The Arunachal Times - Archives

State headed for LPG crisis

ITANAGAR, June 9: State is heading for severe LPG crisis with vehicles carrying gas to bottling plant of Indian Oil Corporation situated in Kimin town remains stranded on the road. The road after crossing Kimin check gate has caved in and no vehicle weighing more than 35 MT are being allowed to cross.

The torrential rain which has been lashing the state for last few days has lead to crumbling of this particular section of road.

Even during flood of June 2008 this road was badly damaged but it seems BRO who is responsible for maintaining this road has not learned any lesson.

Since 7th of this month no heavy vehicle has been able to cross this section of road and most of the heavily loaded tankers carrying gas are all waiting near gate to proceed further.

Talking to this daily, one official of plant said LPG crisis will worsen in coming days as most of the supplies to places like Daporijo, Pasighat, Aalo, Yinkiong, Ziro, Basar and Capital Complex are provided from this plant.

According to one citizen of Kimin, this road was supposed to be repaired by Border Road Organization (BRO) in last June but they started work only 3 months ago. “All through winter BRO never bothered to carry out work. And now when it is too late, they are trying to repair,” told the citizen. He further added, “When we approach, BRO keeps assuring but never carries out their work properly.”

Meanwhile district food and civil supply officer of Papum Pare visited the affected road today and took measures of situations. The agency responsible for repairing this road has assured that within two days normalcy will be restored and work is being carried out in war footing.

ATSU demand a college at Daporijo

ITANAGAR, June 9: All Tagin Students Union (ATSU) has demanded establishment of Degree College at Daporijo in a memorandum to Education Minister.

Only few students from among the 800 students that come out successful every year from the schools are pursuing higher education outside the district, while rest of the students are languishing in their own district due to lack of institute of higher learning, the union said. Demanding upgradation of one of the middle schools in Daporijo town to higher secondary level, the union said that it is almost impossible for a single Govt higher secondary school to accommodate the students who pass out from 7 middle schools of the town.

The union also demanded posting of adequate teachers in the district and requested the authorities to stop transfer of teacher in mid academic session. It further said that posting should be made proportionately in all the schools of the district for quality education.

Development and indigenous people

Suraj Tayang

World Environmental Day (5th June) marks the anniversary of the Stockholm conference on human environment in Sweden in 1972, where Nations of the World gathered to share their concern over human progress at the expense of the environment. The present era has looked at economic status alone as a measure of human development. The current strategies of economic development are using up resources of the world so rapidly that our future generations will have serious environmental problems much worse than those we are facing today. The current development strategies have been considered unsustainable for the world’s long term development. The newer concept of development has come to be known as “sustainable development”. The Nations of the World understood these issues at the Rio Conference in 1992. Several documents were created for the United Nation’s Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), which brought out the fact that environment and development were closely connected and there was a need to “Care for Earth”.

Sustainable development is defined us development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. It also considers the equity between countries and continents, races and classes, gender and ages. It also includes social developments and economic opportunity on the one hand and the requirements of the environment on the other. It is based on improving the quality of life for all within the carrying capacity of the supporting eco-systems. It is a process which leads to a better quality of life while reducing the impact on the environment. Its strength is that it acknowledges the inter dependence of human needs and environmental requirements. To ensure sustainable development, any activity that is expected to bring about economic growth must also consider its environmental impacts so that it is more consistent with long term growth and development.

Large dams, major highways, mining, industries, etc. can seriously damage eco-systems that support the ecological health of a region. Forests are essential for maintaining renewable resources, reducing carbon dioxide levels and maintaining oxygen levels in the earth’s atmosphere. The loss of forest depletes bio-diversity which has to be preserved to maintain life on earth. Major heavy industries if not planed carefully lead to environmental degradation due to air and water pollution generating enormous quantities of waste that lead to long term environmental hazards. Considering all these facts, it became imperative to evolve environmental legislation to protect our environment.

Thus, the Environmental (Protection) Act, 1986 was enacted in India, which is in spirit of the proclamation adopted by the UNs Conference on human environment held in Stockholm in June 1972. This act was passed to protect the environment as there was a growing concern over the deteriorating state of the environment. The act stipulates that for all development projects, the Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF), Govt. of India requires an impact assessment done by a competent organization. The EIA looks into the physical, biological and social parameters. EIAs are expected to indicate what the likely impacts could be if a project is passed. It is not sufficient to say that an EIA has been done. It is the quality and sincerity of the EIA that is of importance. There are several instances of EIAs inadequately researched and frequently biased as they are funded by the proposer of the project. So, citizens should be vigilant and prudent. The MoEF has identified a large number of projects that needs clearance on environmental grounds. The EIA defines what impact it would have on water, soil and air. It also requires a list of flora and fauna identified in the region which is to be documented and to specify if there are any endangered species whose habitat or life could be adversely affected. The MoEF has listed thirty different projects that require clearance before they are setup. After 1997 the MoEF has stipulated that a public hearing should be done at the local level where the people can air their views regarding the project. Despite the enactment of the act, it is evident that environmental situation continuous to deteriorate. We need to implement this act more aggressively if our environment is to be protected.

Public concern and support is crucial for implementing the EPA. This must be supported by an enlightened media, administrators, highly aware policy makers, informed judiciary and trained technocrats, who together can influence and prevent further degradation of the environment. Each of us has a responsibility to make it happen. In many situations there are proponents of the project who only look at their own rapid economic gains. It is for the citizens as concerned individuals and groups to counter their vested interest. We cannot support the economic growth of one sector of the society while we permit environmental degradation to destroy the lives of the less fortunate comprising of indigenous people. Currently while numerous mega dams are being proposed in the north east region it’s the need of the hour for the citizens to get acquainted with the provisions of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and make the best use of it to prevent our environment from getting further degraded. (The contributor can be reached at suraj_tayang@rediffmail.com)

No mobile phones in class room: AAPSU

ITANAGAR, June 9: All Arunachal Pradesh Students Union (AAPSU) today adopted resolution banning use of mobile phone in class room by the students.

In a letter, the AAPSU also appealed the director of school education to consider the resolution and direct the subordinate authorities to ban use of mobile phone in the class rooms.

AAPSU said that it has taken the genuine decision after it received complaints from parents and students that use of such communicative device in class room creates disturbance in learning process of the students.

89,783 enrolls names in Congress membership drive

ITANAGAR, June 9: The Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) has completed the strenuous task of membership drive. The electoral rolls have already been submitted to the state election authority of the party to facilitate early organisational election 2010.

Congress, being oldest party of the country is determined to promote and maintain the spirit of inner party democracy and the party election will be held as per the direction and guidelines from the Central party election authority, APCC president and PWD Minister Nabam Tuki said the media persons today.

It was informed that out of the total 7,48,472 electorate, 89,783 enrolled their names in Congress membership and total eligible contestant enrolled are 9865 and all the members are distributed I-card through DCCs and BCCs.

AICC Pradesh returning officer for Arunachal Pradesh Verendra Bakshi informed that since 1922, the AICC has been maintaining inner party democracy and striving hard to reach the villages to give them chance to have a say in inner party democracy.

Giving brief details about the party organisational process, Bakshi further hoped the organizational election in the state will over within June-July.

Students union demands uniformity in school fee

ITANAGAR, Jun 9: West Siang District Students’ Union (WSDSU) reiterated its demand for bringing uniformity in school admission fee structure in the district.

The students union, in a letter to West Siang deputy commissioner, claimed that some government schools in the district are charging very high examination and admission fees from students.

While giving detailed fee structure of Govt. Nehru Memorial Secondary School, Aalo, where admission fee of Rs. 300 is fixed for class I-V, Rs.600 for class VI -VIII, Rs. 800 for class IX - X and Rs.900 for class XI, the students union demanded the deputy commissioner to fix admission fee immediately. This high fee structure might lead to school dropouts as majority of students studying in government schools are from poor families, the union said.

Further, there should be no school fee and textbook be supplied to students upto class eight free of cost under the provision of Right to Education Act, the union said.

Positive Cost of ElectionsLinking Society and Politics

Dr. Nani Bath

Elections concern every individual and institution in a democratic set-up. Democracy rests on the will of the people. These wills are manifested more effectively at the time when representatives of the people are selected or elected. In a representative type of democracy, wills of the people are temporarily transferred to their representatives for a specific period of time, with the consent of the people. Montesquieu wrote in 1748 that since it was not possible in a large state for the people to meet as a legislative body, they must choose representatives to do what they could not do themselves. Elections in Arunachal Pradesh, however, are considered as a necessary evil.

In Arunachal Pradesh, words like politics, political parties and electoral politics are identified with those divisive forces that are responsible for division of clan, community and even family. Politics is a word to which almost everybody loves to hate little knowing the fact that nobody, during his life time, can hope to remain away from politics. This reminds me of a statement made by a gentleman, who says, “whoever you are and wherever you are, you may not be interested in politics but politics is interested in you”.

Everyone sees negative of politics and electoral politics, but there is a positive cost, which of course is unintended.

One afternoon, on way back to Rono Hills, we saw two fully grown Mithuns (bos frontalis) being tended by villagers somewhere in between Doimukh and Nirjuli. I was particularly attracted by the beauty of their horns. My son, who sat beside me, was inquisitive to know if the Mithuns were for sale and to be killed. The response was negative and he was told that such animals are generally used for social ceremonies like Nyeda (local term for marriage) and jokingly told him that a Mithun has already been purchased to bring a beautiful bahu for me.

My son’s prediction proved to be right. It was learnt, after some days, that those animals were sacrificed at the ‘altar’ of a political leader to be distributed among party workers. Hundreds of our ‘state animals’ are killed every election, just for political reason, without considering its economic and social consequences. In every general election, around ten such animals are killed on an average per Assembly constituency. There are sixty Assembly segments in Arunachal Pradesh- that means, around 600 Mithuns are sacrificed every five years. The number is huge in any count.

Interestingly, P.K. Thungon, the then Chief Minister (Janata Party), in 1977, wrote to the Election Commission of India praying that ‘the symbol Mithun has religious significance and it is being treated as sacred among various tribes in the Union Territory of Arunachal Pradesh. The symbol (Mithun) should not be allowed to be exploited by political parties (read: PPA) at the election. Therefore, the symbol Mithun should be deleted from the list of free symbols in respect of the Union Territory of Arunachal Pradesh’. His appeal, however, was not granted. It may be noted that Bakin Pertin, who contested successfully the general election to the Lok Sabha in March,1977 as an independent candidate was allotted the symbol Mithun at that election.

Mithuns, unlike other animals, have a great socio-economic and religious significance for almost all tribal communities of Arunachal Pradesh. This is true but, one wonders, what is positive about wanton sacrificing of Mithuns by the political leaders irrespective of political colours or affiliations. There is one positive aspect, which may not be visible to all.

If the trend of sacrificing Mithuns at the ‘altar’ of political leaders continues, it is likely that Mithun would become a scarce commodity. Since a tribal marriage cannot be socially sanctified without exchange of Mithuns, situation may also come when marriage itself will become scarce ‘commodity’. The growth of population would be reduced hugely with the reduction of number of marriages. This could be the cheapest and most efficient way of family planning!

So, why do we celebrate ‘Bos Frontalis Festival’ by unnecessarily raising the decibel level beyond human tolerance? I do not know how much amount was spent on the Festival but I have a feeling that the money spent could have been better used for bringing about awareness among the general public and to treat various diseases inflicting the animals in far off places.

There is nothing wrong in using Mithun as an ‘ATM’ (somebody used this phrase) as something that has liquidity value is valued more in any society. The only thing we must keep in mind is to know the arithmetic of profit maximization. Profit can only be maximized when we grow more and more Mithuns.

Preservation of natural habitats is one of the ways to save Mithuns- our social as well as cultural commodity. And their natural habitats can be preserved by avoiding commercial exploitation of the forests and unscientific methods of cultivation. General view being that even if fifty per cent of the total mega dams (in the state) become reality, eighty per cent of the natural habitats of the Mithuns would be destroyed, policy makers shall have to be extra careful in harnessing the so-called ‘green gold’.

Socio-cultural organizations such as Galo Welfare Society, Nyishi Elite Society, Adi Bane Kebang, etc need to play a pro-active role in preventing ‘unsocial’ use of our sacred animal. The Apatani Youth Association, in early seventies, greatly saved Mithun population in Apatani plateau by preventing socially and economically harmful ‘competition’ (lisunii) between competing parties. Heavy penalties were imposed to the first mover, irrespective of genuineness of the case. It is learnt that Galo Welfare Society has taken an initiative to fix the number of Mithuns a party can sacrifice during marriage ceremony. This is a noble step, which must be respected by way of ex-communicating the violators.

Any amount of debate- ‘Mithun as the state animal’- will carry no meaning when we do not have significant number of this animal to represent us. A leader or two may be taken for a tour to Mejiphema, the famous Mithun Breeding Centre in Nagaland. They should look beyond rivers and rivulets (for signing MoUs with power developers). It is high time for them to realize the fact that without Mithuns there will be no Sadhis and Bihas, and when there is no Sadhis-Bihas, growth of population will be greatly reduced. With unsteady growth of population, the voters to vote for the leaders will get reduced considerably. So, Save Mithuns to Save Voters! (Dr. Bath teaches in the Department of Political Science, Rajiv Gandhi University and can be contacted at nanibath@rediffmail.com.)

AKKDSU’s appeal to Govt officials

ITANAGAR, June 9: Expressing concern over the running of some Govt offices of Kurung Kumey by the officers at their temporary camp at Ziro or Papum Pare, the All Kurung Kumey District Students’ Union (AKKDSU) has appealed the officers to shift their base at Kurung Kumey within two months.

The union resented that despite bifurcation of the district from Lower Subansiri district in 1999 for speedy social and economic development; some departments are intentionally neglecting the administrative policy of the Govt and running the offices from outside the district.

New STS GM welcomed

ITANAGAR, Jun 9: All Arunachal Pradesh State Transport Employees’ Welfare Association (AAPSTEW) has welcomed the appointment of Repo Ronya as new GM of STS and hoped that Ronya would work for the speedy development of the department. The union also wished outgoing GM Opak Gao, who rendered his valuable services for the department for a year, for all success in life.

Forum allege discrepancy in recruitment process

ITANAGAR, June 9: All Segi-Gusar Unemployed Youth Forum has expressed concern over alleged illegal recruitment of village level Anganwadi workers by some Panchayat leaders and government officials in the Segi circle, Upper Subansiri area. Forum declared this practice as dangerous and requested authorities to appoint the rightful candidates.

Further Forum has appealed to the authorities especially education department to initiate action against those teachers who are irregular in their service as it affect the education of children.

43rd Dree Football from Jun 10

ITANAGAR, Jun 9: Central Dree Festival Committee, Ziro, like previous years, has decided to organize various Games and Sports competitions, including the most popular event football, to mark the ensuing Dree Festival. Dree, the agri-based festival of Apatanis, is celebrated every year on July five.

Fourteen teams from different villages of Apatani Plateau are participating in this year’s football tournament which is scheduled to begin from June 10 next, said a CDFC release.

All the participating teams are divided into four groups with winner and runners up of each group qualifying for the quarterfinals. Bulla Sports Association, Bamang Taji XI, Dusu Nencha XI, Diibo Football Club, Diibo Sports Club, Hari Sports Club, ASHA, Hapoli Soccer Club, SLSC, Sancha Yapa FC, Ama Aaha XI, Shiro Spors Club, Kings XI and Hage Nama XI are the participating teams.

The opening match would be played between Bullo Sports Association and Bamang Taji XI on June 11 at 2 pm.

The semifinals would be played on June 24 and 25 while the final would be held on June 29.

Pasang Dorjee Sona, MLA and chairman Arunachal Pradesh Agriculture Marketing Board and Yumsem Matey, MLA cum Chairman Department of Tirap and Changlang have consented to attend the inaugural function of the 43rd edition of the Dree Festival Tournament on June 10.

BADC draw Siram’s attention

ITANAGAR, June 9: Bana Area Development Committee (BADC) in a presentation to state education minister has drawn his attention over various problems being faced by students of Bana, government secondary school. The shortage of subject teachers in the school has seriously affected performance of students in recent CBSE exam, BADC added.

BADC claimed that since up gradation of Bana M.E School to Government Secondary School few years ago till now no single subject teacher has been posted leading to overloading of work pressure on assistant teachers. Further committee has requested sanctioning of fund for construction of teachers quarters. Due to lack of quarters at the moment teachers are staying in PWD Inspection Bunglow, Bana and conditions of IB rooms are in bad shape and also can’t accommodate family of teachers, added BADC.

DC’s order

Aalo: The West Siang Deputy Commissioner cum District Magistrate Amjad Tak has prohibited carrying of Dao, Stick, Lathis, Arms & Ammunition, bow & arrow in offices of West Siang.

It has been seen that general public have a habit of carrying such tools in the offices which seems to be odd and contrary to the office norms, the order read.

Violators of the order shall be liable for prosecution and such weapons would be seized and confiscated as per provisions of the law. (DIPRO)

Dam assessment tour is not motivated

ITANAGAR: Adi Baane Kebang Youth Front (ABKYF) in a release said the Dam assessment tour programme of the youth Front in the 32 Adi villages is purely non-political and free from any external influences.

The aim of the assessment tour programme is to bring social upliftment, integrity and facilitate the Adi society to take right direction at the right time, adding that the youth front will never take decision, which may be detrimental to Adi society in particular, and the state in general.

However, the finding of the ground realities in the said assessment tour will define the future stand or action of the ABKYF.

NEKIB to open office at Delhi

ITANAGAR: North East Khadi and Industries Board, Culcutta in a meeting held recently has decided to open its Central Advisory Office at Delhi.

Meanwhile, Gejo Ngomdir has been appointed as Vice Chairman (Planning), Central Advisory Council Office, Delhi.

Social Service

ITANAGAR, June 09: Senki View Welfare Association is conducting a social service at Senki View on June 13.

117-RCC BRTF needs to be more responsible

Dear Editor,

Lackadaisical attitude of 117-RCC BRTF the one entrusted to maintain the Tawang-Lumla and Thongleng road has caused untold miseries to the people of Lumla Sub-Division. The Tawang – Thongleng road which the so called premiered agency claims as the all weather road is now in dilapidated condition which is creating problems for the commuters. One can easily make it out seeing the road that it has been subjected to sheer negligence on the part of the BRTF agency. While most of the villages are facing the road blockage every other day, the price of the commodities is gradually sky rocketed.

This onset monsoon has brought with it the hardships the people never experienced ever before. Whom to be blamed, the nature or the agency who has been maintaining the road? This is a million dollar question for the people facing the brunt. There is very little to say about the nature but the onus of preparedness lies on the agency.

The sorry state of affair is that despite repeated appeal made by public leaders to the OC-117 RCC- BRTF to ensure better drainage system along the road during dry seasons so as to contain the problems of land slips during the rainy seasons went to deaf ears. The OC BRTF went to the extent saying when the problem didn’t arise in the previous years, it would not arise in the coming year also. Such irresponsible attitude of a senior BRO officer is uncalled for and should be held responsible for the entire hardship being faced by the people of Lumla subdivision. Unlike the previous OCs the present one never has the helping attitude which sours the relation between the locals and the BRTF and is not a healthy sign.

Moreover, the BRTF has till date never compensated for the damages made to house and property during widening of roads whereas clear cut government norms have been framed in this regard. The compensation as per admissibility should be immediately released to the victims.

During the course of widening of roads, the instances of damaging public property like electricity posts, telephone wires etc. is very common which they never bother to re-erect or compensate. Therefore the people of Lumla sub-division have appealed the appropriate authority to intervene in the matter.

1.Sangey Norbu

ZPM, Dudungkhar-Zimithang

2. Lobsang Younten

Anchal Chairperson

Lumla

3. Tsering Tashi

President BCCI

Lumla Block

4. Sonam Topgey

President BYC

Lumla

5. Lobsang Dawa

Chief Organiser Seva Dal

Tawang

Need of hour is extension of Yingkiong township

Dear Editor,

The Upper Siang District, one of the most backward and young districts of Arunachal Pradesh was inaugurated on 12th May 1995 with headquarter at Yingkiong. Since then, the population of Yingkiong is increasing very fast. But the development of infrastructures like road, medical and educational institution are not proportionately developed with the increasing population. Yingkiong has become victim of many wrong and hasty establishments. The govt. quarters, offices and even private residences are constructed without any norms and in haphazard ways.

For example tourist lodge, urban guest house and a helipad has been recently constructed in the Deputy Commissioner’s Office Complex where also most of the HOD/ HOO offices are located. To add to the wrong planning and hasty establishment, the flash flood of Mighty Siang River in 2001 has damaged Yingkiong town beyond imagination and now 30% of the old Yingkiong township area left to the Yingkiong-Aalo BRTF road is not suitable for permanent human habitation.

Due to these factors, though Yingkiong is only 15 years old young district headquarter there is no single open space left today for future govt. office/ quarter construction. Hence, Yingkiong town urgently need extension.

Recently, during his first visit as a minister at Yingkiong, Education Minister Bosiram Siram has declared to establish a college in Upper Siang. After that, with the initiative of Tagin Litin, Head Gaon Burah of Simong village, the people of Simong village has voluntarily donated sufficient and suitable land at Mobom-Norhing area, just 3 Km from Yingkiong town for establishment of college.

The major advantage, if a college is established in this area is extension of Yingkiong town in the nearby Papak-Norhing-Arong area. The soil of these areas is more stable compare to the sandy soil of present Yingkiong town. This area is a plateau and if township is fully extended here, Yingkiong town will be one of the most beautiful towns in Arunachal Pradesh. It will not be excess to say, Yingkiong will become the Shillong of Arunachal Pradesh.

Yours,

Agung Siboh

Wrong information

Dear Editor,

There was a news under the Topic "Chawla rejects experts claim on EVMs' technological vulnerability" and in the para 13th which states that "While live feed of polling was done in 13 hypersensitive polling stations of Tirap district out of total 163, the webcast was done in three polling stations in West Kameng out of 32.

This is to inform you that the data given is wrong and the right data is Live feed of polling was done in 13 hypersensitive polling stations of West Kameng district out of total 32, the webcast was done in three polling stations in Tirap out of 163

Prem Khandu Thungon

District Informatics Officer,

National Informatics Center

(on email)

Let affected people decide

Dear Editor,

Dams ……. Dams ………. Everywhere but what is Dam! How it works! How it functions, only few know. Indeed, it hurts if we think of the submergence of cultivation lands and houses of Pongging village.

These days Readers Forum of your daily is filled with letters on the issue but what is surprisingly is that most letters are from people unaffected by project.

To cite an example, Vijay Taram, Ex-Anchal chairperson, Geku-Katan Anchal Samity wrote one. Especially I emphasize about the letter published on June 7 on Arunachal Times questioning of ABK and Mr. J K Panggeng.

The letter was misleading the innocent villagers and spreading wrong concept regarding submergence of Lands. Being well educated and a public leader, the tone of the letter did not suit him at all.

I wonder why people make it a big issue when they are not affected. Is there any motive? I am sure that affected land owners are far capable of deciding for themselves. Construction of Dam is secondary. First should be negotiating with the govt of Arunachal Pradesh and the company.

Yours

Tobing Megu

Bodak (on email)

For the society

Dear Editor,

It's pleasure to have a torch-bearer of our society, what we called "The Arunachal Times".

My one and only request is that the motto of fourth estate should be truthfully followed without fear and partiality. I think journalism belongs to society, for society and not for/of any individual.

Debia Padang (on email)

Naharlagun