Nagaland Post www.nagalandpost.com
Vol XXIX No. 253
DIMAPUR, MONDAY, AUGUST 19, 2019 Pages 12 ` 5.00
Modi seeks Bhutan’s cooperation in new sectors
Man City held 2-2 by Tottenham
UK PM to tell EU to renegotiate Brexit deal
national, Page 5
sports, Page 12
international, Page 9
Rain fury in India: Death toll over 1000 Demand for more City Bus services in Dmu Staff Reporter
At least 28 dead in Himachal & Punjab; 22 missing in U’khand NEW DELHI, AUG 18 (AGENCIES): The death toll from floods sweeping India has climbed above 1,000, and affected over 18 lakh people till August 15. The latest victim was Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Punjab as cloudbursts, landslides triggered by heavy downpour wreaked havoc in these states. On Sunday, at least 22 people, including two Nepalese, were killed and nine others injured in rain-related incidents in Himachal Pradesh, while three people died and 22 went missing following a cloudburst in Uttarakhand. Three people lost their lives in Punjab. A f lood aler t was sounded in Delhi, Haryana and Punjab as Yamuna and other rivers were in spate. Eight people died in Shimla, two each in Kullu, Sirmaur, Solan and Chamba and one each in Una and Lahaul-Spiti districts, they added. As many as 887
CNTC directs units not to attend NH Aug 23 meeting D I M A P U R , AU G 1 8 (NPN): Central Nagaland Tribes Council (CNTC) has directed its constituent units not to attend the meeting called by Naga Hoho on August 23 at Mokokchung as three tribes – Aos, Lothas and Sumis– had disassociated themselves from it and no longer part of the hoho. The council’s vice-president, Hukiye Yeptho, also made it clear to all and sundry that “so-called” search committee members from the three tribes had not been endorsed by their respective tribe hohos and therefore termed any selection or election by the committee as null and void as it was all purely on their own vested interests. Meanwhile, CNTC has asked it Dimapur-based units – Ao Senso Telongjem Dimapur, Lotha Hoho Dimapur and Western Sumi Hoho– to send at least 10 representatives each to Hotel Saramati on August 20 for the installation programme of the second council team. NH had called for a meeting on August 23 to deliberate over the report of search committee (nominate/elect new team) and finalise its way forward and also to reach out to the dissociated tribe hohos.
This is it!
“Why always call us for consultation only for political issues? Why not about money also?” K Y M C
State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) members rescue people trapped in a river island, in Kotdwar, Sunday. (PTI)
roads, including 13 national highways, across the state were blocked fully or partially due to landslides. Traffic from Mandi to Kullu has been diverted through the Kataula-Bajaura road as the highway along the swollen Beas River was submerged in water. Authorities have also issued flood warnings in parts of Northern India. Delhi has also been put on high alert as 430817cusec water was released from the Hathini Kund barrage in Haryana, further raising the water level of Yamuna, which was already flowing at a dangerous level. A high alert has been sounded in the Yamuna
Nagar administration following the release of water. The catchment area has been evacuated after water entered the houses of locals living in the area. According to Home ministry data, the death toll from rain-related incidents across the country from June to August 15 had reached 1,058. Over 150 people have died in Kerala, the secondhighest after Maharashtra (245 deaths), as it faces extraordinary damage with authorities being forced to release water from dams because of torrential rain. The flood death counts are increasing year on year: from
Constructive criticism welcome: NH speaker, former members D I M A P U R , AU G 1 8 (NPN): Two former leaders of Naga Hoho (NH) and its speaker have stated that all references to the hoho should not be taken as negativity, as observed in the sharp reaction given by present incumbents to the opinion expressed by chief minister Neiphiu Rio. In a statement, former president Keviletuo Kewhuo, former general secretary Mutsikhoyo Yhobu and speaker Kenyuseng Tep reminded that every Naga from any walk of life was a stakeholder in NH, and thus opinions and constructive criticism from Naga leaders were solicited for “our interest”. Rather, they appealed to all Naga leaders – politicians, national workers, bureaucrats, social workers, etc, – to come forward in contributing towards building a common platform and “consolidating ourselves”. They appealed to all
Naga tribe organisations to give serious thought and act to bring about understanding among “ourselves” keeping in mind the ideals of Nagas living together as people and face issues with truth and principles, especially at this crucial point of time when the people were at political crossroads and needed to voice in unison. Referring to various statements published recently in the media and the meeting convened by the “so called” NH’s executive council on August 16 that was postponed to August 23, they said it was quite unfortunate and regrettable that owing to matters that transpired during the tenure of president Chuba Ozukum most tribe bodies, which were its constituent units, declared their disassociation at one point of time or the other, adding there was no organisation now from the State. (Cont’d on p-7)
936 in 2016 to 1,200 in 2017. Rain fury this time has been severe across most parts of the country than usual. Maharashtra recorded 245 flood-related deaths, followed by Kerala (155), West Bengal (154), Bihar (130), Gujarat (107) and 94 each in Assam and Karnataka, according to an assessment of the Home ministry. So far, state and central agencies have evacuated over 18 lakh people. Over 7,800 relief camps have been opened in 152 districts of nine states. The Centre has deployed 101 NDRF teams and 57 from Army, IAF and Navy along with six copters for rescue and relief operations as losses start mounting. At least a dozen districts in Kerala stare at a crisis. Around 7.5 lakh people were evacuated across 22 districts in Maharashtra and 305 relief camps are providing temporary shelter to the homeless. Over Rs. 6900 cr released: Central and state governments have opened their purses for rescue and relief operations as floods continue to cause immense damage and loss of lives in several states. Till Friday, the Centre and states together
released over Rs 6,900 crore in eight states to safeguard human lives even as estimation of economic loss is yet to begin. India is among the world’s top five countries in suffering economic loss due to natural calamities, yet it has not changed its approach towards building resilient infrastructure or safeguarding its population from imminent disasters that has only increased in intensity year after year. Climate change is making development highly risky, particularly in lowermiddle income countries like India, according to a study released by the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) in 2018. The report had said India suffered economic loss of $80 billion during the 20-year period between 1998 to 2017. “It is also clear that economic losses suffered by low and lower-middle income countries have crippling consequences for their future development and undermine our efforts to achieve the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, in particular the eradication of poverty,” the UNDRR report had said.
D I M A P U R , AU G 1 8 (NPN): Over a decade and half after reintroduction, the city bus service between Dimapur to Chümoukedima had brought much relief to the commuting public and as a result there is demand for introduction of more buses to other routes. Currently, there are 11 buses, comprising three Pink buses (for females) and non-Pink buses for general passengers. On an average, seven busses operate every day– two from Chümoukedima and five from NST station(near railway station). Fares are charged according to sectors ranging from Rs 5 to 25, depending on locations. A ride from NST station to Burma Camp area costs Rs 5; to Padumpukhri Rs 10; to Diphupar area Rs 15 to Chümoukedima first gate Rs 20 and beyond Chümoukedima first gate Rs 25. There is growing demand for introduction of city bus service from NST to DC Office/ Firing Range areas. This Reporter took a ride in one City Bus from NST station to Chümouke-
Newly introduced NST city bus service carrying passengers. (NP)
dima first gate, to ascertain how the system worked and the impact on the commuting public.The seats inside the bus was filled and no one was seen standing. Normally the city buses are always filled. The present system appears random as there are no scheduled bus stops. The buses stop anywhere to pick up or drop passengers. Another aspect that was glaring was that tickets were issued only when asked for by passengers. In the event that passengers don’t insist on tickets, then there would be no means of ascertaining how much money has been collected. Most of the commuters were students who were very relieved and grateful for the bus services. Speaking to one of them, the student
said the best thing was that the fare charged was very nominal when compared with autorickshaw fares. Normally an auto fare from Dimaput to Chümoukedima is Rs.100 whereas it is only Rs.25 by city bus. The student also hoped that more routes would be introduced and that all school and college going students would be greatly benefitted if that happened. Another passenger, a woman said the city bus service was a boon for women’s safety. She said women now felt safer travelling by city bus and hoped the government would add more pink buses. An elderly woman who also spoke to this Reporter said that commuting by auto used to be very challeng(Cont’d on p-7) ing.
More condemn Aug 16 killing
DIMAPUR, AUG 18 (NPN): More organisations have come out to condemn the coldblooded murder of “major” Toishe Yeptho of NSCN (I-M) at his residence at Purana Bazaar ‘B’ here on August 16. NTC: In a statement issued by its president Toniho Yepthomi and general secretary Nribemo Ngullie, Nagaland Tribes Council (NTC) said it was shocked to learn about the brutal and coldblooded assassination of Toishe Yeptho in the presence of his family members. Mentioning that taking law in one’s hand and killing fellow brother without reservation was cowardly act, the council strongly condemned the killing. It said life could be given only by God and taking one’s own image of life was barbaric and an act of beast. (Cont’d on p-7)
Asteroid 1990 MU could come close to Earth
New Delhi, Aug 18 (Agencies): A huge asteroid which is classified to be as big as the one which hit the Earth millions of years ago and led to extinction of dinosaurs is feared to come dangerously close to earth in the coming decade. The asteroid known as 1990 MU, is presently orbiting around Sun and may come dangerously close to the Earth by June 6, 2027, The Indian Express reported. According to the data available with the Center for Near Earth Object Studies, which is a part of NASA’s
Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), the 4953 (1990 MU) asteroid will be at its closest distance from our planet, which is 0.03083 astronomical units (AU), which is approximately 4.61 million kilometers from the Earth. An AU can be defined as the distance between the Sun and Earth. The 1990 MU asteroid is estimated to be around 4-9 kilometres in diameter, which puts it in the same category as the space rock which brought an end to dinosaurs the Earth, according to a report by Express.co.uk.
Even though it is approaching from a relatively safe distance, our blue planet is still in danger of suffering an impact event which might be caused by 4953 (1990 MU) asteroid because of certain factors in the space. In case the path of the asteroid gets altered, it might lead to a direct collision course with the Earth, another report by International Business Times said. One of the factors which might affect the asteroid is a gravitational keyhole. This is a particular area in space where a planet’s gravity can alter the orbit of a passing asteroid in such a way that the asteroid would collide with that planet on a given future orbital pass. If the asteroid goes through a keyhole while travelling across space, it might get nudged into a path that may bring it straight to the Earth, the report explained. K Y M C