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The Morung Express
Dimapur VOL. VIII ISSUE 198
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Our Correspondent Kohima | July 21
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Excise seize 1.05 lakh bottles of IMFL in 12 months Our Correspondent Kohima |July 21
1.05 lakh bottles of IMFL have been seized by the excise department in the past 12 months in Nagaland. Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio in his budget speech last week stated that total revenue generated through excise, including fine amounts, realized from prohibition violators amounts to about Rs. 4 crores in the past 12 months. The police and civil organizations are also actively involved in checking and controlling sale and distribution of IMFL within Nagaland State. The police had seized 53,790 bottles of IMFL worth Rs. 1.14 crore during the current year alone, Rio said, adding that the corresponding figure for the last year was 70,591 bottles worth Rs. 1.16 crore.
Assembly session to conclude today
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Kohima, July 21 (mExN): A weeklong 2nd session of the 12th Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) is scheduled to conclude here on July 22. Among other business, further discussion on the budget for the year 20132014 will take place on Monday. Other provisional programme of business for July 22 include: questions, laying of reports and other papers, if any, introduction, consideration and passing of the Nagaland Appropriation (No.5) Bill, 2013, unfinished business, if any and adjournment of the session sine-die.
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454.49 lakh workdays generated through MGnreGs in nagaland: rio
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A cart puller is seen delivering fermented rice from a brewery to one of the hundreds of rice beer joints in Dimapur. nagaland Liquor Total Prohibition Act was enacted by the Government of nagaland at the initiation of nBCC in 1989. The Prohibition Act in nagaland has failed dismally and, as anywhere else in the world, bred corruption while incurring heavy loss to the State’s exchequer. (Photo by Imojen I Jamir)
For the period 2012-13, altogether 3.836 lakh job cards have been issued, and a total of 454.49 lakh workdays have been generated through Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) till date, benefitting village population in every corner of the state. This was claimed by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio in his budget speech at the assembly session here last week. He also pointed out
that state and central funds have contributed towards building 10, 187 houses in 1143 villages under Indira Awaas Yojana (IAY) programme. Five districts have been identified under the Backward Regions Grant Fund (BRGF), where some of the significant developments, include construction of 1955 rural houses, construction of 35 guest houses, construction of 209 toilets and soiling, metalling and black topping of more than 330 kilometres of roads, said Rio. He also stated that
some commendable achievements through grant-in-aid to VDBs have been purchase of community buses, construction of multi-purpose buildings, and allocation for income generation in 1143 recognized villages. The newly launched programme, National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) has been successfully launched in blocks covering Longleng, Kohima and Phek districts. It will be expanded to cover more blocks in the coming year, Rio said. “It is through such effective implemen-
tation of programmes that the RD department is fulfilling the hopes and aspirations of the rural population.” He said that the RD department envisions creating a sustainable livelihood for the population by uplifting their economy and discouraging the rural sections from migrating to the urban areas. He added that successful implementation of several major development programmes through active participation of the village community was steadily changing the face of the rural populace.
nagaland itcs make some progress ACAUT gives proof of govt Our Correspondent Kohima | July 21
Minister for Industries and Commerce, S. Pangnyu Phom, on Friday told the assembly that the Department of Industries is implementing only the infrastructure development pertaining to the con-
struction of administrative buildings, guest house, marketing sheds etc. for International Trade Centres (ITCs) in Avangkhu, Pangsha and Longwa. Replying to MLA Imtikumzuk’s question, the Minister said that most of these infrastructures have been completed except for provi-
sion of water supply and sanitation and electrification at Avangkhu and Longwa. The minister also stated that the road construction is being undertaken by the Department of Roads and Bridges. Status of these roads as informed by the department concerned reads:
UK asks PM if he was ‘consulted’ about controversial visa fee
loNDoN, July 21 (pTi): A highpowered British parliamentary committee has written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh asking if he was consulted over a controversial plan to introduce a hefty 3,000 pounds cash bond for ‘high-risk’ visitors from India. Under the pilot scheme announced by British home secretary Theresa May last month, citizens of India, along with that of Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Ghana and Sri Lanka could be asked to pay a 3,000 pounds cash bond in a bid to prevent them overstaying their visa. The House of Commons’ Home Affairs Select Committee (HASC), a group of cross-party MPs chaired by BritishIndian Labour MP Keith Vaz, has been looking into the proposed visa and immigration system which will be enforced from November this year. “I would be most grateful if you could clarify if your government has been consulted by the UK government
on the bonds pilot. As part of the committee’s remit we have an ongoing inquiry into the work of UK visas and immigration,” wrote Mr Vaz, who has previously categorised the scheme as “unfair and discriminatory”. Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma has raised India’s concerns over the issue with his British counterparts while on a visit to the UK soon after the policy was announced. Since then, the UK government has stressed that the scheme will affect only a handful of high-risk individuals and will be fully re-assessed at the end of the pilot in 2014. Responding to a similar letter from HASC, Nigeria accused the UK of racial discrimination. The Nigerian Ambassador to Britain said his country is “not favourably disposed to the proposal as it will affect a good number of Nigerians visiting the UK, even in spite of assurances to the contrary.”
Avangkhu (Puphungri to Avangkhu ITC) road: Earthwork 90% completed, Pangsha (Chendang Saddle to Pangsha ITC) road: phase-II—31 km earthwork just started, phaseI—31 km retained but not sanctioned, and Longwa (Mon to Longwa ITC) road is maintained by BRO.
Survey of DimapurZubza rail link complete Our Correspondent Kohima | July 21
Survey of the Dimapur-Zubza rail link that will connect to state capital Kohima has been completed, according to a transport department source. Re-survey of the revised route from Dhansiripar (Assam) to Chumukedima (Nagaland) will be undertaken from May 2013, informed the source. The Transport Department is the nodal agency to co-ordinate and liaise with the Ministry of Railways, Government of India, pertaining to railway matters. A rail link through the foot hills of the state from Dimapur to Tizit via Tuli has been approved by the Government of India during 20122013. The Ministry of Railways had made a token sanction of Rs. 100 lakh to the Department to start off the survey process, the source said.
dept levying ‘illegal tax’
“Bonafide govt depts and armed revolutionary groups collecting illegal taxes: no moral qualms” Dimapur, July 21 (mExN): The Action Committee Against Unabated Taxation (ACAUT) has once again asked government departments to “stop collecting illegal tax”. In a press release, ACAUT’s media cell has claimed to be “in possession of a challan clearly issued by DTO Dimapur levying illegal tax on a Deopani laden truck” (Picture). The said truck, as per the ACAUT, was intercepted near St. John Higher Secondary School, Dillai gate by MVE/MVI personnel under DTO Dimapur. “On further query, the truck driver revealed that Rs. 1500/- per month is levied on all Deopani sand trucks entering Dimapur,” said ACAUT, further reiterating that this is a regular practice. Any government department, including
DTO, the press note said, indulging in such unfair practices is liable for prosecution under relevant acts. “The concerned department is urged to set its house in order instead of issuing rejoinders like the last time when it took umbrage at ACAUT for implicating MVE/MVIs collecting assorted taxes at New Field Check gate. DTO offices at these check gate should be removed im-
mediately,” demanded the ACAUT. Further, the Committee that is heading the campaign against “illegal taxation” maintained that “the lure of easy money has reached such a climax that both bonafide government departments and armed revolutionary groups are collecting illegal taxes side by side with no moral qualms. This mockery is a sight to behold.”
Transport dept exceeds 55% revenue target during 2012-13 Studies of Kohima metro cable car for public transport completed Our Correspondent Kohima | July 21
The state’s Transport Department has always been able to better the revenue target set for it and has substantially increased it every year. This was stated in the annual administrative report of the Transport Department 2012-13 tabled by Parliamentary Secretary for Transport, P. Pawang Konyak, at the assembly session last Thursday. While the revenue target for the year 201213 was set up to be Rs. 3296.00 lakh, the achievement for the year stands at Rs. 5130.96 lakh, exceeding the target by 55%. At present, the department operates on 114 routes with a route length of 12, 455 km and 178 scheduled
services covering 25,781 km daily. These include inter-state service connecting Imphal (Manipur) from Dimapur and Kohima. The report stated that the department has established network services connecting all the 11 district headquarters including the most interior areas in the state where road connectivity exist providing basic passenger transportation facility especially to all the rural areas. 14 news buses were procured during 2011-12 and 20 new buses are being procured during 2012-13. The department has also introduced two new services in 2012-13 for Longleng-Auching (38 km) and Tuensang- Pangsha (91 km). The department endeavours to maintain af-
REVENUE GROWTH IN LAST 5 YEARS Year 2007-08: 2008-09: 2009-10 : 2010-11 : 2011-12 : 2012-13 :
nagaland State Transport buses queue up before leaving for their destination. The nagaland State Transport Department recorded a 55% rise in revenue in 2012-13. (Morung Photo)
fordable fare structure taking into consideration the national price index. However, the department is sometimes constrained to absorb the burden of the frequent price escalation on HSD and other operation materials like spare parts, tyres etc. by periodic fare hike. The present fare structure stands: Express75.52 paise per km, Semi Deluxe- 94.11 paise per km, Super Deluxe-109.40 paise per km, Mini Bus109.42 paise per km and
weighted average- 75.99 paise per km. The report also stated that the department received the “Best Performing State Transport in the North Eastern States for 2010-11” award from the Association of State Road Transport Undertaking (ASRTU) under the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, Government of India in January 2013. The department liaises and coordinates civil aviation matters too wherein air-
strip survey for potential operation of small aircrafts in the state has been taken up. Besides, state helicopter service is operated on weekly programme/chart connecting all the major district headquarters and on chartered sorties for lifting of casualty and patients from remote and rural areas falling under identified/permissible coordinates. Besides, VVIPs & officials requisitioned duties are carried out to cater to their needs of emer-
Target Actual 933.00 lakh 1525.00 lakh 1685.00 lakh 2814.00 lakh 3059.80 lakh 3296.00 lakh
gency requirements On Inland Waterways Transport, M/S Rites Ltd under India Waterways Authority of India has identified three rivers as having potentialities for inland water transport in the state: Tizu River from tri-confluence near Longmatra to Avangkhu of approximately 42 kms on the IndoMyanmar border international waterway. Dhansiri River from Samjiram to Numuligarh via Dimapur of approximately 110 kms for interstate waterways (Nagaland-Assam). Dikhu River from Yangnyu (Nagaland) to Naginimora (Nagaland) of about 52 km provided it
Achieved Taget 1459.00 lakh 1653.77 lakh 2014.38 lakh 3126.74 lakh 4111.39 lakh 5130.96 lakh
is connected to Brahmaputra river in Assam via Sibsagar for inter-state waterways (Nagaland-Assam). The report also stated that feasibility studies of Kohima Metro Cable Car for public transport undertaken by M/S Leading Edge Adventures &Airparks Pvt Ltd, New Delhi has been completed. The project is intended to ease traffic congestion and bring about improvement of public transport in the state capital Kohima. The project was conceptualized and initiated by the transport department and is being transferred to the urban development department for execution.
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