79.32 % Villages in Manipur Under Rural Electrification Program

In Manipur, five hill districts have the highest number of electrified villages namely, Chandel, Ukhrul, Senapati and Tamenglong district in the top four positions, according to the latest data.
Even though the state was experiencing shortfall in power supply, electricity department had been able to cover 79.32 percent of the total villages across the state. An official source said that the department had electrified 2002 villages till March of this current year under rural electrification programme.
In Manipur, rural electrification programmes like, Prime Minister’s Package under Non-lapsable Central Pool of Resources (NLCPR), Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana (RGGVY), Restructured Accelerated Power Development and Reform Programme (R-APDRP), State Rural Electrification and others had been implemented with the target of achieving cent percent result. Meanwhile, Manipur Renewal Energy Development Agency (MANIREDA) under the Manipur Science and Technology Department was supporting electrification programme for the remote areas with non-conventional energy sources, like solar, wind, biomass and others.
The source further disclosed that the demand of power had always surpassed the supply, adding that against the actual 170 Megawatt of power required, only 110 were met.
Another factor in the shortfall of power supply was transmission and distribution system, the source said. It may be mentioned that Manipur purchase 489.594 MU of energy from the Central Sector Power Agencies at a cost of Rs 107.64 crores and 44.786 MU of energy was received from the Loktak Project free of cost.
But the outstanding due payable to the Central Sector Agencies for purchased of power as on March 31 was Rs 19.5848 crores including Rs 17.2632 crore with the Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd. (PGCIL) and Rs 2.3216 crore with Assam State Electricity Board (ASEB).

Governor inaugurates JNIMS in Imphal

Imphal, Aug 17 : Manipur Governor Gurbhachan Jagat today inaugurated the Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS) at Porompat, Imphal East. The JNIMS will impart both Under-Graduate and Post-Graduate education to medical students and deliver high-quality healthcare services to the patients. Speaking on the occasion, the Governor appealed to the government to start planning from now so that attractive packages could be offered to the Graduate and Post-Graduate students of the institute.

The JNIMS would also be functioning as a hospital with advanced systems of diagnosis and treatment and the National Institute of Technology (NIT), Imphal, would also offer consultancy services through its faculty.

''Even after the passage of more than 60 years of the Independence, we have not been able to provide quality healthcare services to all of our citizens, especially the rural poor,'' Mr Jagat said.

''We have some systems in place, but we do not have willing doctors to go and serve in the difficult areas,'' he said and appealed to the government to provide a scheme of incentives to the doctors willing to serve in these areas.

Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh, state Health Minister Ph Parijat and others attended the function.

Manipur is a mini-India; Ibobi calls for harmony

Imphal | Aug 16 : "Manipur is a mini-India. Various tribes and communities have co-existed peacefully for a long, long time. The campaign by some elements against the non-Manipuris (people from mainland India) in the state is very unfortunate," rued chief minister O.Ibobi Singh while delivering the Independence Day speech at First Manipur Rifles Ground in Imphal this morning. The chief minister was pointing to the Revolutionary Peoples Front (RPF)'s campaign against the non-Manipuris in the state.
O.Ibobi Singh said that such mindset of communalism should not be harboured by anybody in the state.
The chief minister then emphasized the need to have strong relationship and unity between the hills and the valley people. He said that unless the people of the hills and the valley join hands together, there cannot be encouraging future. Ibobi said that it was time for both the people of the valley and the hills to understand together.
On the Autonomous District Council (ADC) impasse, O. Ibobi Singh said assured that all the needed powers and facilities will be given to the ADCs. "We will give powers which will not be less than those Autonomous District Councils in the rest of the North Eastern states," assured the Manipur chief minister in his Independence Day speech. Ibobi said that the committee formed headed by the state chief secretary is studying minutely on the matter in order to give teeth to the ADCs.
On the issue of census operation overlapping issue, the chief minister said that the committee under the chairmanship of the chief secretary whose members include the Principal Secretary (Hills), the Commissioners of Revenue and Home departments are examining the matter and the reports are almost ready. The chief minister also touched on various areas with regard to developmental fronts in the state in his speech.

Imphal deserted on I-Day

Imphal, August 16 (NNN): Amid boycott called by the various underground organisations in Manipur, Independence Day was celebrated in Manipur in many parts. As of every year the empty streets in the state capital Imphal greeted the Independence Day in Imphal this morning. No shops and other activities were carried out due to the bandh and boycott called by various militant groups in Manipur. Amid this situation, the main function was celebrated at First Manipur Rifles Ground in Imphal with chief minister O.Ibobi Singh hoisting the Tricolour this morning.
Inspite of the militant groups under the umbrella organisation of the Manipur Peoples Liberation Front (MPLF) boycotting the celebrations of the Independence Day celebrations in Manipur while the KYKL has called 12 hours Manipur bandh on the day against the celebrations of the Independence Day, a sizeable number of general public, ministers, MLAs, top bureaucrats of the state, military officials and others participated in the Independence Day celebration at the First Manipur Rifles Ground. Meanwhile, the bandh in Manipur particularly in the valley districts was almost total with the streets looking deserted. No shops were seen opened. Children and few people were seen loitering in the streets. In general, it was a quiet Imphal today.

First academic session of NIT Manipur commences

IMPHAL, Aug 13 : The first academic session of the National Institute of Technology (NIT) Manipur, was officially inaugurated by the Chief Minister of Manipur, O. Ibobi Singh today at the Takyelpat Government polytechnic.

The session was officially declared open by the Chief Minister after cutting ribbons of the temporary buildings which included hostels, class rooms, of NIT located inside the Government Polytechnic campus.

Out of the 6 NIT allocated to the North Eastern Region the NIT Manipur is the first one to begin its sessions.

While delivering his speech during the inaugural function Chief Minsiter, O. Ibobi, assured that besides the existing facilities like computer science and engineering (CSC), Electronics and Communication Engineering (ECE) and Electrical and Electronic Engineering (EEE) more course will be upgraded and also ensure adequate infrastructures and equipment and asserted that no stone will be left un-turn to push the NIT Manipur to the level of IIT.

While clarifying over the delayed in starting the construction work of the institute, the Chief Minister pointed out that the trouble was with the acquisition of land however the process of acquisition for the 313 acres at the Lamphelpat is over. A sum of Rupees 30 crores has been earmarked for fencing and compensation of lands, he said adding if necessary the Government is planning to acquire about 200 acres more.

Chief Minister Ibobi while stating that all necessary construction work is being taken by the PDA, asserted that the Government is targeting to complete the construction of the permanent NIT within 3 to 4 years. He further contended that the temporary construction is being constructed under the funding of the state Government. Allotting NIT to Manipur is a fortunate thing for the students and the youths and appealed the people to extend their full co-operation in realizing the dreams of the Government for its citizen.

Education and Transport Minister, L. Jayenta Kumar in his speech lauded the Prime Minister of India for granting the NIT to Manipur. He appealed the people not to cause any kind of disturbances to the gift of the state especially the student’s community.

In his key note address Prof. PK. Bose, Director, NIT, he stated that the state Government has provided all help and support for starting of NIT, Manipur. According to him during the short period necessary construction of infrastructure at the temporary campus was successfully done by Manipur Development society (MDS) and at the same time PWD, Power Department and PHED, has given all their supports.

He said that the NIT Manipur will not confine with the engineering courses but also include Management courses and applied sciences in future. In this session only 61 students against 90 were admitted in which 7 are girls and 54 are boys out of which 20 boys are from outside the state of Manipur adding the session was started from 2nd August this year.

Thongju MLA and Deputy Chairman Planning Board, Bijoy Koijam, opposition leader Radhabinod Koijam, VC MU, Prof. C. Amuba, also attended as the guest of the function.

Mob storms police station in Manipur

Angry over the death of a man accused of militant at police custody, mob stormed Moirang police station of Bishnupur district on Thursday.
The mob also lodged complaint with the Imphal Chief Minister led by local MLA.
A 26-year old youth named Naorem Modhu was apprehended by a combined force of Bishnupur district police commandos and troops of 12 Maratha Li and handed over to Moirang police station.
The combined force handed over the youth along with one of his cousin Noarem Beighyachandra alleging them to be activists of KYKL.
Controversy over the death of the youth surfaced when police said that the combined forces handed over dead body of one of them in which the forces reportedly contradicted by saying that he was handed over alive.
Meanwhile, villagers in large number rose up against the custodian death of one of the youths and stormed the Moirang Police Station today, said local report adding that the mob was put under control with additional police personnel of Bishnupur district police headquarters before they could enter inside the campus of police station.
Further, the MLA along with the SP of the district assured that appropriate action would be taken after investigation.

Patriots' day to be observed in Manipur

Imphal, Aug 12 : Patriots' day would be observed in Manipur tomorrow to pay tribute to those who were hanged by the Britishers after the Anglo-Manipur War of 1891.

One August 13, 1891, Prince Koireng, General Thangal were hanged to death at Pheidabung and the day is observed as the Patriots' day every year.

Three others hanged for waging war against the colonial British empire were Niranjan Subedar (8 June 1891), Kajao Singh, Jamandar (May 25, 1891) and Chirai Naga of Mayangkhang (October 13, 1891).

Starting from early morning, the observations would be done at different places before culminating at BT park where a memorial had been constructed.

Congress MLA beats up Manipur government official

Imphal, Aug 3 : A Congress MLA beat up a Manipur government official for refusing to hand over some equipment to electrify parts of his Assembly constituency, resulting in protest by employees of the electricity department.

The police said Congress MLA K Meghachandra thrashed the superintending engineer of the electricity department, S Joy Kumar, on Monday when he refused to part with any equipment without permission of the chief engineer who was away at the time.

The employees of the department lodged a strong protest with power minister Phungzathang Tonsing who in turn lodged a complaint with Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh asking for the MLA to tender an apology.

They also held a sit-in protest on Tuesday demanding legal action against the legislator.