secure effective governance of the hills.
Nehkholal Haokip who is the assembly affairs of ATSUM gave a welcome address while ATSUM president Muan Tombing delivered the key-note address.
Dr. Gaikhamsim, Dr. Khashim Ruivah, Daniel Ramson, Dr Benjamin Gangmei and Advocate Khupchinpau Guite participated in the panel discussion.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/discussion-on-meitei-status/

Mail News Service
Imphal, July 27 : The Citizens Concern for Dams and Development and the Committee on the Protection of Natural Resources in Manipur welcomed the “Forest Clearance” rejection for the proposed I500 MW proposed Tipaimukh Multipurpose Hydroelectric Project by the Forest Advisory meeting on 11 -12m July 2012. The rejection of forest clearance by FAC has proven that the Govt of Manipur and dam building companies pursued destructive forms of development in Manipur with no Clearance” for Tipaimukh dam on 24 October 2008 was accorded based on wrong information.
The reasons of objections outlined by the FAC of MoEF that the project Tipaimukh Dam project would cause widespread devastation of the flora, fauna; ecology in Barak Riverine Ecosystem and socio economic conditions for affected communities has long been highlighted by affected communities and proposed Tipaimukh Dam is simply more than one hundred (100) times the average rate of forest submergence by any other hydel projects in India is just an absurd reality. Further, the requirement of Sixteen (16) hectares of forest land for every Mega Wan of power to be generated is estra-ordinarily Sq. Km) will be one of the highest land requirement by any single project all over the world. The process for granting ‘Environment Clearance” and “Forest Clearance” has been carried out without any research.
The Citizens Concern for Dams and Development and the Committee on the Protection of Natural Resources in Manipur would like to urge the Miniscry of Environment and Forest and tha Govtof India to respect the recommendations of the Forest Advisory Committee on Tipaimukh Dam not to also high time that the Govtof Manipur revoke the MoU signed with National Hydroelectric Power Corporation and the Salluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited in 2010 given the confirmed multifaceted impacts. The Govtshould now embark on an alternative model of power generation Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, 2007 should be respected while pursuing mega dams.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/decision-on-tipaimukh-dam-welcomed/