Tawang rallies against hydro projects, demands restoration of micro-
[ Tongam Rina ]
ITANGAR, Jan 23: There has been a protest rally in Tawang demanding better power connectivity by restoring the micro and mini power stations as well as in opposition to the proposed 13 hydro power projects in the district. The rally was organised by Save Mon Region Federation (SMRF), an organisation that is led by the Lamas who are opposed to the power projects in the districts. 20 more rallies are planned in the district to press for their demands.
The rally was a culmination of various meetings that the Save Mon Region Federation had carried out over the last one week in several villages of Tawang district on the issue of accessibility to power and opposition to the construction of hydro power projects.
Lama Lobsang Gyatso, SMRF General Secretary while addressing the protestors at the Parade Ground today said that despite having more than 25 mini completed hydel stations amounting to 18 MW, people of Tawang are forced to live in darkness. He said that even though there has been demands for restoration of mini and micro power stations, the issue has not been addressed by the authorities. One of the major point raised in the protest rally was regarding the hydro power projects planned across the district.
Lama Lobsang said that people of Tawang do not need big projects at the cost of their land and resources. He said that major chunk of land has already been given to the Indian Army and that the people cannot afford to part with more land.
13 projects amounting to 2890.10 MW are proposed in the district, spread across 2000
Square kilometre of land including the 780 MW Nyamjang Chu project in Zemithang
Valley, the winter home of the threatened Black-
Of these, three projects are over 500 MW capacities.
A NEHU study, commissioned by the govt of Arunachal Pradesh has already given its
recommendation including dropping of 24 MW Tsa Chu-
On Thingbu Chhu, it states that identified site is not only highly unstable and prone to landslide but “destroy substantial areas of land under forest and alter the river and adjoining ecosystems substantially.”
KRF-
Change mindset to develop tourism: Natung
Staff Reporter
SEPPA, Jan 23: The curtain on the three-
“Treat every visitor with utmost hospitality to uplift the district as a major tourism
hub of the state,” Natung said in the valedictory function of the three-
“The festival is a beginning and I am confident that the stage is set for a facelift of the district through tourism related activities which the state government will support,” he said.
The parliamentary secretary further appealed the denizens of the district to maintain cleanliness in the district saying that cleanliness is the hallmark of a successful tourism industry.
Tax & Excise Parliamentary secretary Tapuk Taku who was visibly overwhelmed for successful conduct of the festival in his speech stated that people of the district have exhibited their best hospitability and such behaviour would help development of tourism in the district.
The festival proved to be a crowd puller with varieties of amusement to the denizens of this district headquarter town.
The maiden festival held at Pacha Morang village in the west bank of mighty Kameng river, was organised by East Kameng Social Welfare and Cultural Organisation (EKSWCO) in collaboration with the district administration and supported by the state’s tourism department.
“The festival has cleared all ill apprehensions on the district and its people and paved the way for transforming East Kameng into a major tourist destination of the state,” commented Tage Tajo, a villager who travelled from Chayang Tajo braving all odds to immerse himself in festivity.
“I am overwhelmed with the tribal hospitality I witnessed during the three-
“I have travelled a lot throughout the country... but my experience at Seppa is different as I am agog with the enthusiasm of the people as well as their hospitable nature,” Rewben said with conviction.
Earlier, during the day, a trekking expedition to Rang village was organised by the festival committee.
Paragliding team from Sikkim headed by Raju Rai was the center of attraction as hundreds of amateur para gliders made bee line to jump off from Dokio Pupom (Take off Point) flying over picturesque Seppa township to dash down at festival ground. However, many amateur gliders had to return with dejection due to strong wind.
Another major attraction of the closing day of the festival was the 19 kilometers rafting competition where rafters from National Institute of Mountaineering and Adventure Sports (NIMAS) emerged as the winner after completing the challenge in record 1.24 hour by negotiating several high speed rapids in the Kameng River.
The winner bagged Rs 60000. Kameng Eco Adventure which finished second with a timing of 1.38 hours walked away with Rs 40000.
Khya Sports Club defeated Bebo Colony to clinch the men’s beach football championship. In Women Beach Volleyball, District Sports Club won the trophy. The Men Beach Volleyball was also won by Khya Sports Club.
Angling and archery competition were also the main attractions of the final day of the festival.
The chilly winter night could not dampen the spirit of the music lovers who thronged
the venue to witness various rock bands who created enough heat in the atmosphere.
The musical night performed by rapper K-
Demonstration of folk songs and dances, indigenous games and sports events like bamboo
stilt walk, cock fight, archery, pole climbing, hop jump, adventure sports like white
water rafting, para gliding and angling besides ethnic fashion show, food festival
and traditional exhibitions were major highlights of the three-
Press Clubs meet addresses issues of media persons
NEW DELHI, Jan 23: The first ever meeting of Press Clubs from across the country commenced today here at the Press Club of India office.
The meeting which will conclude tomorrow has been called by the PCI to form a forum of press clubs from all over the country to address issues that the media and media persons face in their line of work.
Speaking at the inaugural session, PCI president Rahul Jalali decried the fact that many press clubs all over India have become mere signboards and have long stopped functioning. He pointed out that amongst the many that are still functional have failed to live up to standards.
“Many press clubs do not hold elections,” he said and informed that in one particular club the position of the president has been held by the same person for more than a decade.
He was also critical of the fact that revenue making has become a driving force in the way media outlets are run stating that “management and advertising agencies now decide what is news”.
Secretary General of PCI, Nadeem Kazami, informed that the idea for a common forum came about as a result of recent deaths of journalists including Vijender Singh in Uttar Pradesh last year. Jalali also said that the purpose of the meeting was to help understand the problems faced by press clubs across the country.
Touching upon the subject of media ownership, Jalali said that the issue must be addressed so that those seeking commercial interests are kept out of media houses.
During the open session, Arunachal Press Club, General Secretary, Ranju Dodum, spoke
about the many issues that media persons in the state and region face when it comes
to reporting. He informed the gathering that while insurgency-
Delegates from across the country including Himachal Press Club, Hyderabad Press Club, Press Club of Jammu, Indian Women's Press Club, Foreign Correspondents Club, aside from senior journalists are attending the meeting. Resolutions to frame the workings of a common forum will be adopted tomorrow.
Centre’s move to hand over NH maintenance work to PWD opposed
Correspondent
PASIGHAT, Jan 23: Expressing their dissatisfaction over the central government’s move to hand over highways of Upper Arunachal districts to state PWD, people of East Siang and Lower Dibang Valley districts have urged the authority to retain all maintenance works of the highways with Border Road Task Force (BRTF).
It may be recalled that the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH) had issued
notification entrusting the state PWD for maintaining the reconstructed National
Highways in the state two years back. As such, the road along National Highway-
People of both the districts have expressed apprehension over the functioning of state PWD saying that their work is of inferior quality and it doesn’t have sufficient men and machineries.
The Pasighat-
People of both the districts are also disappointed over the inordinate delay in construction
of road between Aohali and Dambuk along NH-
Meanwhile, Pasighat PWD (Highway) division has ruled out possibility of retention of highway works with BRTF. Officials informed that the BRO was insisting Pasighat division of PWD (Highway) to take over maintenance of completed portions of the highway in East Siang district.
On the other hand, the state government has opposed the centre’s decision to shift MoRTH regional office from Itanagar to Tezpur in neighbouring Assam. State’s Chief Minister Nabam Tuki has pleaded Union Minister of MoRTH, Nitin Gadkari to review this decision on priority.
The Chief Minister, in his letter to Gadkari, termed the decision of office shifting as ‘unilateral’ and said that the decision to move out the RO to Tezpur is contrary to interests of the people and it might hamper the ongoing road projects in the state, especially those under the ambitious Trans Arunachal Highway Package.
HC order for limited exam for service regularization
ITANAGAR, Jan 23: The Itanagar Permanent Bench of Gauhati High Court (HC) has directed the concern authority of the State Government to hold Departmental Limited Examination/Test within three months for regularization of the services of five petitioners who are serving under the establishment of Deputy Commissioner, Papua Pare District, Yupia for more than 10 years as contingency staff. While hearing a writ petition (C) No 482 (AP) 2014 filed by petitioner Nabam Nenu and 4 others against the state Govt, the High Court in its judgment on December 15 last said “considering the matter in its entirety and also taking into the account the submissions made by the learned Addl Senior Government advocate as well as the admitted fact that six posts of regular LDC are presently lying vacant under the disposal of the deputy commissioner, Papum Pare district Yupia, this writ petition is hereby disposed of with a specific direction to the respondent authorities to conduct the Departmental Examination/Test, in question, for regularization of services of the petitioners, who are five in numbers and who have already completed more than 10 years of contingency services, to the post of Lower Division Clerks (LDCs) within a period of three months from the date of receipt of a certified copy of the order.”
The petitioners in its petition to the Court sought for a direction to the respondent
authorities to hold the Departmental Limited Examination/Test by adopting requisite
modalities to regularize their services as early as possible. The petitioners claimed
that they were not allowed to appear in fresh competitive examinations held by the
department concerned, from time to time, as they have become over-
The petitioners further contended that the state Govt had never followed its rules and regulations and in support of their contention, they have also cited regularization of services of some of the persons who did not complete 20 years of regular service.
CPEB, RGU reaches out to villagers of Bordumsa
ITANAGAR, Jan 23: Continuing its rural outreach programme, research scholars of Centre with Potential for Excellence in Biodiversity, Rajiv Gandhi University conducted a programme at Bordumsa village under Changlang district on Jan 12.
Participating in the discourse, Head Gaon Burah of Bordumsa village, S. T. Singpho shared his knowledge on local medicinal plants and demonstrated the various medicinal plants which were grown in his garden. Appreciating the initiative of CPEB, RGU, Singpho also urged for conducting such programmes in near future for conservation of rich biodiversity of the state.
On the occasion JRF scholar Ripin Taba of wildlife biology unit, explained the importance of the biodiversity for survival of mankind in the environment and the factors which lead to major threats to the wildlife in the Arunachal Pradesh. He called upon the villagers to modify the traditional and cultural systems which are directly and indirectly responsible for loss of wildlife in the state.
Talking on the importance of medicinal plants, Research Scholar, Higher Plant Taxonomy, Bipul Kalita informed that since time immortal the tribal people used medicinal plants to cure various diseases but now people are losing these medicinal plants due to urbanization. He added that density of medicinal plant is very high in Arunachal Pradesh till today but due to lack of proper documentation these are becoming extinct with the local old people.
The programme targeted to impart knowledge about the importance of biodiversity to the rural population of the area.
APCSOA raises issue of creation of separate IAS cadre for Arunachal in AIFSCASA meet
ITANAGAR, Jan 23: The Arunachal Pradesh Civil Service Officers' Association (APCSOA) has strongly raised the issue of creation of a separate IAS cadre for Arunachal Pradesh during All India Federation of the State Civil Service/Administrative Service Associations (AIFSCASA) meeting held in New Delhi today.
The APCSOA team also highlighted the issue of timely constitution and conduct of
the Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC); and rational recruitment into APCS by
creating sanctioned posts, thorough review and rational strengthening of the AGMUT
cadre vis-
The meeting discussed some of the major issues pertaining to the grievances of various
State Civil Services in the country and the strategies for the time-
Some of the major issues discussed were, the status of proposed regulation for induction
into the Indian Administrative Service (Appointment by Induction) Regulation 2013
through written examination superseding the existing IAS (Appointment by Promotion)
Regulations, 1997, the progress of various court cases filed against induction of
non-
The allotment of land and construction of offices of the All India Federation in Delhi and State Civil Service Associations in their respective states was also discussed.
Sikkim and Assam to be, henceforth, included in the North Eastern Zone, while Bihar and Jharkhand in the Eastern Zone of the All India Federation, the meeting resolved.
The national convention of the All India Federation will be held in Rajasthan in April, 2016 while the zonal convention of the All India Federation of the North Eastern Region to be held at Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh in the first week of March 2016, the meeting further resolved.
The Arunachal Pradesh Civil Service Officers' Association (APCSOA) was represented by Likha Tejji, General Secretary, Kipa Raja, Assistant General Secretary, KN Damo and Onam Lego, DRC and ARC Arunachal Bhawan respectively.
Representatives of various State Civil Service Associations from DANICS, Bihar, U.P, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Karnataka, West Bengal etc participated in the meeting.
Holy Cross School celebrates annual school week
Itanagar, Jan 23: “I studied under the light of bamboo fire but today’s children have all the facilities required to excel in their studies’ said Mr. Tai Kaye, Deputy commissioner, Papum Pare district, Yupia while addressing the annual school week celebration of Holy Cross School at Nyokum Lapang toda.
Narrating his life experiences, he said that in the years 1970s to 1980s, he did not have any light facility to do their studies. He had to study under the bamboo fire wood lights. Being one of the sincere most student among his friends, he was nick named as ‘pavitra’ which means holy in his college days. Even when he became the Deputy Commissioner today, he could excel among his colleagues in physical event due to his efforts and sincerity.
Today’s children are well equipped with facilities such as electricity and other communications. In such situation the children should be able to excel in their studies and be successful in life. Instead of wasting their time in video games, mobile phones, cartoons and body make ups, they should be disciplined in living in this Capital city. A time for play should be used for playing, a time for rest should be used for resting and a time to study should be used for studying.
Being in the administration, he came across many parents complaining about their children making high demands.
Apprising the students of Holy Cross for their wonderful drill displays, cultural displays and disciplines he for the first time have seen such events and wished them all success in their coming exams and their life too.
The sports day saw the competitions among children of four houses. Program started with the welcome address from Sr. Jaisy Arockiam and ended with distributions of medals by the DC to the winners.
Project Brahmank celebrates Raising Day
PASIGHAT, Jan 23: The Raising Day of Project Brahmank was celebrated yesterday at the Project Brahmank Headquarter, Border Roads Organization (BRO) complex, Pasighat.
Addressing on the occasion, Chief Engineer of Project Brahmank, Anil Kumar informed
that the need was felt to raise a new Project to give much-
Chief Engineer Kumar also highlighted various achievements, carried out in remote
and difficult areas of East Siang, West Siang, Upper Siang, Siang and few parts of
Lower Dibang Valley districts besides neighbouring Dhemaji district of Assam. Completions
of road stretch Jonai-
Claiming that the Project has been a major contributor in enhancing the socio-
The celebration witnessed cultural presentations by department officials and songs sung by local artists and a Jazz Band from Pune.
Other highlights of the celebration were inter-
Utility vehicles donated to VKVs
ITANAGAR, Jan 23: Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) Kolkata Eastern Zone (Retail) General Manager, Dilip Pattanaik handed over the keys of two utility vehicles to Education Officer of the Trust, Unnikrishnan PM which will be donated to Vivekananda Kendra Vidyalayas of Amliang in Anjaw and Niausa in Longding districts by the HPCL in a function held at VKV Nirjuli today.
Lauding the noble gesture of HPCL, Unnikrishnan highlighted the need of resource mobilization for making the VKVs to stand the test of time.
The function also marked the celebration of Oil Conservation Fortnight.
Addressing the students on the occasion, Senior Regional Manager, Guwahati Regional Office, Avijit Bhattacharjee elaborated on the need of conserving oil and explained how a student can take lead in spreading the message among parents and other elders.
Arunachal chess player win 3rd position in NE Chess C'ship
ITANAGAR, Jan 23: Gamesha Nalo of Arunachal Pradesh secured the third position to
win a bronze medal in girls’ under-
Another player from the state Mui Takar secured 8th position in boys under 15 years category, informed Arunachal Pradesh Chess Association.
Santanu Borpatra Gohain of Assam became champion while his compatriot Soren Rahul Singh finished runners up.
Anju Sarkar of Tripura (71) was felicitated for being the oldest player of tournament. She has been playing chess since she was 25.
Pu Lal Thanzara, Minister of Health, Govt. of Mizoram attended the closing ceremony and distributed prizes to the winners in presence of Bharat Singh Chauhan, Chief Executive Officer, All India Chess Federation (AICF) and HB Sundar, vice president of AICF.
Villagers demonstrated on Good Agricultural Practices
ITANAGAR, Jan 23: The farmers of Chirnei Village, Basar were demonstrated with Good Agricultural Practices suitable for the local area today by scientists of KVK West Siang.
KVK West Siang scientists Dr. Kangabam Suraj Singh, Deepa Lal and Wangnem Rekhnung conducted the daylong demonstration. An official release stated that it was observed that the farmers of West Siang District are lagging behind in adopting the standard agricultural practices in their farms and fields. During the demonstration the farmers were apprised about the standard package and practices of maize cultivation.
Free health camp organized
ITANAGAR, Jan 23: A two days free health camp was organized at Chayang Tajo in East Kameng district on January 20 and 21 last. More than 1000 patients were attended by ENT, Pediatric, Gynae, Dental and Medicine specialists during the camp.
It was organized by All Arunachal Pradesh Orphan Students’ Welfare Association in collaboration with Rama Krishna Mission Hospital, Itanagar.
Creation of Juvenile Home stressed
TEZU, Jan 23: Members of Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) and Child Welfare Committee (CWC) besides, various HoDs had appealed to the district administration for early creation of infrastructure like a Juvenile Home and rooms for sitting of JJB etc.
They were pointing out the difficulties for implementation of the Juvenile Justice
Act in a co-
During the meeting which was organized by the Deputy Director ICDS Cell under the Department of Women & Child Development, the DC assured to take up the matter on priority for proper implementation of the Act. (DIPRO)
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Condolence
ITANAGAR, Jan 23: Daftry in PWD, Division-
Late Guro left behind his wife, three sons and three daughters as well as grandsons and granddaughters.
Referring to Late Guro as a gentle and a kind hearted person, the Pura Welfare Association Capital Complex Itanagar expressed profound grief for the demise of its member and has offered heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family.
January 24
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