River safaris in Kaziranga?
After jeep and elephant safaris, tourists will soon have another option in Kaziranga National Park to get an entirely different experience of the enchanting habitat where plans are afoot to launch river safaris, says a report in the Assam Tribune. Inland water transport director, BB Dev Choudhury has written to the transport department to conduct a joint survey with the forest department on the Brahmaputra to identify spots for berthing of cruise vessels.
The move comes after the Inland Waterways Authority of India had asked the Assam government to take up the mater on priority.
“During a recent roadshow in Guwahati, some cruise operators flagged the issue of lack of berthing jetties for cruise vessels near Kaziranga. The IWAI chairperson has asked the Assam government to take up the matter y and get the necessary approval from the forest and tourism departments,” IWAI sources said, quoting the minutes of the recent meeting held in Delhi.
Dev Choudhury said the government has received proposals from various cruise operators who are willing to launch their services at Kaziranga. The IWT is also developing two cruise vessels, which it will operate. “First, we need to identify the berthing facilities on the (Brahmaputra) river at Kaziranga. Approvals will also be required from the forest department,” said Dev Choudhury.
Road quality
Grasses usually are seen on moist ground but when it is found on a newly-black-topped road it merely reveals the quality of material used by contractors says a report in the Imphal Free Press. This was seen on a road at Kangpokpi Bazar to Kangpokpi High School Road, 46 kilometres from Imphal on the way to Dimapur.
Following complaints by local denizens, Kangpokpi Kangpokpi Women Welfare Organisation and Kangpokpi Youth Union, under the aegis of Kangpokpi Town Committee, inspected the road to see for themselves.
Shirui Lily Festival
Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh opened the second state-level Shirui Lily Festival, 2018 at the playground of Shirui Village in Ukhrul district last week, says a report in the Imphal Free Press. He said his government’s mission was to meet the promises that it would never indulge in rhetoric statements but show its performance with action.
He said that during his maiden visit to the district in April last year, he had promised to take up 29 different projects worth Rs 205 crore. Out of these 29 necessary funds for 21 had already been sanctioned and some projects were complete.
This could not have been possible in such a short period without the love and support of the people of the district. Regarding the proposal for development of ‘Shirui Heritage’, he said that the matter would be discussed with the department of Art and Culture so as to protect and preserve the Shirui Lily, a rare species found only in the district.