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Area : 22,327 sq km
Population : 2,293,896
Capital : Imphal
Principal Languages : Manipuri
Manipur has a long and
glorious history from the beginning of the
Christian era. The recorded history of kingship
started from 33 AD, which marked the coronation
of Pakhangba. After Pakhangba, a series of kings
ruled over the kingdom of Manipur. The
independence and sovereignty of Manipur remained
uninterrupted until the Burmese invaded and
occupied it for seven years in the first quarter
of the 19th century (1819-25). Then came British
Paramountcy in 1891, and later on it was merged
in the Indian Union as part ‘‘C’’ State on 15
October, 1949. This was replaced by a
Territorial Council of 30 elected and 2
nominated members. Later in 1963, a Legislative
Assembly of 30 elected and 3 nominated members
was established under the Union Territories Act,
1962. The status of the administrator was raised
from Chief Commissioner to the status of the Lt.
Governor with effect from 19 December, 1969.
Manipur attained full-fledged statehood on 21
January, 1972. With this, a Legislative Assembly
consisting of 60 elected members was
established.
Manipur is situated on the eastern frontier
of India. It is bounded on the east by Myammar
(Burma), on the north by the State of Nagaland,
on the west by the State of Assam and on the
south by the State of Mizoram and Myanmar.
Manipur lies between 23.830 N and 25.680 N
latitude and between 93.030 E and 94.780 E
longitude. It has an area of 22,327 sq. kms.
Physically Manipur comprises of two parts, the
hills and the valley. The valley is at the
centre surrounded by hills on all sides. The
hills cover 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 towards the south.
The
State Agriculture Department now plans to go
ahead with commercialisation during the 10th
Plan period. The department is focussing on (1)
increasing cropping intensity from the present
level of 138.30 per cent by the end of 10th Plan
(year 2006-07). (2) Increasing present level of
farm mechanisation, i.e., 0.1 HP/Ha. to 0.9
HP/Ha. (3) Improving the soil health through
amelioration of acid soil. (4) Minimising
external dependence for supply of seed inputs by
strengthening infrastructure in state farms so
that gradually the state can produce its own
requirement of seed inputs. (5) Giving better
protection to plants from insects pests and
diseases through Integrated Pest Management (6)
Strengthening the existing training
infrastructure for better transfer of technology
to the farmers (7) developing infrastructure for
agriculture research and (8) bringing a change
in the cropping scenario in hill areas of the
state by introducing high yielding varieties of
crops particularly paddy, oil seeds and pulses
for overall increase in agricultural production
and productivity to meet the demands of the
increasing human population.
Total
area under forest cover is 17,219 sq.km of which
6,536 sq.km falls under dense forest while
10,681 sq.km falls under open forest. The forest
cover accounts for 77.12 per cent of the State’s
geographical area. Siroy hill range in Ukhrul
District, Manipur is the abode of Siroy Lily
(Lilium macklineae), the flower which is not
found elsewhere in the world. The Dzuko valley
is also the only habitat of the endemic and the
rarest species Dzuko Lily (Lilium chitrangade).
Manipur is the only spot on earth in which the
Brow-Antlered Deer (Cervus eldi eldi) locally
known as Sangai is found. This rare deer is
surviving in its natural habitat at the Keibul
Lamjao.
This habitat was declared as a National Park
in the year 1977 covering an area of 40 sq. km.
It is unique in its own physical feature as the
park lies submerged under water covered entirely
on the surface by a floating entangled mass of
vegetation like grass, shrubs and earth, called
phumdi. The deer 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 to 180 in the
year 2003.
The other area already declared as protected
area besides Keibul Lamjao National Park is the
Yangoupokpi - Lokchao Wildlife Sanctuary with an
area of 184.40 sq. km. It is situated at Chandel
District and is located on the Indo-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 virgin 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 orchids
and ferns.
Major
and Medium Irrigation had been introduced in the
State from 1980. So far 8 (eight) Major and
Medium Irrigation & Multipurpose Projects
have been taken up, of which 5 (five) projects
had been completed upto the end of Eighth
Plan.
Irrigation potential of 28,500 Ha has been
created with utilisation of 21,850 Ha. In
addition 1,200 Ha and 900 Ha of low lying areas
of Loushipat and Poiroupat respectively has
been reclaimed by Thoubal Project. Running &
Maintenance Schemes are on the pipe line for
bridging the gap between potential created and
actual utilised. 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 2006, Thoubal Multipurpose Project
and Dolaithabi Barrage in 2008. The State
Government is continuing investigation works for
taking up new projects under State Plan as well
as funding by NEC.
Handloom industry is the
largest cottage industry providing maximum
employment in the state. This industry has been
flourishing since time immemorial. One of the
special features of the industry is that women
are the only weavers. Food Processing is another
popular industry in Manipur. In view of the
importance of the industry, State Government has
established a Food Processing Training Centre
and Food Processing Training Hall at Imphal.
A food Park is also being set up at Imphal.
Border trade between India and Myanmar had been
introduced form 1995. The Department of Commerce
and Industries of the State Government has been
acting as a liaisoning agent for promotion and
development of Border Trade. To promote Border
Trade, the Warehouse, Conventional Hall and Stay
Facility Centre have been set up at border town
Moreh. The Director General of Foreign Trade
(DGFT) Camp office has been opened in the
Directorate of Commerce & Industries
Complex, Imphal. A Trade Centre has also been
established at Imphal.
The
installed capacity of the State is over 42,750
and more than 2,000 villages have been
electrified. Power supply position showed a
marked improvement with the availability of
power from the Central Sector Generating
Stations, i.e., Loktak HE Project (NHPC), Kopili
HE Project, Khandong HE Project, Doyang HE
Project, Rangnadi HE Project and AGBPP,
Kathalguri and AGTPP, Ramchandranagar (all
NEEPCO).
The State Government
continues to exert all its efforts as a
facilitator for industrialisation of the State
with due emphasis on the prospective and
potential areas. Handloom is the most popular
traditional industry providing maximum
employment in the State.
With the introduction of Border Trade between
India and Myanmar in 1995, the Department of
Commerce and Industries of the State Government
has been acting as a liaisoning agent for
promotion and development of Border Trade.
Roads :
Imphal, the capital of Manipur is joined by road
(NH-39) with Nagaland on the north, and Myanmar
on the east, Assam on the west by NH-53, and
Mizoram on the south by NH-150.
The State has 7,599 km of roads, both
metalled and unmetalled. The length of roads
consists of National Highway 967 km, State
Highway 675 km, District roads 1,977 km and
Village roads 4,947 km.
Aviation :
Imphal airport is the only airport, which is
linked with other stations in the region by
Indian Airlines, Jet Airways and Alliance Air.
The Indian Airlines flights connect Imphal with
Guwahati and New Delhi, while Jet Airways
Flights connect Imphal with Guwahati and
Kolkata. Alliance Air connects Imphal with
Aizawal, Silchar, Kolkata and Guwahati.
Railways :
The State is included in the railway map of
India with the opening of a rail head at Jiribam
in May 1990. It is 225 km from Imphal. Dimapur,
215 km from Imphal is the nearest rail-head. The
Prime Minister of India laid foundation stone
for a new railway line ( Jiribam - Tupul Railway
line) on 20 November 2004. The survey works for
construction of the railway line has been
completed.
A
year in Manipur represents a cycle of
festivities. Hardly a month passes by without a
festival. Important festivals of the State are:
Dol-jatra, Lai haraoba, Rasa Leela,
Cheiraoba, Ningol Chakouba, Rath-Jatra,
Id-ul-Fitr, Imoinu Iratpa, Gaan-Ngai,
Lui-Ngai-ni, Id-ul-Zuha, Yaoshang (Holi), Durga
Pujah, Mera Houchongba, Diwali, Kut and
Christmas, etc.
Blessed with a salubrious climate and
landscapes languishing in natural beauty and
scenic splendour, the state extends to the
tourists a warm welcome to visit again and
again. Some important tourist centres in Manipur
are: Shree Govindajee temple, Khwairamband Bazar
(Ima Keithel), War cemeteries, Shaheed Minar,
Nupi Lan (Women’s War) Memorial Complex,
Khonghampat Orchidarium, INA Memorial (Moirang),
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, etc.
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