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2012

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May 13

News Impact

Curb Maoists presence in Arunachal: Home Minister
AAPPTF convention cum traffic awareness prog
Meyor community accuses Indian Army of land grabbing
East Siang faces threat of food scarcity as it battles bamboo flowering
AdiSU demands re-conduct of public hearing
Aalo orgs resent bad roads, power cuts
Orientation cum training prog for BTM & SMS

ASLU appeals NERIST

ITANAGAR, May 12: The Arunachal Law Students Union (ALSU) has demanded the North East Regional Institute of Science and Technology (NERIST) for implementation of one man one post policy when the Board of Management (BoM) meet on May 21.

ALSU further called for assess qualification as well reservation policy and appointments as per MHRD guidelines.

ANYA unit demands adequate relief to fire victims

ITANAGAR, May 12: All Nyishi Youth Association (ANYA) Lower Subansiri district unit has appealed to the state Govt to provide adequate assistance for relief and rehabilitation of the fire victims of Boasimla. Around 50 houses were gutted in a devastating fire at Boasimla on Tuesday. The ANYA unit also appealed to the Raga MLA and panchayat leaders to visit the accident site.

A team of ANYA district unit also visited the fire accident site on May 10 and distributed items like blanket etc. It also lauded the members of its parents body, deputy commissioner and others who have extending helping hand to the fire victims in the hours of need.

Provide electricity, demands Union

ITANAGAR, May 12: All Palin Chambang Yangte Gangte and Tarak-Langdi Students Union (APCYGTSU) today appealed to power (E) department to provide electricity to all the villages under Palin circle at the earliest.

Except Palin town, all the villages under Palin constituency are deprived of electricity, the union said.

In spite of assurance given by the state power minister during the chief minister’s visit to the area in last January, the area is still reeling under darkness, the Union lamented.

Orgs decide to boycott USDIF bandh

ITANAGAR, May 12: Various organizations of Upper Subansiri district have decided to boycott the proposed Daporijo bandh called by Upper Subansiri District Intellectual Forum (USDIF) on May 15. The Forum proposed this bandh in protest against the alleged irregularities in tender process regarding upgradation of 18 km road from Subansiri bridge point to Segi circle Hq.

The representatives of various organizations including Daporijo bazaar committee, district students union, Dumporijo Gusar and Baririjo Collegian Forum, unemployed youths of Segi-Gusar and All Tator Area Welfare Society (ATTAWS) in a joint meeting held at Dumporijo on May 11 have unanimously decided to boycott the proposed USDIF bandh as it badly affects the life of common masses and hamper business and development activities, said ATTAWS in a release today.

Regarding allegation of unfair tendering process, it was informed in the meeting that a committee constituted by Panchayat members and the ATTAWS representatives enquired about the allegation and found no unfair activity in tender process. ATTAWS further said there is no question of misappropriation of fund as the project is yet to start. The proposed bandh call is totally against the development process in Segi-Gusar circle, it said.

Solve border issue: Union

ITANAGAR, May 12: All West Siang Border Student Union demanded the Arunachal Govt to immediately solve the Arunachal-Assam boundary dispute and compensate the destroyed properties of Mime Taipodia Riba by the Assam Police.

It said that they would be forced to call a 100 hours agitation against state govt if the atrocities are not stopped and govt do not initiate action.

Nurses day

ITANAGAR, May 12: As world celebrates Nurses' day, enthusiastic nurses of Community Health Centre, Chowkham joined the celebration on May 12. To mark the day, they cleaned Chowkham hospital compound; followed by a gathering at nurses' room to pay floral tribute to their selfless and pioneering leader Florence Nightingale. This was informed by Dr.Taka Zirdo of CHC Chowkham.

Orgs reiterate demand

ITANAGAR, May 12: Arunachal Pradesh Abo Tani Clans Youth Organization, All Nyishi Youth Council and All Arunachal Youth Forum today reiterated its demand for immediate cancellation of illegal land allotment to the non-APSTs.

Pointing out the committee formed by the Govt to enquire into such illegal land allotment, the organizations give a week time to the state government to pay heed to their demand.

Curb Maoists presence in Arunachal: Home Minister

PC denies presence of NSCN factions

Taba Ajum

ITANAGAR, May 12: Home Minister P Chidambaram who was on a day long visit to Itanagar today to review the internal security of state held a meeting with Governor J J Singh at Rajbhawan and addressed a high level meeting held at Banquet hall.

Chief Minister Nabam Tuki, ministers, parliamentary secretaries, senior officers from state police and home affairs attended the meeting.

It was a closed door meeting which lasted for more than 2 hours and no press persons were allowed access to the meeting.

However according to the source Union Home Minister during the meeting expressed serious concern over report of the spread of red terror (Maoist) in Arunachal.

Later addressing the media persons in the conference room of Banquet Hall, Chidambaram stated that there is minimal presence of Maoist along Assam-Arunachal boundary area.

“Assam government is doing their best to curb the Maoist elements. And am sure Arunachal govt too will work in same line. I also appeal the people of Arunachal not to give chance to the Maoist element to get foothold in the state. Arunachal is one of the most peaceful states and let it remain so,” said Chidambaram

In a statement which may storm up a controversy in the state, Chidambaram refused to accept the presence of NSCN groups in Tirap, Changlang and Longding districts.

“The central government does not recognize the presence of NSCN in the three districts. That is the reason ceasefire agreement signed with both faction of NSCN does not extend to these districts,” said Chidambaram.

However despite thrashing report of NSCN presence, he added, “Central govt is worried for Tirap, Longding and Changlang districts. Recently police recruitment drive was conducted in Changlang district especially for the local youths. This will give employment opportunities to the youths of the two districts.”

On the report of factional clashes between various Naga groups in the three districts he said if the report is true, then it is duty of state government to tackle such law and order problem. Home Minister also informed that as part of the ongoing process, Arunachal Pradesh Police will be modernized in days to come so that it is well equipped to deal with the prevailing situation and more additional central forces will be sent to the state. Chidambaram also said long pending boundary problem between Assam and Arunachal need to be solved peacefully under the guidance of Supreme Court constituted boundary commission.

“The one man committee headed by Justice Tarun Chatterjee is working towards it and most probably in the month of June he is going to call meeting of chief ministers of Assam and Arunachal in this regard,” stated Chidambaram.

He also informed that last year central government had sanctioned Rs 154 crore for the development of border areas. This year union govt had released 92 crore till date and will be releasing more after examining various requests.

He also expressed ignorance about Chakma-Hajong refugee creating problems for local citizen at Lohit and Changlang districts. “I am not aware of any such report. State govt will in better position to answer,” he retorted when this journalist specifically asked him whether central govt is aware of about Chakma-Hajong refugee creating problems for local citizen of Lohit and Changlang districts.

Home Minister was accompanied by Jitendra Singh, minister of state for home and Joint Director I B during the visit.

AAPPTF convention cum traffic awareness prog

Sanjoy calls for strict traffic management

Staff Reporter

BOMDILA, May 12: Lok Sabha MP Takam Sanjoy today urged the drivers and vehicle owners to strictly follow the traffic rules for their own safety and security.

While addressing the huge gathering at the 1st ever convention-cum-traffic awareness programme of All Arunachal Pradesh Public Transport Federation (AAPPTF) at Buddha Stadium, Bomdila here this morning, Sanjoy also called upon the traffic cell and law enforcing authority to take stringent action against traffic violators.

Stressing on the need of maintaining discipline in every sphere of life in a civilized society, the MP said discipline is equally important for vehicle owners/drivers and the commuters.

Taking serious note of violation of road safety norms and traffic rules in Capital Complex, Sanjoy said “Capital Complex, Itanagar needs more traffic awareness programme than any other places of the state.” He urged AAPPTF to conduct mega traffic awareness programme in state Capital and also suggested the Federation members to join hands with Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC) so that such awareness programme can be organized in a better way.

Pointing out the uproar regarding contractual works, the MP said people should seek contract works in their respective districts only so that the local people shouldn’t be deprived of their rights.

Regarding the initiatives being taken for construction of Trans-Arunachal Highway, the MP said that some individuals were allegedly constructing new dwelling houses along the proposed Highway only to claim compensation from the Govt. Informing that only genuine cases would be considered for compensation benefit, he said interference in highway developmental activities will not be tolerated. He appealed the people not to involve in any activities which may prove them losers.

The MP also expressed serious concerned over ongoing construction work of Balipara-Tawang road, which is of strategic importance from country’s defence point of view, and assured to take up the matter with Defence Minister A K Anthony.

Rs 92 crores have already been sanctioned for establishment of mountaineering institute at Dirang, Sanjoy informed while announcing Rs 5 lakh from his MP LAD fund for Anshu Jamsenpa as token of appreciation for her outstanding achievements in the field of mountaineering.

Thrizino-Buragaon MLA Kumsi Sidisaw suggested the AAPPTF members to make the federation more disciplined and organized so as to render better services to the people of state. He also requested the people of every community to work in unison for development.

Local MLA R T Kunjuju urged the drivers/vehicle owners, particularly youths to strictly follow traffic rules and stressed on strict traffic management.

APB&OCWWB Chairman and Chief Advisor AAPPTF Jalley Sonam also appealed to the people to follow traffic rules and avoid rough driving. He suggested the Federation to initiate steps to fix a particular colour for commercial taxi in the line of Shillong.

AAPPTF State president Takar Goi informed that only 9 DTOs and MVIs were appointed in the state. He appealed to the govt to create more posts of DTO and MVI. He also advocated for provision of vehicles for each DTO for better service within this financial year.

Goi informed that there are 42,400 commercial vehicles in the state, out of which 30 per cent of vehicles are hired from neighbouring Assam and others states.

The army personnel from Tenga valley, Union and state Govt establishments and private establishments are hiring vehicles from other states despite availability of large number of commercial vehicles in Arunachal, he lamented. Hiring of commercial vehicles from other states directly affects the state economy, more particularly the unemployed youths who had purchased commercial vehicles with bank loans.

Highlighting the grievances of vehicle owners AAPPTF general secretary D Sonam appealed to the MP to impress upon the govt to look into the existing road tax system, which he said was not appropriate. He appealed to the Govt for reduction of existing road tax from 10 years to 5 years considering the life expectancy of vehicles in mountainous roads and requested for reconsideration of double taxation system. He further urged the state govt to intervene in the forceful requisition of passenger vehicles by army personnel.

He informed that AAPPTF had signed MoA with Arunachal State Co-Operative apex bank to provide commercial vehicles to unemployed youths of state.

West Kameng DC, Rinchin Tashi, SP S N Mosobi and others also spoke on the occasion and enlightened the gathering on importance of traffic rules and regulations.

Besides the cultural pogramme presented by cultural troupes across the state, band display by the Indian Army jawans was added flavor to the convention. Renowned singer Anumoti Sisam and West Kameng Idol enthralled the jam packed crowd on the occasion.

Meyor community accuses Indian Army of land grabbing

ITANAGAR, May 12: Meyor community of Anjaw has alleged that without the permission of the villagers, the Indian Army has initiated construction of bunkers at Barakumdun Village and I.E Mule Shed at Krowti under Kibitho circle.

The Meyors reside in Kibitho and Walong circles along the international boundary with China where the Indian Army has a massive presence.

Army is acquiring agricultural land of Meyor community without following due process of law and consent of actual land owners and knowledge of District administration, said Chung Meyor who heads the Meyor Welfare Association.

Recently Indian Army started construction of bunker in the agricultural land of Chaping Meyor, a recipient of gold medal for his service to Indian Army, where an injunction order was passed by the Circle Officer of Kibitho. Subsequently, the District Administration wrote to the 82 Mountain Brigade seeking the comment on the issue in February this year.

The Meyor community is however agitated that the District administration is not aware of status of the development which they say is evident from a letter of District Administration No.ANJ/J/-10/10-11/1015-6 Dtd 21st Feb'2012 instead of taking action against the Army for disobedience of injunction order passed earlier. The Meyors say that thousands of hectares of land have been grabbed by the Indian Army without following the land acquisition process.

Without observing proceeding of land acquisition act and without consent of inhabitants and even without any rehabilitation initiatives, the Indian Army cannot continue such oppression, said Chung Meyor during a conversation with this daily.

East Siang faces threat of food scarcity as it battles bamboo flowering

Correspondent

Pasighat, May 12: The Upper Ramle Banggo and Legong Banggo of East Siang district have been witnessing gregarious bamboo flowering.

The flowering has affected most of the areas ranging from Tabi-Ripo to Korang village of Ramle Banggo and from Ledum to Miglung village of Legong Banggo.

Bamboos like Dendrocalsmus hamiltonii (Hate/Ee) and Schizosta-chyum arunachalensis (Tabum) are the species found flowering, affecting the local population in house construction, shoot consumption and other handicraft purposes, while the Dendrocalsmus latiflorous (Epo) are sporadic.

According to survey and field study conducted by State Forest Research Institute (SFRI) headed by scientist RK Taj on Friday, more than 1000 households are likely to be affected due to rodent and insect pest population outbreak which may cause damage to crops.

When contacted, Taj informed that the rodent damage may continue for one causing severe shortage of food grains and other crops particularly under jhum cultivation in the entire area and there will be severe shortage of bamboo based construction materials for another 5-6 years.

During a recent visit by this reporter, Ledum ASM Tayam Dupak informed that due to heavy damage of bamboo, the people of the area have been forced to purchase bamboo products from Pasighat for consumption.

Dupak appealed the state government to release financial assistance for the affected people and implement alternative rehabilitation programme for the affected people immediately.

“Due to massive flowering, the people of Koyu circle are facing acute hardship in house construction as people have been forced to abandon the construction materials”, revealed Koyu HGB Gokar Koyu. The authority need to implement bamboo plantation programmes by providing quality planting materials to the interested and needy villagers through concerned VFMCs.

AdiSU demands re-conduct of public hearing

Public hearing conducted at gun point: SBF

ITANAGAR, May 12: Adi Students Union (AdiSU) said that public hearing conducted at Pene village under West Siang district on May 11 for the 1000 MW Naying Hydro Electric Project was a fraud and biggest drama staged by the authorities with heavy presence of the paramilitary forces. The union demanded re-conduct of the public hearing as it questioned “when the public are not aware on the affects of the hydro power project, how can the authorities conduct the public hearing, that too with the might of the police forces”.

The authorities had stationed one battalion of IRBn personnel at Kaying so that the downstream people opposing the project would not reach the scheduled place for the public hearing. Further, around 300 IRBn personnel were present at Pene village and cordoned off the area. It was surprising to witness that the number of police personnel easily outnumbered the people gathered. Altogether four buses were used for transporting the para-military forces, the Union which is spearheading a movement against large hydro projects said.

This incident before the public hearing and conduct of the public hearing under the gaze of the police forces illustrates how the authorities are bringing in para-military forces from outside and bullying the people and creating fear psychosis among the affected people of the hydro power projects, AdiSu said in a statement.

It was a serious violation of human rights for the people of Siang. The democratic, human and indigenous rights were totally abolished before and during the public hearing, they alleged. The public hearing witnessed no affected people’s participation particularly the people from the downstream side of the project, they added.

The voices and concerns of the people against the mega-hydro power projects were snubbed as they were not allowed to reach the venue and enter the place where the public hearing was conducted, the students alleged.

Earlier, on May 10, five boys were severely assaulted by the IRBn forces near Kaying, the students further alleged.

The Union further came down heavily on West Siang DC in-charge Sachin Shinde while accusing him of discrimination and undermining the Adis using draconian tactic. Accusing him of being a racist for using force against the peaceful people of Kaying area, they questioned the handling of the public hearing.

The authorities should rather use those large forces in insurgency affected Tirap –Changlang or else station them at Likabali and other inter-state boundary areas to protect the people of the state from the marauders of Assam. Bringing in such large number of forces only disrupted the law and order in peaceful Kaying and Pene villages.

The organisations duo further said that they would continue their fight against large projects and that the conduct of the public hearing has only pushed them further. It said that DS Construction, the developer for the project will be responsible for any situation.

Condemning the reported assault on three youth by police personnel during the public hearing of 1000 MW Naying hydro project on Friday, Siang Bachao Federation (SBF) today demanded immediate suspension of West Siang Deputy Commissioner in-charge, alleging that youths were beaten up without any provocation and the public hearing was held at gun point with hundreds of IRBn personnel to mow down the anti -dam protestors. Federation also claimed that public was not allowed to express their opinion by the district administration and police personnel during the hearing as the local people were outnumbered by police personnel.

Aalo orgs resent bad roads, power cuts

ITANAGAR, May 12: Paktu Area People’s Forum (PAPF) and Paktu Ao Youth Welfare Association (PAYWA) during a recently held meeting discussed various issues pertaining to their area including power, road and supply of LPG.

They further decried the deteriorating BRTF Road in between Aalo and Basar. They said that BRTF authorities had given commitment to the people of Aalo in January 2011 to complete the resurfacing work of Aalo Likabali road but the Aalo -Basar sector is still not attended causing immense inconvenience to the commuters.

They further alleged that township road was of sub-standard quality and yet to be completed. The road project under SPA 2010-11 was poorly implemented and has started tearing out within a year before the work is completed. The public want that responsibility is fixed and action initiated against officials and contractor for improper use of public resources, it said.

The organizations further demanded renovation of Yeggo Micro Hydel and commission of Siru Tali Liromoba Micro Hydel. The Yeggo-Hydel built in 1975 was approved under Central Scheme for renovation in the fiscal year 2004-05 at an estimated cost of Rs Two crores. But instead of renovating the plant all the old machineries have been sold as scrap item without replacing it with new machineries as provided in the scheme.

They also expressed strong resentment at erratic BSNL services. The BSNL authority has given commitment for early remedial but the problem still persists and the subscribers have lost patience, they said.

They also raised the issue of LPG scarcity and adulteration of petroleum products by various Oil Auto agencies of Aalo.

They called for early solution to the problems being faced by the people of the area by the authority or face agitations.

Orientation cum training prog for BTM & SMS

ITANAGAR, May 12: The Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Papum Pare (a Wing of ICAR) organized a one day Orientation cum training programme for new recruitees (BTM & SMS) of ATMA of Papum Pare on May 12 at Nirjuli sponsored by the Project Director ATMA.

The on-campus training is one of the initiative of the Kendra to enlighten the knowledge of new recruitees of ATMA on ‘Development of Agri- allied sector for livelihood Improvement’. All together, 16 new recruitees were benefitted in this training programme.

OSD KVK N. Pertin highlighted the role of ATMA new recruitees among the farming community in technology dissémination.

Deputy Director Horticulture Bokaro Riba gave a detailed picture on the role of horticulture mission in the district.

Programme Co-ordinator of the Kendra Dr. T. Heli, informed the participants and various resource persons of the line department about the role of extension factionnaires in technology dissémination in the remotest areas of the district.

The particants was trainined by the specilised trainer from différent discipline like Dr. B.C. Borah scientist has covering the topic of cultivation technology of oyster mushroom in papumpare district.