Land of Jewels (Sana Leibak)

DoNER fund allocation slashed: New Delhi, May 2: Several development projects in the North-East are likely to be hit following massive reduction in allocation of the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) funds. The Ministry made a projection of Rs 2,922 crore for the current fiscal, however, actual allocation was pegged at Rs 1455 crore, leaving it high and dry. Subsequently, the Ministry intimated a Parliamentary Standing Committee that due to reduction in the allocation by almost 50 per cent projects would suffer. The Ministry would not be able to implement the scheme for development of the region. The reduction in allocation is the latest set back to hit the Ministry. However, there has been increase in plan outlay for Non Lapsable Central Pool of Resources (NLCPR) and North Eastern Council (NEC) and North Eastern States Road Projects, whereas loan to NEDFi has remained static. Besides, the projects under development of inland waterways in the NER have been entrust...

'DoNER should be further empowered': New Delhi: The North East MPs forum has urged the Prime Minister to make the DoNER Ministry a full fledged one with more powers and budget instead of abolishing it altogether as suggested by the Administrative Reforms Commission recently. "While opposing the recommendations of the Commission, we also strongly urge upon your good office to upgrade the Ministry of DoNER to a full fledged Ministry with all powers vested in it and with adequate financial and coordinating powers for the development of the North Eastern Region", the MPs who met Dr Manmohan Singh on Thursday night said, adding that the entire fund accumulated in the consolidated fund of India, as accruals in the NLCPR should be kept at the disposal of the Ministry of DONER so that it could exclusively play the role of a nodal Ministry for planning and all round development of the Region. "The Ministry of DoNER has so far only been distributing the Non-lapsable Centra...

Basic infrastructure lacking: Imphal, Feb 4: Marred by inordinate delay in installing the necessary infrastructure for the much hyped National Sports Academy, the highly coveted Academy, like many other projects taken up in the State, has stumbled on its first step. In fact, the sports loving people of Manipur are expecting nothing less than an impetus forceful enough to propel the sports movement of the State to a higher level compatible with international standard from the Academy. But the Academy as it stands today has belied all hopes and expectations. Yet, efforts are on to install the necessary infrastructure within this year. Director of Youth Affairs and Sports Boby Waikhom noted that the National Sports Academy is one of the most coveted institutions in Manipur. Just as much as the people value this Academy, they are expecting a lot from the Academy, he observed. The National Sports Academy Imphal opened last year. Of the 60 students of the Academy's first batch, nine were...

Three bridges see light of the day: Imphal, Dec 24: After long years of waiting, three bridges constructed by the Public Works Department (PWD) -- Keishamthong bridge, Singjamei bridge and Heirangoithong bridge were finally inaugurated and dedicated to the people on Monday. However, Joint Action Committee on Singjamei Bridge Construction has taken strong exception to the inauguration of the bridge even before construction of the retaining wall and black-topping of the approach roads and contended that it is in violation of the agreement signed with the Chief Engineer of PWD. Works Minister K Ranjit inaugurated the bridges one after another. Constructed over Imphal river, the Singjamei bridge was inaugurated at 9 am and Heirangoithong bridge and Keishamthong bridge that have been constructed over Nambul river were inaugurated at 10 am and 10.50 am respectively. According to Chief Engineer of PWD Ng Rashtrapati under whose overall supervision the construction works were taken up, the con...

Ibobi calls for regional bamboo policy: Imphal, Dec 19: The Manipur chief minister has urged the Union Ministry of Development of North East Region that a bamboo plan should be executed to increase the value addition of the bamboo resources available in north eastern region, NER through a farmer friendly regional policy, an official said Wednesday. While urging the DoNER, Manipur chief minister O Ibobi Singh, who was participating in the North Eastern Council, NEC meeting at New Delhi, stated that the National Institute of Rural Development, NIRD has also recommended the need for special attention to the poor among the non-agricultural sector, particularly among the artisans and handloom weavers and small traders. The two day meeting which discussed the plan size of the NEC for the next five year plan concluded yesterday. About 17.1 percent of households in Manipur, 8.9 percent in rural and 27.8 percent in the urban, depend on non-agricultural sector for their livelihood. "There i...

Revamp DoNER, NEC: Aiyar New Delhi, Dec 18: With the Centre drawing up plans to pump in more funds into the North Eastern Region, Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) Minister Mani Shanker Aiyar has underlined the urgent need for a major revamp of his Ministry and the North Eastern Council (NEC). While the initiative to energise the DoNER has gained momentum, the Minister said his Ministry is now ready to play the role of ambassador of the North Eastern States (NES) in Delhi. Aiyar has been reviewing the various initiatives taken during the year at the third plenary meeting of the NEC that concluded here on Tuesday. Briefing newspersons at the end of the meeting, Aiyar said that as a result of the intensive revision, they are in a position to assert that there should be a major revamp of the DoNER and NEC to tackle the new role given to his Ministry. “If DoNER is to live up to its name, then it is not enough to be it should be disbursing Non-Lapsable Central Pool of Resources (N...

Look East Policy has not befitted NE: Aiyar New Delhi, Dec 18: Unhappy with the Government's 'Look East' policy, Minister for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) Mani Shankar Aiyar on Tuesday said the region has virtually received no dividend from the initiative. "The North-East has received virtually no benefit from the 'Look East' policy so we requested the Ministry of External Affairs to convene a meeting of the eight chief ministers of the region's states," he said on the conclusion of the two-day 55th North East Regional Council meeting here. Six out of the eight chief ministers of the north-eastern states turned up in the meeting and a decision was taken that there has to be a full North-East component in the Look East policy. "We hope this will mean meaningful involvement of the north eastern states in the 'Look East' policy," he added. He also urged the Central Government for merger of two different funds allocated to ...