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wednesdAY • JAnuArY 06 • 2016
DIMAPUR • Vol. XI • Issue 4 • 12 PAGes • 5
T H e
ESTD. 2005
P o W e R
o F
The New Year stands before us, like a chapter in a book, waiting to be written. We can help write by setting goals ‘We are not natural -born enemies of Iran’
Training workshops for young women held in Tuensang
PAGe 09
T R u T H
— Melody Beattie
Club hero Zidane handed the Real Madrid hot seat
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Coal mining in Nagaland a threat to the flora, fauna & local people Study of coal mining in Nagaland and its impact on environment- I Our Correspondent Kohima | January 5
Women carrying firewood and fodder for pig on their way back home from field in Tuensang. In many homes in the rural areas in Nagaland, the hearth is kept lit throughout the year by the firewood collected by womenfolk. Photo by Imojen I. Jamir
Sharif promises to act against Pathankot attackers
NeW Delhi, JaNuarY 5 (iaNS): Dialling Prime Minister Narendra Modi from Sri Lanka, Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday promised “prompt and decision action” against terrorists linked to the attack on the IAF base in Pathankot in Punjab. Sharif gave the assurance after New Delhi provided “specific and actionable information” to Islamabad regarding the terrorists, and Modi underlined the need for Pakistan to take “firm and immediate action” against organisations and individuals responsible for the attack. The Sharif-Modi telephonic conversation followed the killing of all six terrorists believed to be from Pakistan after they attacked the Indian Air Force base early on Saturday, leaving seven security personnel dead. An official statement said Modi got a call in the afternoon from Sharif “regarding the terrorist attack on the Pathankot air base”. “Modi strongly emphasised the need for Pakistan to take firm and immediate action against the organisations and individuals responsible for and linked
to the Pathankot terrorist attack,” the statement said. It said specific and actionable information in this regard has been provided to Pakistan. “Sharif assured Modi that his government would take prompt and decisive action against the terrorists,” it added. This was their first known conversation since Modi dramatically flew into Lahore on Christmas Day while returning home from Kabul and spent some two hours with Sharif. Radio Pakistan reported that Sharif telephoned Modi “and conveyed sorrow and grief on the losses in (the) Pathankot terror attack”. It quoted Sharif as saying that terrorists always tried to derail the process of peace between the two countries. “Pakistan will investigate in detail on the leads and information provided by the government of India,” it said. The two prime ministers also showed a resolve to battle terrorism together through mutual cooperation, Radio Pakistan added. The Nation, a Pakistani newspaper, quoted Sharif as saying: “We are with India in this hard time and will
assist in any way possible... We will investigate according to information given by India.” Sharif and Modi also discussed other strategic issues, it added. Modi’s Lahore visit came after a series of diplomatic engagements between New Delhi and Islamabad. The two leaders had a seemingly impromptu meeting on November 30 at the Paris climate summit. On December 6, Indian National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and his Pakistani counterpart Naseer Khan Janjua met in Bangkok. Two days later, Sushma Swaraj landed in Islamabad to attend the Heart of Asia conference on Afghanistan. On December 9, Sushma Swaraj announced that Modi would visit Islamabad in 2016 to attend the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) summit. India and Pakistan have since agreed to start a comprehensive bilateral dialogue. It was when the stage was being set for the foreign secretaries to meet this month in Islamabad that the terrorists raided the IAF base in Pathankot.
Nagaland is blessed with rich natural resources. Of these, coal is one such resource which can uplift the economy of the local people and Nagaland State in general if utilized properly. Coal deposits are distributed in eight districts of the State. Existence of coal was first known in 1842 though a detailed and comprehensive report of the coal deposits in the State is yet to be brought out, according to a booklet on ‘Study of coal mining areas in Nagaland and its impact on environment,’ published by Nagaland Pollution Control Board (NPCB) in 2015. In Nagaland, the Department of Geology and Mining brought out Coal Policy 2006 to achieve the best use of available coal resources through mining, beneficiation and economic utilization, keeping in view the constitutional safeguards provided to the State under Article 371-A of the Constitution with regard to land and its resources. The most practiced coal mining method in Nagaland is rat-hole mining. In districts like Mon and Longleng, open cast mining is actively practiced too. As of now, the current picture of coal mining (both abandoned sites and ongoing mining activities) in the State is not a pleasant sight as it is done without any proper planning leading to wastage of coal reserves and causing hazards such a landslide and subsidence in many areas. “This poses threat to the flora, fauna and the local people living in the vicinity,” the booklet stated, adding that “mining may be for a short period of time but the impact caused is long lasting and grievous. Its impact can be seen on air, water and land en-
Two NSCN(R) cadres arrested in Arunachal
iTaNaGar, JaNuarY 5 (PTi): Two cadres of NSCN (Reformation) have been arrested from Kheti village in Tirap district for alleged extortion, an official report said today. Personnel of 1st Assam Rifles, Assam Rifles Field Intelligence Unit and state police conducted a joint search operation at Kheti village which led to arrest of the two NSCN (R) cadres who have been identified as self-styled Lt Wingan Agan (26) and Sergeant Damwang Bangsia, both from Tirap district on
Sunday, the report said. One assault rifle, one automatic pistol with ammunition, extortion notes and receipt/ letter head of NSCN(R) were recovered from them, the report said. Local residents said that these cadres and their leaders had been threatening local people and carrying out rampant extortion and forced recruitment in Tirap, Changlang and Longding districts, the report said. This is the second successful operation launched
by 1st Assam Rifles in Tirap district. In an earlier operation carried out on November 19 last year, security forces recovered one automatic pistol, ammunition, round stamp and appointment stamp of NSCN (R) faction, extortion money and several undelivered and delivered extortion notes on the faction’s letter head addressed to public and government officials were recovered from Kheti village. The NSCN (R) was formed post abrogation of ceasefire by
NSCN (Khaplang). Since April last year, the NSCN (R) has been attempting to establish its base in the districts of Longding, Tirap and Changlang. The ‘Reformation’ group is now extensively involved in extortion in the form of tax collection and they are not sparing any section of the society be it poor villagers, government employees, business community, unemployed and school administration, the report added.
Re-think development along with indigenous communities
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iMPhal, JaNuarY 5 (MexN): The Centre for Research and Advocacy, Manipur (CRAM) has stated today that the January 4 earthquake, with its epicenter in Tamenglong District, should be an occasion for “due consideration and sensitivity” to the repeated assertions from academicians, technicians, civil society organizations, that Manipur’s “proximity and location in very high seismic zone 5 requires a cautious and inevitable consideration of seismic aspect and impacts in all development planning and processes.” In that, it called for a rethink of development planning based on rightful participation of all indigenous communities for just and sustainable development of Manipur. While expressing “deepest condolence and heartfelt grief” to those who lost their lives in the earthquake mea-
CRAM highlights fault lines that appeared after Manipur earthquake
suring 6.7 on the Richter scale, the CRAM expressed concern over the several mega structures in Manipur that either fell apart or developed cracks. A press statement from Sanaton Laishram, President of the CRAM, informed that these mega structures built for public purposes by the Government of Manipur with Corporate bodies, have fallen apart or have developed cracks, including the famed women’s market, sacred temples at Kangla, the lone flyover etc. in Imphal Town. “It is highly concerning that Singda dam close to the epicentre of the tremor, had also developed cracks as had reported by nearby villagers in Imphal Free Press (5 January 2015). Further, there are reports of some of tunnels of Trans Asian Railway in
Tamenglong and the towers of World Bank funded High Voltage Transmission lines had caved,” it stated. The inability for these mega development structures to withstand the seismic activity on January 4 indicates that “the seismic aspects and impacts, especially in Manipur which is juxtaposed in high and active seismic zone, within the folds of Himalayan Mountain range, has either not been considered or disregarded.” The CRAM also brought to attention the “additional issue of low quality of works and aspect of fraud and corruption of the construction works by corporate bodies involved in the construction works.” Further, Laishram pointed out that the proposed plans for building Tipaimukh Dam, Pabram and Irang Hydel proj-
ects and other mega dams under the Manipur Hydro Power Policy, 2012, the proposed Oil Exploration Plans in Tamenglong and Churachandpur districts, the extensive tunnelling and construction works for both Trans Asian Railway and Trans Asian Highway and multitude of other large scale development projects within Manipur need “serious introspection for their feasibility and rationality in places like Manipur.” “There should be clear review of the existing mega development structures like Mapithel dam, the Singda dam, Khuga etc for their compliance or due consideration of Seismic impacts. This natural calamity should also lead to a development decision based on rightful participation of all indigenous communities and all those concerned with a just and a sustainable development in Manipur,” the CRAM asserted.
Seen here is a coal mine in Naginimora, Mon district, Nagaland. A study on coal mining in Nagaland done by the Nagaland Pollution Control Board has suggested that current methods of mining coal pose a threat to the flora, fauna and people living in the vicinity of the mines.
vironment.” The booklet also stated that exposure of underground rocks and mineral releasing toxic gases on reaction with oxygen, water and sunlight caused air pollution which contributes to global warming, climate change etc. Excessive dust from mining interferes with photosynthetic & physiological activities of plants thereby retarding their growth. It also disrupts the air quality leading to many air borne diseases. The booklet also stated that excavation of large areas also releases many toxic minerals which are harmful to aquatic organisms, especially fish, because of its acidity. It is also reported that people living in the vicinity of mining sites have problems with drinking water because of the presence of high iron content and complaints of water borne diseases like typhoid, jaundice, cholera etc. The booklet also stated that agriculture, which is a source of livelihood for villagers, is facing hazards as cultivable land has started losing its fertility because of mining activity which removes the top soil and contaminates the land and water with its toxic discharges. These result in uprooting the indigenous people from their native place. Noise and vibration lead to wild animals and birds being driven away
from the nearby forests due to blasting and operation of machines. “These show that blessings can sometimes turn out to be a curse if we fail to utilize them in a proper way,” the booklet added. “Mining must be done in a scientific and sustainable manner without much harm to environment for strengthening the social structure,” the booklet stated. “Coal is one of the major resources of Nagaland and coal mining has been practiced since 18th century. Coal mining requires deforestation and soil excavation thereby leads to disturbance in the forest cover besides water pollution from the leachates,” stated Parliamentary Secretary of Industries and Commerce, Amenba Yaden in the preface. Yaden stated that NPCB has been trying to implement the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 beside other Acts and Rules through consent management and regulating mining activities “so that our resources is utilized with minimum damage to our environment by following proper Mine Closure Plans.” Akangmeren Imchen, scientists B Khriehunuo Rutsa and Lhaihoichoing Singson, both junior research fellows, besides others were instrumental in this project.
Public must mend the gap for ‘peace across borders’
Recalling his childhood ering that without the eagerness DiMaPur, JaNuarY 5 (MexN): In a commendable ef- days, Dr Benjongliba, in all of the people of both the parties fort to broker peaceful co-exis- nostalgia, said there used to be to come together, peace cannot tence, Parliamentary Secretary a weekly market at Rankham be imposed by the BPCC. “This is a very remarkable for Agriculture & Chairman NS- which people from his village AMB, Dr Benjongliba Aier con- depended highly for their every- occasion because in April last vened a joint peace sitting com- day needs. The village produce year when the situation arose in prising of members from Border from Yajang was also traded at the Rankham-Yajang-C sector, Peace Coordination Committee this market and people from public living there did not give (Assam-Nagaland), key mem- both the villagers respected a chance to the BPCC (A-N) to bers of Gabharoo festival orga- each other and there was no mediate. Rather they were sway nizing committee, representa- border tension, he reminisced. by different pressures including “Now-a-days, people from political angles and therefore tives from Rankham village area, Assam and council members of the plains sector encourage rich BPCC (A-N) was left with not people from the towns and cit- much scope for peace coordiYajang-C village on Tuesday. The peace sitting, which was ies to do agriculture cropping in nation,” Imsu said. Coordinator of the held at Yajang-C village, the ancestral vilParliamentary Secretary Dr BPCC (A-N) Temsu explained the lage of Dr Benjongliba Benjongliba urges peaceful Wathi overall situation precomes in the backdrop vailing in the entire of skirmish erupting coexistence between border belt with an between the villagers of Rankham (under Rankham and Yajang-C village emphasis for coordinated living with 101-Mariani Assembly Constituency, Assam) and Ya- the border belt and thus the tra- goodwill and mutual trust. “Though the State governjang-C (under 30-Alongtaki As- ditional lands belonging to Nasembly Constituency, Nagaland), gas are being encroached upon. ments are in litigating mode, with the recent one occurring in This is the root cause for igniting however it is the people who will April 2015 last, a press statement trouble leading to misunder- and shall live in these areas forfrom BPCC (A-N) president BP standing and mistrust amongst ever. Therefore the people livthe peace loving border people,” ing in border locations need to Bora stated. Since then, both States had the Nagaland parliamentary embrace each other and create a sense of neighbourly brothdeployed security forces to curb secretary for agriculture rued. BPCC (A-N) president BP erhood by extending equal rethe situation. Though situation remains normal at the moment, Bora and Indreswar Gogoi, a spect and dignity in order to public interactions amongst the prominent personality and create peaceful coexistence,” he two villages have been missing. teacher from Rankham local- maintained. The meeting ended with a Dr. Benjongliba in his ad- ity in their speech thanked the dress called upon the public MLA of Alongtaki constituen- resolution that the proposed representatives in attendance cy for coming forward to build joint peace meeting between to mend the gap and at the same peace in the locality. Gogoi also Rankham and Yajang villagers time extolled the traditional espoused hope of having a joint would be placed before Magh age-old good neighborly rela- peace coordination meeting in- Bihu i.e. January 14, 2016 where tion that existed between the volving both Rankham and Ya- the organizers of the Gabharoo Festivity-2016 has been asked Nagas and Assamese and par- jang-C villagers. BPCC (A-N) vice president to coordinate along with the ticularly the people of Yajang Imsu Jamir reminded the gath- BPCC(A-N) team. and Rankham village.