MANIPUR

MANIPUR

Area : 22,327 sq km , Population : 22,93,896 (2001 Census)
Capital : Imphal , Principal Language : Manipuri

HISTORY AND GEOGRAPHY

Manipur has a long and glorious history from before the beginning of the Christian era. The recorded history of kingship started from 33 A.D., which marked the coronation of Pakhangba. After Pakhangba a series of kings ruled over the kingdom of Manipur. The independence and sovereignly of Manipur remained uninterrupted until the Burmese invaded and occupied it for approximately seven years in the first quarter of the 19th century (1819-1826). Then came the British Parmaountcy in 1891. Manipur regained independence along with the rest of India in 1947. When the Constitution of India came into force on the 26th January, 1950, Manipur became a Part C State under a Chief Commissioner in 1950 - 51, a Council of Advisors was introduced and in 1957 this was replacedby a territorial Council of 30 elected and 2 nominated members. Later in 1963 a Territorial Assembly of 30 elected and 3 nominated members was established under the Government of Union Territories Act, 1963. In December 1969 the Chief Commissioner was replaced by the Lt. Governor. Manipur became a full- States and Union Territories Pledged State on the 21st January, 1972 with a Legislative Assembly of 60 members of whom 19 are reserved for Scheduled Tribes an one for Scheduled Castes. The state is represented in the Lok Sabha by two members and by one member in Rajya Sabha.

Manipur is situated on the eastern frontier of India. It is bounded on the east by Myanmar (Burma), on the north by the State of Naglaland, on the west by the State of Assam and the south by the State of Mizoram and Myanmar Manipur lies between 23.83 N and 25.68N latitude and between 93.03 E and 94.78E longitude. It has an area of 22.327 sq. kms. Physically, Manipur comprises two parts - the hills and the valley. The valley is at the centre surrounded by hills on all sies. The hill covers about 9/10 of the total area of the State. Manipur Valley is about 790 metres above the sea level. The hill ranges are higher on the north and gradually diminish in height as they reach the southern part of Manipur. The valley itself slopes down towars the south.

AGRICULTURE

Agriculture and allied activities is the only mainstay of the State’s economy where about 70 percent of the population depends on it. Agriculture in the State is confined to 10.48 percent of the total geographical area. The irrigated area is 30,980 ha. i.e. 13.24 percent of the net agricultural land. The State is marginally deficit in cereals and highly deficit in the production of oilseeds and pulses. In spite of the rapid advancement in the crop productivity, the faster of population growth poses a great problem to agriculture in the State. The State Agriculture Department now plans to go ahead with diversification and commercialization during the 11th Plan period with the following aims an objective : (i) To increase the Net Agricultural Area of the State to the tune of 3.86 percent and 18.68 percent Gross Agricultural Area over the 10th Plan achievement, (ii) To increase the cropping intensity to from the present level of 132.73 percent to 140.45 percent by the end of 11th, (iii) 7.97 Percent Annual growth rate of the over all crop production and targeted 39.85 percent increase in crop production by the end of 11th Plan over the 10th Plan achievement. To achieve the above aims and objective, thrusts are given to the following areas : (i) Quality Seed Production, (ii) Assured Irrigation, (iii) Farm Mechanization, (iv) Soil Health Management, (v) Organic Farming, (vi) Multiple Cropping, (vii) Post Harvest Management, (viii) Regulation of Markets, (iv) Research and Development (R&D) in Bio-technology an Agro-processing, (x) Application of Information Technology (IT) in Agriculture and (xi) Transfer of Technology : (a) Establishment of Farmers Field School in each district and (b) Extension management.

FOREST

Total area under forest cover is 17,219 sq. kms. Out of which 720 sq. kms falls under very Dense Forest, 5,818 sq. kms falls under Dense Forest and 10,681 sq. kms falls under Open Forest. The forest cover accounts for 77.12% of the State’s georaphical area 2.54 percent of the country’s forest cover. Siroy hill range in Ukhrul district, Manipur is the abode of Siroy Lily (Lilium mackineae), the flower which is not found elsewhere in the world. The zuko valley is also the only habital of the enemic and the rarest species Dzuko Lily (Lilium chitrangade). Manipur is the only spt on earth in which the Brow-antlered deer (Cervus eldi eldi) lically known as Sangai is foun. This rare deer is surviving in its natural habital at the Keibul Lamjo.

This habital was declared as a National Park in the year 1977 covering an area of 40 sq. kms. It is unique in its own physical feature as park lies submerged under water covered entirely on the surface by a floating entangle mass of vegetation like grass, shrubs and earth, called phumdi. There survives on top of this phumdi. The conservation measures taken up by the State has led to the rise of Sangai population from a mere 14 animals in the year 1975 for 180 in the year 2003. The other area alreay eclared as protected area besides keibul Lamjo National Park is the Yangoupokpi - Lokchao Wildlife Sancturary with an area of 184.40 sq. kms. It is situate at Chanel District and is located on the ino-malayan Zoogeographical Zone. The Malayan sun bear is found in this wildlife sanctuary. The State is very rich in bio-diversity. large areas are still girgin forests. These are the habitats of very rare plants of rich medicinal value like Taxus baccata, ginseng, etc. It is also the home of many rare orchis an ferns.

IRRIGATION

Major an Medium lrrigation had been introduced in the State from 1980. So far 8 (eight) Major and Medium Irrigation & Multipurpose Project have been taken up of which 5 (five) projects had been completed upto the end of VIIIth Plan. Irrigation potential of 28,500 ha has been createdd with utilization of 21,850 ha. In addition 1,200 ha and 900 ha of low lying areas of Loushipat and Poiroupat respectively have been reclaime by thoubal Project. The modernization / imporovement schemes are now planned for implementation in the XIth Plan and necessary fund is likely to be made available under Bharat Nirman Programme. 4 MGD of raw water is supplied to the State Public Health Engineering Department from Singda Multipurpose Project for water supply. 5 MGD of raw water is also being supplied from Khuga Multipurpose Project to state PHED from 2007.

At present, the State Government has given special attention to accelerate the progress of the three ongoing projects and to achieve completion of Khuga Multipurpose Project in 2007, Thoubal Multipurpose Project and Dolaithabi Barrage in 2008-09. The State Government is continuing investigation works for taking up new projects under State Plan as well as funding by NEC.

COMMERCE & INUSTRIES

Handloom industry is the largest cottage industry providing maximum number of employment after agriculture in the state. This industry has been flourishing since time immemorial. It remains an important source of income especially for women- folk of the State. The traditional skill of handloom weaving is not only a status symbol for the women-folk but also an indispensable aspect of the socio-economic life. Food Processing is another popular inustry in Manipur. In view of the importance of the industry. State Government has established a Food Processing Training Centre and Food Processing Trocessing Training Hall at Imphal. A Food Park is also being set up at Imphal. Indo-Myanmar Border Trade through Lan Custom Station, Moreh was opened on 12th April, 1995. The opening of Border Trade has been providing large scale employment to many families in the State. The Department of Commerce and Industries of the State Government has been acting as a liaisoning agent for promotion and development of the Border Trade. To promote Border Trade, the Ware house, Conventional Hall and Stay Facility Centre have been set up a border town Moreh. The director General of Foreign Trade (G & T) Camp office has been opened in the Directorate of Commerce & Industries Complex, Imphal. Among the other thrust areas, State Govt. contemplates to the setting up of anIntegrated Check Post at Moreh under the initiative of Ministry of Home Affairs, organizing a Trade Fair inviting various MNCs at the border point uner the supportive role of ITPO.

POWER

The installed capacity of the State of Manipur as on ecember 2006 was 50.9 MW. This is including Heavy Fuel Based Power Plant (6x6 MW0 at Leimakhong which were operated furing the Peak Hours as standby. Out of the 2315 villages (as per 2001 census) 1940 number of villages had been electrified by December 2005. The power supply of the State of Manipur depends upon the Central Sector Generating Stations located in the North Eastern Region. They were Loktak Hydro Electric Project of National Hydroelectric Power Corporation Ltd. (NHPC) an Kopili HE Project, Khandong HE Project, Doyang HE Project, ranganai HE Project, AGBPP, Kathalguri an AGTPP, Ramchandranagar of North Eastern Electric Power Corporation Ltd. (NEEPCO).

TRANSPORT

Roads:
3 National Highways - i) NH - 39, ii) NH - 53 an iii) NH - 150 criss-cross the State connecting all districts. Imphal, the capital of Manipur is joined by NH-39 with Nagaland on the North and myanmar on the east, on the west with Assam by NH-53 and Mizoram on the south by NH-150

Aviations :
Imphal Airport is the second largest airport in the North Eastern Region Imphal is connected to Aizwal, Guwahati, Kolkata, Silchar and New Delhi by Indian Airlines, Jet Airways, Indigo and Air Deccan and Alliance Air. New flights from carrier like Spicejet and Kingfisher are likely to operate very soon.

Railways:
The State is include in the railway map of India with opening of a rail head at Jiribam in May, 1990. It is 225 km from Imphal. Dimapur (Nagaland), 215 kms. from Imphal is the nearest rail-head. The Jiribam - Tupul Railway line has been declared as a National Project. The final location survey of 52 kms has been completed. Lan acquisition in first 10 kms is in advance stage. During feasibility study, it has been found feasible to extend the line from Tupul to Imphal.

FESTIVALS

A year in Manipur represents a cycle of festivities. Hardly a month passes by without a festival which to the Manipuris is a symbol of their social, cultural and religious aspirations. Important festivals of the State are :

• Lai Haraoba,
• Rasa Leela,
• Cheiraoba,
• Ningol Chak-Kouba,
• Rath-Jatra,
• Idul Fitre,
• Imoinu Iratpa,
• Gaan-Ngai,
• Lui-Ngai-Ni,
• Idul Zuha.
• Yaoshang (Holi),
• Durga Pujah,
• Mera Houchongba,
• Diwali,
• Kut,
• Christmas, etc.
  

TOURIST CENTRES

Blessed with a salubrious climate an landscapes languishing in natural beauty and scenic splendour, the state extens to the tourists a warm welcome to visit again and again. Some important tourist centres in the State are :

• Kangla,
• Shree Shree Govindajee Temple,
• Khwairamband Bazar (Ima Keithel),
• War Cemeteries,
• Shaheed Minar,
• Npi Lan (Women’s War) Memorial Complex,
• Khonghampat Orchidarium,
• INA Memorial (Morang),
• Loktak Lake,
• Keibul Lamjao National Park,
• Bishnu Temple at Bishnupur,
• Sendra,
• Moreh,
• Siroy village,
• Siroy Hills,
• Dzuko Valley,
• State Museum,
• Kaina tourist Home,
• Khongjom War Memorial Complex,
• India Peace Memorial (re Hill) etc.
  

GOVERNMENT

Governor : Dr. S.S. Sidhu , Chief Secretary : Shri Jarnail Singh
Chief Minister : O. Ibobi Singh , Jurisdiction of High Court : A permanent bench of the Guwahati High Court, Imphal Bench
Speaker : Dr. Sapam started functioning from 14
Budhichandra March 1992.

The Chief Justice of India Singh laid foundation stone for construction of a new High Court Complex on 30th April, 2006