February 19, 2021

Nagaland Post www.nagalandpost.com

Vol XXXI No. 74

DIMAPUR, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2021 Pages 12 ` 5.00

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Rio presents tax-free `365.33 cr deficit budget ESTIMATED DEFICIT FOR 2021-22 AT RS. 2679.46 CR Correspondent

KOHIMA, FEB 18 (NPN): Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio presented a tax-free deficit budget of Rs 365.33-crore for the year 2021-22 at Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) here on Thursday.

Reading out his 19paged budget, Rio, who also holds the Finance portfolio, said that while revenue receipts have been estimated at Rs 22,451.28 crore, expenditures have been projected at Rs 22,816.61 crore for the next financial year, thus entailing a deficit of Rs 365.33 crore. He said that on account of the negative opening balance of Rs.2314.13 crore, the year 2021-22 is estimated to close with a negative balance of Rs. 2679.46 crore.

Rio informed that during 2020-21, the state’s finance were severely affected

due to the lockdowns during the pandemic, as a result the State’s revenue receiptsboth from own resources as well as Share of Union Taxes and Duties had fallen far below initial estimations projected in the budget.

Thus, in view of the difficult situation faced by the state, Rio said no new taxes have been proposed, even as the social sector has been allocated 15.12% of the total outlay. He said that the State’s share of Central Taxes was reduced in the Revised Estimates (RE) of the Union Budget by Rs. 1341.99 crore while State’s own revenues was also estimated to decline by Rs.86.19 crore.

Rio however, said that owing to various measures to reduce expenditure, 2020-21 was expected to close with a deficit of Rs 2,314.13 crore, which he claimed was an improvement of Rs 44.68 crore over Budget Estimate

A: Receipts State’s Own Tax and Non-Tax Revenue State’s Share in Central Taxes Central Assistance (Grants & Loans) Internal Debt (including WMA from RBI) Recovery of Loans and Advances by State Govt Total B: Expenditures Non-Development Expenditure (excluding Servicing of Debt) Servicing of Debt (including repayment of WMA) Development Expenditure (including CSS etc) Total C. BALANCE (A-B) D. PUBLIC ACCOUNT (NET) E. CURRENT TRANSACTIONS (C+D) Estimated deficit: Opening -ve balance Rs.2314.13 cr + current deficit Rs. 365.33 cr

figures. The chief minister admitted a shortfall in revenue where, against the Budget Estimates (BE) of Rs.844.49 crore for 2020-21, the Taxes Department has collected only Rs.506.20 crores as of November 2020.

He said this constituted 59.95% of the target set.

Another area where the state continues to lose revenue was in the Power sector, which Rio said was incurring heavy losses that are no

longer acceptable. Against an amount of Rs.407 crore spent on power purchase during 2019-20, he said the revenue earned was Rs.159 crore only. During the current financial year, against power purchase of Rs.452 crore, he said the state was expected to get about Rs.175 crore only. Rio said this showed how serious the problem has become and also that it was time to have a relook at communitisation

(` Crore) 1552.63 3787.04 9339.37 7770.73 1.51 22451.28 9316.15 7819.83 5680.63 22816.61 (-) 365.33 0.00 (-) 365.33 (-) 2679.46 cr

of the power sector . He said the situation was similar since 2010 with the state’s revenue realisation being less than 50 percent of the expenditure on power purchase since 2010-11.

He stressed on making all possible efforts to increase revenue collections through measures such as better enforcement and steps to check leakage of revenue.

As a part of this exercise, he said instructions have

been issued to all Government departments not to award any supply orders or works contract to the firms or contractors who are not registered with the Taxes department to reduce scope for evasion of taxes.

In order to curtail expenditure under non-development (state resources), Rio said like the central government, the state government has frozen three instalments of Dearness Allowances and Dearness Relief payable to the State Government employees and pensioners. Further, he said expenditure under various items such as office expenses, travel expenses, motor vehicles and maintenance under non-development were also reduced by 15 per cent. In addition, purchase of new vehicles and fresh appointments have also been put on hold. He said there has also been 15 per cent reduction in the development outlay given to various departments.

(See more budget reports on p-2 & p-7)

Assembly adopts 4-point resolution on Naga issue Correspondent

KOHIMA, FEB 18 (NPN): Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA), which adopted a four-point resolution on the Naga political issue on the fourth day of the ongoing assembly session, Thursday urged the Government of India and the Naga political groups (NPGs) to sit across the table for the conclusion of the political negotiation, which was honourable, inclusive and acceptable to the people as “one solution” without any further delay.

The resolution, moved by state chief minister Neiphiu Rio and seconded

by TR Zeliang Leader of Opposition, was adopted by voice vote.

In honouring and adhering to the voice of the people, the House endorsed and reiterated all past resolutions of the NLA on the “Indo-Naga” political issue, and resolved to work unitedly in facilitating the “Indo-Naga” political negotiations.

Urges GoI, NPGs to sit across the table for conclusion of pol negotiation The House also appreciated the continued efforts made by the Government of India to resolve the “Indo-Naga” political issue through peaceful means and for acknowledging the unique history and identity of the Nagas by upholding the Naga political talks.

Further, the House acknowledged and appreciated the efforts made by all NPGs, political parties, civil society organisations, Churches and NGOs towards finding a peaceful resolution of the “Indo-Naga” political issue and appealed to all to continue working towards strengthening Naga unity, and come together in the spirit of oneness for larger interest of the Naga people.

State govt to review prices of fuel, says Rio Budget contractCorrespondent

KOHIMA, FEB 18 (NPN): Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio Thursday assured to look into the issue of high petroleum prices in the State and try to make them lower than Assam and Manipur.

Addressing the media at the Assembly committee room here after presenting the budget, Rio said the State government was seized of the matter and was reviewing it. He remarked that Assam reduced the fuel prices as the Assembly election was approaching there and termed it as a “populist measure”.

He pointed out that petroleum prices were lower in Nagaland than Assam and Manipur all these years.

Austerity measures saved over Rs 400 cr: Rio said the austerity measures that were put in place helped the State save over Rs 400 crore. Responding to queries on the State government’s intent to bring down salary expenditure as mentioned in his budget, he pointed out that 15th Finance Com-

mission was reducing deficit grant year after year, which was a warning for the government to scale down its employment.

He said austerity measures, including ban on appointment, were taken following less receipt of State’s share in Central taxes and less revenue receipt from the State’s own resources due to COVID pandemic.

He mentioned that appointments had to be rationalised and were done on need basis as the Finance department showed its serious concern over the increase in non-Plan expenditure. According to Rio, as salary component of State government employees, pension and debt servicing comprised more than 65% of the State’s finance, the government was left with only 35% for developmental activities Rs 260 cr deficit on power: Rio said the State incurred an annual deficit of Rs 229 crore in power sector in 2019-2020, which was projected at Rs 260 crore in 2020-2021. He said the cabinet decided to reform

power sector and brought the issue to the legislators’ notice to maintain transparency, adding that the opposition members were positive in this regard. He said not only the power department, but other departments too must be reformed.

‘Gov’s speech his own’: Referring to the controversy generated over governor RN Ravi’s claim during his address to NLA that negotiations between Government of India and Naga groups had concluded, Rio claimed that it was governor’s “own statement”.

Not denying that the governor’s speeches were generally approved by the cabinet, Rio said these were Ravi’s “own words and we cannot make any correction.” He recalled that Ravi, who is Centre’s interlocutor for Naga talks, had also announced that negotiations would be concluded on October 31, 2019. Stressing on transparency, Rio admitted that there could be some differences. “However, the PDA has no differences with Raj Bhavan over governance

Petrol, diesel prices hit record high DIMAPUR, FEB 18 (NPN): Fuel prices continued to touch record highs across the country after stateowned oil marketing companies (OMCs) increased the prices of petrol and diesel price for the 10th consecutive day on Thursday.

This is it!

“With assembly polls on the way, we are to gear up for conducting raids on some politicians.”

K Y M C

According to a price notification of state-owned OMCs, petrol price was hiked by 34 paise per litre and diesel by 32 paise.

After Thursday’s price increase, petrol in Delhi costs Rs 89.88 per litre and diesel Rs 80.27.

In Dimapur, petrol price crossed Rs.92-mark with a litre of petrol being sold at Rs.92.30. Diesel price, on the other hand, also crossed Rs.83-mark. A litre of petrol was priced at Rs. 83.21 per litre on Thursday. Likewise, in the state capital Kohima, petrol price crossed Rs.93mark and diesel price inched closer to Rs.84 per litre. Petrol now costs Rs.93.23 per litre while diesel is priced at Rs.83.94 per litre.

In 10 straight days, prices have gone up by Rs 2.93 per litre for petrol and Rs 3.14 per litre for diesel.

Fuel prices differ from state to state depending on the incidence of local taxes

such as VAT and freight charges.

Central and state taxes make up for 60 per cent of the retail selling price of petrol and over 54 per cent of diesel. The union government levies Rs 32.90 per litre of excise duty on petrol and Rs 31.80 a litre on diesel.

Retail petrol rates have risen by Rs 20.29 per litre since mid-March 2020, after the government raised taxes by a record margin to mop up gains arising from fall in international oil prices.

Diesel rates have gone up

by Rs 17.98.

The relentless hike in prices has been criticised by the opposition parties including the Congress, that has demanded an immediate cut in taxes to ease the burden on the common man. Pradhan last week had told Parliament that the government is not considering a reduction in excise duty to cool rates from their record highs.

and we were functioning well,” he remarked.

Asked to comment on minister Temjen Imna Along’s statement in the House that during his visit to Delhi along with some of State leaders, Union home minister Amit Shah had reportedly said that the demand for flag and constitution was out of question, Rio said he was not aware of any such statement. He however said that during his discussion with Shah along with his cabinet colleagues, the Union minister was forthcoming in advising them to offer suggestions for hammering out an amicable and practical solution.

He mentioned that Shah might have told Along during a separate meeting, but not during his meeting with the home minster.

Gov’s R-Day speech: On Ravi’s reference to Naga political issue during his Republic Day speech that attracted lots of criticism, Rio explained that speeches were prepared by the State government.

State reports Farmers stage 4-hour oriented: Zeliang 1 COVID-19 nationwide ‘rail roko’ case, 1 death Correspondent

KOHIMA, FEB 18 (NPN): Reacting to chief minister Neiphiu Rio presenting a Rs 365.33-crore deficit State Budget for the year 2021-22 in Nagaland Legislative Assembly here on Thursday, leader of opposition TR Zeliang termed it a “contract-oriented budget”.

When contacted for reaction, Zeliang told Nagaland Post that when people were suffering, it was unfortunate that the PDA government was talking highly of development with little available fund.

He said the chief minister’s budget speech had no plan to rejuvenate the economy of the State, which was badly battered by COVID-19 pandemic, insisting that the government must and should plan how to redress the grievances of the farmers and business community.

With regard to SARFAESI Act, Zeliang said due to a self-made disaster by Law and Finance departments, banks had stopped giving loans, which made the overall situation that was already reeling under the impact of COVID-19 pandemic go from bad to worse. The people (Cont’d on p-8) suffered silently, he added.

DIMAPUR, FEB 18 (NPN): Nagaland reported one COVID-19 positive case from Mokokchung including one COVID death in Dimapur. The State Health department daily COVID19 bulletin, informed that six more patients have recovered in Dimapur taking the total recovery in the state to 11,919.

The recovery rate improved to 97.76 per cent.

The total active cases detected in the state are 12,191.

Total active case in the state is 29. Till date, the state has registered a total of 81 COVID-19 deaths.

Meanwhile, a total of 21,014 doses of vaccine have been administered across the state till date and no adverse events reported.

State immunization officer (UIP) Dr. Ritu Thurr, said 8,007 health care workers received the first dose with a coverage of 37% and 10,346 frontline workers received the first dose with a coverage of 20% till date.

Farmer block a railway track in Amritsar, Thursday. (PTI)

NEW DELHI, FEB 18 (PTI): Agitating farmer groups on Thursday held a four-hour nationwide ‘rail roko’ agitation with the railways saying there was negligible impact on services though some trains were stopped by officials at stations as a precautionary measure.

In Punjab and Haryana, farmers at several places squatted on railway tracks which led to disruption in normal movement of trains on some routes. Protests were also staged at some places in Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and Karnataka in response to the call by Samyukta Kisan Morcha, an umbrella body of farmer unions which is spearheading the agitation against the three farm laws. However, in many states, it was a low-key affair. SKM called the blockade “peaceful and successful”.

In a statement, it claimed trains were stopped between 12 pm and 4 pm at “hundreds of locations” across the country. “Anger among farmers is intensifying and the central government will have to repeal the laws,” it said.

House deliberates on losses in state power sector Correspondent

KOHIMA, FEB 18 (NPN): Advisor power, Tovihoto Ayemi, Thursday informed the House that the department of power had taken several initiatives to improve meter reading, billing, and collection to improve electricity revenue, but asserted that there were much more challenges and areas for improvement in the electricity revenue sector.

Participating in the discussion on improving power revenue on the fourth day of the ongoing assembly session, Ayemi presented some of the main issues pertaining to revenue performance and redressal.

He said that there was acute shortage of meter readers besides low work culture. Ayemi revealed that while billing, due to improper meter reading a vast number of consumer bills were generated as average

and minimum bills as the department was supposed to generate electricity bills every month.

He said this resulted in meter bills becoming huge and inviting complaints and resentment from consumers and leading to poor collection of revenue. He also said many rich people were also wilfully not paying electricity bills that also encouraged all kinds of vices.

The Advisor also said that communitisation of power was another cause for poor revenue collection and for which the Power department has proposed some interim measures to improve metering, billing and collection.

He said after the cabinet approved outsourcing process, it would be done by a well-qualified registered company with sound managerial and financial capabilities. He said the power department would work out detailed proce-

dures and technicalities including vigorous monitoring mechanism. Ayemi said the selection of firms will be done through E-tendering.

Initially, the outsourcing would be targeted at most revenue intense towns like Kohima, Chümoukedima, Wokha and Mokokchung which would later be expanded. He said communitybased system of collection of revenue as in the case of communitisation should be stopped while electricity should be taken out from the purview of Nagaland Communitisation of Public Institutions and Services Act, 2002. He said existing meter readers and billing assistants in the concerned areas would be redeployed for various vigilance, monitoring and supervising activities related to revenue.

Initiating the discussion on matters of urgent public importance pertaining to “Power Reform in

Nagaland”, PWD (H&M) minister, Tongpang Ozükum, said even after more than 50 years Statehood, Nagaland was able to produce only 26.5 Megawatts (MW) of power which was a mere 15% of the State’s requirement of 250 MW annually.

He said when other North Eastern states were planning for more power generation and export it to earn additional revenue, Nagaland was still focused on how to balance the dynamics of power trading, buying and selling in order to minimise the huge loss incurred annually.

Citing from administrative report of Power department 2019-2020, Ozükum said so far Nagaland was able to successfully develop and commission only the Likimro Hydro Electric project which produces 24 MW and other three smaller projects which together produce on

2.5 MW. Drawing examples of neighbouring states such as Arunachal Pradesh where the government had proposed to develop 138 small hydro-projects across 25 districts with a total capacity of 356 MW, Ozükum said it was high time that Nagaland also gave utmost importance to power sector and aim for a higher power and revenue generation. He also drew the House’s attention to communitisation of power and asked whether it was serving its intended purpose and why there was no improvement in revenue generation under it.

Ozükum also stressed on the need to seriously scrutinise the loopholes in the revenue collection system, find out the factors for the losses and further review the communitisation policy, which had been in place for the past ten years.

(Cont’d on p-5) K Y M C

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Nagaland Post, Dimapur FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2021

COVID-19 vaccinations conducted in Wokha, Zunheboto

CMO Wokha, Dr. CW Tungoe receiving his final certificate Dharam Raj SDO (C) Mokokchung delivering the keynote Dr. Pewezo Khalo (left) speaks at the sensitisation 8th NAP, Dynamic Eight, Batallion Hq, Naltoqa at the for COVID-19 vaccine after the second dose. address at the programme. programme. session site during the vaccination drive. (DIPR)

DIMAPUR: COVID-19 vaccinations were conducted in various districts across the state on February 18.

Wokha: Chief medical officer (CMO) Wokha, Dr. CW Tungoe took his second booster dose of COVID-19 vaccine at Urban Primary Health Centre Wokha.

According to a press release, the second booster dose was administered to more than 270 health care workers at Chukitong, Wokha sadar, Englan, Sungro, Bhandari, Sanis, Tongtongo and Wozhuro session sites.

CMO Wokha stated that no adverse event following immunisation was reported in any of the session sites and he encouraged all health care workers and frontline workers to

take the vaccine to develop full immunity.

The next round for the second dose for health care workers and frontline workers in the district will be held on February 25 and March 9, Dr. Tungoe informed.

Medical officer incharge, Chukitong Primary Health Centre session site, Dr. Abenthung Murry informed that some health care workers who were hesitant to take the vaccine earlier were coming forward.

Medical officer, Bhandari Community Health Centre, Dr. Renathung Kithan stated that they were continuously carrying out awareness campaign among frontline workers and health care workers to take the vaccine and that the turnout for the second

dose at Bhandari CHC session site was positive.

Zunheboto: First dose of corona virus vaccine, covishield vaccination camp falling under the frontline worker’s phase was held at session site, 8th NAP, Dynamic Eight, Batallion Hq, Naltoqa.

According to DIPR report, a medical team led

by Dr. Abolu Yeptho from Suruhuto PHC, started the vaccination session with Dy Commandant, 2 I/C, Limasanen Longchar being the first beneficiary to be vaccinated.

After arriving at the observation period, Limasanen while addressing the media persons said that there was no form of any side effects worth mentioning other than a sense of security and that he felt lucky and thankful to be

vaccinated.

On being asked about the fear psychosis going on through social media, Lima said that Nagaland had no significant side effects to show till date and that itself should be clear enough for every individual to discourage such false rumours and be ready to be vaccinated.

While appreciating the efforts put together by all concerned in the development of vaccine in such a short period of time, he added that everyone should have a sense of appreciation and gratefulness, by sensitising the general public, from all means possible.

Team head Dr. Abolu Yeptho informed that a total of 135 beneficiaries were registered and that the team would cover the entire

targeted beneficiaries.

Earlier, the vaccination drive began with a dedicatory prayer from battalion church secretary, Bimal Mech.

Sensitisation on Covid vaccine

Mokokchung: Sensitisation programme on Covid vaccine was held at conference hall of CMO Mokokchung on February 18. The programme was organised by District Administration in coordination with CMO office Mokokchung.

While delivering his keynote address, Dharam Raj SDO (C) Mokokchung said that the Administration, Medical Department, churches and NGOs should join hands together to disseminate the right information on the vaccine

Initiatives of DoSE Budget 2021-22: State govt focuses on Agri & allied sector highlighted at the assembly

KO H I M A : N a g a l a n d chief minister, Neiphiu Rio in his budget speech on Thursday said that his government has set priorities for agri and allied sector to make the state self reliant on food production.

Asserting that the state has learnt lessons on the importance of food production during the pandemic, Rio said unless state was self reliant sooner or later, state will face more difficulty.

In his budget speech, Rio said that the government will focus on agri and allied sector by helping the farmers get better market access for their produce.

He also said that the State was marketing its produce outside under the brand ‘Naturally Nagaland’.

He also said that the upgradation of Nagaland State Emporiums (NSEs) in the metros and marketing of 'Made in Nagaland' products through the banner of “Naturally Nagaland” was expected

to take value added Naga products to national and inter national markets while providing a marketing link for local producers and innovators.

On Horticulture: Rio said that the government was focussing on enhancing production of a specific type of fruit in different districts. Efforts will be made to help farmers aggregate their produce in larger quantities for export, he added.

Veterinary & Fishery: Under this sector, he said the government was focused on increasing production to meet the domestic needs. He also said that a new initiative was the establishment of Model Piggery Farms.

Employment & economic growth: Rio said that the Strategic Committee on Economic Affairs headed by him has come up with a comprehensive strategy aimed at generating employment and gainfully utilising the services and experiences of thousands of returnees who had lost jobs and

careers outside Nagaland.

With the funding by NEC and support from the state government to the tune of Rs. 26 crores, Rio was optimistic to create thousands of jobs in the next twelve months.

Among other areas that were highlighted, Rio also said that the government has brought about innovative ideas and new announcements for youth.

Keeping in mind to boost economy and generated employment, Rio also said that the state government proposed to hold mega events like- the final leg and the grand finale of the Indian National Rally Championships, Kohima Cross Country to be held in collaboration with the Athletic Federation of India, the Asia Music Summit in collaboration with the Indian Centre for Cultural Relations (ICCR) under the Ministr y of External Affairs and the Asia Music Connect, a conglomeration of dozens of countries across the continent.

Central team visits NBHM, Dimapur

Visit to honey processing unit at NBHM

DIMAPUR: Additional secretary, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, GOI, Dr. Abhilaksh Likhi visited the honey processing unit located at Nagaland Beekeeping & Honey Mission (NBHM), Dimapur during the official tour to Nagaland.

A press release by CIH, Nagaland stated that the additional secretary witnessed the process of honey purification and packaging at the centre and discussed the working of the mission, especially the involvement of bee-keepers across the state.

During the interaction, incharge of the honey processing unit K Y M C

highlighted about the need to enhance the capacity of the processing unit and sought for support from the additional secretary.

Likhi expressed his satisfaction for the various activities untaken by NBHM and gave necessary instructions to explore the possibilities for increasing the capacity of honey processing under National Bee Keeping & Honey Mission which was a new central sector scheme of Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, GOI. He was accompanied by Dr. NK Patle, addl. commissioner (Hort.), DAC&FW & Director, CIH along with the staff of CIH.

DIMAPUR: On the fourth day of the ongoing assembly session Thursday, while replying to Dr. Chumben Murry’s un-starred question, minister-in-charge, School Education gave the details of the performance of the Government Schools in HSLC exam.

According to DIPR report, he informed that the overall pass percentage of GHS in the state was 28% in 2016, 31% in 2017, 30% in 2018, 36% in 2019 and 42% in 2020.

He further informed about the various initiatives of the Department which included remedial teaching program for students of Government Schools for science and mathematics subject (Class 9 & 10), introduction of “the teacher’s diary”, taking up of monitoring and inspection and orientation programs for heads of institutions and subject teachers.

The Department also introduced various innovative programs such as tele/ radio online education, online school monitoring system, online teachers transfer portal, teacher’s APP, Free

NNC/FGN joint meeting adopts 5-point resolution DIMAPUR: Top functionaries of NNC/ FGN held a joint meeting at Toulazouma, Dimapur on February 17, 2021 and adopted a five-point resolution.

In a press release, FGN cabinet secretary, Ghuvishe V. Zhimomi stated that the house resolved that since pandemic has made the situation unfeasible to hold a conventional Tatar Hoho, the decisions of the 68th Tatar Hoho (2020) would remain in force till the 69th Tatar Hoho was convened.

The joint meet also resolved to establish the central secretariat as per the provision laid down in “Article 50 of the Yehzabo of Nagaland.” It also decided to recommend Ghuvishe V. Zhimomi for appointment as the secretary general. Further, the meet resolved to “reorganise the western command of the Naga Army and to place Dimapur district under this command; to strengthen the NNC.” It was further decided that all vacant posts would be filled up at the earliest.

In this regard, the house elected fivemember search committee with Zhopra Vero, Kedallo as convenor and Puthai Lam, Killo Kilonser and Hekhuvi Achumi, Lota Kilonser as members.

Further, the joint meeting unanimously resolved to support and strengthen the ongoing talks between the government of India and NNPGs.

India 4.0 education, DHIKSHA coherent access project and Gurushala teacher training programme, he added.

Meanwhile, replying to an un-starred question raised

by Dr Chotisuh Sazo MLA, chief minister, Neiphiu Rio informed that Nagaland received 477,569 Qtls under PHH and 84,306 Qtls under AYY of rice from April to November, 2020 from GoI for free distribution to ration card holders in view of the pandemic.

He added that the state received 8,548.02 Qtls of Dal from April to June, 2020 and 14,246.7 Qtls of Chana from July to November, 2020.

Advisor, Water Resources, Namri Nchang also added that there was no major irrigation project in the state however the Department was presently implementing 270 nos of surface minor irrigation projects.

In an un-starred question raised by MLA, Dr. Chotisuh Sazo, minister, Rural Development stated that MGNREGA wage rates for the year 2019-20 was Rs. 191.99 and Rs. 205 for 2020-21.

to the masses.

E a r l i e r, t h e p r o gramme was chaired by CMO Mokokchung, Dr. R Chubala Aier and the resource person was ZLO Mokokchung, Dr. Yanger.

The programme was attended by representatives from churches, Indian Red Cross Society, members of press club, MTLT, Watsu Mungdang, All Ward Union Mokokchung, District Administration and staff of CMO Mokokchung.

Kiphire: Medical Department Kiphire conducted sensitisation programmes on COVID-19 vaccination for D Coy IRB and 14th IRB Hq. on February 18 in Kiphire.

A press release by district media officer stated that the first sensitisation programme was conducted

at D Coy IRB station, New Reserve in Kiphire town with senior dental surgeon, District Hospital Kiphire, Dr. Moangangba Jamir as resource person.

During his address, the doctor spoke about the importance of the COVID19 vaccine and said that covishield was safe and found to be effective.

The programme concluded with a question session, during which the doctor clarified questions and doubts raised by the personnel.

The second sensitisation programme was held at District Hospital Kiphire conference hall with DPO (RCH/UIP), Dr. Pewezo Khalo and Commandant 14th NAP (IR) Battalion, Mongkoyanchu Chang as resource persons.

Dr. Pewezo Khalo in

his sensitisation message said the vaccine was scientifically proved for its safety and efficacy and that they shouldn’t have any scepticism toward the vaccine.

He said the government of India had spent their resources only to save its citizens and that they should avail the opportunity when it is provided for free.

Meanwhile, Mongkoyanchu Chang encouraged his personnel to be positive about the vaccine and get vaccinated for their safety and the safety of the community.

He mentioned that they may be sent out for duty anytime to various parts of the state and even out of the state and in this he shared that taking the vaccine was the safest way to protect them.

news in Brief NBSE online meeting: Nagaland Board of School Education (NBSE) has informed that an online meeting for specific category of heads of institutions will be organised on February 26, 202, 10 a.m. Mandatory for the following categories of head of institutions (both govt. & private) to attend the meeting: headmasters/headmistresses/principals of newly upgraded Secondary Schools/Higher Secondary Schools; fresh appointees as heads of institutions (i.e. holding the post as heads for the first time). Heads of registered institutions that fall under the above categories have been directed to participate in the webinar. The meeting ID and passcode will be intimated in the district WhatsApp groups.

Army recruitment rally in Dimapur: Army recruiting office, Rangapahar, C/O 99 APO has informed that recruitment rally for selection of eligible candidates from Nagaland into Indian Army will be held at Dimapur from March 10 to March 20, 2021. Candidates have been requested to register at www.joinindianarmy.nic.in. Registration is open till February 22.

Dist Administration clarifies on advertisement: Extra assistant commissioner, Noklak, Yithachu Thur has clarified on fraudulent advertisement impersonating SBI, Noklak branch. Branch manager, SBI Noklak has brought to the attention regarding fraudulent advertisement SBI career in Noklak Branch stating the advertisement in the website govern-

ment.bankjobsnearme.com was fake and fraudulent.

KBCK online contest: To commemorate the 85thAnniversary of Brahma Kumaris, Kohima Centre of Brahman Kumari is organising a contest on “global cooperation for a better world” through dance, drama, music and painting with cash prizes. Interested persons may visit the website nagaland.bk.oo.

Registration starts from February 16 to February 25. One may contact at 9436604881 and 8259819772 for further information.

ACD general meeting: Aichisaghemi Community Dimapur (ACD) has convened a general meeting on February 20, 10 a.m. at the banker’s residence, Burma Camp. All bonafide members have been requested to attend the meeting.

DRFCB informs laundry services: On receiving multiple reports citing the use of unhygienic source of water by laundry services, Dhansiri River Flood Control Board (DRFCB) has informed all laundry services operating in Dimapur to utilise only the government allocated “Dhobi-ghat” at Dhansiri River (behind Urban Haat).

DACEA Wokha general meeting: District Administration Casual Employees Association (DACEA) Wokha has convened a general meeting on February 26, 11 a.m at office Hq. All Grade III and Grade IV casual employees under District Administration Wokha have been directed to attend the meeting.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT "The Lord gives and the Lord takes away"

Job 1:21

LATE RABENI RANGTHANG Died on 15/02/2021

The bereaved family convey our heartfelt gratitude to everyone for the kind expressions of sympathy, prayers and generous giving extended to us at her demise.

We remain grateful to each one of you and you good deeds shall ever remain in our hearts. It is our humble prayer that our Almighty God bless you all.

DP-965

Loving Children, In-laws, Grandchildren & Great Grandchildren

Born on : 1-3-1973 – Died on : 9-2-2021 We, the bereaved family of Late PFOKRELO ANGAMI would like to convey our profound gratitude to each and every individual, 4th NAP. Bn. Thizama, Commandant and all Ranks and Files of 4th NAP, Mao Community Thizama, Mao Union Kohima, Doctors and nurses of Bethesda Hospital Kohima, churches, friends, neighbours, relatives and well-wishers who stood by us physically, financially, materially and spiritually upholding us through prayers and support at the sudden demise of our beloved Father Lt. PFOKRELO ANGAMI. We deeply regret our inability to thank each and everyone of you individually, yet your kind deeds would ever remain in our hearts. It is our earnest prayer that the Almighty God bless you all abundantly.

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Loving wife, children, grand children, in-laws and relatives K Y M C

nagalandpost.com Poll Q.: Who is to blame for recent rockslides for 4-lane on NH 29?

100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0%

A B C

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Shinnyu in Mon becomes Nsonji lake project inaugurated at Sendenyu fully solar-powered village

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A

B

NHIDCL. Contractors.

State govt.

C

25% 45% 30%

Next poll

Q: I s h o r t i c u l t u r e a

potential area for promoting the state’s economic growth?  Yes.  No.  Can’t Say.

WEATHER FORECAST February 19

(Temperature in ºC)

Max Min

Agartala Hazy sunshine

32 15

Aizawl

Pleasant with some sun

Guwahati Cloudy Imphal

Partly sunny and pleasant

Itanagar Mostly cloudy

26 11 29 14 27 8 26 14

Shillong

A stray afternoon t-shower

20 8

Kohima

Pleasant with clouds and sun

21 9

Dimapur Nice with clouds and sun Mkg

Partly sunny and beautiful

Tuensang Partly sunny and cooler Wokha

Pleasant with clouds and sun

27 13 24 11 16 8 22 14

Zunheboto A stray morning thundershower 21 9

3

State

Nagaland Post, Dimapur FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2021

Villagers installing the solar microgrids. (DIPR)

DIMAPUR: Mon District Administration in collaboration with Global Himalayan Expedition (GHE) completed the electrification of Shinnyu village under Mon district using solar power.

According to DIPR report, a total of 60 households, Churches and community hall was electrified using solar power. The entire cost for the project which stood at Rs. 23 Lacs was borne through CSR

funding and executed by the GHE. DC Mon, Thavaseelan K expressed his gratitude to GHE for taking up the project and further stated that they were working on electrifying more villages in addition to several health units and schools.

He also expressed his appreciation and gratitude to Advisor DUDA, N Bongkhao Konyak for his continuous support and guidance and acknowl-

edged the service of Shinnyu village teacher, John, Shinnyu Village Council and the people of Shinnyu village for their heartwarming community mobilisation and participation.

It may be noted that Global Himalayan Expedition (GHE) works towards providing clean energy access through solar power to remote communities and has also won the United Nation Global Climate Action Award 2020.

DIMAPUR: Inaugural programme of rejuvenation of Nsonji Lake Project under MGNREGS was held on February 17 at Sendenyu with commissioner & secretary, RD, Neposo Theluo as special guest.

A press release by joint director, Rural Development, Nagaland, K. Neibou Sekhose stated that while inaugurating the project, commissioner & secretary congratulated the communities such as VDBs of Sendenyu New, Thongsü-Sendenyu and Lotsüphün and Centenary Memorial Park Committee for judiciously utilising the funds given by the Department and completing a remarkable project in a short period.

Extending his appreciation to the community for developing the area as a bio-diversity conservation and eco-tourism destination, he stated that the village was recognised not only in the state and India but also in the world map for biodiversity conservation.

While stating that their village was blessed with vast land, both hilly and low, with immense potential for development, he hoped that very soon the village would also be recognised as a research centre of excellent learning.

Highlighting the project profile, chairman SBC Centenary Memorial Park

Commissioner & Secretary along with RD officials and community leaders.

Management Committee, Gwasinlo Thong stated that the primary objective of the project was to fully restore the “Nsonji” Lake and its ecosystem and provide wage employment to MGNREGA workers while keeping the vision of developing it in becoming a part of ecotourism destination for its sustainability and economy to the stakeholders.

He shared that the project was implemented during the period 2019-20 to 202021 with a total project cost of Rs. 42.978 lakhs, generating 15003 person days.

In her address, director RD, Imnukshila Jamir congratulated the village for various awards received at national and international level in recent years for their efforts towards bio-diversity conservation.

While appreciating the community for conserving the environment, she urged

them to continue to protect the biodiversity and work out ways to conserve their rich flora and fauna.

The programme for unveiling of monolith was chaired by BDO Tseminyu, Jenny K Thong, dedicatory prayer by Sr. Pastor, SBC, Rev. Gwasolo Semp, public reception was chaired by president Sendenyu Chipwen Union, Er. Njilo Kemp, Pastor SBC, Yhunyenlo Kent pronounced invocation, welcome address by chairman, Sendenyu VC, Hinilo Thong, special songs from various groups and

vote of thanks by chairman Thongsü VC, Nyenlo Khing. The programme was attended by village council chairmen, VDB members, youth leaders, student leaders and women representatives of Sendenyu New, Thongsü-Sendenyu and Lotsüphün villages.

The commissioner & secretary was accompanied by director RD, joint secretary, RD, mission director NSRLM, addl. director RD, joint director RD, deputy director RD, project director, DRDA Kohima and other officers and staff.

NLA to introduce NFRBM (amendment) bill DIMAPUR: During the ongoing assembly session Thursday, chief minister, Neiphiu Rio moved that leave be granted to introduce “Nagaland Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management” NFRBM (Amendment) Bill, 2021.

The Bill will be introduced on February 19, 2021.

According to DIPR

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report, chief minister and minister-in-charge of Finance also laid a copy of the review of trends in receipts and expenditure for the first, second and third quarter of the year 2020-21 as required under section 11 of Nagaland Fiscal Responsibility band Budget Management Act 2005.

Administrative reports

of various departments were also laid, including: Department of Border Affairs; Department of Information Technology & Communication; Department of Science& Technology; Department of Tourism; Department of Economic & Statistics; Department of Renewable Energ y; Department of Municipal

Affairs; Department of Horticulture; Department of Labour; Department of State Institute of Rural Development, which was laid by the chief minister.

Minister for Planning & Coordination, Land Revenue and Parliamentary Affairs, Neiba Kronu laid on the table a copy of Annual Administrative Report

2020-21of the Directorate of Evaluation, Department of planning & Coordination.

Meanwhile, minister of Health & Family Welfare, S. Pangnyu Phom laid a copy of Annual Administrative Report 2020-21 of Department of Health & Family Welfare, minister for Transport, Civil

& Aviation & Railways and Land Resources, P Paiwang Phom laid a copy of Annual Administrative Report 2020-21 of Land Resources Department and Minister for Public Health & Engineering, N. Jacob Zhimomi laid a copy of Annual Administrative Report of 2020-21 of Public Health & Engineering.

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northeast

PM launches projects for NE GUWAHATI, FEB 18 (IANS): Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually launched several connectivity projects costing Rs 15,000 cr in Assam on Thursday.

He said that these projects would not only boost trade, economy and industrialisation but also open a new chapter for the tourism industry in the northeastern region. The Prime Minister said that the projects would make connectivity and transportation easier among West Bengal, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Tripura along with Bangladesh and Bhutan.

The Rs 3,231-crore Mahabahu-Brahmaputra project includes the Ro-Pax vessel operations between Neamati-Majuli Island, North Guwahati-South Guwahati and DhubriHatsingimari, construction of Inland Water Transport (IWT) Terminal at Jogighopa (in Bongaigaon district) and various tourist jetties on the Brahmaputra river and launch of digital solutions for ease-of-doing-business.

The project is aimed at providing seamless connectivity to the eastern parts of India and includes various development activities for the people living around Brahmaputra and Barak rivers in southern Assam. The Ro-Pax operation between Neamati and Majuli will

PM Modi addresses at the launch of the multiple development initiatives for Assam. (PTI) reduce the total distance of 420 km currently being travelled by vehicles to only 12 km, resulting in a substantial impact on the logistics of small-scale industries of the region.

Two indigenously procured Ro-Pax vessels -- M.V. Rani Gaidinliu and M.V. Sachin Dev Burman -- will become operational. Introduction of Ro-Pax vessel M.V. J.F.R. Jacob between North and South Guwahati will reduce travelling distance of around 40 km to a mere 3 km. Introduction of M.V. Bob Khathing between Dhubri and Hatsingimari will reduce travelling distance of 220 km to 28 km, thus resulting in a huge saving of travel distance and time.

The MahabahuBrahmaputra project also includes construction of tourist jetties at four locations, -- Neamati, Biswanath

Ghat, Pandu and Jogighopa -- with financial assistance of Rs 9.41 crore from the Union Tourism Ministry.

These jetties will promote river cruise tourism, generate local employment and growth for local businesses.

A permanent IWT terminal will also be built at Jogighopa which will connect with the Multi-Modal Logistics Park coming up at Jogighopa in Bongaigaon district. This Terminal will help in reducing the traffic on the existing Siliguri Corridor towards Kolkata and Haldia. It will also facilitate the uninterrupted movement of cargo even during the flood season to various northeastern states like Meghalaya and Tripura and to Bhutan and Bangladesh as well. The Prime Minister also launched two e-portals to further Ease of Doing Business. The Car-D

(Cargo Data) portal will collate cargo and cruise data on a real time basis. PANI (Portal for Asset and Navigation Information) will act as a one-stop solution for providing information about river navigation and infrastructure. He also laid the foundation stone of the Rs 350 crore North East Data Centre at Guwahati.

The PM laid the foundation stone for the country’s longest 19 km-long DhubriPhulbari river bridge over the Brahmaputra river.

The Rs 5,000 crore bridge, located on National Highway 127B, would connect Dhubri (on North Bank) with Phulbari (on South Bank) originating from Srirampur on NH-27 (East-West Corridor) and terminating at Nongstoin on NH-106 in Meghalaya.

The bridge will connect Dhubri in Assam to Phulbari along with Tura, Rongram and Rongjeng in Meghalaya reducing the distance of 205 km and will meet the longstanding demand of the people from Assam and Meghalaya who were depending on ferry services to travel between the two banks of the Brahmaputra river. The Prime Minister performed the Bhumi Pujan for the two-lane Majuli bridge on the Brahmaputra between Majuli (North Bank) and Jorhat (South Bank).

Nagaland Post, Dimapur FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2021

Manipur journalists call off stir

PPA says Statehood Act ‘defective’

Correspondent

I tanagar , F eb 1 8 (PTI): The People’s Party of Arunachal (PPA) has urged Chief Minister Pema Khandu and MPs from the state to initiate fresh dialogue with the Centre for amendment of the “defective” Statehood Act of 1987. Arunachal Pradesh celebrates Statehood Day on February 20.

PPA secretary General Kaling Jerang, in a statement, alleged the act passed

by Parliament without the constitutional backing of the assembly, overlooked genuine concerns and grievances of the indigenous people of the state. “The PPA has always been reminding the people of the state how we have been living with this defective act, which is hollow and empty and does not hold anything worthwhile for the indigenous people in terms of ownership rights over its land, rivers, forests and minerals,” Jerang said.

“Now that both the Centre and the state are ruled by the same political party, there could not have been a better opportunity to initiate a fresh dialogue with the Centre on the long-pending issue,” he said. Jerang said the party has also been demanding that the state be provided with similar constitutional rights extended to people in states like Nagaland and Mizoram.

IMPHAL, Feb 18: Despite their demands not being addressed, striking journalists in Manipur have decided to resume working from Friday in the interest of the people of deprived of information for five days. No newspapers hit the stands in Manipur for the fifth day after journalists resorted to cease work strike in protest against a failed bomb attack at the office on the Poknapham daily which also houses its sister publication, People Chronicle.

The journalists considered the attack a threat to the fraternity and protested against it under the aegis of All Manipur Working Journalists’ Union (AMWJU) and Editors’ Guild Manipur (EGM) for the last five days.

The protesting journalists had set a 48-hour deadline to the state home department to book the culprit(s) behind the attack and perpetrator(s) to clarify the reason behind the attack within the set deadline.

The deadline expired on Wednesday midnight with no positive response from both the police and per petrator(s). The police were yet to nab the perpetrator(s) except constitution of a special investigation team (SIT) to probe the attack and declaring as wanted an unknown woman who lobbed the hand grenade to the media house.

File photo of protests by journalists in Imphal.

The police have announced a cash reward of Rs 50,000 to any individual who provides information leading to the arrest of the culprit. The police suspect the woman attacker to be a member of a valley based “extremist” group and she is yet to be arrested. The perpetrator(s) also failed to own up to the attack even as the journalists demanded clarification if any of the armed group was responsible for the attack.

However, except for clarification from some armed groups that they have nothing to do with the attack, none of them took responsibility within the set 48-hour deadline.

When many of the armed groups denied their hands, a joint emergency general of AMWJU and EGM today deliberated on the burning issue before the journalists. The meeting deliberated non-fulfilling of their demands and also pros and cons of long suspension of the publication of newspapers and broadcasting of news in the local TV networks.

Publication of newspapers and broadcasting of news in the local TV networks remained suspended for the fifth day on Thursday owing to the cease work strike of journalists. After the thorough deliberation, the journalists decided to resume working from tomorrow in the interest of the masses, depriving their right to information for days.

At the same time, the meeting considered the failure on the part of the perpetrator(s) to own up the attack openly because the media house (Poknapham and its sister publication) had done nothing wrong against their ethics.

The meeting further endorsed AMWJU and EGM to deal with any matter arising out of the resumption of the work and to convene a joint in case it was beyond their capacity to resolve the issue. On the other hand, the general body meeting also reaffirmed its earlier stand on not to entertain any statement of UNLF unless the internal conflict within the party is resolved.

BJP, RSS brass meet Biplab Deb Amit Shah to visit Tomar in poll-bound Assam; says centre Three new cases take Mizoram’s COVID-19 tally to 4,399 over ‘Nepal, Sri Lanka’ comment Karbi Anglong is still willing to talk to farmers on agri laws Aizawl, Feb 18 (PTI): cases and 4,369 people have on Feb 25 Correspondent

Biplab Deb

AGARTALA, FEB 18 (PTI): BJP and RSS top brass in the region met Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Deb on Thursday, following the controversy over his comments that the party has plans to expand to Nepal and Sri Lanka.

BJP’s North-East zonal secretary Ajay Jamwal, and RSS’s regional in-charge Ullas Kulkarni and state in-charge Nikhil Niwaskar met the chief minister.

The senior leaders discussed the comments that triggered a controversy, inviting severe backlash, a BJP source said.

Other organisational matters were also discussed in the meeting, the source said. “Met regional General Secretary of BJP, Ajoy Jamwal ji, Ullas ji of Rastriya swayam Sevak Sangha and Pranta Pracharak Sri Nikhil

ji,” Deb tweeted. Adding to the controversy, state Law Minister Ratan Lal Nath claimed that BJP is the largest political party in the world and people of many countries, including Sri Lanka and the US, are now willing to accept its ideology. “Our chief minister wanted to say that the ideology of BJP would spread in the world and people will be influenced by it. But that does not mean BJP will expand its base there. His statement was wrongly interpreted,” Nath said at an event.

“We feel that the whole world will accept the BJP’s thought. Those who are in Sri Lanka are now thinking to accept thoughts of the BJP. America is also thinking to accept. The entire world is now thinking in this line,” he added.

DIPHU, FEB 18: Ruling BJP is set to retain all five MLA seats spread in three autonomous hill districts of Assam- Karbi Anglong, West Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao have virtually become the impregnable fortress of the BJP party.

To seal the prospect of the party in the ensuing Assam Legislative Assembly election, Union Home Minister Amit Shah will visit Karbi Anglong on February 25.

Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council’s Chief Executive Member Tuliram Ronghang who has defeated opposition in the hills is viewing the visit of the Amit Shah as a future political opportunity more than election prerequisite.

The election rally of Shah will take place at Den Gaon around 130 kilometers from Diphu, headquarter town of Karbi Anglong autonomous district. According to Chief Executive Member Tuliram Ronghang, a mammoth gathering has been planned encompassing three MLA segments of Karbi Anglong district i.e.

Diphu, Howraghat and Bokajan. He mentioned that the theme of the rally will be “Unity and Development”.

Ruling MNF sweeps Aizawl Municipal Corporation polls

Zoramthanga thanked the people for voting the MNF to retain power in AMC.

Aizawl, Feb 18 (PTI): Retaining its political wave since the assembly polls three years back, the ruling Mizo National Front (MNF) on Thursday swept the Aizawl Municipal Corporation (AMC) polls by bagging 11 out of the 19 wards. The MNF won the same number of seats it had bagged in the last civic body polls held in 2015.

As per the civic body polls results declared after counting Thursday, main opposiK Y M C

tion party Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM), which fought on all the 19 wards, won 5, while the Congress, which fielded 19 candidates, including 2 incumbent councillors, bagged 2. The BJP, which contested 9 seats, drew a blank.

Seven incumbent councillors (MNF-5 and Congress-2) have been reelected while 12 others are freshers. Of the 6 reserved seats for women, ZPM won 5 while MNF bagged 1.

Altogether, 8 women cadidates have been elected and the remaining 11 were male. Among the prominent figures, incumbent deputy mayor Lalringliana of MNF from ward-II defeated his nearest opponent Lalthazuala Rawite of ZPM by a margin of 716 votes.

Congress leader Rosiamngheta won the civic polls for the third consecutive term by defeating his opponent MNF nominee Rochhunga Ralte by a margin of 232 votes. Of the three TV personalities, Chuauzikpuii of MNF and ZPM nominee Baryl Vanneihsangi have been declared elected.

Meanwhile, chief minister and MNF president Zoramthanga expressed happiness and thanked people for voting MNF back to power in AMC.

Guwahati, Feb 18 (PTI): Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Thursday said the Centre is still willing to talk to the farmers protesting against the three farm laws.

Addressing a press conference here, he said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said in Parliament that the government is willing to discuss the three acts clauseby- clause.

“We are regularly in touch with the protesting farmers. The Government of India is ready to discuss the acts clause- by-clause,” Tomar said.

When asked specifically if the centre is still willing to talk to the agitating farmers, who have been on borders of Delhi for nearly three months, the minister replied in affirmative.

He, however, did not comment on when the talks are likely to resume between the two sides.

Tomar also informed the media that the budget for the next fiscal has proposed a number of schemes for the welfare of the farming community of the country.

After the 10th round of talks in January end in which the centre proposed to keep the new agri laws in abeyance for 1.5 years, which was not accepted by the agitating farmers, no further talks have taken place

Three more persons have tested positive for COVID19 in Mizoram, taking the tally in the state to 4,399, an official said on Thursday.

Two fresh cases were reported from Lawngtlai district and one from Saitual, he said. One new patient has travel history, while two were detected during contact tracing, the official said, adding they were asymptomatic.

Mizoram now has 20 active

Dear, Bon7oo, Your personality inspires everyone, your cute smile brings joy to every soul...

Everything you do turns to a moment to be cherished, “Happy Birthday” “Stay Safe” From, Krachy Gang Narendra Singh Tomar and his wife Kiran Tomar visit the Kamakhya Temple in Guwahati. (PTI) between the two sides. bound state to count virtues Farmers leaders are in- of the new agri legislations sisting on repeal of the three to the cultivators. farm laws and observed countrywide “rail Roko” stir during the day in support of their demands.

With the Assam expected to go to polls in March-April this year in which the opposition parties are all set to make farmers agitation an election issue, Tomar was in the poll-

NAGALAND : KOHIMA

Dated Kohima the, 18 Feb. 2021 th

NOTIFICATION

With reference to the Advertisement No. DTE/ESTT-119/19, Dated 04/01/2021, the written examination for the post of JAA in respect of person with benchmark disabilities under the Department of Treasuries and Accounts is fixed on 13.03.2021 (Saturday).

Therefore, all the intending candidates are hereby asked to collect the Admit Card during office hours i.e. 10 am to 4 pm from 1st to 6th March 2021 The list of rejected candidates are hereby published as under:

1

20

2

15

3

40

4

12

5

21

DC-160

Name

Regd. No. 310/17

F/Name

ABENLO NYTH LT. KEDAHI RENGMA NYTH RENGMA LT. MEHUKHU VEYIE RESU RESU ANTHONY VIKIHO YEPTHOMI YEPTHOMI

REASON General candidate Below the benchmark percentage No disability medical certificate

Not eligible as per categories of disabled as per clause (a) to (e) of Section 34(1) of the MEZIHO KIKHI ZASHEVOL Rpwd Act, 2016 considered suitable for the job (functional classification) Not eligible as per categories of disabled as NUKHRUZO VELATO RINGA per clause (a) to (e) of section 34(1) of the RINGA Rpwd act, 2016 considered suitable for the job (functional classification) Sd/(R.N. YANTHAN) PRINCIPAL DIRECTOR

Date 10/07/2017

I, Smti. WOLUMI, W/o WOBEMO a permanent resident of Yimparasa Village, Dist. Wokha in the state of Nagaland do hereby solemnly affirm and declare an oath as under:1. That I am a citizen of India and resident of above mentioned address.

2. That, my name has been written and recorded as NJANO in my Appointment Order. Whereas, in some of the documents, I have written my name as WOLUMI 3. That WOLUMI and NJANO refers to one and same person having same identity i.e me.

4. Henceforth, I relinquish the name NJANO and assume the name WOLUMI for all official purposes and records.

5. That, the above statement made in para 1-4 are true and correct to the best of my knowledge and belief and nothing has been concealed therein DEPONENT K-401

IN THE COURT OF

DISTRICT & SESSIONS JUDGE NOTICE

DIRECTORATE OF TREASURIES & ACCOUNTS

Sl Form No No.

AFFIDAVIT DECLARATION (Correction of Name)

WOKHA : NAGALAND

GOVERNMENT OF NAGALAND

NO.DTE/ESTT-119/19/74-78

recovered from the disease.

The recovery rate among coronavirus patients in the state stands at 99.32 per cent. Ten people have succumbed to the disease.

Altogether, 12,976 people have received the shots of COVID-19 vaccine, the official said. The northeastern state has so far conducted 2,23,448 sample tests, including 973 on Wednesday.

S/C No. 15/2021

NOTICE INVITING CLAIMS/OBJECTIONS OF OTHER CLAIMANT(S) FOR ISSUE OF SUCCESSION CERTIFICATE UNDER PART-1 OF INDIAN SUCCESSION ACT 1925.

Whereas application under Succession Act 1925 for grant of Succession Certificate for the estate/pension benefit of Late Nzio Lotha has been applied by Smti. Nchumboni, W/o. Lt. Nzio Lotha, Wokha, Nagaland for possession of: 1. SBI A/c No. 11766532276.

2. PPO No.PEN/COM-2779/NL/S/NL-7313.

Notice is hereby given that any person having interest in the administration of the estate/pension benefits of the said deceased may, if she/he so desire appear in this court on or before 17-03-2021.

Given under the hand and seal of the court on this day the 17-02-2021.

District & Sessions Judge Wokha : Nagaland WC-45 Regd. No. 13/2021 Date 18/02/2021 AFFIDAVIT I, Smti Likhumla, W/o Shri. Thsatiba Sangtam, R/o: Kikhruruzha colony, H/No. : 04, Dimapur, Nagaland do hereby solemnly affirm and declare as under: 1. That I am a bonafide citizen of India and resident of the above mentioned address.

2. That Mr. Rithsa Sangtam is my biological son.

3. That my son's name has been recorded/entered as Mr. Vepazo Venuh and father's name as Vemuku Venuh respectively in his schooling documents.

Whereas Mr. Vepazo Venuh and Mr. Rithsa Sangtam is same and one person and whereas Vemuku Venuh is my first husband name and Thsatiba Sangtam is my husband name.

4. That this affidavit is sworn for the purpose of declaring that Vepazo Venuh and Mr. Rithsa Sangtam is same and one person and my son's father's name as Thsatiba Sangtam and to make necessary correction before the competent authority.

5. That Rithsa Sangtam as my son's name and father's name as Thsatiba Sangtam shall be used in all his official documents and future correspondences.

VERIFICATION I, hereby verify that the content made in paras 1 to 5 are true and correct to the best of my knowledge and beliefs and nothing material is concealed therein.

DEPONENT Solemnly sworn before me.

DP-976 NOTARY PUBLIC

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national/state

Nagaland Post, Dimapur FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2021

Unnao Dalit girls death; poisoning suspected

Unnao (UP), Feb 18 (PTI): A panel of three doctors on Thursday performed the autopsy of the two Dalit girls who were found dead in a field here, police said.

The third one, admitted in a critical condition to a Kanpur hospital, was being treated for suspected poisoning and is presently on ventilator, sources in the Regency Hospital in Kanpur said.

The Opposition demanded a high-level inquiry into the incident, while Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath took a serious note and sought a detailed report from the DGP. Adityanath has directed officials to ensure proper treatment of the teenager admitted in Kanpur hospital on government expenses, according to a spokesperson.

Unnao Superintendent of Police Anand Kulkarni said there was a contradiction in the statements of the mother and brother of the girls and investigations were on.

The three girls, aged 15, 14 and 16, were found tied in a field in Babuhara village in Asoha, around 36 km south of Lucknow, on

Locals stage a protest after bodies of two minor Dalit girls were found in a field and another in critical condition in Unnao district, Thursday. (PTI) Wednesday evening by the villagers when they did not return after they left their house to take fodder for the cattle, police had said.

The villagers informed the police and rushed the girls to the hospital, where two of them were declared brought dead, while the other was rushed to the Unnao hospital and later referred to Kanpur hospital, they said.

“Our investigation has found that bodies had no marks on them either in the hands or legs, suggesting that they were not tied, the SP said.

Asked if an FIR had been lodged in this connection, the SP said the matter was being investigated and action would be taken as per the post mortem report, which was conducted by a panel of three doctors and

videographed.

He added that the family members who were the first ones to reach the spot were being questioned.

According to Kulkarni, the girl’s brother had said the girls were tied with a ‘dupatta’ (stole), while her mother said on Thursday that it was around her neck.

On speculation that it was a case of honour killing, the SP said all aspects would

be included in the probe and it would not be right to say anything on it at the moment.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi alleged that the Uttar Pradesh government was not only suppressing the Dalit society, but also crushing the honour and human rights of women in the state.

“The UP government is not only crushing Dalit society, but also the honour and human rights of women. But they should remember that I and the entire Congress party will stand as the voice of victims and will endeavour to get them justice,” Gandhi said in a tweet in Hindi BSP chief Mayawati expressed condolences to the affected family, describing the incident as “very serious and sad”.

“The BSP demands a high level inquiry into the incident and strict punishment for the culprits,” Mayawati tweeted. Samajwadi Party MLC Sunil Singh Sajan has alleged that the Unnao police was trying to hush up the case. He has sought a probe by an independent agency in the matter

5 U’khand disaster: Fuel issue: Patole threatens Two more bodies to stall films of Big B, Akshay recovered Tapovan, Feb 18 (PTI): Two more bodies were recovered on Thursday from a tunnel of the NTPC’s floodravaged Tapovan-Vishnugad hydel project and one from Raini as rescue operations continued for the 12th day to reach workers feared trapped inside after a flash flood in Uttarkhand’s Chamoli district.

The confirmed death toll in the Chamoli disaster that took place on February 7 has now mounted to 61 while 143 are still missing, police said. Thirteen workers have so far been pulled out of the sludge-choked tunnel at Tapovan where a large number of people were at work when the tragedy occurred following a flash flood in Rishiganga. One human limb was also recovered from the tunnel on Thursday, taking the total number of human body parts recovered from different parts of the affected areas to 27. The glacial burst had triggered a flash flood which had demolished a 13.2 MW hydel project along the river besides causing extensive damage to the NTPC’s Tapovan-Vishnugad hydel project along Dhauliganga.

Bhandara, Feb 18 (PTI): Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole on Thursday said if actors Amitabh Bachchan and Akshay Kumar do not take a stand on the issue of fuel price hike, then screening of their films and shootings would not be allowed in the state.

Talking to reporters here, Patole said Bachchan and Kumar had tweeted about fuel price rise during the previous UPA government, but are now silent on the issue.

The prices of branded or additive-laced petrol, which attracts higher taxes, have crossed the Rs 100mark in some places, including Maharashtra. In Mumbai, petrol is now costing Rs 96.32 a litre and diesel Rs 87.32.

Patole said the common man has been affected a lot by the increase in prices of petrol and diesel.

Filmstars like Amitabh Bachchan and Akshay Kumar, through their tweets, had earlier criticised the fuel price rise during the Manmohan Singh-led government, he said.

Why are they silent

now on the rising petrol and diesel prices? he asked.

“If they do not take a stand now on the injustice meted out by the Modi government, we will not let any films (screening) or shootings of Amitabh Bachchan or Akshay Kumar in Maharashtra,” the Congress leader said.

They should now play the same role and protest against the central government’s “anti-national policy”, as they did during Manmohan Singh’s tenure, Patole said.

He also criticised the BJP-led central government on the FASTag system for vehicles.

The Centre had made FASTags mandatory from February 15 midnight and said any vehicle not fitted with it will be charged double the toll at electronic toll plazas across the country.

The Ministry of Road Transport & Highways clarified that this has been done to further promote fee payment through digital mode, reduce waiting time and fuel consumption, and provide for a seamless passage through the fee plazas.

House deliberates on losses in state power sector

(From p-1) Congratulating the chief minister on taking over as the chairman of North East Regional Power Committee, Ozukum expressed the hope that under Rio’s guidance, coupled with power department’s comprehensive planning and the support and cooperation of the people, there would be a revolution in the power sector in the State.

Also participating in the discussion, minister for planning & coordination, land revenue and parliamentary affairs, Neiba Kronu, said the State was in dire need of generating more power, both for usage and revenue generation.

Kronu said Nagaland has the potential of generating more than enough electricity to meet its own requirements, that could save a lot of resources since the state was totally dependent on purchasing power from neighbouring states.

He cited examples of places where power could be generated such as -Dikhu 185 megawatt (MW), Lower Tizu 42 MW and Zunki 24 MW. He said that DPR for preparation of 25MW project at Upper Tizu was already

under process. Kronu said that money collected from power revenue could be utilized in construction of these power projects.

Kronu lamented that the State was losing a huge sum of money because of its inability to tap into the natural resources to generate power.

Also par ticipating in the discussion opposition member, Y Vikheho Swu, said that many places especially rural areas of Nagaland, faced electricity blackouts even for days owing to shortage of manpower. He said the State has much potential for generating more power.

Leader of the opposition, TR Zeliang said that the most effective way to check corruption was to opt for electronic billing system, which had the ability to correct consumers and also the department.

He pointed out that the department should exploit all the benefits of the available technology which had proven to be effective in checking corruption and irregularities in billing and metering.

Concluding the discussion, chief minister Neiphiu Rio, said that there was an

Be ready to sacrifice your standing crop, says Rakesh Tikait to farmers

Hisar, Feb 18 (PTI): Asserting that they won’t return home till the farm laws are repealed, Bharatiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait on Thursday said farmers should be ready to sacrifice their standing crop for it.

Tikait said the government should not be under the impression that the movement against the laws will end as farmers will go to their villages to harvest their crop.

“Even if you have to set your standing crop on fire, you should be prepared for it. The government should not harbour this impression that farmers will return home. We will harvest crops and continue our agitation at the same time,” he said addressing a “ma-

hapanchayat” at Kharak Poonia village of Hisar.

“There will be no ‘ghar wapsi’ till then,” he said.

Tikait also asked farmers to be ready for the next call of the unions spearheading the stir.

“Keep your tractors filled with fuel and facing towards Delhi’s direction. You can get a call to move at any time, that will be decided by the committee (farmers unions),” he said.

Tikait said after Haryana, they will be holding panchayats in other parts of the country, including West Bengal, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Gujarat.

While earlier farmers had given a call for a “tractor rally” in Delhi, Tikait said the next time, they will go to the national

cipline their own people instead of blaming the government for failing to come up with developmental activities as people only look to exploit land compensation whenever there was an opportunity.

He said such selfish and greedy behaviour would only encourage more mischief even in the future.

Rio also said when Nagaland and its people were exempted from income, wealth and property taxes and all the resources were being provided by the government of India, it was high time for the people to realise the privilege being accorded and begin paying for services like electricity, water and telephone bills.

Rio pointed out that payment culture for electricity for Dimapur was the worst in the state while Kohima was slightly better. He said there was an urgent need for the people to develop the habit of paying their bills regularly and not take it as a welfare provision in order to prevent revenue loss.

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capital with their agricultural implements. Addressing the gathering, Haryana BKU chief Gurnam Singh Chaduni alleged, “If new agricultural laws are implemented, crops will be purchased at arbitrary prices and farmers will be forced to even sell their land.”

Thousands of farmers have been protesting since late November at the Delhi borders with Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, demanding a rollback of the Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020; Farmers’ (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020; and Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020.

The protesting farmers have expressed apprehension that these laws will pave the way for the dismantling of the minimum support price (MSP) system, leaving them at the “mercy” of big corporations.

However, the government has maintained that the new laws will bring better opportunities to farmers and introduce new technologies in agriculture.

urgent need to reform the Power Policy Act of 2018 starting with the billing and revenue sector.

He appreciated participants from both the treasury and opposition bench for giving good suggestions and highlighting the importance of Power department.

He said in Nagaland, generation, transmission and distribution of power was a huge task, more so because of land issues.

Rio expressed pain at how land issues had become the biggest obstacle for development.

Citing examples of how land issues had hampered the 4-lane road project from Kohima to Dimapur for over a decade, Rio said even now the recent surfacing of tiny hutments along the Foothill Road in social media showed the narrow mindedness of the people which should be met with stern disciplinary actions.

He added that respective communities, churches and civil society groups should educate and dis-

6

OPINiON/EDITORIAL

Nagaland Post

Post-mortem

Vol. XXxI NO. 74 Dimapur, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2021

S

Flammable effect

ince 2014, the Narendra Modi government has chosen to mostly increase central government taxes on petrol and diesel, quite significantly, and not pass on the benefits of lower global prices to Indian consumers. This can be seen as a strategy to shore up government revenues and free up resources that could be invested in infrastructure development, a point which oil minister Dharmendra Pradhan regularly points out.

With rapidly rising fuel prices threatening to turn into a political hot potato, the Modi government has instead blamed it on the previous UPA government as with several other issues. Petrol (regular) prices breached the Rs 100 psychological barrier, a first for India, in Rajasthan and in Madhya Pradesh.

Diesel is also retailing at all-time high. States like Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya have significantly slashed prices of fuel and it is expected that other north eastern states would also follow suit. While the Centre continues to hike prices of fuel almost on a daily basis, these have benefitted states which are sitting on a revenue windfall and have the cushion to follow the Centre’s call on price cuts without impacting their revenue arithmetic, according to economists. It may be pointed out that since 2014, the Narendra Modi government has chosen to mostly increase central government taxes on petrol and diesel, quite significantly, and not pass on the benefits of lower global prices to Indian consumers. This can be seen as a strategy to shore up government revenues and free up resources that could be invested in infrastructure development, a point which oil minister Dharmendra Pradhan regularly points out. This has been particularly clear over the last year, with the price of global crude going topsy-turvy due to the COVID19 pandemic. Even though the price of India’s crude basket crashed to $19 in April 2020, the price of auto fuels fell on average a little over 6 rupees in the case of both petrol and diesel. While the hikes are seen as being good for the environment, when sales dip; on the other hand, experts, point to the inflationary consequences of such high auto fuel rates and note that it also impacts the agriculture and manufacturing sectors. The union budget offers no tax relief while, a cut in the prices of petrol and diesel could reduce the burden on the middleclass. Oil prices and levels of inflation are often seen as being connected in a cause-and-effect relationship. As oil prices move up, inflation—which is the measure of general price trends throughout the economy—follows in the same direction higher. On the other hand, as the price of oil falls, inflationary pressures start to ease. If the price of oil rises, then it will have a cascading effect on almost all items including transportation costs. The Confederation of Nagaland Chamber of Commerce & Industry (CNCCI), has also shot off a plea on the state government to review hikes in prices of fuel as these have only added to the burden of the common man and in particular transportation and vehicle owners.

Hopefully the Nagaland government will look into the demand and take the right step towards mitigating the burden of the people.

DailyDevotion Taking the Initiative Against Despair

Rise, let us be going. —Matthew 26:46 In the Garden of Gethsemane, the disciples went to sleep when they should have stayed awake, and once they realized what they had done it produced despair. The sense of having done something irreversible tends to make us despair. We say, “Well, it’s all over and ruined now; what’s the point in trying anymore.” If we think this kind of despair is an exception, we are mistaken. It is a very ordinary human experience. Whenever we realize we have not taken advantage of a magnificent opportunity, we are apt to sink into despair. But Jesus comes and lovingly says to us, in essence, “Sleep on now. That opportunity is lost forever and you can’t change that. But get up, and let’s go on to the next thing.” In other words, let the past sleep, but let it sleep in the sweet embrace of Christ, and let us go on into the invincible future with Him. There will be experiences like this in each of our lives. We will have times of despair caused by real events in our lives, and we will be unable to lift ourselves out of them. The disciples, in this instance, had done a downright unthinkable thing— they had gone to sleep instead of watching with Jesus. But our Lord came to them taking the spiritual initiative against their despair and said, in effect, “Get up, and do the next thing.” If we are inspired by God, what is the next thing? It is to trust Him absolutely and to pray on the basis of His redemption.

Never let the sense of past failure defeat your next step.

Quotes

There are many ways of going forward, but only one way of standing still. ~ Franklin D. Roosevelt

Nagaland Post, Dimapur FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2021

I

Oil exploration in Nagaland: Too early or too late

n these uncertain and challenging times, I wonder if the time is right to bring up (or even revisit) the story of crude oil exploration and production in Nagaland which today lies in a limbo mired with complications over who owns the ‘land, mineral and its resources’. Is it the Central or State Government, local community or the individual land owner?

While our leaders, law and policy decision makers will definitely come out with workable solutions to this complex geo-political issue, nobody really knows how much longer it will take for the dust to settle…maybe a few weeks, months, years or even a lifetime. I (for one) think that this is an opportune time to reflect on what we may be losing out in this long wait.Talks, political negotiations, dialogues etc. with the Central Government will continue. However, I strongly feel that the State and the present generation should not be deprived of economic activities and benefits that can accrue if the process of industrialization takes place in Nagaland. Towards this, the article is presented from the viewpoint of a concerned Naga working outside, keeping in perspective the oil and gas industry.

In an earlier issue, during the initial outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, I had shared concerns over Naga returnees vs. the present employment scenario which was published in the third week of June, 2020 in major local dailies.This time around, I wish to highlight the need for all of us to start thinking differently in terms of economic activities that can usher in big industries (such as the oil and gas industry)

to address the issues of unemployment that has today become an area of concern for both the government, society and parents alike.

While all of us are happy and excited about the fast track projects like the Railway Project, Four-lane Road and implementation of Smart city concepts coming up very soon; I see a not–sorosy picture when the present scenario is looked from a perspective where all such good things exist without any big industry coming up in the State. The new normal coupled with the ‘Internet of Things’ (IoT) will surely connect us better to the outside world (the internet does not distinguish between rural or urban, young or old, gender, educated or unemployed).

Yet, we have more reasons to worry because to sustain our livelihood we need sustainable long term economic activities that generate regular income. We need to differentiate between State development activities vs. economic activities. It is time we shift our attention on initiatives that will bring about long term gainful engagement and employment. After all, what do we gain if we are able to drive on good roads that take us right up to our doorsteps? What will happen when the railways bring in more finished goods and products from outside that are much cheaper compared to locally available equivalent products? What about the influx of outsiders and tourists who will come in contact with our people living deep inside the rural villages.

While it is an undeniable fact that crude oil, christened as ‘black liquid gold’ fuels the economy because when converted into finished

petroleum products, most of our basic needs can be met. Yet the oil story of Nagaland is different. Though the presence of hydrocarbon (oil & gas) is confirmed, nobody knows and can say what or how much exactly lies beneath us. It is only estimates and probabilities on which we are making assumptions. The true picture can emerge only when we go for oil exploration activities in a systematic manner by bringing in reputed oil exploration and production companies.

We Nagas have a perceived notion that we have rich oil reserve deposits and that we only need to drill.

However,we also need to know and appreciate that investing in the oil business is a very high risk high investment business. There are many phases that an oil and gas (E&P) company must go through before crude oil can be extracted and produced.

The life cycle of oil and gas takes much longer than what we think. Generally, it takes from 3-4 years to even 10 years to explore and evaluate the commerciality aspect of an oil discovery. This is before the company can even invest to develop the reserve for maximizing recovery and profits. At times, it may even take longer than expected only to find out that there is no deposits beneath. The business of oil exploration and development can accrue enormous benefits such as industry, employment, infrastructure developments and financial benefits to the State and its people. Therefore the discovery of oil in any location is greeted with great optimism and efforts are doubled to extract the mineral. However, in the

Labour codes need to be drafted

F

case of Nagaland, despite our claim over presence of oil deposits, the current scenario in Nagaland is quite the reverse and grim since we have to rely fully on our neighboring state for supply of essential petroleum products let alone other basic essential commodities.

We must appreciate the fact that Assam State commands such a position today in the business of oil & gas (from upstream to downstream) because they are almost a hundred years ahead of us in the business.They went early for exploration activities for why they are reaping the benefits today. As for us, we will have to wait and depend on other States until the time our natural resources are explored and extracted.

Imagine those COVID restriction days or even the closure of national highway due to road-widening activities lately, the hardship caused due to non-availability and short supply of petroleum, gas and essential commodities cannot be imagined.

If one looks at the way the world economy is moving towards, the time is not very far off when crude oil will slowly loose its relevance. The 21st century is expected to witness a major shift in energy sources with gradual decline in the usage of fossil fuels (like coal and oil) for more efficient fossil fuels such as natural gas.

Advances in biotechnologies will leverage the increased usage of biomass fuels while wind and solar will also account for a notable share of energy sources. A new transition is likely to be the usage of hydrogen, mainly for fuel cell vehicles, small energy generators and other portable energy devices. In

fact, the central government aims to make India a 100percent electric vehicle nation by 2030 as announced in the recent release of the Union Budget for 2021-22.

It focuses on capturing the emerging energy transition trends - from Renewables to Hydrogen. An often quoted adage goes… “The stone age did not end because the world ran out of stones, and the oil age will not end because we run out of oil.” Likewise, the age of fossil fuel will disappear not because we ran out of oil reserves but because renewable energy (with better and advanced technologies) make them more costeffective to meet humanity’s changing needs. Therefore the challenge is- Do we preserve the black liquid gold and risk the chances of losing its worth and relevance tomorrow or will it be a wiser to accelerate the need for oil exploration now so that we can produce and hand over to posterity a better and brighter Nagaland.

A ‘sense of urgency’ for oil exploration to happen in Nagaland is the need of the hour to make a realistic assessment of the presence of hydrocarbon. Oil exploration in simple terms can be better understood as taking an x-ray or MRI. Until we do it, we can only assume.

Likewise, only when geological and seismic surveys are carried out and data is collected and interpreted scientifically, can we do a proper appraisal and assessment of the hydrocarbon reserves.

Though Champang oilfield in Wokha district, produced until the early 90’s; we do not know whether the oilfield still retains its basic reservoir characteristics over the passage of time. As regards other

districts in Nagaland, we are not aware of any systematic seismic survey being carried out.

It will only serve to the advantage of the State Government and people of Nagaland if reputed oil & gas companies are allowed to come and carry out oil exploration activities covering large tracks of unexplored areas in our State. We will get to know exactly what type of oil reserves we have- whether proven, possible or probable reserves. Such an exploration campaign will provide us with vital geological data and information based on which we can reaffirm the presence of crude oil across different districts. Bustling economic activities will take place if the Government decides to get into the next phase of development and production of crude oil after ascertaining the same. Infrastructure development in the form of roads, bridges, manpower engagements (skilled, semiskilled and unskilled) and service contracts etc. will all come along.

As reiterated, investment in the oil and gas business is a very capital intensive with very high risks and therefore needs the support of Central Government for its funding and sustenance.

The sooner we get in, the earlier we can reap the benefits. Any further delay in waiting may cost us dearly.

With everyone’s support, we need to push forward the urgency for early oil exploration in Nagaland so that State development activities go hand in hand with economic activities. TOO EARLY OR TOO LATE. Meyabi A.Niphi (The writer is based out of Nagaland and works in Oil India Limited, Duliajan, Assam)

Reader’s Post

inance Minister Nir- contrary. First, they diluted applicability will unfold mala Sitharaman in the labour laws; then they with respect to the migrant her budget speech drafted the rules of the informal workforce. Acreferred to the implemen- Code on Social Security cording to a recent IHD tation of the four labour without really taking into report, the total number of codes, closing the pro- consideration the plight of vulnerable migrant workcess that started 20 years the informal sector work- ers could range from 115 ago. She also mentioned ers. To add to this, the rush million to 140 million. a handsome Rs 15,700 to clear the labour codes The draft rules fail Dear Sir, crore for MSMEs, more and form the draft rules to cater to the growing inThrough your esteemed Newspaper we are pleased and honour to express our grievthan double of this year’s shows little to no intent on formal workforce in India budget estimate. part of the government to — a workforce of contract ances towards transportation fare in Kohima town in particular and Nagaland in general The announcements safeguard workers. and casual labour without as there is no “SOPs” follow up in the transportation in particular and town in general are welcome if they proFor instance, while the safety and security but fare remains constant.

The Regional Transport Authority (RTA) Kohima (Dated 07 Sept. 2020) has fixed vide job and social se- on paper, the draft rules net extended to the forcurity to informal work- envisage wider coverage mal sector. The growing the fares of city buses and taxis following the resumption of public transport service with ers. India’s estimated 450 through the inclusion of informal nature of the Standard Operation Procedure (SOP). However now everything (especially Markets, shopmillion informal workers informal sector and gig workforce and the lack of ping Complex, etc) has came back into normality and the general public has no scope of comprise 90 per cent of its workers, at present the the state’s accountability maintaining social distancing in Kohima town. total workforce, with 5-10 draft rules apply to manu- makes it a breeding ground Nagaland in particular is more or alike came back into pre-pandemics days. million workers added an- facturing firms with over for rising inequality. The Citizens are in pain to pay that extra Rs 10 & Rs 15 or more for city buses and Taxi nually. Nearly 40 per cent 299 workers. This leaves workers face the risk of fare respectively. Literally like we are paying that extra charged for our next generation. of these employed with 71 per cent of manufactur- violations of their human Petrol & Diesels were hike in some paisa and some rupees but not higher than to that of MSMEs. ing companies out of its and labour rights, dignity Transportation in Nagaland.

Why are these im- purview. of livelihood, unsafe and RTA “Zigzag Operation Line” in the city bus becomes “Parallel Operation Line” portant announcements?

Like FM Sitharaman unregulated working con- to passenger by the conductor. Not wearing Mask by the Conductor and driver become According to Oxfam’s announced, the draft rules ditions and lower wages their “uniform” on these pandemics days. Moreover with no scope of maintaining social latest global report, The mandate the registration of apart, among several other distancing in the city bus charged Covid-19 fare in Parallel passenger line.

Inequality Virus, out of all workers (with Aadhaar vulnerabilities. They are Therefore, I request the concern department/authority will heed the grievances the total 122 million who cards) on the Shram Su- devoid of any employment and review/revoke the fixed fare of transportation in Kohima and even extend to other lost their jobs in 2020, 75 vidha Portal to be able to security, paid leaves, health districts in Nagaland. per cent, which translates receive any form of social benefits or social security.

“A Service to Men is Service to God” to 92 million jobs, were lost security benefit. The portal These vulnerabilities of Khyolamo Tungoe in the informal sector. The has been developed by the the informal sector became khyolamotungoe14130@gmail.com report further highlights Ministry of Labour and even more prominent as D-Khel, Kohima that over 300 informal Employment. Now, on the the entire country went workers died due to the one hand, this would lead into a state of suspension lockdown, with reasons to Aadhaar-driven exclu- due to the lockdown enranging from starvation, sion and, on the other, forced as a state response suicide, exhaustion, road workers will most likely to the pandemic. The existSir, and rail accidents, police be unable to register on ing social security schemes I would like to draw the kind attention of the authorities concerned on the abatebrutality and denial of their own due to lack of failed to provide protection timely medical care. The information on the Aad- during such times of crisis, ment of auto fare. The auto fare collection in and around Dimapur needs to be revised National Human Rights haar registration processes. and one can only hope that as it is adversely impacting the public. Auto fare charges were taken into consideration Commission recorded A foreseeable challenge is the same mistakes aren’t during the lockdown. However, with the normalization of the situation it is needed that the auto fare must be minimized. over 2,582 cases of human updating information on repeated.

In addition, the road conditions are far better than it used to be. Back then when rights violation as early as the online portal at regular The Code on Social April 2020. intervals, especially by the Security was envisaged as there were potholes everywhere the auto fare from Chumukedima to Dimapur was RS The financial year migrant or seasonal labour a legal protective measure 40 per person, but now the roads are well repaired and well maintained which helps the 2020-21 had been a tough force. At present, it is man- for a large number of in- three wheelers to move faster and reach the destination faster. Yet, why are we passengers year economically — the datory, failing which they formal workers in India charged RS 80 -100 per person? It would be appreciable if the auto fare is minimised for economy is expected to will not be eligible for any but unless the labour codes the public. And, if this matter could be kindly looked upon at the earliest, it will ease a contract by 7.7 per cent. social security benefits. are made and implemented very huge problem of the public.

So, while there is an urgent It is also unclear as keeping in mind the realiZachano lotha, Dept of Mass Communication, Patkai Christian College need to revive the economy to how these benefits will ties of the informal sector by generating employment, be applicable in the larger workers, it will become the COVID-19 experience scheme of things. For impossible to bridge the tells us that there is also instance, will a migrant inequality gap. a need to provide social worker with an Aadhaar Sir, protection, especially to card registered in her/his Ileena Roy and Ranjana I would like to draw the kind attention of the authorities towards garbage dumpDas the 450 million informal home state of Bihar be ing problems and maintenance of cleanliness in Nagaland as localities and residents are Roy is with the Private sector workers. eligible for social security throwing garbage in open area making the place very dirty and which leads to blockage Sector Engagement team at But will the finance benefits in Gujarat where of canals, drainage etc. There has to be some actions taken in this regard or spread awareminister walk the talk? she/he is currently em- Oxfam India and Das works ness on maintaining cleanliness and ways to dump their garbage and people should know on commodity supply chains Over the last year, what ployed? It is, therefore, imtheir duties towards keeping the place clean. the government seems portant for the draft rules and informal sector issues, Oxfam India Chonsorin Shimray, Multi-media, Mass Communication, Patkai Christian College to have done is quite the to clearly state how their Reader’s note: Articles or letters published in any of the columns do not reflect the view of this newspaper nor that of the Editor in any manner.

Review of pandemic transportation fare in Kohima, Nagaland

Abatement of auto fare

Cleanliness and dumping garbage

Activists stage a protest demanding release of young climate activist Disha Ravi. (PTI)

New Delhi, Feb 18 (IANS): The Centre told the Delhi High Court on Thursday that there has been no leakage of messages or any other details from the Delhi Police to the media in connection with the ‘toolkit’ case, which has climate activist Disha Ravi as the accused.

The 21-year-old activist has approached the Delhi High Court seeking a direction to the Delhi Police to not leak any investigation material in relation to ‘toolkit’ case to the media. Disha, in the petition, stated that she is being viscerally attacked by the Delhi Police and several media houses on the basis of leaked investigative matter and prejudicial press briefings.

“This is for media attention.

There has been no leakage of info from the police. We will file an affidavit on this,” Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told Justice Prathiba Singh. After hearing the contentions, the court gave Centre time till tomorrow to file the affidavit.

Besides, notice has also been issued to the News Broadcasters Association, News 18 and Times Now. The climate activist was arrested from Bengaluru last week in connection with allegedly editing and sharing a ‘toolkit’ on social media related to the farmers’ protest and was remanded to five-days police custody the next day.

In the application in the high court, she has sought, “...directing Delhi Police not to leak any investigation material in relation to FIR No. 49/20, PS Special Cell, includ-

ing alleged contents of private chats or communication by the Petitioner to any third party, including the media.” Besides, she has sought appropriate action against News18, IndiaToday and Times Now and all other satellite TV channels and restrain them from publishing the contents or extracts of any alleged private chats [including WhatsApp chats] between her and third parties.

The Cyber Cell had lodged an FIR against “pro-Khalistan” creators of the “toolkit” for waging a “social, cultural and economic war against the government of India”.

On Sunday, the Delhi Police took to microblogging website Twitter to elaborate on the case.

It wrote, “Disha Ravi, arrested by Delhi Police, is an Editor of the Toolkit Google Doc and key conspirator in document’s formulation and dissemination.” She has started WhatsApp Group and collaborated to make the Toolkit document, the police said, adding that she worked closely with them to draft it.

“In this process, they all collaborated with pro Khalistani Poetic Justice Foundation to spread disaffection against the Indian State. She was the one who shared the Toolkit document with Greta Thunberg,” the police wrote on Twitter.

After the arrest, the Delhi Police Special Cell procured fiveday custody of 21-year-old climate activist from the court to identify Pro-Khalistani Group - Poetic Justice Foundation and its active members, and to recover the deleted WhatsApp Group.

Nagaland budget 2021-22: Sectoral allocations

DIMAPUR: The agriculture department has been allocated Rs 665 lakh, of which Rs 300 lakh is for construction of 65 community agriculture farm roads, while the allocation for the horticulture department is Rs 300 lakh (Rs 200 lakh for horti-link roads and Rs 100 lakh for other activities).

The soil & water conservation department has been provided Rs 340 lakh, of which Rs 250 lakh is for Integrated Land Development and Rs 40 lakh for Soil Health Management.

Similarly, allocations for animal husbandry & veterinary are Rs 350 lakh (Rs 300 lakh for setting up three Model Piggery Farms), Rs 350 lakh for the fisheries department (Rs 250 lakh for upgrade of eight Government Demonstration Fish Farms) and Rs 200 lakh for the forestry & wildlife department.

Allocation for the cooperation department has been fixed at Rs 100 lakh and Rs 473.73 lakh for the land resources development department (Rs 166.73 lakh for purchase of 950 rubber sheet roller machines and Rs 207 lakh for maintenance of coffee plantations).

While Nagaland Bamboo Development Agency has been provided Rs 100 lakh, the Bee and Honey Mission has been allocated Rs 170 lakh, NEPED Rs 75 lakh and Bio Resource and Aromatic Plant Rs. 100 lakh.

The rural development department has been provided Rs 100 lakh, State Institute of Rural Development Rs 240 lakh (Rs 140 lakh for construction of an Institute for Training and Research for Tribal Regions and Rs 100 lakh for training and research activities) The land revenue department gets Rs 326 lakh for the next fiscal (Rs 150 lakh for upgrade of Surveyor Training Institute and digitalisation of online portal, Rs 100 lakh for construction of Revenue Office Kohima and remaining amount for other minor construction works).

For 2021-22, Rs 21 crore has been provided to Department of Under Developed Areas.

In view of COVID-19 pandemic, Rs 50 lakh per Assembly Constituency has been earmarked from LADP 2020-21 for strength-

ening health infrastructure, quarantine facilities and promote agri and allied activities, while the water resources department has been provided Rs 200 lakh (Rs 100 lakh for water harvesting structure).

The energy sector gets a total allocation of Rs 1,970 lakh, of which the distribution and revenue wing has been provided Rs 770 lakh under which Rs 520 lakh is for village electrification.

The transmission and generation wing has been provided Rs 800 lakh, of which Rs 500 lakh is for setting up 2.5 MW hydro electric project at Duilumroi.

Department of New and Renewable Energy has been provided Rs 350 lakh (Rs 250 lakh for power plant at Ganeshnagar), while the electrical inspectorate has been provided Rs 50 lakh for the Green Village Initiative.

The industries & commerce department has been provided Rs 350 lakh (Rs 100 lakh for promotion of entrepreneurship start-ups, Rs 100 lakh for training and Rs 100 lakh for infrastructure development).

The sericulture department has been provided Rs 327.84 lakh (Rs 177.84 lakh for farmer development and Rs 100 lakh for implementation of silk processing unit).

The geology & mining department has been allocated Rs 200 lakh (Rs 100 lakh for stockyard/underground water tapping machines). Nagaland State Mineral Development Corporation has been provided Rs 100 lakh for concrete block-making unit.

The roads & bridges department has been provided Rs 3,500 lakh (Rs 2,000 lakh for improvement of roads and Rs 1,500 lakh for State Road Development Programme).

The mechanical engineering department has been provided Rs 450 lakh for purchase of heavy machinery and Rs 200 lakh for purchase of dumper trucks.

The road transport department has been provided Rs 461.86 lakh for construction of hangars, waiting halls and fencing at heliports at Lerie and civil secretariat at Kohima, Mon and Chumukedima, and construction of general manager’s quarter at Dimapur.

The motor vehicles department has been provided Rs 225.39

lakh (Rs 175.39 lakh for construction of regional transport officer’s office-cum-pollution testing centre at Mokokchung).

While the science & technology department has been provided Rs 300 lakh, including Rs 200 lakh for purchase of equipment for the lab and planetarium, the information technology & communication department has been allocated Rs 200 lakh (Rs 100 lakh for construction of staff quarters and guest house at the directorate complex) and Rs 500 lakh for the planning & coordination department.

The tourism department’s outlay is Rs 750 lakh (Rs 450 lakh for Hornbill Festival and Rs 250 lakh for mini Hornbill festivals).

The legal metrology & consumer protection department has been provided Rs 100 lakh and Rs 309.58 lakh to evaluation department for construction of quarters and offices.

In the education sector, Rs 7 69 lakh has been allocated to the school education department for construction of government high schools and DEO/SDEO offices in various districts, Rs 620 lakh to higher education department (Rs 100 lakh for NAAC accreditation and others for construction of academic buildings in various colleges and construction of staff quarters), Rs 100 lakh to State Council of Educational Research and Training and Rs 100 lakh to the technical education department.

The youth resources & sports department has been provided Rs 790 lakh (Rs 300 lakh for capacity building for youth empowerment), while art & culture department has been allocated Rs 168.50 lakh (Rs 50 lakh for promotion of cultural activities).

The health & family welfare department has been allocated Rs 604.90 lakh (Rs 254.90 for construction of a new ward at NHAK and Rs 150 lakh for construction of 50-bedded District Hospital, Kohima).

The allocation for PHE department is Rs 297.43 lakh for construction of offices and various water supply projects, Rs 2,241.41 lakh for PWD housing department (including Rs 100 lakh for construction of chief information commissioner’s of-

Cong wins Mohali municipal corporation where no party got a clear majority.

Punjab Health Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu’s brother Amarjeet Singh Sidhu, who is the Congress’ mayoral candidate, won from ward number 10 of the Mohali municipal corporation.

Talking to reporters, Balbir Singh thanked the people of Mohali for supporting the Congress.

The SAD and the BJP suffered a major setback as their candidates failed to win even a single seat in the Mohali MC polls.

Tamilisai Soundararajan sworn in as Puducherry LG

Tamilisai Soundararajan

Floor test on Feb 22 Puducherry,Feb 18 (PTI): Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan on Thusday assumed additional charge of the union territory of Puducherry and said she will function as a “people’s Governor” and according to the Constitution. She said she had not come to Puducherry with any ulterior motive but to serve the people. The fifth woman to be appointed Lt Governor of the Union Territory, Soundararajan was sworn in at a simple function at the Raj Nivas where she took oath in Tamil.

She succceeds Kiran Bedi.

Chief Justice of the Madras High Court Sanjib

Banerjee administered the oath of office to Soundararajan, who hails from nearby Tamil Nadu. Later, addressing reporters, she said “I know what are the powers of a Governor, powers of Lt Governor and Chief Minister, of elected members and officers.”

She would function as a “people’s governor.”

“There would be no obstacles between me and the people. I will peruse every issue thoroughly and serve the people,” Soundararajan said. The new Lt Governor said she was glad she had been given the opportunity to serve the people of Puducherry and would address their concerns.

In a sudden development on Tuesday, Bedi was removed as Lt Governor of Puducherry, with President Ram Nath Kovind giving additional charge of the UT to the Telangana governor “with effect from the date she assumes charge of her office, until regular arrangements for the office of LieutenantGovernor of Puducherry are made”.

Former mayor Kulwant Singh, who led the Azad group in the polls, lost to Congress candidate Amrik Singh Somal in ward number 42.

The Congress had contested all 50 seats while the SAD fielded candidates on 43 and the BJP 46. The Azad group contested 48 wards.

The counting of votes for the Mohali municipal corporation was taken up on Thursday as repolling was conducted at two polling booths on Wednesday.

been provided Rs 100 lakh.

Allocations in other sectors are 63.74 lakh to printing & stationery department, Rs 50 lakh to Administrative Training Institute, Rs 375 lakh for Assembly complex project (includes construction of approach road staff quarters, digital library and VIP legislators’ wing at NLA Guest House, Dimapur), Rs 200 lakh to the social welfare department for construction of offices, Rs 250 lakh to women resources .department (Rs 100 lakh for various activities and Rs 150 lakh for Transformative Livelihood Intervention) and Rs 300 lakh to fire services department.

The treasuries & accounts department has been allocated Rs 150.41 lakh for construction of staff quarters, Rs 200 lakh to border affairs department, Rs 100 lakh to parliamentary affairs department, Rs 90.56 lakh to taxes department for construction of staff quarters, Rs 300 lakh to village guards department for construction of training ground, for prefabrication infrastructure and firing range, Rs 150 lakh to election department for construction of warehouse for storage of EVMs and VVPATs, Rs 150 lakh to home department for State houses and Rs 50 lakh to disaster management.

While the tribal affairs department of has been allocated Rs 50 lakh for construction of directorate building and staff quarters, the minority affairs department has been provided Rs 75 lakh for various construction works in Dimapur area.

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VACANCY

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CHANDIGARH, FEB 18 (PTI): The ruling Congress in Punjab won the Mohali municipal corporation polls on Thursday while the SAD and the BJP failed to open their accounts.

After the final counting of votes, the Congress won 37 wards while independents bagged the remaining 13, officials said.

With this, the ruling party registered victory in seven municipal corporations and emerged as the leading party in the Moga municipal cor poration,

fice at Kohima, Rs 100 lakh for construction of patients’ guest house at Dibrugarh, Rs 100 lakh for construction of rental housing at Dimapur and Rs 100 lakh for construction of rest house at Dimapur), Rs 1,530.24 lakh for CAWD under general administration for construction of various offices, flats and improvement works in various locations all over the State and Rs 1,052.50 lakh for Police Engineering Project for construction of offices and accommodation in various districts.

The urban development department has been allocated Rs 350.16 lakh for construction of offices at Kiphire, P Shilu Ao Memorial Park at Mokokchung and upgrade of marketing centre of Development Authority Nagaland.

The municipal affairs department has been provided Rs 170 lakh for construction of quarters, Rs 330 lakh to law & justice department, Rs 178.48 lakh to the home guards department for construction of office and infrastructure development at the Central Training Institute, Dimapur and Rs 408 lakh to the prisons department for construction of jails, barracks, offices and security walls in various districts.

The excise department gets an allocation of Rs 100 lakh for construction of staff building at Dimapur, while the information & public relations department has been provided Rs 109.22 lakh for construction of offices.

While labour department has been provided Rs 115 lakh, the employment, skill development and entrepreneurship department has

CHRISTIAN EDUCATION DIRECTOR (CED) Female Candidates Only, Qualification Required : B.TH/M.TH/MRE/M.DIV (Age 25 to 35 years) PREFERABLY Dedicated individual & duly recommended by concern Church with working experience of at least 3(three) years, may apply the above post with relevant documents on or before 15th March 2021. Incomplete documents will be rejected.

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‘No leakage of toolkit info’: Centre tells HC

7

national/State

Nagaland Post, Dimapur FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2021

For details, contact No. 9862413947/9862051236

DC-148

business/state

Policy for DISCOMs in the offing: PM

Su doku

KAKURO

comment for this story.

New Delhi is also planning another PLI, at a budget of roughly Rs 5,000 crore over five years, to boost domestic manufacturing of wearable devices such as smartwatches, the sources said, adding the plan could be announced within two months.

All the sources declined to be named as the plans are not public.

India-made iPad Apple assembles a bulk of its iPads in China, but is fast diversifying production to markets such as India and Vietnam to minimise the impact of the US-China trade war and the coronavirus crisis.

Its top supplier Foxconn is building assembly lines for iPads and MacBook laptops in Vietnam, Reuters reported late last year. Other iPad assemblers include Taiwan’s Compal Electronics and China’s BYD Electronic International .

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DP-107

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DP-972

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DP-947

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DP-932

No. 9837 Yesterday’s solution No. 9836

around 45 per cent of the votes from the lenders in the voting process last month.

The total offer of Piramal was Rs 37,250 crore, compared to Rs 38,400 crore offered by Oaktree. However, Piramal had offered higher upfront cash payment.

The tota l dues of DHFL stand at around Rs 90,000 crore.

Piramal, in its bid, has offered an additional amount in the resolution process to fixed deposit holders, over and above what the CoC offers them through the IBC resolution.

DP-864

Jammu, Feb 18 (PTI): Jammu and Kashmir-based FIL industries has been conferred a national award by the CII in the category of backward integration at the 5th CII Cold Chain Awards, the company said on Thursday.

FIL group is a diversified business organisation with interests in agriculture, food and beverages, tourism, hospitality and mountain infrastructure development.

The 5th edition of CII Cold Chain Award was held on a virtual platform on Wednesday.

FIL Industries Director Owais Altaf Syed said that the CII’s consistent advisory and consultative processes have helped FIL Industries to improvise and emerge as one of the major players in this category in the region.

Mumbai, Feb 18 (IANS): The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has approved the takeover of Dewan Housing Finance Corporation Ltd (DHFL) by Piramal Group.

The development comes just a month after the Committee of Creditors (CoC) of DHFL voted in favour of Piramal’s bid with 94 per cent votes and approved its resolution plan.

“We understand that the RBI has approved the DHFL resolution plan from Piramal Capital and Housing Finance, submitted by the CoC,” said a statement

by Piramal Group.

Now, the proposed takeover requires the approval of the National Company Law Tribunal.

The other major contender for the debt-ridden NBFC was US-based Oaktree Capital which secured

DP-908

Crossword

begin teaching through new recruitments or by using the service of serving doctors, especially those serving in NHAK, Rio replied that qualified persons would be roped in for the purpose.

He mentioned that people from Nagaland working outside, especially super specialists and professors, willing to come and work would be used. On delay in completing the medical college, Rio blamed this to land issue and pandemic as there was dearth of labourers.

Mon medical college to be functional by 202324: Rio said the process of establishing medical college in Mon at a cost of Rs 325 crore was underway and 90 % of the fund would be sourced from a Centrallysponsored scheme.

He said after all work at the college was completed, he expected the college to function from 2023-24.

DP-973

and refused to comment further.

Review of reservation policy: Informing the media that the cabinet subcommittee had recommended total review of the reservation policy in the State, he said after the cabinet subcommittee convenes meeting with all stakeholders, there would be a discussion to find an amiable settlement.

Professionals to be roped in from within and outside for medical college: Rio said the government intended to apply to Medical Council of India for starting Kohima Medical College from the academic year 2022-23 initially from NHAK as a teaching hospital. In this regard, he said qualified professionals, super specialists, etc, would be roped in from outside the State and within as teaching faculties. Asked whether the State government planned to

told Reuters.

The new performancelinked incentive (PLI) scheme, which offers cashback to manufacturers for exports, will have a budget of up to Rs 7,000 crore ($964.5 million) over five years, the sources said. It’s expected to be launched by the end of February.

Apple, along with others, is lobbying for a bigger budgetary outlay of Rs 20,000 crore before that plan is finalised, as India doesn’t yet have the scale or the supply chain for making IT products and competes with dutyfree imports of tech products, two of the sources said.

Apple’s push comes at a time its iPhone supplier Wistron is just restarting operations at Karnataka plant after angry workers went on a rampage last year. Apple is yet to take the Taiwan manufacturer off of probation.

Apple declined to

RBI approves Piramal Group’s takeover of DHFL

DP-954

(From p-1) “However, if he want to add something, we cannot say no to that,” he claimed.

Asked whether the speech read out by the governor on Republic Day was prepared by the State government, Rio said in the previous year, Ravi did not read any speech. Therefore, Rio said this time he, along with deputy chief minister, chief secretary and home commissioner met the governor and requested him to read out the speech prepared by the State government, to which he agreed.

He claimed that the speech contained vision, programmes, activities and achievements of the PDA government and was meant to make people aware of what the government was initiating for their welfare.

Rio mentioned that it was up to the governor if he wanted to add to the speech

FIL Industries bags CII cold chain award

DP-970

State govt to review prices of fuel, says Rio

NEW DELHI, FEB 18 (AGENCIES): Apple Inc is angling to participate in a new scheme to boost India’s exports of computer products, part of what government and industry sources say are plans to bring iPad tablet manufacturing to the country.

India launched a $6.7 billion plan to boost smartphone exports last year, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi stepped up efforts to promote electronics manufacturing and create jobs.

Apple, which has steadily raised production of iPhones in India to lessen its dependence on Chinese manufacturing, took part in that scheme via its contract manufacturers.

Now the government is preparing to unveil another incentive to drive local manufacturing of IT products including tablets, laptops and servers, three sources closely involved in the drafting of the plan

DP-850

This is likely to increase demand for locally produced materials such as EVA, solar glass, backsheet and junction box.

“We want to see our companies to become global manufacturing champions, not just to fulfil local demands,” the prime minister said.

The government has indicated its commitment of additional capital infusion worth Rs 1,000 crore in the Solar Energy Corporation of India to promote investments in the renewable energy sector. Similarly, the Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency

The government is focussed on reaching every village and every household, and India has become a power-surplus country from a power-deficit country, he said.

In recent years, the country has added 139 gigawatts capacity and reached the goal of one nationone grid-one frequency, the prime minister pointed out.

Reforms like the UDAY scheme with the issuance of bonds worth Rs 2.32 lakh crore were undertaken to improve financial and operational efficiencies, he said, adding, “For monetising the assets of the Powergrid, Infrastructure Investment Trust -- InvIT was established, which will soon be open for investors.”

Modi said work is on to make the distribution sector free of entry barriers and licensing for distribution and supply. Efforts are underway for prepaid smart metres, feeder separation and system upgradation, he added.

DP-974

Narendra Modi (PTI)

(IREDA) will get additional investments worth Rs 1,500 crore. This will enable the Solar Energy Corporation of India to invest in innovative projects worth Rs 17,000 crore, Modi said.

The investment in the IREDA will lead to additional loans of Rs 12,000 crore by the agency. This will be over and above the IREDA’s current loan-giving capacity of Rs 27,000 crore, the statement noted.

Stakeholders and experts of the power sector, representatives of industries and associations, MDs of DISCOMs, CEOs of state nodal agencies for renewable energy and consumer groups attended the webinar.

Modi noted that the energy sector plays a big role in the country’s progress and said the webinar is an indication of trust between the government and the private sector and an attempt to find ways for a quick implementation of the budget announcements for the sector.

DP-963

able energy”.

He noted that the renewable energy capacity of the country has been enhanced by two-and-a-half times in the last six years and the solar energy capacity by 15 times.

“This year’s budget has shown unprecedented commitment towards investment in infrastructure.

This is evident in mission hydrogen, domestic manufacturing of solar cells and massive capital infusion in the renewable energy sector,” Modi said.

Referring to the PLI (performance-linked incentive) scheme, he said highefficiency solar PV modules are now part of it and the government is committed to investing Rs 4,500 crore in this. Modi hoped for a massive response to the scheme.

Under the PLI scheme, integrated solar PV manufacturing plants with a capacity of 10,000 MW will be operationalised with an estimated investment of Rs 14,000 crore.

Apple lobbies for India incentives as it plans iPad assembly: Report

DP-967

New Delhi, Feb 18 (PTI): Asserting that reforms in the regulatory and process framework have significantly “improved” the outlook towards the power sector, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said the Centre is working to remove problems in the distribution sector and a policy and regulatory framework for DISCOMs is in the offing.

Consumers should be able to choose their supplier according to performance like any other retail commodity, he said at a webinar for consultation towards effective implementation of the Union Budget provisions in the power and renewable energy sector, the Prime Minister’s Office (PM) said in a statement.

Modi said the government treats power as a separate sector and not as part of the industry sector, while adding that the Centre’s approach towards it has been holistic and guided by the four mantras of “reach, reinforce, reform and renew-

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DP-966(A)

8

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Protesters out again in Myanmar Police use water cannon in capital

PA N G O N , F E B 1 8 (AGENCIES): Protesters demonstrated across Myanmar again on Thursday to denounce the Feb. 1 military coup and arrest of elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi, and police forcefully dispersed crowds, using water cannon in the capital and catapults in a northern town.

The daily protests and strikes that have paralysed many government offices show no sign of easing even though the junta has promised a new election and appealed for civil servants to return to work, threatening action if they do not.

“I don’t want to wake up in a dictatorship. We don’t want to live the rest of our lives in fear,” said Ko Soe Min, who was out in the main city of Yangon where tens of thousands took to the streets a day after some of the biggest protests yet.

Big crowds returned to Yangon’s central Sule Pagoda while many young people also massed at another favourite protest site, at an intersection near the main

Demonstrators stage a protest against the military coup in front of riot policemen in Yangon, Myanmar Thursday. (AP/PTI)

city, Mandalay, protesters rallied to demand the release of two officials arrested in the coup. Police fired water cannon in the capital, Naypyitaw, to scatter a crowd approaching police lines.

The northern town of Myitkyina was tense after police and soldiers used catapults to break up a protest, a resident said. Pictures on social media showed soldiers and rows of police trucks.

“They’re not acting in line with the constitution nor rule of law. They are acting like terrorists,” said activist

Sut Seng Htoi. Police were not available for comment.

In the old capital of Bagan, people with banners and flags marched in colourful processions against a backdrop of ancient temples.

Some protesters stopped at a temple to put a curse on dictators, a witness said.

TRYING TO END CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE Putting an end to the civil disobedience campaign appears to be the military government’s priority.

Late on Wednesday, the junta issued arrest warrants against six celebrities,

Sri Lanka cancels Imran Khan’s planned address to its Parliament: Media reports

FB blocks news access in Australia in retaliatory move

C O LO M B O / I S L A M ABAD, FEB 18 (PTI): Sri Lanka has cancelled Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan’s planned address to its Parliament during his upcoming visit to Colombo, according to media reports.

Sergeant-at-Arms of Parliament, Narendra Fernando said he has informed Parliament that the Pakistan Prime Minister’s visit to Sri Lanka will go ahead as scheduled, the Colombo Gazette website reported on Wednesday.

However, the Foreign Ministry had informed Parliament officials that his proposed visit to the Parliament complex will not take place.

Pakistan Prime Minister Khan will arrive in Sri Lanka on February 22 on a two-day official state visit.

Khan, who will be the first head of state to visit the country since the COVID-19 pandemic, is to hold talks with President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Prime Minister Mahinda

university campus, spilling into the streets as police tried to move them on.

The marches have been more peaceful than the bloodily suppressed demonstrations seen during an earlier half century of army rule, but they and the civil disobedience movement have had a crippling effect on much official business.

Many motorists in Yangon drove at a snail’s pace in a show of opposition to the coup, a day after many pretended to be broken down to block police and army vehicles. In the second-biggest

Imran Khan

Rajapaksa and Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena during the visit.

It is said that the speech to Parliament had been included in Khan’s itinerary at the Pakistan government’s request. However, it was later cancelled and Sri Lankan media gave various reasons for the cancellation of Khan’s address, Pakistan’s Dawn newspaper reported on Thursday.

The address was scheduled for February 24.

According to Sri Lanka’s daily Express, Foreign Secretary JayanathColombage said that Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena had requested for the cancellation of Khan’s address,

citing COVID-19.

D aw n n e w s p a p e r quoting Sri Lankan media reports that there were elements within the Sri Lankan government, who did not want the speech to take place as they feared that doing so could further harm ties with India, which have already been strained after the cancellation of a deal over the East Container Terminal in Colombo port, Dawn newspaper said.

It was expected that Khan would raise the Kashmir issue during his speech, which could have upset Delhi, it said.

Tensions between India and Pakistan spiked after New Delhi abrogated provisions of Article 370 of the Constitution to withdraw Jammu and Kashmir’’s special status and bifurcated it into two Union Territories in 2019.

Pakistan has been trying to internationalise the Kashmir issue but India has asserted that the abrogation of Article 370 was its “internal matter”.

CANBERRA (AUSTRALIA), FEB 18 (AGENCIES): In a surprise retaliatory move Thursday, Facebook blocked Australians from sharing news stories, escalating a fight with the government over whether powerful tech companies should have to pay news organizations for content.

Australia’s government condemned the step, which also blocked some government communications, including messages about emergency services, and some commercial pages.

The digital platforms fear that what’s happening in Australia will become an expensive precedent for other countries as governments revamp laws to catch up with the fastchanging digital world.

Facebook acted after the House of Representatives passed legislation that would make it and Google pay for Australian journalism, said Treasurer Josh Frydenberg. He said he was given no warning before Facebook acted.

COVID infections ‘fallen significantly’ in Eng: UK study LONDON, FEB 18 (PTI): The interim findings of a new UK government-backed study released on Thursday shows that COVID-19 infections in England have “fallen significantly” since January, reflecting the impact of the strict lockdown measures.

The Imperial College London led Real-time Assessment of Community Transmission (REACT-1) research swab tested over 85,400 volunteers in England between February 4 and 13 to examine the levels of infection in the general population and found infections have dropped by two-thirds since lockdown began, with London showing an 80 per cent fall.

“The findings show infections in England have fallen significantly since the last report in January,” the latest report noted.

But the findings indicated coronavirus levels are still high, with one in 200 testing positive during that same period.

“These findings show encouraging signs infections are now heading in the right direction across the country, but we must not drop our guard,” said UK Health Sec-

9

international

Nagaland Post, Dimapur FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2021

retary Matt Hancock.

“Cases and hospital admissions remain high – over 20,000 COVID-19 patients are in hospital – so it is vital we all remain vigilant and follow the rules as our vaccination rollout continues at pace,” he said, reiterating the current lockdown message of staying at home and maintaining social distance.

The figures offer some hope for UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who is preparing to present a roadmap on Monday for gradually lifting stringent lockdown restrictions in place early last month.

He has re peatedly warned that any unlocking will be “cautious” and has refrained from setting any firm dates for when specific

sectors of the economy can reopen.

The main findings from the REACT study, ninth since the pandemic began last year alongside Ipsos MORI, show infection prevalence fell from 1.57 per cent to 0.51 per cent, or 51 per 10,000 infected.

The R number, or the rate at which the infection spreads, remains below one at around 0.72 and regional prevalence fell in all areas and across almost all age groups compared to the last report. “These encouraging results show that lockdown measures are effectively bringing infections down.

It’s reassuring that the reduction in numbers of infections occurred in all ages and in most regions across the country,” Professor Paul

Elliott, director of the programme at Imperial College London.

“While the trends we’ve observed are good news, we need to all work to keep infections down by sticking to the measures which are designed to protect us and our health system,” he said.

“The reduction in prevalence from our last REACT round is very welcome, particularly the very large reduction in London. But it’s important that we continue following all the measures that the government has set out so that we can continue to see further reductions, and make progress in beating the pandemic,” added Kelly Beaver, Managing Director, Public Affairs, at Ipsos MORI. With over 15 million of the most vulnerable categories of people vaccinated, the government now wants to wait for additional data to confirm if being vaccinated stops someone from passing the virus on to others and warns that it will also be some time before the impact of the vaccination programme reduces pressures on hospitals.

including film directors, actors and a singer, under an anti-incitement law, for encouraging civil servants to join the protest.

The charges can carry a two-year prison sentence.

“It’s amazing to see the unity of our people. People’s power must return to the people,” actor Lu Min, who was on the junta’s ‘wanted list’, posted on his Facebook page. The military says a majority of people back its actions.

The takeover and arrests have drawn strong Western criticism with the United States and Britain among countries that have announced or threatened sanctions. China has taken a softer line while neighbours Singapore and Indonesia have proposed regional dialogue. Singapore also urged that violence not be used against civilians.

“In particular, live rounds should not be fired on unarmed civilians under any circumstances,” Singapore’s foreign ministry cited its minister, Vivian Balakrishnan, as saying.

Police have fired rubber bullets several times.

One protester was shot in the head in Naypyitaw last week and is being kept on life support, but doctors say she is not expected to survive.

China says disengagement of Chinese, Indian troops in Ladakh on smoothly BEIJING, FEB 18 (PTI): China on Thursday said the disengagement process of the Chinese and Indian frontline troops at the eastern Ladakh border was progressing smoothly and expressed hope that both sides will make concerted efforts to achieve the goal.

O n Fe b r u a r y 1 0 , China’s Defence Ministry spokesman Senior Colonel Wu Qian in a brief press release announced that the Chinese and Indian frontline troops at the South and North banks of the Pangong lake in eastern Ladakh started synchronised and organised disengagement.

“The relevant process is smooth on the whole. We hope that the two sides will work in concerted efforts to achieve the goal,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said on Thursday when asked how the disengagement process is proceeding.

“According to the consensus of our multi-round negotiations, the frontline troops have started disengagement in a synchronised and organised way on both sides,” Hua said.

“We hope the two sides will continue to observe our consensus as well as our agreements to ensure

Indian and Chinese troops and tanks disengage from the banks of Pangong lake area. (PTI File)

the smooth completion of the whole disengagement process,” she said.

About the timeline of the disengagement of the troops, she said, “I’m not aware of the specifics. You may ask the military”.

After nine months of border standoff in eastern Ladakh, the two armies reached an agreement on disengagement in the North and South banks of Pangong lake that mandates both sides to cease forward deployment of troops in a “phased, coordinated and verifiable” manner.

The Indian Army on Tuesday released short

videos and photographs showing thinning down of troops and dismantling of bunkers, camps and other facilities by the Chinese military in the areas around the Pangong lake in eastern Ladakh in line with the agreed disengagement process between the two sides.

The visuals also showed the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) using a bulldozer to flatten some structures, and vehicles with troops and equipment preparing to retreat to rear bases as part of the infantry disengagement.

India a critical partner, says Pentagon WASHINGTON, FEB 18 (PTI): India is a critical partner, especially when one considers all the challenges in the Indo-Pacific region, the Pentagon said on the eve of the maiden Quad ministerial meeting under the Biden administration.

Quad ministerial is an informal grouping of four countries, namely, Australia, India, Japan and the United States.

“India is a critical partner, especially when you consider all of the challenges in the Indo-Pacific region,” Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby told reporters at a news conference on Wednesday.

State Department Spokesperson Ned Price at his daily news conference announced that on Thursday morning, Secretary Blinken and his counterparts from Japan, Australia and India will speak together.

“This discussion with the Quad foreign ministers is critical to advancing our shared goals of a free and open Indo-Pacific and rising to the defining challenges of our time, including coordinating our efforts on

Georgian PM announces resignation TBILISI, FEB 18 (IANS): Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia announced his resignation on Thursday.

Gakharia said in a statement that he decided to step down because he could not reach an agreement with the ruling party over the arrest warrant issued against Nika Melia, a Parliament member and head of the United National Movement opposition party, the Xinhua news agency reported.

He believed it was wrong to arrest Melia when there is a danger of political escalation in the country.

“My absolutely firm position is that the enforcement of justice against one person, if it endangers the health of our citizens, if it creates a chance for political escalation, is unacceptable,” Gakharia told a briefing.

Tbilisi City Court ruled Wednesday that Melia be remanded in custody for failure to post bail, per the request of the country’s Prosecutor’s Office.

John Kirby

COVID-19 response as well as climate change,” he said.

Recent media reports in Japan have stated that a Quad leadership summit was in the works. So far, there has been no confirmation from the Biden administration.

Defence Secretar y Lloyd Austin would be supportive of such a gathering, Kirby said in response to a question. “It (India) is a very important bilateral relationship that we have and particularly military-tomilitary relations. India is a critical partner, especially when you consider all of the challenges in the IndoPacific region,” he said.

“What I can tell you

plainly is that the (Defence) Secretary is prioritizing this relationship, wants to see it continue to grow and develop and to get stronger and he looks very much looking forward to working on initiatives to do just that,” Kirby added.

In an op-ed in Newsweek this week, India’s Ambassador to the US Taranjit Sing Sandhu had said that the deepening defence and strategic partnership constituted an important area of cooperation, which rests on a strong institutional framework for defence collaboration and the shared strategic interests.

“This will be particularly important in Asia

where we will work bilaterally and with like-minded partners to pursue a free, open and inclusive IndoPacific, while advancing the security and economic interests of countries with legitimate and vital interests in the region. And we will build on the deepening trade and investment linkages that create economic opportunities and jobs in both countries,” Sandhu wrote.

Asked for her comments on the US renewing the Quad alliance, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying in Beijing hoped that relevant parties dialogue will be conducive to global stability.

“I believe development and peace is the mainstream trend of the times. We hope relevant parties dialogue will be conducive to global stability,” Hua told a media briefing in Beijing. “It should be positive energy instead of any attempt to target a particular country.

We will hope that relevant cooperation will be open and win-win,” she said, adding that “only in this way, they will be keeping up with the trends of the time”.

US reaches H-1B visa cap for 2021 WASHINGTON, FEB 18 (PTI): The US has received enough petitions needed to reach the Congressionallymandated 65,000 H-1B visa cap for the fiscal year 2021 and successful candidates for the most sought-after work visa among foreign professionals, including Indians, would be decided by a computerised draw of lots.

The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows the US companies to employ foreign workers in speciality occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise. The technology companies depend on it to hire tens of thousands of employees each year from countries like India and China.

US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has said it has received a sufficient number of petitions needed to reach the congressionally mandated 65,000 H-1B visa regular cap and the 20,000 H-1B visa US advanced degree exemption, known as the master’s cap, for fiscal year (FY) 2021.

Successful applicants would be decided by a

computerised draw of lots.

“We have completed sending non-selection notifications to registrants’ online accounts,” a media release said.

“We will continue to accept and process petitions that are otherwise exempt from the cap,” it said. Petitions filed for current H-1B workers who have been counted previously against the cap, and who still retain their cap number, are exempt from the FY 2021 H-1B cap.

The USCIS will continue to accept and process petitions filed to extend the amount of time a current H-1B worker may remain in the US and change the terms of employment for current H-1B workers.

The Biden administration this month announced that it was delaying the H-1B policy of the previous Trump administration on the allocation of the popular foreign work visas by continuing with the lottery system until December 31, 2021, to give the immigration agency more time to develop, test and implement the modifications to the registration system.

On January 7, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced to do away with the traditional lottery system in deciding the successful applicants for the H-1B visas.

The Trump-era rule was scheduled to go into effect on March 9.

Infotainment

10

How will NASA’s newest rover look for sign of past life on Mars?

N

ASA’s Mars 2020 Perseverance rover, which is slated to touch down in Jezero Crater at around 3.55 p.m. EST on Thursday (2.25 a.m. Friday India time) is tasked with searching for telltale signs that microbial life may have lived on Mars billions of years ago.

It will collect rock core samples in metal tubes, and future missions would return these samples to Earth for deeper study, NASA said.

“To quote Carl Sagan,” said Gentry Lee, Chief Engineer for the Planetary Science Directorate at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. “’Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence, and the discovery

that life existed elsewhere in the universe would certainly be extraordinary,’” Lee said in a statement, while quoting the American astronomer.

Mars 2020 mission scientists believe that Jezero Crater, the landing site for Perseverance, could be home to such evidence.

They know that 3.5 billion years ago, Jezero was the site of a large lake, complete with its own river delta.

They believe that while the water may be long gone, somewhere within the 45kilometre-wide crater, or perhaps along its 610-metretall rim, biosignatures -- evidence that life once existed there -- could be waiting.

“We expect the best

Shahid Kapoor joins ‘Pawri mash-up’ brigade

A

Giving a twist to the video, the group then starts singing the track Party all night.

Shahid will make his digital debut with the upcoming thriller web series that involves high-octane action.

The Pawri mash-up was yet another fun composition by Yashraj Mukhate, who rose to fame with the Rasode mein kaun tha mash up last year.

(IANS)

Neha Kakkar donates Rs 5L to veteran lyricist Santosh Anand

W

and Anand will appear as a guest with musician Pyarelal of the legendary composer duo of LaxmikantPyarelal. The duo had worked with Anand in classics as Prem Rog, Roti Kapada Aur Makaan and Shor in the past. An emotional Neha says: “I would like to give you Rs 5 lakh as a small gesture and would also like to request the Indian entertainment industry to give Santosh ji some work as he has been such a crucial part of our industry. It’s our duty to help our colleagues in their bad times.”

Her co-judge, composer Vishal Dadlani, then asks Anand to share a few of his songs with him. Vishal will help Anand release the songs.

On the episode, Neha sings Anand’s immortal creation Ek pyaar ka naghma hai, which he had penned for the 1972 Manoj Kumar film Shor.

12, after the lyricist speaks of how he Laxmikant-Pyarelal had originally is battling a tough financial situation recorded the song in two versions, and has incurred debts. in the voices of Lata Mangeshkar Neha is a judge on the show, and Mukesh.

(IANS)

places to look for biosignatures would be in Jezero’s lake bed or in shoreline sediments that could be encrusted with carbonate minerals, which are especially good at preserving certain kinds of fossilized life on Earth,” said Ken Williford, Deputy Project Scientist for the Mars 2020 Perseverance rover mission at JPL. “But as we search for evidence of ancient microbes on an ancient alien world, it’s important to keep an open mind.”

Any hunt for biosignatures will include the rover’s suite of cameras, especially Mastcam-Z - located on the rover’s mast -- which can zoom in to inspect scientifically interesting targets.

The mission’s science team can task Perseverance’s SuperCam instrument -also on the mast -- to fire a laser at a promising target, generating a small plasma cloud that can be analysed to help determine its chemical composition. If those data are intriguing enough, the team could command the rover’s robotic arm to go in for a closer look.

(IANS)

ith the new age of development, newer opportunities emerging in the state of Nagaland that are being recognised elsewhere as well, a team from Mumbai is touring the state scouting for actors or artists interested in taking up career in acting for renowned production house.

Working for Casting Bay, the team will conduct auditions and choose characters from not just actors but also interested people from other professions.

One of the coordinator said that the objective is also to put Nagaland on the map of Bollywood. The team from Mumbai are looking for enthusiastic Nagas to try their hand at acting for a leading over-the-top (OTT) platform, produced by a reputed production house from Mumbai, the coordinator stated.

After short listing probable candidates, the production house will being shooting from May 2021, that will also showcase the beauty of Nagaland.

According to the organizer, the team will be conducting open introductions and auditions in Dimapur on February 19, Hotel Acacia from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. and also in Mokokchung on February 20 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Hotel Whispering Winds.

Vivek Oberoi announces scholarship worth Rs 16cr for rural children

Drinking six or more cups of The Batman delayed coffee per day may up CVD risk by new COVID-19 case

A

ctor Shahid Kapoor on Thursday gave his fans a glimpse of his fun side when he posted a video along with directors Raj and Dk, doing their own version of Yashraj Mukhate's viral Pawri mash-up.

Shahid, who is currently shooting for Raj and Dk's untitled digital series, uploaded the video that has DK saying: "Ye mere stars hai, ye hum hai aur ye humari party ho rahi hai."

Audition for Mumbai-based production house

Nagaland Post, Dimapur FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2021

ctor Viven Anand Oberoi has launched a campaign that aims to allocate educational scholarships worth Rs 16 crore to deserving students. The biggest beneficiaries of this programme will be children of farmers in rural India.

The scholarship also aims at assisting children in villages crack JEE and NEET. "Every child from a village, who makes it big, carries not only his family but his entire village forward with him.

There are so many meritorious and talented young students around us but they are unable to afford higher education and coaching even at a subsidised rate or go to a college of their choice due to financial difficulties. I didn't want such bright students to be neglected because of the geography they come from. My team and I have put together this initiative to help them achieve their dreams so that they can go out there and make a career," Vivek said.

(IANS)

S

inger Neha Kakkar will donate Rs 5 lakh to veteran Bollywood lyricist Santosh Anand during an upcoming episode of Indian Idol

Prachi Desai set to make OTT debut with murder mystery film

B

ollywood actress Prachi Desai is all set to make her debut in the web space with the murder mystery film, Silence Can You Hear It, starring Manoj Bajpayee.

“This is all too exciting for me and I feel blessed to be making my digital debut with such an incredible film.

My experience of filming with the extraordinary cast and

crew of the film has really been a phenomenal one and I can’t wait for the audience to witness the movie on their screens,” Prachi said.

The film also features Arjun Mathur, and Sahil Vaid, and is slated to release in March 2021 on Zee5. The film tells the story of the mysterious disappearance of a woman.

(IANS)

‘T

I

f you drink a lot of coffee throughout the day, it can increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVD), a new study suggests.

The findings, in a genetic-based study, indicate that long-term, heavy coffee consumption -- six or more cups a day -- can increase the amount of lipids (fats) in your blood to significantly heighten your risk of CVD. Importantly, this correlation is both positive and dosedependent, meaning that the more coffee you drink, the greater the risk of CVD, the researchers, including Elina Hyppönen from the University of South Australia said.

“There’s certainly a lot of scientific debate about the pros and cons of coffee, but while it may seem like we’re going over old ground, it’s essential to fully understand how one of the world’s most widely consumed drinks can impact our health,” said Hyppönen. For the study, published in Clinical Nu-

trition, the team used data from 362,571 UK Biobank participants, aged 37-73 years, using a triangulation of phenotypic and genetic approaches to conduct comprehensive analyses.

While the jury may still be out on the health impacts of coffee, the researcher said it is always wise to choose filtered coffee when possible and be wary of overindulging, especially when it comes to a stimulant such as coffee. According to the researchers, high levels of blood lipids are a known risk factor for heart disease,

and interestingly, as coffee beans contain a very potent cholesterol-elevating compound (cafestol), it was valuable to examine them together.

“Cafestol is mainly present in unfiltered brews, such as French press, Turkish and Greek coffees, but it’s also in espressos,” said Hyppönen. Globally, an estimated 3 billion cups of coffee are consumed every day. CVD are the number one cause of death globally, taking an estimated 17.9 million lives each year.

(IANS)

he Batman’ has been delayed again after Robert Pattinson’s stunt double tested positive for coronavirus.

The Matt Reevesdirected movie has been hit by the virus for a third time, with the delays proving to be a “headache” for the studio, which has implemented a strict testing regime.

A source told The Sun newspaper: “Shooting a blockbuster of this scale is difficult enough without the threat of COVID looming large.

“While this proves Warner Bros’ testing regime is working, having so many people away from set for ten days is a headache the studio could do without, especially when they are relying on the stunt team to deliver the film’s most spectacular scenes.

“The movie is still on track to wrap next month and when it does, I think everyone will be breathing a sigh of relief.”

The much-anticipated

movie - which also stars the likes of Zoe Kravitz and Colin Farrell - has already been forced to delay its release date amid the pandemic.

In September, it was revealed that Robert, 34 - who plays the iconic superhero in the movie - had tested positive for coronavirus.

As a result, he was forced to self-isolate for two weeks before filming was allowed to resume.

A spokesperson for the Warner Bros said at the time: “A member of ‘The Batman’ production has tested positive for Covid19, and is isolating in accordance with established protocols. Filming is temporarily paused.”

Production work was also paused back in March, when the UK entered its first national lockdown.

The delay meant that the movie’s release date needed to be pushed back, and the film is now set to debut in March 2022.

(Contactmusic)

Green Day announces new Ayushmann gets Ryan Reynolds’ Haim confirm ‘Gasoline’ action director for ‘Anek’ single Here Comes The Shock remix featuring Taylor Swift

G

r e e n D ay h ave announced their new single, ‘Here Comes The Shock’.

The punk rock legends - comprising Billie Joe Armstrong, Mike Dirnt and Tre Cool - will premiere their first new music since their 2020 album ‘Father of All...’ at the NHL Outdoors at Lake Tahoe hockey game on February 20, before the song is made available on major streaming services.

In a statement, the K Y M C

‘Basket Case’ rockers said: “Loud season has returned.

“We’re stoked ‘Here Comes The Shock’ will soundtrack the NHL’s return to the outdoors!”

The US chart-toppers have been busy penning new music amid the COVID-19 pandemic and haven’t ruled out dropping a new record.

Asked about the possibility of Green Day working on a new LP, Billie said in November: “It’s

possible.

“Whether we do a fulllength album or an EP or just a song, we have a lot of different options. It’s a matter of whenever the right moment happens.

“That’s the beauty of the way you can put music out these days. You don’t have to wait for any gatekeeper to tell you that the timing is right.”

Earlier last year, the 49year-old rock star revealed he had penned six new track and admitted he and his bandmates hope they can work with ‘Father of All...’ producer Butch Walker again when they can.

He said at the time: “I’ve been writing a lot of music, and I had all these melodies in my head, so I wrote, like, six songs since all of this has been going on.

“I don’t know when I can get together with Mike [Dirnt, bass] and Tré [Cool, drums], but I told them to make sure that they’re quarantined for now, and then I hope down the road we can get back in the studio with [‘Father of All…’ producer] Butch Walker.”

(Contactmusic)

H

F

ilmmaker Anubhav Sinha has roped in international action director Stefan Richter for the forthcoming Ayushmann Khurrana-starrer Anek.

Richter is known for his larger-than-life yet realistic action choreography, evident in action sequences he designed for Ryan Reynolds and Samuel L. Jackson in the 2017 Hollywood thriller The Hitman’s Bodyguard, and for Shah Rukh Khan in the 2011 Bollywood release Don 2.

“Anek is the biggest film of my career in terms of scale, and Anubhav Sinha is leaving no stone unturned to give the audience a huge big-screen experience with his vision. It is true that Stefan Richter has been roped in for our film. He

comes in with a wealth of knowledge and has been an architect for big scale action movies around the world,” said Ayushmann, disclosing the news of the collaboration along with an on-set image of Richter that he posted.

He added that he would be doing something new in the film courtesy Ritcher.

“With his craft, the action sequences of Anek will match global standards and give audiences a thrilling visual experience. Anubhav sir and Stefan are making me do something that is extremely new for me. As an artiste, I relish doing different things and constantly explore myself. Anek is taking me on a new journey that I’m really enjoying,” the actor added.

(IANS)

aim have seemingly confirmed a new version of their new single ‘Gasoline’, which appears to feature Taylor Swift.

The pair recently teamed up on ‘no body, no crime’, a country murder ballad from Swift’s second album of 2020, ‘evermore’.

A new tweet from Haim earlier this week showed the three sisters posing at a petrol station in black wigs, with the caption: “one gasoline pump”.

See that below.

Fans were then quick to point out that the photo sees the trio parked up at pump 13, a number long associated with Swift and considered her lucky number.

Confirmation then came with a cryptic “tik tok tik tok tik tok” tweet on Wednesday, which prompted fans to head over to the band’s TikTok account – which offered a brief clip of the chorus with some added background vocals from Swift.

Before that, the collaboration was seemingly confirmed by fans who

discovered a page on ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers), a service songwriters use to register their material for royalty payments.

Meanwhile, Taylor Swift has begun releasing her long-awaited re-recordings of her old material.

Swift released a re-recorded version of hit single ‘Love Story’ last week, taken from her 2008 album ‘Fearless’, new recordings of which will be released in full in April.

The latest news shows Swift taking control of her music once again after music manager Scooter Braun and his media hold-

ing company, Ithaca Holdings LLC, acquired her old label, Big Machine Label Group, in June 2019, meaning that Braun and Big Machine own the rights to Swift’s first six studio albums.

The story hit the headlines again last November after Swift confirmed that the ownership of her back catalogue had changed hands again for the second time within two years.

It was also revealed that the new version of ‘Fearless’ will be eligible for the Grammy awards next year, though only in performance categories, not those for songwriting.

(NME) K Y M C

11

sports

Nagaland Post, Dimapur FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2021

LaLiga: Atletico extend lead Australian Open: Djokovic reach 9th final but drop points with Levante Osaka to meet Brady in final as Williams exits in tears

Atletico Madrid teammates celebrate their goal against Levante.

MADRID, FEB 18 (IANS): Atletico Madrid extended their lead at the top of La Liga to six points over Real Madrid, but failed to take full advantage of one of the two games in hand they have over their city rivals and Barcelona, as they were held to a 1-1 draw away to Levante.

Atletico controlled the opening minutes, but in the 17th minute a run by Jorge Frutos allowed EnisBardhi to open the scoring for Levante with a clever finish in front of Atletico keeper Jan Oblak, Xinhua reported.

Unusually, this was the fifth consecutive game in which Atletico’s typically miserly defence have

conceded a goal, but after Levante keeper Aitor Fernandez produced an excellent stop to deny Saul Niguez, Marcos Llorenteleveled things up from the resulting corner.

The Atletico midfielder had time to line up his shot outside of the area and the ball took enough of a deflection off Rober Pier to leave Aitor wrong-footed.

The Levante keeper then produced an exceptional double save to deny Luis Suarez and Llorente and keep the score 1-1 at half-time. Angel Correa missed an excellent chance to put Atletico ahead at the start of the second half, firing into the clouds with the

goal at his mercy after Aitor had done well to again save from Suarez. At the other end, Oblak blocked a powerful shot from Carlos Clerk in a rare Levante attack, before Joao Felix replaced Carrasco to make his first appearance after recovering from Covid-19.

The Portuguese forward struggled to make an impact but Atletico had another chance as Aitor again did well to deny Suarez from a narrow angle, before Saul had a goal ruled out for offside. Levante nearly sneaked all three points at the end with Clerk’s shot looking destined for the back of the net, only for Oblak to make another fine save.

Former Olympic athlete Hashimoto chosen as head of Tokyo 2020 organisers TOKYO, FEB 18 (AGENCIES): Japanese athleteturned-politician Seiko Hashimoto has been chosen as president of the Tokyo 2020 Organising committee, replacing a man who resigned after setting off a furore with sexist remarks.

Hashimoto, who competed in seven Summer and Winter Olympics as a cyclist and a skater, now faces a raft of tough issues at the helm of one of the world’s biggest sporting events with less than half a year before its delayed start.

She must ensure athletes and officials are kept safe from the coronavirus, while also facing strong public opposition to the Games being held amid the pandemic. [nL1N2KL01K Hashimoto announced her selection shortly after submitting her resignation as Olympics minister to Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, who encouraged her to make the Games successful.

“As someone with an athletic background, I will carry out a safe Games for both athletes and citizens,” she told a news conference.

Seiko Hashimoto

She replaces Yoshiro Mori, an 83-year-old former prime minister, who resigned as Tokyo 2020 president last week after saying women talk too much.

Opinion polls have repeatedly shown that more than 80 percent of Japanese do not believe the Games should be held this year due to the pandemic - a concern Hashimoto pledged to address for both ordinary citizens and athletes.

“I can imagine how tough it is for athletes with so many questions about whether they should even aim for the Olympics and Paralympics amid the pandemic,” she said. A 56-yearold lawmaker in Japan’s ruling party, Hashimoto served as the Olympics minister,

doubling as minister for women’s empowerment, since 2019 until resigning on Thursday.

She was born days before Japan hosted the 1964 summer Games and her name comes from a Chinese character used for the Olympic flame. She lived up to it by taking part in four Winter Olympics as a speed skater and three Summer Olympics as a cyclist.

However, Hashimoto has faced scrutiny over repor ts that she made unwanted advances to a sportsman at a party during the Sochi Winter Olympics in 2014.

A magazine at the time published photographs of her kissing popular ice skater Daisuke Takahashi. She said then that athletes often hug and kiss each other and she regretted if this had caused any misunderstanding. Takahashi never made any complaint.

Questioned about the incident on Thursday after it was raised again on social media, she said: “Both then and now, I deeply regret my careless behaviour.”

MELBOURNE, FEB 18 (IANS): Serbian world no.1 Novak Djokovic on Thursday got closer to winning his ninth and third consecutive Australian Open title by crushing Russian qualifier Aslan Karatsev 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 in the semi-finals at the Rod Laver Arena.

Djokovic was utterly dominant throughout the match and ended Karatsev’s dream run. The Russian is the first man to reach the semi-finals on his debut in a Grand Slam.

Djokovic, meanwhile, has won the title every time he has reached the final at the Australian Open. The 33-year-old 17-time Grand Slam champion has struggled with an abdominal injury during the tournament but showed no signs of the problem against Karatsev.

“This is the best I have felt in the entire tournament. It felt great, I could swing through the ball and no pain,” he said after the match.

“It was my best match so far and came at the right time. I’m thrilled.”

Earlier, American 22nd seed Jennifer Brady reached her first Grand Slam final after beating 25th seed Czech Karolina Muchova 6-4, 3-6, 6-4.

She faces Naomi Osaka in the final as the Japanese

Vivo back as IPL title sponsor

C H E N NA I , F E B 1 8 (IANS): The Indian Premier League chairman Brijesh Patel on Thursday confirmed that Vivo has returned as title sponsor for the T20 tournament this year after staying away last year.

“Vivo is back as the sponsor this year,” Patel said prior to the auction.

Dream11 had stepped in last year as title sponsors.

The IPL will also likely see crowds this year after encouragement the Indian cricket board (BCCI) got from seeing fans attending the second Test between India and England at the MA Chidambaram Stadium.

“We saw fans attending the second Test. After one year of no fans, the fans will most likely return for this IPL edition,” said the IPL chairman Brijesh Patel.

Novak Djokovic

beat 23-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams earlier on Thursday.

Muchova saved as many as five match points off Brady’s serve in the final game. Brady raced to a 30-0 lead and then got to her first match point at 40-15.

However, Muchova then won the next three points consecutively before Brady held to make it deuce for the first time in the game.

The pair then exchanged advantages over the next nine points before Muchova hit a return long, giving Brady the victory.

“I can’t feel my legs right now. They’re shaking, my heart is racing. After the first set, I thought to myself, ‘let’s focus Jenny.’

I actually felt strange when I came out, I was excited but also a bit flat-footed.

I don’t think I had that much intensity in the be-

Naomi Osaka

ginning of the match, but that improved over time,” said Brady on court after the match.

“I think it will be a really tough match against Naomi Osaka. She’s won a few Grand Slams, and we had a really great battle at the US Open, in the semifinal. I’m just going to hang with my team now, spend some quality time, do some recovery work and have a good gym session. I’m going to be a bit nervous tomorrow, but also very excited,” she added.

World No.3 Osaka will be playing in her second Australian Open final after winning the title in 2019. In the one hour and 15 minute-match, Osaka rebounded from a poor start to beat ‘her idol’ Serena Williams in straight sets 6-3, 6-4 to book her place in the Australian Open final.

This will be the 23year-old Japanese’s second

consecutive Grand Slam final and fourth overall.

After the match, Osaka accepted she was “nervous and scared in the beginning”.

“Then I sort of eased my way into it. For me, I think the biggest thing is just having fun and it’s the first day having the crowd in a while ... it’s always an honour to play her. I just didn’t want to go out like really bad, so I just wanted to try my best.” She added: “I don’t know if there’s any little kids out here today, but I was a little kid watching her play and just to be on the court playing against her for me is a dream.

“I think the biggest thing that I’ve learned over the years is just like, you know, you’re competitive, you’re playing against another competitor. That itself is the funnest part because tennis is a game.”

Williams’s bid for a re-

Jennifer Brady

cord-equalling 24th Grand Slam title will now have to wait until the French Open which is scheduled to start on May 24.

Osaka faces either Czech Republic’s Karolina Muchova or USA’s Jennifer Brady, both of whom are yet to appear in the final of a Grand Slam. She has extended her winning streak to 20 matches.

Williams raced a 2-0 lead in the first set before Osaka took control. Osaka then broke Williams at the start of the second set before running off to claim her third win against the 39-year-old American in five matches.

Williams’s forehand was off the mark throughout the match as she made 24 unforced errors against Osaka’s 21. Notably, Williams made six unforced errors on return whereas her opponent made just one throughout the match.

I-League: Aizawl thrash Mohammedan SC 3-0 KO L K ATA , F E B 1 8 (IANS): Aizawl FC sailed past Mohammedan SC 3-0 in a dominant display of attacking prowess at the VYBK Stadium on Thursday in the I-League. A Malsawmtluanga free-kick in the first half, coupled with strikes by Lalremsanga and Lalliansanga in the second, led Aizawl to a dominant win over a Mohammedans side who were unable to create any goal scoring chances.

In what was a cagey half where both teams nullified each other in midfield and chances were at a premium, Yan Law’s Aizawl went ahead in the 16th minute as Malsawmtluanga’s swirling free-kick from 25 yards out left the Mohammedans goalkeeper Priyant Kumar Singh stranded. That moment of magic seemed to open the floodgates as Aizawl then attacked in droves.

Aizawl FC should have been two goals up going into the half-time, but Lalliansanga’s shot from inside the box, shortly before time, rattled the bar and went out as Aizawl led by a solitary goal to nil at the break. Lalliansanga was once again unlucky

Aizawl FC players in action during the I-league match on Thursday.

with his strike, seconds into the second half. This time, his glorious effort from outside the box crashed against the bar, once again, and went out of play. With Aizawl dominating since the beginning of the match, Mohammedan had made substitutions at the break to freshen up the proceedings.

In the 56th minute, Aizawl were once again provided an opportunity to double their lead, but this time as well, the Mohammedans survived. Ram-

hlunchhunga dribbled inside the box and instead of shooting from a tight angle, passed it to an onrushing Brandon. Brandon’s left-footed effort however swirled inches over the bar.

Like the first half, the second also needed a moment of sheer brilliance for Aizawl FC to double their lead. That moment came in the 64th minute when Lalremsanga provided a strike for the highlight reels.

From the left side of the inside of the box, the forward

saw a narrow opening and capitalised it to its fullest, as his shot nutmegged Hira Mondal, left the opposition goalkeeper wrong-footed and slammed into the bottom left corner to double Aizawl’s lead.

A few minutes later, Aizawl FC made it three.

This time Lalliansanga headed home from close range and found the net after Lalmalsawma’s delicious cross beat the entire Mohammedans defence, finding Lalliansanga at the back post.

Baptist CC, Youngstars NBA: Damian Lillard scores 43 in Portland Trail Blazers’ win Police Club, Whiskers register wins

L O U I S I A NA , F E B 1 8 (AGENCIES): Damian Lillard capped his 43-point night with the decisive three-point play as the visiting Portland Trail Blazers won their sixth consecutive game, defeating the New Orleans Pelicans 126124 on Wednesday.

Lillard, who also tied a career high with 16 assists, drove to the basket and for a layup and subsequent foul shot that gave Portland a 126-124 lead with 16 seconds left. New Orleans’ Lonzo Ball missed a 3-point attempt and Brandon Ingram missed another jumper on the final possession.

The Blazers finished a 3-0 road trip thanks in part to Gary Trent Jr. adding 23 points. Zion Williamson tied a career high with 36 points for the Pelicans. Ball contributed 21.

Golden State Warriors 120 - Miami Heat 112 (OT) Stephen Curry brushed aside his worst shooting night in three weeks with a pair of 3-pointers in overtime, including a go-ahead hoop with 1:15 K Y M C

New Orleans Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram (14) dribbles against Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0).

to go that propelled Golden State to a come-from-behind victory over Miami in San Francisco. Curry finished with 25 points on 8-for-25 shooting and added a game-high-tying 11 assists. He got a lot of help from Kent Bazemore with a season-best 26 points and Andrew Wiggins and Kelly Oubre Jr. with 23 apiece.

Jimmy Butler (13 points, 12 rebounds, 11 assists) had a triple-double for Miami,

which got 24 points from Bam Adebayo.

Atlanta Hawks 122 - Boston Celtics 114 Trae Young scored 40 points, 16 in the fourth quarter, and helped Atlanta snap a four-game losing streak with a win at Boston. Young was 14for-20 from the field, including four 3-pointers, and had eight assists. It was his ninth game with 30-plus points and third with at least 40 points. He

reached the 4,000-point career mark with his 25th point, supplanting Bob Pettit as the fastest in franchise history to reach the milestone.

Jayson Tatum scored 35 points and Jaylen Brown added 22 points and seven assists to lead Boston. The Celtics were playing without Kemba Walker (left knee management) and Daniel Theis, who missed his second straight game with a sprained right index finger.

Philadelphia 76ers 118 Houston Rockets 113 Joel Embiid had 31 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists, Seth Curry added 25 points and host Philadelphia nearly blew a 29-point, second-half lead before finishing off Houston. Embiid could be seen wincing in pain at times with back pain and was stretching on the baseline during some timeouts. Tobias Harris contributed 24 points, 15 rebounds and five assists for the Sixers, who snapped their three-game losing streak. John Wall led the struggling Rock-

ets with 26 of his 28 points in the second half while DeMarcus Cousins and Jae’Sean Tate each had 19.

Memphis Grizzlies 122 Oklahoma City Thunder 113 Grayson Allen scored 22 points to lead Memphis to a win over visiting Oklahoma City. Allen’s shooting helped the Grizzlies overcome an offshooting night for Ja Morant, who was just 4 of 14 from the floor. But Morant affected the game in plenty of ways, picking up his first triple-double of the season and the third of his career with 15 points, 12 assists and 11 rebounds.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander returned for the Thunder after missing the previous four games and six of the last eight with a left knee sprain. He led the team with 22 points and added six assists.

Utah Jazz 114 - Los Angeles Clippers 96 Donovan Mitchell had 24 points, seven rebounds, seven assists and four steals, and Utah captured its ninth consecutive victory, defeating host

Los Angeles. Rudy Gobert contributed 23 points on 8-of12 shooting and grabbed 20 rebounds for the Jazz, who have won 20 of their past 21 games.

Utah’s lone setback during that stretch came on Jan. 31 at Denver. Lou Williams had 16 points, six rebounds and six assists and Reggie Jackson added 15 points for the Clippers, who had their four-game winning streak snapped.

Indiana Pacers 134 - Minnesota Timberwolves 128 (OT) Domantas Sabonis recorded 36 points, 17 rebounds and 10 assists, and Indiana rallied for an overtime win against Minnesota in Minneapolis. Malcolm Brogdon added 32 points, nine rebounds and seven assists for the Pacers, who won for the third time in four games. Malik Beasley came off Minnesota’s bench to score a team-high 31 points. Karl-Anthony Towns finished with 30 points and 10 rebounds while Ricky Rubio added 20 points and 13 assists, but the Timberwolves still lost for the sixth time in 7 games.

DIMAPUR (NPN): Police Baptist CC, Youngstars Club and Whiskers CC won the respective matches at the ongoing 1st Champions Trophy T-20 Cricket Tournament oganised by Nagamese Baptist Fellowship (NBF) Sports Ministry Chumoukedima Village at Local Ground Chumoukedima Town on Thursday.

In the 1st match, Police Baptist Church Chumoukedima defeated Big Shots by 3 wickets. Winning the toss, Police Baptist CC decided to field and restricted the rivals at 89 runs in 17 overs. They managed to achieve the target in 17.2 overs losing 7 wickets.

Subash was declared man of the match for taking 2 wickets and scoring 16 runs.

Playing the second match, Youngstars Club defeated Gorkha XI by 45 runs. Taking the bats, Youngstars target a huge target of 244 losing 4 wickets in 20 overs while chasing it, Gorkha CI managed to score 199 runs losing 3 wickets in 20 overs. Mahidul was declared man of the match for his 88 runs.

In the last match of the day, Whiskers CC knocked BraveHeart Warriors by 23 runs. Whiskers decided to bat first and set a target of 178 runs losing all wickets in 20 overs. Chasing the target,BraveHeart Warriors managed to score 155 runs losing 5 wickets in 20 overs. Aditya Gupta was adjudged man of the match for taking 3 wickets.

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sports

Nagaland Post, Dimapur FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2021

United score late IPL auction: Record deal for Morris NorthEast to hold Chennaiyin FC 3-3 Gowtham goes for Rs 9.25 cr as ‘SRK’ makes presence felt in big pay day for pacers, all-rounders

CHENNAI, FEB 18 (PTI): All-rounders and foreign fast bowlers fetched the big bucks at this year’s IPL players’ auction where South Africa’s Chris Morris clinched a record-breaking Rs 16.25 crore deal with Rajasthan Royals and uncapped Karnataka player Krishnappa Gowtham also invited a bank-breaking bid.

Morris became the most expensive buy in the IPL auction history with Rajasthan Royals shelling out big money for the allrounder even as uncapped players such as Gowtham also hogged the limelight here on Thursday.

Spin bowling all-rounder Gowtham was bought for a record Rs 9.25 crore by the Chennai Super Kings.

The 32-year-old is currently with the Indian team as a net bowler for the ongoing Test series against England.

Tamil Nadu’s Shahrukh Khan, named after the Bollywood superstar, expectedly got a handsome Rs 5.25 crore deal from Punjab Kings, more than 51 times his base price of Rs 20 lakh.

Shahrukh has been in the limelight with his exploits in the recent Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.

Gowtham, an IPL regular who was released by Punjab Kings, was the second off-spinner CSK bought after England’s Moeen Ali. With the hefty price tag, Gowtham became the most expensive uncapped buy in IPL history. His base price was also Rs 20 lakh.

Morris’ big pay day came after another allrounder and perennial under-performer, Australian Glenn Maxwell, once again

Chris Morris

managed to attract a winning Rs 14.25 crore bid from Royal Challengers Bangalore.

New Zealand pacer Kyle Jamieson, who is known more for his performances in Test cricket, secured a massive Rs 15 crore deal from the Royal Challengers Bangalore.

Punjab Kings, who went into the auction with the maximum purse among eight teams, paid Rs 14 crore to rope in Australian pacer Jhye Richardson hoping he will plug the gap in their leaking bowling department.

The 24-year-old, who has played two Tests, 13 ODIs and nine T20Is for Australia, was the leading wicket-taker in the recent Big Bash League.

Punjab paid a big amount -- Rs 8 crore -- for another Australian pacer, the uncapped Riley Meredith, making him the costliest uncapped foreign player in the IPL history.

The 24-year-old has 43 wickets in 34 T20s that he has played.

Krishnappa Gowtham

The last player to be sold at the auction was the legendary Sachin Tendulkar’s son Arjun, a fast bowler finding his feet at the domestic level for now. The 21-year-old was picked up by his father’s erstwhile franchise Mumbai Indians.

While the pacers raked in the moolah, Chennai Super Kings were applauded by other teams in the room for buying India’s Test specialist CheteshwarPujara for his base price of Rs 50 lakh, paving the way for his IPL return for the first time since 2014.

Morris, who came with a base price of Rs 75 lakh, generated bids from four teams before it became a battle between Royals and Punjab Kings.

Roya l s eve n t u a l ly sealed it with a record bid which made Morris the costliest buy at the auction ever, surpassing Yuvraj Singh, who was bought by Delhi Capitals for Rs 16 crore in 2015.

The costliest player in the IPL remains Virat Kohli, retained for Rs 17

crore by Royal Challengers Bangalore.

In 70 IPL games, Morris has scored 551 runs at 23.95 and taken 80 wickets at 23.98.

Talking about why Royals went all out on Morris, team COO Jake Luch McCrum said: “Chris is an ex -Royal, and he’s one of those players with experience and who can deal with a price tag like that. We’ve re-balanced the side this year, he will fill in an important role for us.”

Earlier, KKR made the opening bid for Maxwell but it eventually became a two-way war between Chennai Super Kings and RCB before the Virat Kohli-led team won him with a bid which came to USD 1.96 million.

“We wanted to get an X-factor player and we are delighted to get Maxwell,” RCB Director of Cricket Mike Hesson said.

Punjab Kings, who had paid Rs 10.75 crore for Maxwell in the previous auction, had released the 32-year-old following the 2020 edition in

which he made 108 runs in 13 games at 15.42.

In 82 IPL games, Maxwell has made 1505 runs at a modest average of 22.13.

England all-rounder Moeen Ali also went for a high price of Rs 7 crore to Chennai Super Kings. Both Maxwell and Moeen had base prices of Rs 2 crore.

“Absolutely buzzing to play for CSK. They have a massive fan base and I can’t wait to meet them. I can’t wait to play under Dhoni.

My teammate Sam Curran is there too. This made my day, made my year,” said Moeen in a video message.

Bangladesh star Shakib Al Hasan was lapped up by KKR for Rs 3.2 crore. He missed the IPL last year as he was serving a ban for failing to report a corrupt approach.

Australian pacer Nathan Coulter-Nile also ended up with a good deal, fetching a Rs 5 crore bid from Mumbai Indians. He had a base price of Rs 1.5 crore.

Australian Steve Smith, who was released by Rajasthan Royals, was bought by Delhi Capitals for Rs 2.20 crore, only Rs 20 lakh more than his base price.

At his base price of Rs 1.5 crore, England batsman Dawid Malan was a bargain buy for Punjab Kings, who went into the auction with the maximum purse among eight teams.

Australia’s 37-year-old all-rounder Dan Christian triggered an inexplicable bidding war before going to Royal Challengers Bangalore for Rs 4.8 crore, way above his base price of Rs 75 lakh.

BAMBOLIM, FEB 18 (PTI): The race for the Indian Super League play-off berths took another twist as NorthEast United FC were held to a thrilling 3-3 draw by Chennaiyin FC at the GMC Stadium here on Thursday.

Three teams -Hyderabad FC, FC Goa and NorthEast -- are now tied on 27 points from 18 matches, intensifying the race for the last two playoff spots. ATK Mohun Bagan and Mumbai City FC have already qualified for the play-offs.

When it looked like Chennaiyin would inflict a first defeat on NorthEast United this season, Luis Machado scored a stoppage-time equaliser to extend their unbeaten run to seven games.

Chennaiyin were in the lead through goals from LallianzualaChhangte (8th, 52nd) and Manuel Lanzarote (50th) while Imran Khan (14th) and Deshorn Brown (43rd) had replied for NorthEast.

After a miserable season in front of the goal, Chhangte finally found his scoring boots as he put Chennaiyin ahead.

Jakub Sylvestr picked up Chhangte with an accurate

Deshorn Dwayne Brown of NorthEast United FC during ISL match against Chennaiyin FC on Thursday. (PTI)

pass from the left and the latter took a touch before firing past Subhasish Roy. H oweve r, i t t o o k the Highlanders just six minutes to get back into the game. Luis Machado played a low cross which took a deflection and fell to Imran Khan, who headed in.

C h e n n a i y i n we r e rescued by Kaith’s brilliance when he came up with a double save to deny Machado and Brown from close in quick succession.

NorthEast finally took the lead from a quick counter. Chhangte lost possession outside the NorthEast box and Khassa Camara played a long ball which found Brown. He won the battle against Enes Sipovic

before slamming the ball into the back of the net.

The Highlanders nearly doubled their lead soon after the restart. Machado delivered a perfect freekick into the six-yard area which was met by SuhairVadakkepeedika, but Kaith produced yet another save.

Chhangte then scored his second and put Chennaiyin ahead again. However, Chennaiyin’s hero soon turned villain, giving away a penalty in stoppage time when he brought down IdrissaSylla in the box. Machado kept his composure to convert the spot-kick.

Friday’s Match ATK Mohun Bagan Vs SC East Bengal Time 7:30 PM

Nagaland Police sports complex to be converted to sports battalion

DIMAPUR, FEB 18 (NPN): Nagaland chief minister, Neiphiu Rio in his budget speech on Thursday informed that the present Nagaland Police Sports Complex will be converted into the sports battalion.

“We are in the process of formulating the masterplan and will seek central assis-

tance,” he said, adding that the innovative new initiative was meant to create opportunities for the younger generation, ensure that Naga youth get vistas to be part of the worldwide multi-million dollar sports industry and also elevated the prestige and reputation of Nagaland Police.

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