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friDAY • MAY 27 • 2016
DIMAPUR • Vol. XI • Issue 144 • 12 PAGes • 5
T H e
ESTD. 2005
P o W e R
Politics is a science. You can demonstrate that you are right and that others are wrong Public notice
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Delivery Time Effective June 2016 Please note that The Morung Express has a new publication deadline of 8:00 p.m., for all documents including press releases, articles and other news items. Any documents received after the new 8:00 p.m., deadline will be published in a later issue. The implementation of the 8:00 p.m. deadline for submission of press releases has enabled us to go to print early. As a result, beginning in June 2016, The Morung Express will now be available in the early morning hours in Jalukie, Tseminyu, Wokha, Zunheboto, Mokokchung, Mao Gate and Senapati. This is in addition to Dimapur and Kohima. We appreciate your continued support. The Morung Express
reflections
By Sandemo Ngullie
Dimapur | May 26
Toxic waste from rampant coal mining is fast killing aquatic life in the rivers of Jangpetkong erstwhile Changkikong Range under Mokokchung district. The evidence is stark in most of the eight villages that straddle the Jangpetkong mountain range - namely Changki; Khar, Dibuia, Mongchen, Waromong, Yimchenkimong, Molungkimong and MolungyimYou must get out. The politi- sen, where coal mining is a cal puddle, I mean the flood booming business. water is rising. At Molungkimong village area, operation of open coal mining, which is major business, has polOKING HOSPITAL, luted almost all the major tributaries namely: TzupoKOHIMA lang, Korlong-yong, LinenAmbulance service: yong, Long-yong, Ahem 24x7 Advance life supAyong and Ashi Ayong. All port with trained parathese flow into Tzurang medics; Equipped for River, which borders the transportation of critical Japukong Range. and trauma patients. The impact on the enviContact: - 0370-2290080 ronment has been fast and 0370-2290146 hazardous. Coal residue flowing into those rivers The Morung Express has made the water poisonous and undrinkable. Poll QuEsTion Fishes and other aquatic Vote on www.morungexpress.com life, which abound in these sMs your answer to 9862574165
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rivers, have fast disappeared, villagers reported. “There is no point going fishing anymore. All the fishes have disappeared. I can’t even get hold of even a single crab,” Walu, a villager from Molungkimong said. According to Walu, the rivers became toxic since coal mining operation started. “Most of the rivers are dying or have become seasonal,” he added. Not far from Molungkimong, at Dibuia village, the impact is identical. Villagers report how aquatic life has vanished from the rivulets namely Along-Yong, Surani-Yong, Anen-Yong, Tsuo-Yong Wachen-Yong, Nokhila –Yong flowing under their jurisdiction. Besides, it has also affected cultivation in the areas near the coalfields. This impact, the villagers reported, is being felt within a span of two to three years since the village began coal mining operations in their area. At Longnak area, which falls under Changki village, and situated near Mangkolemba, a sub-division, the environmental impact of mining is more adverse. The practice in the area is
rat-hole coal mining. Most of the cavities/pits dug to extract coal are left unfilled and unattended. This has led to landslides, (which obstruct roads) acid mine drainage and contamination of groundwater, streams and rivers. Pastor of Mangkolemba Baptist Church, Dr Akok
naga musicians getting discovered on You tube
SOUK condemns hit and run incident
Japan seeks 15,000 nurses from Manipur IMPhAl, MAY 26 (IANS): The Japanese government has sought services of at least 15,000 nurses from Manipur, Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh said. “The Japanese embassy in Delhi has written a formal letter in this regard,” the chief minister said earlier this week. He was of the view that this demand from an advanced country like Japan is due to the good reputation Manipuri nurses enjoy as professionals. According to sources, some of the unemployed nurses are likely to apply for jobs once they learn basic Japanese language. Manipuri nurses are sought in hospitals across the country for their discipline, efficiency, hard work, and uncomplaining and friendly disposition.
— Jean-Paul Sartre
Zlatan Ibrahimovic dodges Manchester United speculation
Political sparing surfaces as NPF infighting re-ignites PAGE 05
PAGE 12
A contaminated body of water at a coal extraction area between longnak and Mangkolemba sub-division under Mokokchung district.
others
DIMAPUR, MAY 26 (MExN): The Shena Old Union Kohima (SOUK) today condemned the hit and run incident where a woman was run over by a vehicle at around 1:40pm on May 26 near Kohima Hospital. A press note from the SOUK informed that the victim, a widow from Shena Old residing in Kohima, was run over by a white Bolero. The union alleged that the vehicle bore a “Director’s name plate.” It urged the law enforcing agencies to investigate the incident and apprehend the culprit at the earliest and award befitting punishment to the offender.
T R u T H
toxic waste from coal mining depleting aquatic life
Morung Express news
Should Companies, Contractors and NGOs receiving work-contracts and financial aid from the State Govt be transparent and held accountableto public scrutiny?
o F
Virie
Vishü Rita Krocha Kohima | May 26
While it was the popular social networking website called MySpace that was responsible for giving the big break to world-renown musicians like Adele and Colbie Caillat during the 2000s, Global video-sharing website, YouTube has now proved to be an invaluable tool in launching the careers of many talented artists including emerging young musicians from Nagaland. Virie became a household name after her cover of ‘Yellow Flicker Beat’, a song by New Zealand Singer, Lorde went viral on YouTube in 2014. Her cover video has hit 19,423 views and still counting. Virie, who initially uploaded her video on YouTube for the sole intention of sharing her work with fellow music lovers, did not expect so many positive comments, but she was undeniably inspired to pursue it further. The young Naga music sensation has since performed for several occasions amongst which include Hornbill Festival last year. She also opened for the internationally acclaimed ABBA tribute band. Terming YouTube as a great platform for musicians, she revealed that, “It is only because of YouTube that people started calling me for shows.” She has to her credit, a debut single titled, “Silver Lining Skies” featuring Polar Lights and “Down That Road” with her friend, Zaza, which were released on www.indihut.com. Another young Naga girl, Moajungla Jamir became a singing sensation after her cover of Dolly Parton’s “Coat of Many Colors” on YouTube went viral, and has generated over 17,635 views. The news came to her as a surprise since she had no idea that her video was doing the rounds. “I didn’t know which video went viral because I have a bunch of crazy fans (family members and friends) who love taking
Moajungla Jamir
videos of me while I sing. So, when I first saw the video, I felt awkward and embarrassed with the background but as I saw the feedbacks and response from people, I felt encouraged and happy; and thought, maybe it was God’s plan”, she explained. Moajungla Jamir started singing at a very young age and would recall entertaining passengers in the bus with the song, “I want it that way” by Backstreet Boys when she was just three years old. “My first experience with guitar was when my father made one for me as we couldn’t afford a guitar that time”, she shared her heart-tugging story, while adding further- “with time, I gradually learned to play with the help of my brother.” Her incredible talent has led her to perform at many prestigious events including the Nagaland Youth Summit organized by YouthNet early this year. She has also performed at schools, colleges and churches on different occasions. Currently pursuing B.A 2nd Year at St. John College, Dimapur, she has no definite plans to make a career out of music even while insisting that, “I want to focus on my studies right now.” However, she is clear when she says, “singing is my passion and will always be.” Further confessing that, “I am a shy person by nature and the only time I can express and be myself is when I sing”, she went on to state that, “One feedback that I always get from people who listen to my singing is that my voice has the ability to touch the hearts of the listeners. So maybe I can use that as a strength to convey a message through my song.” It may be noted that most of the hundreds of millions of videos uploaded to YouTube attract relatively little interest; they may be viewed by friends or family, but don’t get a lot of attention from elsewhere. In fact, about half of YouTube videos get fewer than 100 views in their first month, and only 30% of uploaded videos are viewed more than 200 times.
Amer, who has been raising concern on the negative impact of coal mining said major rivers like Tsuyong and its tributaries namely Longpen Tzuyong and Mejangsot have become polluted. “The water has become red, fishes and other aquatic life have disap-
peared from the rivers,” Pastor Amer said. According to the Pastor, the residue of the coal flows directly down to the water bodies leading to toxic water pollution. Further, poisoning of the water bodies have also been due to the coal depots between Longnak and Mangkolemba roads,
which flows down to the river during monsoon. This is not the only cause for concern. Since the operation of coal mining started, farmers of the area are finding it difficult to cultivate crops, particularly paddy. It has become impossible to plant rice paddy because the crops just shrivel away after it is planted,” Pastor Amer reported. Earlier, farmers used to get 100 tins of rice from a plot of land. Now that same plot of land hardly produces 20 tins- the reason why many farmers have quit farming, he further revealed. While such report of disastrous impact on the environment is a cause for wide alarm requiring immediate intervention, here in Nagaland State, the response is mostly timid and casual. “Many of the villagers know all along the abrupt changes in the environments that coal mining ushers in. Since this is something they have not experienced before, and are not conscious of the damage it is doing to their forest and lands, therefore
the nonchalance,” Aben Longkumer, an anthropology student observed. Pastor Amer has been trying to provide awareness on the negative impact of coal mining to his congregation- but “without much of a positive impact,” he said. Talking about environment conservation from the pulpit is an unwelcome topic when most of those in the congregation bench are involved in the mining business. However, Pastor Amer, who explained how he has been observing with anguish for the last two years on the destruction wrought by coal mining, feels that when the village council cannot do anything to control the rampant coal mining because they themselves are involved, the Church need to step in. “Our relationship to our environment is bound in a larger complex, which includes our relationship with men and God, and this involves the Church,” the Pastor reasoned, while questioning, “Why do we have to kill our self when we want to earn an extra one lakh.”
Bifurcation is a continuous No need to panic about chemicals process: ANSTA & NSSFOF in bread says AIIMS Director DIMAPUR, MAY 26 (MExN): The All Nagaland School Teachers’ Association (ANSTA) and Nagaland Secondary Schools Field Officers’ Federation (NSSFOF) today said that bifurcation of a department into different set ups is a continuous process. “…any department can be bifurcated into separate set up for smooth functioning of the department,” a joint statement from the two organizations stated. The two organizations stated that bifurcation of departments in the state has been done before, citing the Agriculture Department, PWD, Industry and Commerce, Medical Department, Rural Development, and the Department of School Education. “As per need of time and situation, department has to be bifurcated into separate set ups for its smooth flow towards overall improvement of it,” they said. They stated that in view of differences of entry point, academic session, cadres,
seniority, proportional channels, and mode of appointment between the higher secondary and secondary, elementary and primary cadres, the associations have been demanding for bifurcation of the two cadres so as to promote smooth functioning and efficient management of the department towards Quality and Systematic Education in the State. They affirmed their belief that bifurcation of Higher Secondary Education from Secondary/Elementary/ Primary section “is the most urgent need of the Department of Human Resource Management so that respective stages shall take care of their own affairs for total revamping and improvement of the concerned sectors as the particular section is now being deteriorated year by year.” The associations therefore urged the government to reconsider their demands “in the larger interest of formative stages of Education in the State.”
NEw DElhI, MAY 26 (IANS): There is no need to panic about the presence of chemicals like potassium bromate and potassium iodate in the pre-packaged daily bread, but excess of anything should be avoided, AIIMS director M.C. Mishra said on Thursday. “It might pose some danger but no individual eats entire pack of bread everyday... majority of people eat a piece or two at the most, so in the long-term, there is no need to panic much as has also been said by the FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India),” he said. Dr Mishra made the observation while inaugurating a conference on “Health Security for All”, organised by industry association, Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham). “Usage of chemical additives in food items should be minimised and replaced with fresh food items like eggs, fruits, vegetables and other alternatives... besides one should eat everything in moderate quantity,” said the director of the prestigious All India Institute of Medical Sciences. He further suggested that the government should launch a universal health service to ensure that every citizen is covered. “Everyone should get some insurance, everyone should pay for their health, be it Re.1 or Rs.10 a day as per individual’s capacity, and the government and tax-payers should contribute for people who cannot pay at all, as there is no other way to answer challenges being faced by health sector in India,” Misra said. Mishra meanwhile said that healthcare should become one of the main topics during elections as health nowhere falls into the priority of citizens.
Onlookers awed by a not so ‘miraculous’ tree Morung Express news Dimapur | May 26
As Dimapur baked in the sun on Thursday, a large number of people gathered in the immense heat to witness a strange sight. A tree dripping with water-like liquid attracted hundreds as residents queued up to get a glimpse of the strange phenomenon. The tree, near Faith Hospital, Sewak Road, Dimapur, began dripping with clear liquid from Thursday morning onwards prompting many to prematurely declare it a ‘miracle’. Many came, performed pujas, and left, while many others, intrigued by the phenomenon, came just to get a glimpse of the tree, taking pictures and even selfies on their cellphones. “This is the first time I’m witnessing such an event,” said Meena Rabha, an elderly lady resident of the area, clearly impressed. The drippings are also tasteless. “It tastes just like water,” said Abemo Kikon, a passer-by who happened to witness the melee and took a taste of the liquid drippings. However, there have been in-
People gather to look at a tree dripping clear water like sap in Dimapur on a hot Thursday afternoon.
stances of such phenomenon all over the world. And science has an explanation. According to botanists, roots take up water from the soil and send it to the limbs and branches to help buds break. But with little foliage to
absorb the moisture, and particularly in humid conditions, the liquid is forced out the lenticels -- the breathing pores in the bark. What looks like water coming out of the tree is actually sap, which is mainly composed of water.