Manipuri pony facing extinction

Imphal, March 4 (IANS): The small but efficient Manipuri pony may soon be declared an endangered species like the brow-antlered deer. Both these animals are found only in Manipur. "In the livestock census conducted in 2012, the population of this pony was found to be 1,100 only," Veterinary Minister Govindas Konthoujam said. N. Tombiraj, secretary general of the Manipur Polo Society, told IANS that the population of the pony is fast decreasing. "Apart from the dwindling spaces of the grazing grounds resulting from rapid urbanisation, the semi-wild pony is not kept at home but let loose. Many of them are seen in the town streets, mostly eating hotel and house garbage stuffed in plastic bags. As such, they are susceptible to deadly diseases and road accidents," Tombiraj said. Polo players herd the ponies from the grazing fields only at the time of tournaments. Tombiraj said: "Manipur's pony is 10 hands high whereas the horses in other parts are as high as 14 hands. Intensive research is being done on the pony in India and abroad." The Manipur government had sanctioned Rs.two crore some years ago for a pony farm at Tingkhai Khunnou in Senapati district. Five veterinarians and other workers were posted there. However, officials said the farm was as good as closed down now. Tombiraj is worried, saying that once the ponies become extinct the polo game which is Manipur's gift to the world will suffer. Manipuri players have so far been world champions in almost all polo tournaments. Veterinary Minister Konthoujam said the Manipur government is going ahead with a project to preserve the pony. "Seventy acres of land has been set aside at Heingang in Imphal east district for setting up a pony sanctuary. A proposal for the sanctuary that will cost Rs.78 crore has been sent to the central government," he said. The state government has drafted a comprehensive Manipur state pony policy, the minister said. That's easier said than done. Local people have been objecting to the plan to convert paddy fields to a pony sanctuary and the government has yet to address the issue. In the past, the pony had a considerable population. Each man was a soldier in the days of kings in Manipur. He trained himself as a cavalryman and any time he could be conscripted for war with neighbouring kingdoms. In those days, a royal army consisted of foot soldiers and the cavalry. There was then no problem of shrinking grazing grounds. Intelligent, sturdy and fast running ponies helped Manipuri warriors win many wars against neighbouring kingdoms. Officials and polo lovers say that they are in full agreement with minister Konthoujam and that unless something is done even at this late hour, the Manipuri pony may soon become extinct.

Manipur quake damaged 3,218 houses

Source: The Assam Tribune by Sobhapati Samom

(Photos by manipurnews.com)


IMPHAL, Feb 10 - The 6.8 magnitude powerful earthquake that struck Manipur on January 4 has damaged 3,218 houses besides claiming 10 lives in the State.
This was disclosed by State Chief Secretary O Nabakishore at a press conference here on Wednesday.
He said Senapati district was the worst affected with 601 severely damaged kutcha houses and other infrastructures (55) followed by Tamenglong and Imphal West districts.
As many as 248 schools, 106 community assets and market sheds and 62 government buildings were also damaged during the most powerful earthquake in the last 50 years.
He said, so far a compensation of Rs 4 lakh each was given to six families of the deceased. An assessment team from Centre is expected to visit the State soon based on a memorandum submitted to the Central Government, the Chief Secretary added.
A sum of Rs 10 crore has been released through the Deputy Commissioners to provide compensation of Rs 1 lakh to each household in the hills and Rs 90,000 in the valley districts, he said.

Manipur receives highest foreign tourists in NE

Source:   Hueiyen News Service HNS/Imphal, Aug 5: Among the northeastern States, Manipur received highest number of visiting foreign tourists in 2013. According to an official statement released on Tuesday, India's northeastern states saw a surge of foreign tourists in 2013 registering a growth of 27.9 percent over 2012 with Manipur leading the rest in terms of growth of Foreign Tourist Visits (FTVs).The Northeastern states had seen 12.5 percent growth in Foreign Tourist Visits (FTVs) in 2012 over 2011. The growth of FTVs in 2013 over 2012 was the maximum in Manipur (154.7 percent), followed by Arunachal Pradesh (111.2 percent), Tripura (51.2 percent), Nagaland (32.7 percent), Meghalaya (27.5 percent), Sikkim (19.7 percent) and Mizoram (7.5 percent). Assam witnessed the least growth in FTVs at just 0.5 percent.

Construction Work of World’s tallest Railway Bridge began at Noney in Manipur

The construction work of the world’s tallest railway bridge began on 28 July 2014 near Noney in Manipur, India. Northeast Frontier Railway Construction Organisation (NFRCO) will be administering the whole project.
At 141 meters, the height of the tallest pillar of the bridge of Jiribaum – Tupul – Imphal railway line is slated to become the tallest bridge in the world from viewpoint of pillar’s height. The height of the other piers of this 700 metres bridge varies between 50-90 metres.
This bridge will surpass the existing tallest bridge of Mala-Rijeka viaduct in Europe on Belgrade-Bar railway line where the height of pillars is 139 meters.
The bridge with overall length of 700 metres, will be the part of 111 Km long broad gauge railway line connecting Jiribam-Tupul-Imphal. The purpose of building this network is to connect Imphal with the nation’s railway network.
The Jiribam – Tupul – Imphal rail line will see construction of about 46 tunnels with total 54.5 Km length.
The first phase of project to build 84 Kms railway line from Jiribam from Tupul, is scheduled for completion by March 2016.
Jiribam, a small town of Manipur, is located at 37 metres above Mean Sea Level while Imphal is situated at 780 meters above Mean Seal level.
The railway bridge on River Chenab on Jammu-Kashmir rail line which is under construction has a gorge of about 360 meter deep from rail level to river bed. It is considered the highest railway bridge of World.

LIST OF CHIEF MINISTERS OF MANIPUR

Sl. No.	Name	From	To	Political Party
1	Mairembam Koireng Singh	1st July            1963	11 January      1967	Indian National Congress
	President‘s Rule	12 July             1967	19 March        1967
2	Mairembam Koireng Singh	20 March         1967	4 October      1967	Indian National Congress
3	Longjam Thambou Singh	13 October      1967	24 October     1967	Manipur United Front
	President‘s Rule	25 October      1967	18 February   1968
4	Mairembam Koireng Singh	19 February    1968	16 October     1969	Indian National Congress
	President‘s Rule	17 October      1969	22 March        1972
5	Mohammed Alimuddin	23 March         1972	27 March        1973	Manipur People’s Party
	President‘s Rule	28 March         1973	3 March          1974
6	Mohammed Alimuddin	4 March          1974	9 July               1974	Manipur People’s Party
7	Yangmasho Shaiza	10 July              1974	5 December   1974	Manipur Hills Union
8	Raj Kumar Dorendro Singh	6 December    1974	15 May            1977	Indian National Congress
	President‘s Rule	16 May             1977	28 June            1977
9	Yangmasho Shaiza	29 June            1977	13 November 1979	Janata Party
	President‘s Rule	14 November 1979	13 January      1980
10	Raj Kumar Dorendro Singh	14 January      1980	26 November 1980	Indian National Congress
11	Rishang Keishing	27 November 1980	27 February    1981	Indian National Congress
	President‘s Rule	28 February    1981	18 June            1981
12	Rishang Keishing	19 June            1981	3 March          1988	Indian National Congress (I)
13	Raj Kumar Jaichandra Singh	4 March           1988	22 February    1990	Indian National Congress (I)
14	Raj Kumar Ranbir Singh	23 February    1990	6 January         1992	Manipur People’s Party
	President‘s Rule	7 January        1992	7 April              1992
15	Raj Kumar Dorendro Singh	8 April              1992	10 April            1993	Indian National Congress (I)
16	President‘s Rule	31 December  1993	13 December  1994
17	Rishang Keishing	14 December  1994	15 December  1997	Indian National Congress (I)
18	Wahengbam Nipamacha Singh	16 December 1997	14 February    2001	Manipur State Congress Party
19	Radhabinod Koijam	15 February   2001	1 June            2001	Samata Party
	President‘s Rule	2 June            2001	6 March         2002
20	Okram Ibobi Singh	7 March         2002	1 March         2007	Indian National Congress (I)
21	Okram Ibobi Singh	2 March         2007	13 March        2012	Indian National Congress (I)
22	Okram Ibobi Singh	14 March       2012	Present	Indian National Congress (I)