Imphal: The Manipur Cabinet has approved the resumption of helicopter services to remote areas, declared Loktak Day an annual state festival and allowed eligible newspaper printing presses to seek permission to use a limited area of contiguous paddy land.
The decisions were taken at a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh at the Chief Minister’s Office in Mantripukhri on October 22.
The Cabinet approved engaging Pawan Hans Limited, a Government of India undertaking, to restore helicopter services in Manipur, which have remained suspended since October 1, 2026.
Under the arrangement, one twin-engine helicopter will operate for six months or until a regular operator is selected through a tender process. The service will have a minimum commitment of 40 flying hours a month.
The service is intended to reconnect remote and hill areas with Imphal and facilitate passenger travel and access to medical assistance during emergencies.
The expenditure will be shared with the Union Ministry of Home Affairs under its North East helicopter scheme. If central assistance is unavailable, the state government will bear the cost to ensure continuity of the service.
The Cabinet also approved celebrating Loktak Day annually as a state festival on the full-moon day of Mera, also referred to as Thanil of MeraTha.
The community tradition began in 1990 at Thanga and celebrates Loktak Lake, the largest freshwater lake in Northeast India and an important source of livelihood and cultural identity for communities in Manipur.
This year’s celebrations will begin on October 26 and be held at Loktak Lairembi Ground in Thanga and at Komlakhong. The Loktak Development Authority, in collaboration with local clubs, will organise cultural programmes, traditional sports and conservation activities. Members of the public, students and young people are expected to participate.
In another decision, the Cabinet approved including registered and licensed newspaper printing presses equipped with web offset machines in the list of “public purposes” under the Manipur Conservation of Paddy Land and Wetland Act, 2014.
Eligible printing presses may now seek permission to use up to 0.62 acre of contiguous paddy land, subject to the Act’s other safeguards and approval requirements.
The move is intended to facilitate the relocation of larger newspaper printing facilities from congested residential areas and reduce noise disturbances, particularly at night.
The government said the eligibility conditions would remain in place to protect paddy fields and wetlands against misuse.