C M Y K
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ThursDAY • AuGusT 11 • 2016
DIMAPUR • Vol. XI • Issue 220 • 12 PAGes • 5
T H e
ESTD. 2005
To create one’s world in any of the arts takes courage Japan’s crown prince ready for throne, but no fairytale for his unhappy princess
By Sandemo Ngullie
Contractor, ekdum tangoor miracle hoishe! Around 11:00 pm last night the road you completed two days ago gave birth to a dozen cute potholes!
Two Naga youth killed in car crash
DIMAPUR, AUGUST 10 (MExN): Two Naga youth were killed in a car accident near Shahbad Markanda town under Kurukshetra district of Haryana late Tuesday night. The two Naga youth, students of Lovely Professional Institute Punjab, along with the driver of the car in which they were travelling, were killed as their vehicle collided with a pick up van. They were reportedly travelling from Delhi to Punjab. The deceased were identified as Momiio Chalai and Ohito Awomi, from Nagaland; and driver Surinder Singh. A condolence service for the two deceased youth was held at the Nagaland House Delhi on Wednesday evening. The bodies of two deceased are scheduled to arrive in Nagaland on Thursday, August 11.
T R u T H
Phelps wins 21st Olympic gold medal
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PM to hold all-party meet as Health crisis in naga areas of Myanmar: Kashmir ignites parliament Naga civil society slow to intervene
NEw DElhI, AUGUST 10 (IANS) Blaming Pakistan for instigating trouble in Kashmir, the government on Wednesday agreed to hold an all-party meeting over the unrest in the valley after politicians from across the spectrum sought a political solution to bring peace to the restive state. Rajya Sabha MPs asked the government to call the meeting over the Kashmir situation and then send a delegation of parliamentarians to the valley for talks with a cross section of the people. “There will be an all-party meeting on August 12 (Friday). Prime Minister Narendra Modi will also be in the meeting,” Home Minister Rajnath Singh said after a day-long bipartisan discussion on Kashmir. He, however, said that a delegation to be sent will have to wait before some normalcy is restored in the valley where over 55 people have died and thousands injured in a month of unrest following a militant commander’s killing on July 8. “Whatever is happening in the Kashmir Valley is sponsored by Pakistan,” Rajnath Singh said. “Nobody in the world can take Kashmir from us. If there will be talks with Pakistan, there won’t be a discussion on Kashmir but on Pakistan- occupied Kashmir.” Initiating the debate, Opposition leader Ghulam Nabi Azad urged the government to win the hearts and minds of people of the “integral part of India”. “We always say Kashmir is an integral part of India. But integral part should not be on paper only. There should be the in-
ENCSU sit in protest on August 12 DIMAPUR, AUGUST 10 (MExN): The Eastern Nagaland College Students’ Union (ENCSU) is set to undertake its first phase of agitation by organising a sit in protest on August 12 from 9:00am to 12 Noon. The decision was taken in a joint meeting with the Eastern Nagaland People Organizations (ENPO), Eastern Naga Students Federation (ENSF), Eastern Naga Women Organization (ENWO) and others today at DUDA Guest House Kohima. A press note from the ENCSU informed that the meeting deliberated on the MBBS and BDS issue and subsequently the ultimatum submitted by the union to the state government on July 26. It added that the protest will be organized in a peaceful democratic way to express resentment at the government for failing to fulfil the union’s demand to review the NSSE and allocate the 4 missing seats to the BT candidates.
NSF rally against AFSPA today Our Correspondent Kohima | August 10
The Naga Students;’ Federation (NSF) will hold a protest rally against AFSPA on August 11 at 11:00 AM at Kohima Local Ground. Representatives from Naga Hoho, Naga Mothers’ Association and NPMHR will address the rally. NSF president Subenthung Kithan will deliver presidential note while Rosemary Dziivichu will chair the programme. The rally will be followed by submission of memorandum to the Nagaland Governor, PB Acharya. The rally will be simultaneously held in all the headquarters of its federating units and subordinate bodies. At Phek, the rally will be organised by Chakhesang Students’ Union (CSU) at PTBC junction at 11:00 AM. Representatives from Chakhesang Public Organization, Chakhesang Mothers’ Association and Chakhesang Youth Front will address the rally. CSU president Dode Nakro will deliver presidential note.
EDSSU demands cancellation of ‘backdoor appointments’
C M Y K
o F
— Georgia O’Keeffe
Shutter down in Dimapur today
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reflections
P o W e R
DIMAPUR, AUGUST 10 (MExN): The Eastern Dimapur Sumi Students’ Union (EDSSU) today asked the Department of Land Records and Survey (DoLRS) to cancel the appointments of 4 LRSOs and 8 grade 1 Surveyors, who the EDSSU alleged were “appointed through backdoor/ unfair means” between 2012 and 2016. In a letter to the Secretary, Department of Land Records and Survey, the EDSSU cited replies to RTIs that it had filed with the concerned department. According to the RTI replies, all the 12 appointees were appointed on a temporary basis, with some to be filled up through the Nagaland Public Service Commission (NPSC). The EDSSU demanded that the appointees be terminated from their posts and the posts be requisitioned to the NPSC within a month. Failure to do so, the union cautioned that it would “take its own course of action.” It further appealed to the ACAUT Nagaland to “support and strengthen our cause for justice.”
Morung Express News Dimapur | August 10
A policeman stops an auto-rickshaw during a curfew in Srinagar. (REUTERS)
tegration of minds and hearts,” Azad said, expressing concern over the violence and continued lockdown of the valley. The Congress leader slammed the Prime Minister for not speaking in parliament about the situation in the valley and choosing a Madhya Pradesh rally to appeal for peace in Kashmir. “If something happens in Africa, you (Modi) tweet, Pakistan is an enemy nation and still you speak when something happens there. It is good to show sympathy with all. But the crown of India (Kashmir) is burning. You must have felt the heat on your head, if not the heart.” He said Kashmir wasn’t a mere law and order problem but “a complex issue”. “Politics comes first, economics second, employment
after that. If we talk about electricity, roads and water, and not about politics, it will be wrong.” Azad’s party colleague and former Jammu and Kashmir governor Karan Singh said the government and the house should “introspect why thousands of youths have embarked on a path of destruction” in the valley. MPs from other parties joined the chorus and asked the government to stop using pellet guns against Kashmiri protesters. “We have to end the violence and the current bloodshed in Kashmir. Start a political process to bring an end to the problems of people of Kashmir,” CPI-M General Secretary Sitaram Yechury said. Janata Dal-United leader Sharad Yadav stressed on a po-
litical initiative to win the trust of the people of the state. “(The) Prime Minister might say anything but it does not make any difference. The condition in Jammu and Kashmir is very bad. Modi says that we all love Kashmir, but this I would say is onesided. We have to chalk out such political measures that the people of Jammu and Kashmir also start loving us.” Nazir Ahmad Laway, a Kashmir lawmaker from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), questioned why the nation remembered Kashmir only “when it is burning”. “The longer we take to resolve this issue, the harder it will be. Kashmiri people...don’t trust us. They say delegations come and go, but nothing is ever done for us.”
After committing to send medical aid to the disease ravaged Naga areas of Myanmar, the Naga civil societies in Nagaland now appear to have pinned their recent “commitment” onto the arms of the Nagaland State Government - even as the Nagas in Myanmar await with anticipation. Since the outbreak of an unknown disease, later identified as a type of measles, which has already killed 41 people, the Council of Naga Affairs (CNA) had announced with gratitude and ‘pride’ that, their Naga brethrens living across the International border- have committed to send in a medical aid. The same “commitment” was also conveyed by the Naga Hoho, Naga Mothers Association and Naga Students’ Federation when The Morung Express was filing a story. A flurry of emergency meeting was also reported to have been convened among the civil societies to discuss on the issue. Appeal was also made to doctors to come forward as volunteers. However, on Wednesday, Naga civil societies sounded dislocated on the “commitment” as they attempted to put the onus on the Nagaland State Government. According to one of them, it was a complicated affair to rally a medical team from Nagaland side to Myanmar coupled with the challenges of cross-border voyage and other formalities. The NMA mentioned that the Department of Health &
Family Welfare Department was initiating “some sort of aid” and therefore to inquire about it to the department. Meanwhile Naga Hoho stated, “We can’t go just like that. We can go ahead only after the Nagaland Government and the Red Cross Society do the initial survey… and after consultation.” An officials of the Department of Health and Welfare, on the other hand, informed that it had no arrangement to cross the border with a medical team. “The four districts bordering Myanmar-Mon, Tuensang, Phek and Kiphire- have been put on high alert and medical team was on stand-by, only to act the moment the case get imported into Nagaland state,” the official stated. On the question of the Nagaland State Government dispatching a medical team to Myanmar, permission from the Government of India as well as Myanmar would be required, since it concerns international relations and diplomatic procedures in the event a Government agency crosses the international border. Given these procedural formalities, civil society organizations are in the best position to intervene especially on humanitarian grounds or during such crisis as this, a government official opined. Disappointingly, judging from the situation it now appears the Naga civil societies are clueless or have transferred their responsibility on the “commitment” they gave to their Naga brethrens of Myanmar.
TPO affirms stand on integration of Nagas Ghokuto village cut
KOhIMA, AUGUST 10 (MExN): The Tenyimi Peoples’ Organisation (TPO) has asserted its firm stand for the integration of Naga inhabited areas during its Presidential Council Meeting held on August 6. A press note from the TPO stated that the Tenyimi People, “who shares the same ancestry and lineage has also been badly affected by the arbitrary divide which was imposed without the slightest consent of our people.” It informed that the TPO “as an organisation is also placed vertically divided by the so-called artificial state boundary with 5 (five) of its constituent Units in Nagaland and 5 (five) in Manipur State, besides putting a vast chunk of area and people under Assam. Hence TPO remain steadfast in the demand for the Naga people to
live under one political roof.” It acknowledged the “pioneers and leaders of the Naga Political Struggles for the contributions and sacrifices towards the aspiration of Naga People to live as a Nation.” The TPO expressed its support to the ongoing Political Dialogue between the NSCN (IM) and the GOI and hoped that a settlement is reached soon “without foreclosing the original aspiration of the Naga People.” It further condemned the continued extension of Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in the Naga inhabited areas. Further, the TPO expressed concern at the “unscrupulous logging and deforestation in Tenyimi areas.” The House agreed that all the constituent organisations of TPO shall take up efforts to preserve the eco-
system and address issues of Climate Change. It also resolved to support the Zeliangrong Baudi (Nagaland, Manipur and Assam) “in its issue against logging at Chaka/Kanen, a Zeliangrong village under Senapati District by NSCN (IM) cadres.” It requested the concerned authority to immediately stop the logging and take action against erring personnel. Meanwhile, in the backdrop of expiry of the stipulated time for the Board of Arbitrators (BOA) to resolve the land dispute between the Southern Angami Public Organisation (SAPO), Mao Council (MC) and Maram Union (MU), the House in the discussion acknowledged the dedication and sincere efforts of the BOA and decided to extend the time limit for another 6 (six) months.
off due to landslide
DIMAPUR, AUGUST 10 (MExN): The only road connecting Ghokuto village to EAC headquarter Nihokhu which stretches 8 kilometres has been blocked for about three weeks due to landslide caused by heavy rains. Urging the department of PWD (Roads & Bridges) to look in the dire situation faced by the villagers, the head GB of the village G. Shikavi Zhimo, in a press release informed that the village has remained completely cut off, with the only motorable road to the village being cut off. The head GB stated that the construction of the said road commenced in 2012 under PMGSY and is yet to be completed. The GB informed that the village had written a letter to the Chief Engineer PWD (R&B), Nagaland in 2015 but so far the concerned department has not taken any initiative to press for completion of the said road. He added that the village had on its own tried it’s best to maintain the road by deploying villagers and funds managed by the village council. However the condition of the road had gone from bad to worse and the village authority is no more able to tackle the situation, he added.
ne produces 1 million tonnes of waste every year Morung Express News Guwahati | August 10
The entire North Eeast region currently produces about 1 million tonnes of waste annually. Of this, Assam accounts for 40%, Mizoram 20%, Tripura 12%, Manipur 4% and Nagaland 9%. Less than 70% of the waste is formally collected by the city governments of the Northeast and less than 20% is processed or recycled, according to a book on solid waste management in Indian cities titled “Not in my backyard” published by Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), New Delhi. The book was released by Assam Chief Minister, Sarbananda Sonowal, at a function held here at NEDFi complex on Wednesday. The book rated Indian cities on their management of solid wastes where Alleppey in Kerala, Panjim (Goa) and Mysuru (Karna-
taka) emerged as the three best cities in terms of segregation of wastes. Two North East cities Aizawl (Mizoram) and Gangtok (Sikkim) also received awards for their exemplary solid waste management practices. Assam Chief Minister, Sarbananda Sonowal presented the awards to representatives from Aizawl Municipal Corporation and Gangtok Municipal Corporation. The CM in his address remindedoftheadage“cleanliness is next to godliness” and said the poor waste management system of Guwahati city should be a wake-up call to all other towns and cities of Assam. Sonowal stressed on concertedeffortsofbothmunicipal bodies and citizens to tackle the growing waste problem. Deputy Director General, CSE, Chandra Bhushan, in his address said the book started as a survey to simply find out which is India’s
Assam chief minister, Sarbananda Sonowal, releasing the book “Not in my backyard” published by Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), at a function held at NEDFi complex, Guwahati, on Wednesday.
cleanest city, and what makes it so. “We knew that if we could find the answers to these questions, we will have the answers for future policy”, he said. Solid waste management in NE cities (SCE survey) • In Arunachal Pradesh, haphazard dumping is the common practice of
waste disposal in local communities. The state lacks waste segregation procedures. Landfill sites constructed are also not engineered well. • Meghalaya has only one compost plan located in Mawiong dumpsite, 8km from the city of Shillong. However, due to very little waste segregation
procedures adopted, the compost facility is facing problems in efficient operation. • The municipal solid waste generated from the Imphal municipality area is now haphazardly dumped at privatelyowned low lying ground at Lamphelpat. • In Kohima, the only recycling carried out to some extent is by the rag pickers. Wastes are generally dumped in open streams or burnt in empty spaces. This is due to limited waste storing capacity available in the city. • In Agartala, all garbage collected from the city is disposed in two open dump yards without proper processing. However, there is a silver lining as cities like Aizawl and Gangtok have taken the lead to show the way forward to tackle waste management through collection, segregation and
processing. For instance, Aizawl is investing around Rs. 60 lakhs for running a pilot project in five localities. This includes an investment of Rs. 15 lakhs for construction and infrastructure for a waste facility. The infrastructure for solid waste segregation has been completed and ragpickers are being trained for systematic segregation of the wastes. On the whole, India faces a mammoth waste problem: the country generates more than 60 million tonnes of waste each year – of which less than 25% is processed and recycled. The rest is dumped in poorly managed dumpsites. The book is one of the first of its kind attempts in India to understand the state of solid waste management in the country, the numbers behind it, the gaps that exist and the path towards harnessing the opportunities.