Imphal: Fishermen and people residing around Loktak lake at Bishenpur district carried out a campaign to save the lake which is one of the biggest fresh water lake in Asia.

Fishermen went around the villages in and around the lake and spread awareness about the need of conserving the lake. The campaign was carried out as part of a week-long observance of International River Day organised by Committee of International River Day Celebration Week-2013 . The observation began on Tuesday last.

SILCHAR: India’s National AIDS Control Programme has achieved a 50 per cent reduction in new infections over the last 10 years.

As primitive tribes continue to be in a state of acute poverty, ‘schedule area’ status for settlements of evicted tribals from Nagarahole National Park will favour their development.

The status will also solve the problem of representation of tribals in political institutions, which will help them benefit from the welfare programmes aimed at them, said Muzaffar Assadi, Chairman of the High Court-appointed Committee on Tribal Issues of Rajiv Gandhi National Park.

IMPHAL: The Manipur cabinet in a late night meeting resolved to ban sale of cigarttes and all tobacco products.

IMPHAL: Wildlife books, written a few decades ago say that many species of animals and birds were available in plenty in Manipur.

In contrast to China’s unilateral move to construct dams on the upper reaches of the Brahmaputra, India has taken a different route with respect to dams on rivers it shares with Bangladesh.

India and Bangladesh have identified several projects including the controversial Tipaimukh hydel project in which Dhaka could have equity participation. Over time, some portion of the electricity generated by projects on common rivers could accrue to Bangladesh, said official sources.

IMPHAL: Manipur was one of the eight States rewarded for significant agricultural productions. President Pranab Kumar Mukherjee handed over to Chief Minister Okram Ibobi a cash of Rs 2 crore, one citation and one certificate in a solemn function held today at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

From among the small State category Manipur and Nagaland have been selected. Officials did not furnish details of the reported glut production in agriculture in Manipur. Because Manipur has been importing even ubiquitous items like rice, flour and all other food items from other States in general and Assam in particular.

SHILLONG: An earthquake of moderate intensity jolted the northeastern region on Wednesday morning. Officials said there were no immediate reports of casualties or damage to property.

Special fiscal and incentive packages for industrial growth in North East “have so far failed to trigger major investment flow in the region in the manner it was conceived,” said Paban Singh Ghatowar, minister of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER). He said in the absence of secondary sector, the growth of North Eastern states during the 11th Plan period was driven just by the primary and tertiary sectors.

“Special fiscal packages under North East Industrial Policy (NEIP) and North East Industrial and Investment Promotion Policy (NEIIPPP) have so far failed to trigger major investment flow in the region in the manner it was conceived.

Forest cover in the country has decreased by 367 sq km with the green area decreasing in 14 states, says a forest report released here on Wednesday.

According to the India State of Forest Report-2011, forest cover has decreased in 14 states including Andhra Pradesh, Manipur, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Assam, Kerala, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Meghalaya and Tripura.

However, the forest cover has increased in Bihar, Goa, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, Karnataka and Andaman & Nicobar.