Copyright © 2008, The Arunachal Times Publications Pvt. Ltd., Siang House, Sector
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Bam inaugurates Kora circle office
PASIGHAT, Aug 04: State Chief Secretary Tabom Bam inaugurated the newly created circle headquarters office at Kora in East Siang.
Local MLA and Minister WRD and Parliamentary Affairs, Tako Dabi and DC Onit Panyang,
government officers, public leaders, PRI leaders and citizens of 36-
Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Secretary Bam advised the GB, public and govt
employees to be sincere and co-
He said that the name of Tene-
The commissioner lauded the local MLA, PR members and district authorities under
whose initiative various developments especially in health service could be taken
up in the district and Nari-
The MLA of Pasighat East, Bosiram Siram said not only the development of Nari-
Earlier the Ex-
Poor track record of Athena at Teesta III project in Sikkim
ITANAGAR, Aug 04: Athena Power Company that has been given the right to develop the massive 1750 MW Demwe Lower project in Arunachal Pradesh has a poor track record going by the records. The same company which is one of the debutants in power sector is developing the 1200 MW Teesta III hydropower project in Sikkim.
Teesta III Hydropower project: This 1200 MW project is being executed in Sikkim by M/s Teesta Urja Limited. Teesta Urja Ltd is also an Athena Group company. The Expert Appraiisal Committee (EAC) for the River Valley and hydropower projects of the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests, in its minutes for the April 21, 2009 meeting notes with reference to the Teesta III project, “It was seen during the field visit that the excavated materials are dumped on the slope of the Teesta River without constructing the retaining wall. There was every possibility of the excavated material going down in the river with heavy rain, as the rainy season has already started.” Such dumping of the excavated material is in complete violation of the Environment Protection Act and also the conditions of clearance given to the project. The EAC response was totaly inadequate, “The committee directed the project authorities to carry out the construction of retaining walls immediately at all muck disposal sites, before the actual construction takes place.”
Moreover in December 2008, the Central Electricity Authority of Govt of India observed
that Teesta Urja had made serious deviations from the approved DPR (detailed Project
Report) for the 1200 Mega Watts Teesta III project and this was brought to the notice
of the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) for River Valley and Hydro electric projects
of Ministry of Environment and Forests on January 1, 2009 by civil society groups.
This issue was discussed in the April 21, 2009 EAC meeting and the minutes note,
“changes adopted by Teesta Urja contravene environmental clearance accorded on 3rd
August, 2006, as per the recommendations made by the EAC and the project was issued
environmental clearance with a condition that:-
The Carrying Capacity Study of Teesta Basin in Sikkim by Centre for Inter Disciplinary
Studies of Mountain & Hill Environment (CISMHE), notes that Chungthang, the location
of the Teesta III project is one of the areas where high diversity of mammals, birds
and reptiles is found. Further, the conclusion of the CISMHE study (page 80-
It is clear that the Athena, which otherwise has no experience of building large hydro projects, has very poor track record at the only place where it is building a mega hydro project. Such a company cannot be trusted with the biggest private hydro project of the country so far, that too in a pristine area and a state where a private project of any magnitude is yet to be taken up.
ITANAGAR, Aug 04: Responding to a question from MP Takam Sanjay on reservation of quota in Kendriya Vidyalays and Navodaya Vidyalays, Minister of state for Human Resources Development informed that KVs in the civil sector have quota for admission of students of Schedule Caste /Schedule Tribe communities based on percentage of SC/ST in particular state to a minimum of 15% for SC and 7.5% for ST and a maximum of 50% for both categories taken together.
The percentage of reservation provided is 15% for SC and 35% for ST in the states of Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram and Nagaland. The seats remaining unfilled thereafter are de reserved with the approval of the competent authority. She further added that reservation of seats in favour of children belonging to scheduled castes and scheduled tribe is provided in JNVs in proportion to their population in the concerned districts, provided that in no district such reservation is less than the national average. If there are no sufficient number of children of the SC/ST categories, the seats are provided to the other category (SC/ST) and vice versa.
NABARD to host Rural Tourism Awareness Programme
ITANAGAR, Aug 04: NABARD is sponsoring an awareness programme on Rural Tourism in collaboration with Department of Tourism, Government of Arunachal Pradesh and a local NGO, Young Mission Adventure Club, on August 6 at State Institute of Rural Development (SIRD) Itanagar.
The programme is expected to address issues on potentials of rural tourism, sources
of credit from banks, State Government policy, success stories from practitioners
and prospects and problems of rural tourism from people who have hands-
Arunachal Pradesh has a huge potential for rural tourism in the form of Homestay,
Village, Adventure and Eco-
About 30 participants will attend the programme. The invitees include unemployed persons with tourism and hospitality certificates and people who have experience in tourism related activities like tour operators, hotel and restaurant managers.
The resource persons will include experts from tourism sector, policy makers, hospitality industry, banking sector along with successful entrepreneurs.
Director, Tourism, Government of Arunachal Pradesh will inaugurate the programme as Chief Guest and Principal, Rajiv Gandhi Polytechnique, Itanagar will be the guest of honour.
CM, Governor greet citizens on Raksha Bandhan
ITANAGAR, Aug 04: Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu and Governor Gen (Retd) JJ Singh have wished the people on Raksha Bandhan.
In his message Khandu said “Raksha Bandhan is a special occasion as it replicates a unique bond between a brother and a sister. While the festival strengthens the sacred traditional familial ties, it spreads the message of love and universal brotherhood, Khandu added in his message.
In his messages, Gen Singh has expressed his hope that the festival, which symbolizes love, affection and mutual trust between brothers and sisters will usher emotional integration and understanding amongst all citizens.
He hoped that the festive occasion would strengthen the endearing bond and help us
in our collective endeavour to work for well-
AOA demands reservation while NCP takes on Tax and excise Dept
ITANAGAR, Aug 04: Arunachal Olympic Association (AOA) general secretary G Doke requested
the Director General of Police to re-
The association said that if there is no re-
Meanwhile, Nationalist Youth Congress state president Daniel Teli strongly criticized the Tax & Exercise department for misplacing the files of state’s meritorious sportspersons meant for appointment under the 5% reservation.
He alleged that the files have been missing from the officer of Tax & Excise Commissioner since one year whereas other files released together were available.
NYC further urged the state government to initiate stern action against the officials responsible for misplacement of files of sportsperson.
Teli also condemned the Home department for neglecting the direct recruitment of meritorious sports icons of the state.
The officials of the concerned department are intentionally hindering the file movement for appointment of sportsmen in various reserved police service, he further alleged.
NYC hoped that Home department would ensure timely appointment of sportspersons without any delay.
Arunachal under NSAP cover: Byaling
ITANAGAR, Aug 04: Centre has expanded benefit under National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) two more schemes which includes Indira Gandhi National Pension Schemes and Indira Gandhi National Disabled Pension Scheme through which widow and disabled person will be granted monthly pension of Rs 200 per month and the state government is actively considering to implement the schemes for the benefit of the widow and disabled person, informed Industries, Textiles and Handloom, Trades and Commerce, Social Welfare, Women and Child Development Minister Tanga Byaling.
Highlighting the achievement of his ministries after he took charge, he said that various measures to protect the interest of women, child and old age people have been taken, adding that the state old age pension scheme as introduced by the government extending pension to aged person of 60 to 65 years has also been increased from Rs 150 to Rs 200. The monthly pension amount will benefit 28196 persons during this year, he added. Besides, Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme which is basic component of National Social Assistance Programme is also being implemented in the state through which an old and infirm Arunachalee in the age group of 65 years and above living below poverty line will be paid monthly pension at Rs. 200 for their economic rehabilitation.
Till 2008-
Besides, the government has granted an amount of Rs 10000 as one time financial assistance under the national family benefit schemes to the next of the kin to the deceased of the bereaved family in case of death of the primary bread winners of the family.
Further, the Arunachal Recording of Marriage Act, 2008 has also been enacted and under this Act, all marriage solemnized after the commencement of this Act in the state in any form recognized under the personal law or custom applicable to the parties shall be compulsorily in accordance with the Act. He appealed the fellow citizens to register as and when marriage is solemnized.
ITANAGAR, Aug 04: Education Minister Tatar Kipa and MLA Kipa Babu have consented to attend as Chief Guest and Guest of Honour at the inaugural function of the newly up gradated government higher secondary school, Polo Colony on August 6.
Continues saga of dependence on Opium
Tongam Rina
According to elder Arunachalis, opium has been an integral part of most tribal societies in the state. It was used to treat different ailments at a time when concept of modern medicine was yet to make inroads into our society.
Even over the years, though meager, when medical facilities finally arrived, opium Menace was to stay and cause unthinkable tragedy.
The use has become so rampant that tribal societies in Arunachal have lost generations to opium addiction.
This trend will not stop too soon and we would continue to lose our young men and women to addiction unless some drastic steps are taken.
Once dependent, any addiction is hard to give up, more so when there is no support from families and society.
Central Bureau of Narcotics (CBN) has for long followed the method of destroying opium cultivations in Arunachal. Most of these were carried out in association with Arunachal Pradesh government.
The CBN usually resorts to these short cuts because of increasing opium trafficking
along the Indo-
As the demand for opium has been increasing among the people in the North East and Myanmar and whole South East Asia more and more people are now involved in opium trading.
Just destroying poppies is not the answer. The natives are smarter than authorities are. In some areas, villagers walk for days to look for fresh cultivable land and virtually make the mountains their home for months together.
In most of the cases, people do not resort to opium cultivation for self-
The poor villagers sell opium at a very less price but peddlers and smugglers make a killing out of it.
The government has taken note of the problem but nothing concrete has been done.
One time de-
After spending months in a de addiction centre, starting a new life takes a whole lot of courage. This is where families and society need to step in. Government has a larger role to play and ensure that these one time addicts do not go back.
Instead of treating it as an individual problem, it is about time we wake up to the call. Most of the time, we take refuge in some form of addictions because of peer, family and societal pressure. To come out clean from such an ordeal is a battle in itself. It does not take much time to go back if the needed support is not given.
Over burdened respective governments have treated those dependent on opium as outcaste and at the most set up one time de addiction centre haphazardly without much follow up action.
This is when the Non Governmental sectors need to step in. Organizations that are already working in the field need to be encouraged and strengthened by the government. Financial support is needed as most de addiction camps have to be residential.
Drug enforcing agencies have been carrying out operations but they have not been able to eradicate the problem.
No matter how strong the agencies are, unless an alternative source of livelihood is given, people would always find a way out to make living out of selling and consuming opium.
These people who look for solace in opium need help. Left with no alternative, they look for easy way out. In a way, it’s a cry for help.
With many central policies coming up, it is essential that government reach out to these sections of society. More so faced with a situation where it cannot do much for its own people for want of funds.
National Rural Employment Guarantee Act is one of the ways to bail our people out, if implemented properly withstanding the fact that this state figured in one of the most ineffective in implementation of NREGA in the entire country.
It is about time, government and citizens and non governmental organizations take responsibility before opium menace consume yet another generation.
National Environment Authority to be set up
New Delhi: Environment and Forests Minister Jairam Ramesh today said the Government was in the process of finalising the National Environment Protection Authority with the responsibility to ensure that environment degradation was monitored.
Replying to a two-
Also, a National Green Tribunal would soon be set up. The Bill had been introduced and would be going to the Standing Committee. By winter session, he was hopeful that a green tribunal would be in place. UNI
ASU demands exclusion of villages
ITANAGAR: Adi Students Union have called on the government to exclude Sido, Detak,
Depi and Depi-
ASM demands restoration of road
ITANAGAR: ASM, 117-
ASM appealed the PWD department to immediately restore the road.
ERO reacts to allegation
ITANAGAR: Reacting to news article alleging irregularities which were leveled by Panchayat leader of Dirang, ADC/ERO Dirang said that it is baseless and concocted. He said that procedures followed were as per rules in RER book 1960.
All allegations were leveled to torment the image of the entire government machinery and its functionaries and are totally cooked up to conceal the hideous designs to cover up unwarranted hooliganism. He appealed all those people who leveled charges to sincerely educate themselves with rules and norms prescribed by ECI prior to alleging charges.
As far as inclusion of 300 Bangladeshis is concerned, this office is amazed as to where from the immigrants infiltrated when there are check points at several places prior to reaching Dirang.
(Readers’ Forum)
Is Arunachal is turning into a land of unions
Madam,
Our young and beautiful state Arunachal is known as the Land of rising Sun but days are not far when our state would be known as land of unions. Our state is thinly populated with people but thickly populated with unions. It’s a good trend or not, we the Arunachalis have to answer.
The business class of all sections, government employees etc would be in nightmare when any pujas and new year comes. The word and sound of donation spreads in one form or the other for all unions. Its great surprise to see many shopkeepers having many calenders of same year in one shop but actually serving the purpose is one. It’s being forcefully given or sold or accepted willingly.
We have many unions in state, but why so many are required? We can have limited unions with quality leaders rather then have many leaders with no constructive motives. Some say unions produce MLA’s and MP’s.
Agreed but we need only 60 unions for it (62 if we include the MPs), but we are having more than 100 unions related to Arunachal.
Good union leaders won’t counter me rather they would analyze the fact and its future consequences of unionism. Union leaders of Arunachal please love your state rather then loving yourself. Let’s have limited unions which are constructive for people and state of Arunachal Pradesh.
Yours,
Khulai Chaitom
Civil engineer
Vashi, Mumbai
Maharashtra
Congratulations to AAPSU
Madam,
I would like to congratulate the president of AAPSU on its member becoming the member of boundary committee. Since, this apex body now has power to interfere in the working of three departments; I think the apex body has gained its real place from where it can fight for the people of Arunachal Pradesh as a whole and for students in particular. Common citizens are very glad to know that students will get an increase in their stipend from green bonus.
Yours,
Er Rajen Pudur
Common Man
on e-
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