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FriDAY • APriL 22 • 2016
DIMAPUR • Vol. XI • Issue 109 • 12 PAGes • 5
T H e
ESTD. 2005
P o W e R
o F
T R u T H
Language failed me very often, but then, the substitute for me was silence, but not violence — Elie Wiesel Manchester United, Liverpool fire European hopes
‘State Govt committed to fight corruption’
More than 100 feared dead in heat wave PAGE 08
PAGE 02
PAGE 12
earTh Day 2016: Trees for The earTh
‘At the pace humans are plundering Earth; it will no longer be able to regenerate itself’ Vishü Rita Krocha
The land-holding, jhum and logging vortex
Kohima | April 21
Planet Earth is currently losing over 15 billion trees each year due to deforestation, land development, and bad forest management, which is roughly 48 football fields every minute. Earth Day, which began as an environmental movement in 1970, pertinently has “Trees for the Earth” as its theme this year-today. In 2014, Dr. Tolto Metha, Team Member of Nagaland Bamboo Development Agency, started an awareness campaign on Facebook under the banner, “Save the Trees in Nagaland” to provoke thoughts and interest among the people on the various aspects of depleting our oldest natural resource in the state- Trees. In the last couple of years, the Page has garnered the support of over 5000 people. On Nagaland scenario, Dr. Tolto Metha attributed the rampant deforestation and destruction of trees to the lucrative Timber business and burning of jungle. “These eco-unfriendly activities have to be minimized and stopped ultimately if we are to breathe cleaner air, drink cleaner water and live longer,” Metha said.
reflecTions
By Sandemo Ngullie
Imkong Walling
T
Two men, one with a two-man saw, another with a gun survey the landscape- made barren by jhum cultivation and logging- looking for prospects of timber in Tuensang district. Jhum and logging are the major contributing factors for the diminishing forest cover in Nagaland. (Photo: Imojen Jamir)
Stating that, “Trees are the lungs of our planet”, he said, “if we go on destroying them, we’ll be left choking one fine day, and I tell you, at this rate, we are nowhere far from perdition.” Environmentalist and
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One drown at Zingki River KIPHIRE, APRIL 21 (MExN): One Tsulimthong Tikhir, aged around 29 drowned at Zingki River near Kiusam hanging bridge, Kiphire district on April 20 evening. The deceased who hail from Antonger Village under Kiphire district was serving as a Graduate Teacher at GHS Kiusam. District Administration, Police were assisted by well-wishers in the search operation. The body could be retrieved only late at night and was taken to his native place. It could not be ascertained why the deceased had gone to the river since he was reportedly alone at the time of the occurrence of the tragic incident.
less development and consumerism. “At the pace, we humans are plundering Earth, it will no longer be able to regenerate itself,” Dr Mizo apprehended while adding that if people, governments
and societies of today do not take cognizance of this, the future of humanity will certainly be gloomy. In this regard, he highlighted on the new understanding of the concept of sustainable development
he right over land in Nagaland is single-mindedly traditional with the individual owner exerting greater control than the government. It has to a considerable extent contributed to unregulated clearing of forest for cultivation, timber and firewood. Out of the recorded forest area of 8629 square kms in Nagaland (as per state government record), just over a thousand square kms is designated as under government control. Around 2842 square kms of the 7621 square kms of forest in private or village control is already ‘degraded’ as designated by the Forests department, while the remaining area of 4778 square kms is designated as ‘virgin.’ According to observations of foresters, who have spent years on the field, contrary to perceived notion, area covered by primary forests has extensively diminished. Government controlled Intangki National Park was quoted as an instance. The foresters noted that a large tract of the Park is noticeably intact, yet its periphery touching the plains of Dimapur and Assam is already degraded, exposed to biotic pressure. Puliebadze Wild Life Sanctuary, Kohima and Minkong protected forest in Mokokchung are already that portends to not only sustainable usage of resources but also safeguard the earth’s life support system. “This is an idea, an ethic that needs to be imbibed and embraced by all and particularly by the policy
makers,” he urged. He further pointed out that Nagaland is a part of the fragile lower Himalayan region, which is why, the impact of climate change and other environmental problems are bound to be severe
due to these. As tribal societies who have lived in close association with nature for centuries, Mizo asserted that it is nothing short of a cultural obligation to safeguard and protect the environment.
Rengma Hoho demands Mélange 2016: Colors of Sumi cultural heritage marks day one creation of Tseminyu District Morung Express News
DIMAPUR, APRIL 21 (MExN): The Rengma Hoho has submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister of Nagaland demanding the creation of Tseminyu subdivision into a district. The Hoho said successive state governments have neglected it since its inception. “The Tseminyu sub-division, headquarter of the Rengma tribe and the oldest administrative centre “In a dog eat dog world. You in Nagaland has been negotta be a dog to survive.” glected by the State of Nagaland since the inception of attaining statehood,” stated the memo released to the media here by the Kenyuseng Tep, president, Rengma Hoho. Asserting that the Rengmas had played an active CITIZEN UMBRELLA
Assistant Professor, University of Delhi, Dr. Robert Mizo expressed concern that planet Earth is reaching a point where humans will be unable to carry the unbridled anthropogenic activities aimed at mind-
Dimapur | April 21
degraded. A lack of conclusive survey to assess the level of degeneration is further allowing primary forest cover to recede. In Nagaland, jhum cultivation is attributed as the single most contributing factor to degradation of forests. Increased pressure on land fed by a growing demand for food and firewood has given way to shortening of the jhum cycle. While shifting cultivation is partly to blame, a greater danger is posed by logging either regulated or illicit. In most cases, logging areas are abandoned after the extraction, left to remain bare. Jhum lands are known to follow a natural regeneration cycle but it is rare for forests falling prey to logging to regenerate. Aforestation programmes do exist but success stories are scarce. Nurturing a sapling is just as important as planting one. India State of Forest Report 2015 reported that there has been a net decline of 628 sq km in the forest cover since 2013 in the North East. The loss is more than the total area of Mumbai city. Among the NE States, Mizoram has recorded the highest decrease in forest of 307 sq km, followed by Nagaland (– 78 sq km), Arunachal Pradesh (–73 sq km), Tripura (– 55 sq km), while Sikkim recorded a forest cover loss of 1 sq km. The main reason for this decrease is attributed to the biotic pressure and shifting cultivation in the region.
part in the process of political and administrative system and creation of Nagaland State with two members from the community in the interimbody, the Hoho however lamented that they are being “deprived and suppressed by successive government since the inception of the Nagaland state.” Since the time of British India, the Rengmas have had a separate (bench court) administrative centre and have contributed enormously in the political journey of the Nagas, it said and maintained that like any other tribe, they have the right for an own district, “to decide our own future politically, socially and economically.”
Zunheboto | April 21
The much awaited ‘Mélange 2016’ started today with the flagging off of the festival torch by the Zunheboto Town Youth Organization (ZTYO) convenor L. Holuto Ayemi from Zunheboto Town Council gate, Amiphoto colony and the lighting of the festival torch by Dr. Awoto Yeptho, ZTYO president at local ground, Zunheboto town. The opening ceremony saw the welcoming of the ‘Father of the Festival’, Hovishe Arkha, who congratulated the ZTYO for their efforts in organizing such a grand festival and encouraged the youths to work for the uplift of the Sumi society in general and the Sumi youths in particular. He further took the opportunity to stress on the “segregation” prevalent in the town and said that the people should be united and no division should be made on religious
Youths from different colonies of Zunheboto town compete in the traditional Ko-karting known as ‘Asu Kukulu Pokuxu’ in Sema dialect at the Melange festival. Photo Courtesy: Toino S. Rotokha
grounds. Mélange 2016 is one platform through which the people can be united and a platform where the youths will learn about their cultural heritage, he added.
The first day of the festival saw a host of cultural events, which included traditional games and sports, and the opening of the stalls. Pito Achumi, who won the first prize at the best traditional at-
Flash floods create panic in Tuli town
Severe storm lashes parts of Nagaland
Morung Express News Dimapur | April 21
Residents of Tuli town under Mokokchung district were panic-struck on Thursday following flash floods- a result of swelling of Milak River and its tributaries- and inundating houses and roads. Most of the low-lying areas of Tuli area were flooded, causing large-scale damage to plantation and crops. The cause of the flashflood was attributed to incessant rain in most part of Mokokchung district during the last few days. SDO (C) Tuli, Arikumba told The Morung Express that several houses in the low-lying areas were submerged, forcing the residents to vacate their homes. In particular, Patizung ward at Tuli and Paola Ward at Tzudikong were the two worst affected areas. The flood also caused temporary suspension
A submerged area of Tuli town area on Thursday.
of vehicular movements along a section of the National Highway 61. Arikumba said at least 35 houses have been submerged by the flash floods. No loss of human lives and properties were reported. The river has subsided as of now but we are taking every precaution, he
added. The SDO also expressed confidence that the public and the administration were prepared for any eventuality adding that post the 2005 flood incident, public are made regularly aware of such eventualities and also given training. The Tuli flashfloods in May
2005 had swept away nearly three hundred houses in various parts of Tuli town. Akum O Tzudir, a Tuli citizen, said Thursday’s flash flood was first noticed around 5am in the morning. The public along with the administration has since been working overtime to ensure safety of the
town people. Tzudir informed that many families residing in the low-lying areas are making alternative arrangements elsewhere as precautionary measure. He was however apprehensive of a more severe situation if the downpour in the upper part of Mokokchung district does not stop. Meanwhile, an official of the Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority (NSDMA) said the department was taking stock of the situation and was at hand to intervene any time if the need arises. In related incidents, the NDSMA official also informed that three children were injured in a storm that occurred during the last 24 hours at Ukha Village in Mon. They are already admitted to Mon District Hospital and given proper medical attention, he said. Several roofs were also reportedly blown away in Lungwa village in Mon district while there were also reports of severe storm in Peren district.
tire contest, flashed a smile when asked if he knows the value and of the various ornaments that he was displaying on him. “I really did not know much about the traditional attires, but thanks to the contest and to Mélange 2016, I am now very much aware, Achumi said. The various traditional games for boys and girls alike were organized with the aim of reviving the traditional and cultural heritage of the forefathers. Other highlights of the ceremony included presentation of the festival anthem, folk song presentation by Cornerstone Higher Secondary school and war dance from Bloom Field School. Event Director, Vinoka K. Rotokha initiated the oath taking ceremony after which the father of the festival declared the festival open. Mélange 2016 is a part of the “Awake Zunheboto” campaign of the ZTYO and it is being celebrated under the theme “Being Sumi”.
WSSU propose IISERC transit camp in Niuland town DIMAPUR, APRIL 21 (MExN): The Western Sumi Students’ Union (WSSU) has urged the Parliamentary Secretary for Higher & Technical Education to set up a temporary transit camp for Indian Institute of Science Education & Research Centre (IISERC) as the institute is supposed to commence its 2016-17 academic session. In a representation, WSSU president Nito Achumi, and general secretary Angukato Yeptho ardently felt that temporary transit camp would be required for running the institute for the time being while infrastructural development is in progress at the proposed site at Hovukhu Village under Niuland sub-division. The student body has suggested that the temporary transit camp be set up at Niuland Town, an administrative unit headed by the Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) where “all round environment is conducive for running the institute.” While endorsing the proposition, the WSSU has assured its fullest co-operation to ensure all round convenience.