| Manipur
Geographical Area : 22 347
Population in 2001 : 22 91 125
Estimated population in 2025 : 28 17 000
Provisional Numbers in Census 2011
Manipur population as percentage of India : 0.22%
Population in 2011 : 27 21 756
Males 13 69 764
Females 13 51 992
Sex ratio : 987
Under 6 Sex ratio : 934
Number of Districts : 9
Number of habitated villages : 2,315
Capital
Imphal
Principal Language
Manipuri
History and Geography
Manipur has a long and glorious history from 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 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.
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 commercialisation during the 11th Plan period with the following
aims an objective:
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,
To increase the cropping intensity to from the present level of
132.73 percent to 140.45 percent by the end of 11th,
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:
Quality Seed Production
Assured Irrigation
Farm Mechanization,
Soil Health Management
Organic Farming
Multiple Cropping
Post Harvest Management
Regulation of Markets
Research and Development (R&D) in Bio-technology an Agro-processing
Application of Information Technology in Agriculture and
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.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. 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.
Irrigation
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 up to 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.
Commerce and Industries
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 womenfolk 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 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.
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
Power
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).
Commerce and Industry
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.
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.
Aviation: 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 included 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. 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 Puja, Mera Houchongba, Diwali, Kut and Christmas,
etc.
Tourist Centres
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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