ONGC to save Ahom relics

Oil amp; Natural Gas Corporation Limited ONGCL,which has been often accused of causing damage to numerous ancient monuments scattered around its oil and gas fields in Sivasagar district in upper Assam.

Oil amp; Natural Gas Corporation Limited ONGCL,which has been often accused of causing damage to numerous ancient monuments scattered around its oil and gas fields in Sivasagar district in upper Assam,has finally vowed to restore and take care of four such relics. The Navaratna company last week signed an MoU with the Archaeological Survey of India that now puts the onus on ONGCL to protect these relics under the National Culture Fund. The four monuments are Rang-ghar above,Talatal Ghar,Kareng Ghar,Charaideo maidams all constructed during the 800-year-long Ahom rule. Of these,the Rang-ghar,built in 1746,is the oldest and the largest amphitheatre in Asia,while the Charaideo maidams are earthen pyramids in which lie buried most of the Ahom kings and queens.

Manipuri fashion in global market

Manipur is not just about highway blockades and insurgency. Thanks to a handloom project jointly launched by the Indian Chamber of Commerce ICC and Manipur Development Society MDS,local fashion designer are gearing up to display their products in Italy and Germany. Nine designs made in the best Manipuri handmade way have been already shortlisted under the ICC-MDS project for a 15-day trip to Milan and Frankfurt,with state Chief Secretary D S Poonia saying this is just the beginning. Most Manipuri traditional fabrics are environment-friendly as they use natural home-made dyes,he pointed out.

A fish sanctuary for Meghalaya

In Meghalaya,traditional tribal Dorbars can do wonders when it comes to motivating the community. Last week,the Dorbar Shnong of Khliehmushut under Khliehriat civil sub-division in the Jaintia Hills district got the community to set up a fish sanctuary upstream Umiurem,a small river that flows through the area. The states Fishery Department chipped in with 5,000 fingerlings of different species of fish,while the Dorbar engaged the local people in constructing a check-dam upstream the Umiurem under the MNERGS. The traditional Dorbar had 10 years ago imposed restrictions on unabated extraction and stock-piling of coal in the areas that are under its jurisdiction.

Tripura building science village

Landlocked Tripura has big dreams the latest being a science village. Vigyan Gram is already beginning to come up on a 9.20 acre plot just outside Agartala,the state capital. Being modelled on the lines of science cities already set up in a few states of the country,the Vigyan Gram at Badharghat,a village near Agartala,will not only have a planetarium,museum,library,botanical garden,bird sanctuary and a science park,but also promises to integrate people of the adjoining villages to reap benefits from it. Needless to say it would be both a tourist attraction and a must-see place for students.