July 4th, 2016

Page 1

C M Y K

C M Y K

www.morungexpress.com

MonDAY • julY 04 • 2016

DIMAPUR • Vol. XI • Issue 182 • 12 PAGes • 5

T H e

ESTD. 2005

P o W e R

o F

The chief internal enemies of any state are those public officials who betray the trust imposed upon them by the people Nearly 120 killed in Baghdad bombings claimed by IS

— Dalton Trumbo

Hamilton wins Austrian GP after last lap drama

NVCO intensifies awareness on NFSA

PAGE 09

T R u T H

PAGE 02

PAGE 12

Logging ban and Timber mills: The permit conundrum Morung Express news Dimapur | July 3

students of the nEn summer farm school documenting the biodiversity. nEn summer Farm school, organized by north East network (nEn) nagaland concluded at Chizami on July 2. Altogether 21 students, between 14-16 years participated in 6-day workshop held between June 27 to July 2. (Photo by NEN)

Public Information

All press statements, memorandums, articles, reports and news related documents should be sent to the official email address:

Fuel adulteration racket a conspiracy, alleges ACAUT

Dimapur, July 3 (mExN): The Against Corruption and Unabated Taxation (ACAUT) Nagaland today morung@gmail.com termed the alleged fuel adulteration Press releases will be racket in the state as a “conspiracy accepted only till 8:00 pm which has been going on for the last 15 to 20 years.” Editor, A press note from the ACAUT alThe Morung Express leged that the “conspirators - fuel adulterators, landlords, NPGs, administrative officials, F&CS department, police The Morung Express and the politicians have all gained Poll QuEsTion enormous wealth at the cost of the common man.” Vote on www.morungexpress.com It reminded that the “public is not sMs your answer to 9862574165 only depending on the courts for full Is Naga unity the only jail term for the suspects but attachway forward to achieving ment of their properties as well and it our political rights? shall be truly unfortunate if the public loses faith in the judiciary.” The ACAUT further listed out fuel Yes no others Do you agree that the outlets “of some of the fuel adulterators North East region for action to be taken by the concerned should have its own public and authorities especially in the time zone? Why? districts since these outlets sell adul82% Yes terated fuel.” 15% no It alleged that “most of these out03% others lets are ‘benami’ properties of the Details on page 7 named adulterators, that is, registered

in Naga names.” “The fuel mafia unfairly avail the license underST/educated unemployed/Widow category as per the criteria for entitlement and misuse it. Most of the namesake Naga owners get commissions ranging from 40,000 to 1Lakh per month,” the ACAUT added. Alleging that the outlets have been misused and misappropriated for “criminal activities,” it asked the Nagaland State Government and the district administrations to “immediately seal and cancel the permits of these outlets.” For starters, it asked the Dimapur administration and police to lead by example if the other districts are to follow suit. The ACAUT, in its press statement listed out 4 names who it alleged were involved in fuel adulteration and also listed out the fuel outlets allegedly selling adulterated fuel. “The ACAUT has also in its possession list of properties of all the fuel adulterators which it will hand over to the State Government if and when it decides to attach the properties of all the adulterators,” it informed.

In December 1996, the Supreme Court of India made a landmark ruling that fundamentally changed the face of the timber industry. The fallout of a civil writ petition (TN Godavarman vs. the Union of India and others) with regard to tree felling, the SC verdict on the case included an interim order prohibiting logging without government permission. The order, regarded as a move to safeguard the forests and its resources from rampant exploitation, included curbing any forests related commercial activity – logging, timber mills and timber transportation. While it put a gag on unregulated logging, it stipulated measures for state governments to introduce sustainable timber-harvesting policy under strict supervision coupled with afforestation programmes. In the North East, a region that was estimated to be contributing half of the country’s total timber production during that time, the impact was instantaneous. The once thriving and unregulated timber trade was reined in; simultaneously affecting the shutdown of an unspecified number of timber mills across the region and, to some extent, the economy of communities dependent on forests. The respective state governments introduced statespecific regulations with Nagaland also implementing the Nagaland Tree Felling Regulation Rules (NTFR), 2002 concurrent to the existing ‘Working Schemes/ Plans’ (timber harvesting programmes) enforced immediately after the SC order. The noose was officially tightened on the erstwhile unbridled ‘log business’.

Circumventing the rules as Mechanised Furniture units

A

situation, one that rather contradicts the rules than absurd, has played out in Nagaland in the years since, which has in turn unassumingly pitted two government departments against each other over the issue of permit. As per the standing directive, no authority of a state can permit the operation of any timber mill without the HPC’s approval. With this as the legal basis, the State Forest department was bound not to allow the operation of any timber-related industry other than the ones already in operation with license from the HPC. Meanwhile, several later entrants, including those timber mills which could not avail HPC clearance following the SC directive, circumvented the rules to operate as legitimate businesses. This was done by obtaining permits as small furniture making establishments from the department of Industries & Commerce. The resultant paradox has given rise to a phenomenon of ‘Mechanised Furniture units’. How this works was explained by officials from both the departments interviewed on separate occasions. “They register as ‘Mechanised Furniture Units’ but go on to operate WorkingSchemes,theNTFR andtimberoperations Subsequent to the SC directive, a High Power Committee (HPC) was instituted by the Ministry of Environment & Forests as the regulatory body. The move resulted in the HPC instituting a monitoring mechanism in 1998 for regulating timber operations from source till the point of sale or identified depots beyond the North East. The guideline included allotment of Working Plans/ Schemes for timber harvesting. Under the Plans/ Schemes, licence for timber extraction was issued in select community owned natural forests (in Nagaland’s case). Restriction was also stipulated on the volume of extraction for a set period or

as full-fledged saw mills once the paperworks and inspection are done away with.” According to a government instituted study, timber mills in operation today in Nagaland without clearance from the HPC outnumber the ones with HPC clearance by over three-folds. As per the last count, there were over 160 timber mills across Nagaland as against the 49 operating with HPC clearance. Dimapur alone has 62 such units without HPC clearance, the study stated. Timber from such mills is mostly used within the state as it cannot be exported. While the operation of such units is in contravention of the SC directive, Forest department officials admitted to being helpless when it comes to clamping down. The officials admitted they are well aware of the situation but certain local factors - livelihood and the involvement of people connected to the Naga Political Groups - are acting as barriers for sweeping action to ensue. Action, if any, has been limited to asking the department of Power to disconnect supply to the defaulting units. The last time any significant move was initiated dated to 2005-06, when some 70 odd mills without HPC clearance were shut down. “Power supply was cut. But it all started back again.”

years depending on the area of operation with conditions for scheme renewal. It came with the condition that timber harvested from such licensed operations could only be processed in mills with exclusive clearance or license to operate from the HPC. Rail wagons were then allotted for exporting the sawn timber subject to the quantum of availability, a norm in effect to date. The NTFR, later introduced in 2002, regulated the cutting of trees from homestead and private plantations, including scattered trees, in Nagaland state.

the number of wood-related industries in the region, including Nagaland. While there is no conclusive record on the number of timber mills in operation leading upto the SC order, sources familiar with the timber trade note that not a single woodrelated industry has been given clearance to run in the North East since 1999. In Nagaland - as per the state Forests Department data, in the post-SC directive period, only a total of 45 timber mills have been given the clearance or licence by the HPC to operate from industrial zones. The actual number of HPC-cleared mills though is reported to exHPC clearance and dwinceed the official figure. The dling of timber mills existing figure of HPC-cleared The enforcement wit- mills to date, as per a survey, is nessed a drastic reduction in stated to stand at 49.

NPRAAF finds anomalies in Dept. of Social Welfare One in every nine men faces

Dimapur, July 3 (mExN): The Nagaland Public Rights Awareness and Action Forum (NPRAAF) has warned the Department of Social Welfare (DoSW), Government of Nagaland, of “necessary steps to ensure justice” if it does not account for anomalies in the Department. Following an RTI response from the DoSW, the NPRAAF alleged that there were “various anomalies” detected in the distribution of Grant-in-Aid (GIA) to various organizations for the year 2015-16 in Dimapur under four schemes namely: (a) Voluntary organizations dealing with Children Homes under Non-Plan, (b) Voluntary organizations dealing with Children Homes under Plan, (c) Voluntary organizations dealing with Old Age Homes, and (d) Voluntary Organizations dealing with Drug Abuse.

Children Homes

A press release from the Information and Publicity cell of the NPRAAF, as per the RTI response furnished to NPRAAF by the DoSW and “on physical verification” by NPRAAF of the beneficiaries, it was found that “two bodies in the government were deducting Rs 5000/- each from most of the beneficiaries while the amounts were not deducted in the case of some beneficiaries.” “Surprisingly, the deducted amounts were also added into the amount of GIA and shown as given to the beneficiaries. This means that the beneficiaries got Rs 10, 000/- lesser than what has been actually shown in the RTI document,” stated the NPRAAF, which found this “anomaly” during “physical verification of children homes and societies.” It further stated that one ‘children home’ expressed “surprise that it was also shown as a beneficiary of Rs 80, 000/- in the RTI document.”

“Thereafter, the particular children home went and claimed the amount from the Department. However, a representative of that children home was initially threatened of withholding the amount if the children home was connected with filing of RTI in the department,” the NPRAAF stated. Despite efforts by NPRAAF to locate some of the children homes and societies which were shown as recipients of GIA, “it could not be located thus giving rise to doubt the existence such organizations,” the Forum maintained.

Drug Abuse

Under the Drug Abuse scheme of 2013-14, an individual was shown as a recipient. However, the NPRAAF found that the RTI reply clearly mentioned that GIAs were given to “Voluntary Organizations” and nothing was mentioned about “eligibility for individuals to avail such benefits even though eligibility criteria was asked in the RTI application for availing such schemes.” “The only eligibility criteria it mentioned was that the organization has to be registered with the Government.” Till date, there has not been any inOld Age Homes stance where an individual got registered This doubt gained weight when, ac- with the Government. cording to NPRAAF, it found that a particular organization was shown as a recipi- Accountability ent of two different GIAs under Children In the light of the above, the Homes and Old Age Homes. NPRAAF has demanded that the “While the existence of the children DoSW distribute GIA to all those orgahome was verified, the Old Age Home nizations which have been mentioned under the name of the same organiza- as beneficiaries but in reality have not tion was non-existent. It was learnt that received such funds. NPRAAF also dethe organization occasionally invites manded that the Department “strike aged persons and distributes blankets out the names of non-existent orgaand other materials to them. There is no nizations shown as beneficiaries and physical home for Old Age people under utilize the resultant funds in an approthe name of that organization shown as a priate manner.” beneficiary,” claimed the NPRAAF. “Preferential treatments to individuThe Forum was further “astounded” als be immediately stopped and the reto see that an “Office Expenses” of Rs 50, leased amount to the particular individ000/- was shown under the list of GIA for ual be recalled for proper utilization,” the Children Homes under Non-Plan during NPRAAF reiterated. 2015-16. “Such office expenses was never Further, the Forum demanded that known and shown under any scheme or all officers and staff responsible for such financial year, Plan or Non-Plan,” it stated. anomalies and irregularities be “made The organisation informed that be- accountable and appropriate action be sides physically verifying in Dimapur for taken against them.” the year 2015-16, NPRAAF also made tel“Failing to meet its demand within a ephonic calls to beneficiaries in other dis- month from the date of issue of this press tricts regarding GIA during different years. release, NPRAAF will take necessary “Several more homes denied receiving any steps to ensure justice to the deprived orGIA as shown in RTI document.” ganizations,” it maintained.

risk of sudden cardiac death

NEW york, July 3 (iaNS): Nearly one in every nine men and about one in 30 women are at risk of experiencing sudden cardiac death, most before the age 70, finds a study. Sudden cardiac death claims thousands of lives each year. It mostly occurs in people with no prior symptoms of cardiovascular disease. “Sudden cardiac death has been very hard to study because most patients had no history of heart problems and were not being monitored at the time of their death,” said Donald Lloyd-Jones from Northwestern University in the US. The findings showed that

sudden cardiac death risk was greater for men than women -with an overall 10.9 per cent lifetime risk among all men at age 45 (roughly one in nine men) and a 2.8 per cent lifetime risk of among all women at age 45 (or about one in 30 women). Men with two or more major risk factors at all ages had even higher lifetime risks for of at least 12 per cent (or more than one in eight men). High blood pressure levels helped identify lifetime risk more accurately in both men and women than any other single risk factor. “Our paper sets the stage for thinking about how we can

screen the population effectively to find out who’s at risk,” LloydJones said. For the study, published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, the team examined long-term data on more than 5,200 men and women aged 28-62. Focusing on four major risk factors -- blood pressure, total cholesterol, smoking, and diabetes - the researchers calculated overall cumulative lifetime risk estimates for sudden cardiac death, and estimates according to risk factor burden. During follow up, 375 people died of sudden cardiac arrest.

NGOs not furnishing annual returns to be penalised: Home Ministry

NEW DElHi, July 3 (pTi): NGOs not furnishing annual income and expenditure statement for two consecutive years will face a penalty totalling 10% of foreign contributions received by them or Rs 10 lakh, whichever is less, the Home Ministry has said in a gazette notification. A penalty equivalent to 5% of total foreign funds received in a year or Rs five lakh will be imposed for non-furnishing of annual return after one year, up to two years after December 31 every year. According to an official estimate, less than 10% of nearly

30 lakh registered NGOs across the country file their annual income and expenditure statements or annual returns. Registration under Foreign Contribution Regulation Act of around 15,000 NGOs were cancelled by the government in last two years for not furnishing annual returns. A penalty of 4% of the total foreign contribution received during the financial year or Rs two lakh will be imposed for failure to furnish returns after six months up to one year after December 31 every year. Penalty of 3% of the amount

of foreign contribution received during the financial year or Rs 50,000 will be levied for not filing the annual returns after three months up to six months after December 31 every year, the notification said. Two per cent penalty on total foreign funds received during the financial year or Rs 10,000 will be imposed for not furnishing returns for three months after December 31 every year. “There have been many erring NGOs which often flout the rules. The guidelines are for them. No genuine NGO will be harassed,” a Home Ministry official said.


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.
July 4th, 2016 by The Morung Express - Issuu