Deforestation issue in the hills

KHOIBU (Chandel), Feb 6: Notwithstanding the world wide campaign to save environment and ecology, burning of forests to make way for agriculture and lumbering of trees for firewood and charcoal go on unabated in areas along the border with Myanmar in Churachandpur, Chandel and Ukhrul districts.This was observed during an extensive tour of these border villages.With wanton deforestation continuing for years, many of the villages located along the 350 kms long boundary with Myanmar have been facing water scarcity. The villagers have to walk long distances just to fetch a few litres of water.Each of these border villages has two/three Shaktiman trucks to transport timber. Apparently least concerned or probably unknown to the depleting forest area and its adverse impacts on ecology and climate, one Molcham villager asked what should they do other than felling trees for timber/firewood trade or burning wood to make charcoal to earn their livelihood. Earning maximum during the dry season from timber, firewood or charcoal trade and storing up all requirements for the rainy season is the usual practice of the villagers, they said. On being asked about condition of roads, most of the villagers just said, “the road is good, it’s fit for Shaktiman trucks”.On one occasion, the vehicle in which this reporter was travelling got stuck in a depressed portion of the road. The vehicle was pushed with the help of poachers who went hunting in the night. Wildlife are found abundantly in these border villagers. Even as the State has its law which prohibits /hunting/killing of wildlife, the villagers don’t know anything about such a law. Even if some of them happen to know, they could not give their traditional practice for lack of any alternative of earning income.Challou is a village in Ukhrul district just in the neighbourhood. In the past, salt produced in the village were sold to valley people at a place known as Challou in Lamlai.During the reign of king Nar Singh, the brine pits of Challou were guarded by soldiers. Bunkers built of boulders used by the soldiers stands at Challou still today. The king also visited the brine pits.Chief of the village inhabited by around 62 families N Sanrei said that the main source of earning income for the villages was manufacturing salt. Each household is engaging in manufacturing salt and they can earn Rs 5000 per month on average.

Towers ready, night flights set for take off

IMPHAL, Feb 6 : With the completion of fitting Solar Power Obstruction Light (SPOLs) atop three hilltops out of the five designated sites, at long last, night landing of aircrafts at Tulihal Airport is likely to commence from the current month after a trial run on the night of February 9.To facilitate night landing of aircrafts at Tulihal Airport, the State Government has taken up the task of installing SPOL towers on the hilltops of Nongmai-ching (Senapti, Baruni), Phunal Maring (Senapati and Heibok (Imphal West) Chingphu (Bpr district) and Langjing (Imphal West) hillocks.Out of the five designated hilltops where SPOL towers are to be set up, construction works of the security barracks have also been completed at Phunal Maring, Heibok, Chingphu and Langjing. As for Langjing, fitting of the SPOL had already been done sometime earlier as there is no security problem due to location of a CRPF post already there.A team of Government officials comprising Works Minister K Ranjit, Transport Minister L Jayantakumar, IG (Law & Order-I), SP Imphal East, Commandant of 5 IRB and Deputy Director of Transport yesterday went to inspect the progress of the construction work at Phunal Maring, Baruni, Heibok and Chingphu hillocks.After the inspection of the security barracks being constructed at these four hillocks, the Government has also deployed IRB personnel at the security barracks to safeguard and protect the SPOLs.As the construction of the security barrack at Baruni hillock has not yet been completed, security personnel are currently being made to put up in a temporary shed.According to an official source from the Transport Department, all the necessary facilities that should be given to the security personnel have been provided at these security barracks.Along with deployment of adequate security personnel, the engineers of the Airport Authority of India (AAI) have also started fitting SPOLs at these four hillocks, the source informed, adding that fitting of the SPOLs is expected to be completed within February 12 and night landing may begin either on February 15 or 16.When The Sangai Express conducted a spot survey of the work site at Heibong hillock today, it was witnessed that adequate security personnel have been deployed and the fitting of the SPOL completed by the engineers of AAI.The engineers of the AAI who were at the work site informed that the fitting of the SPOL at Heibong hillock was completed today and tomorrow the same would be finalised for Phunal Maring hillock.As for Baruni hillock, the SPOL would be fitted only the tower is erected. The engineers further informed, while conveying the instruction of the State Government for finishing the task of fitting SPOLs at the earliest possible so that test landing of aeroplane can be carried out on the night of February 9.The work agency for construction of the security barrack at Heibong hillock has, however, complained against the Government over the undue delay in releasing the required fund.An official of the work agency informed that though the work has been completed and the report of the same submitted, the Government has so far provided only Rs 30 lakhs from out of the total estimated cost of Rs 1 crores for construction of the buildings.The total estimated cost for road cutting work and laying of culverts is Rs 85 lakh, but till date no fund had been provided, the work agency rued.

UNLF bans GM of IUCB

IMPHAL, Feb 6 : The proscribed UNLF has decreed that the General Manager of the Imphal Urban Co-operative Bank, Y Ningthemjao has been barred from associating himself with the bank in any capacity and has asked him to take voluntary retirement. Any violation of the decrees issued by the outfit will invite stern action, said UNLF.Levelling a series of charges against the GM, UNLF in a statement today said that Ningthemjao is involved in the failure to complete the construction work of the second floor of the bank located at Gandhi Avenue when he was Deputy GM. Following a Departmental Inquiry into the matter by the Government of Manipur, Ningthemjao was placed under suspension, said UNLF and added that he however used political influence and money power to get reinstated. Along with the support of some like minded Bank Management, Ning-themjao wilfully stalled the process of constructing the second floor, alleged UNLF. As soon as Ningthemjao got himself reinstated, he flouted all the recruitment rules and recruited five Night Guards and one driver on contract basis, said the outfit and added that only recently he backdated an order, by flouting rules again, to February 4, 2009 from February 6, 2009 and has appointed 13 employees including six Grade 1 Office Assistant and seven Grade 2 Office Assistant.The IUCB has a pivotal role to play in the economic development of Manipur, said UNLF and added that it is their firm stand that whenever there are any appointments to be made in the bank, only qualified persons should be considered. If there is any shortage of staff or man power, then the recruitment process must be done after the vacancies are advertised widely according to the laid down rules and regulations, said the outfit.The recent recruitment drive has not taken into consideration the financial position of the bank and there is no sign that Proper Budgetary provisioning has been followed, said the outfit. Since the UNLF has been taking a keen interest of the functioning of the said bank in view of its contributions towards the economic progress of Manipur, it has banned the recruitment of employees to the said 13 posts, said the statement. UNLF has been taking a keen interest in the functioning of the bank because it wants the IUCB to play a pivotal role in the co-operative banking sector, it added.

MPP demands resignation of Minister on NREGS issue

IMPHAL, Feb 6:Asserting that the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) has failed in Manipur due to laxity on the part of Deputy Commissioners who are district programme coordinators of the scheme, MPP has demanded resignation of the Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister on moral ground.A press release issued by MPP General Secretary (Political Affairs and Local Bodies) H Manisana said not up to 30 percent of the annual labour budget sanctioned for 2008-09 fiscal could not be utilised although the financial year is closing. Notwithstanding the fact that the NREGS is a time bound scheme, district programme coordinators have been giving priority to those Panchayats who lobby with them while totally neglecting those who stayed away from such practices resulting in failure of the scheme.Even as the scheme guarantees 100 days of job in a year, hardly 10 days of job have been provided in Manipur, the MPP alleged.Further accusing the Rural Development and Pan- chayati Raj Minister of excluding Panchayats in sele- cting beneficiaries of old age pension and PDS agents and in appointing Anganwadi workers and helpers, MPP asserted that for all these failures and discrepancies, the Rural Deve- lopment and Panchayati Raj Minister ought to resign on moral ground.

Rail line realignment opposed

IMPHAL, Feb 5: Objecting the proposal to realign the railway route from Jiribam to Tupul, the Joint Action Committee (JAC) for Restoration of Railway Line from Jiri to Tupul has categorically stated that the there should not be any change in the route of the railway track which had already been approved after a survey work.Addressing a press conference in this connection at Manipur Press Club here today, JAC chairman Lalkholen Thangeo asserted that construction of the railway line has already started after a proper survey and approval of the route including the location of the sub-station at Tingmun via Gobakot and Khambiron villages. Therefore the decision of the Railway Board to realign the approved route with an eye on the proposed construction of Tipaimukh Dam is objectionable. At the beginning of the survey work necesary due attention had already been paid in this regard and the route accordingly approved, the chairman pointed out, while complaining that the Railway Board has also so far not taken into confidence of the people on the sites where the proposed realignment is to be carried out.While informing that the JAC has already submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister in this regard, Lalkholen also conveyed that the Chief Minister had assured the JAC of taking up the matter with the Railway Board.Objection to realignment of the railway route should not be seen as a communal issue of the tribal people but to ensure the benefits of the the railway line to the tribal living in the backward areas as well.In case of going ahead with the proposed realignment of the approved railway route, it would hurt the sentiments of many villagers, the Chairman added.

State govt asks Union home minister for more security forces

IMPHAL, Feb 4: The state government of Manipur has requested the Central government to deploy more secuirty forces in the state to handle the current law and order situation in the state, expressed the Union home minister P Chidambaram who visited the state capital for three hours today.The Union minister who reached Imphal`s Tulihal airport around 8.45 am in the morning in a special aircraft was accompained by home secretary Navin Verma. He was received by Lok Sabha MP Rishang Keishing, Rajya Sabha MP Dr. T Meinya, Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) president Gaikhangam, power minister Phungzathang, works minister K Ranjit, education minister L Jayentakumar, PDA chairman Dr. Kh Loken, IFCD minister Biren and other state MLA`s as well as other top officials and bureaucrats and also MPCC functionaries.As soon as he arrived in the capital the Union minister directly went to meet the chief minister of the state at his bungalow where they held an hour-long meeting which also included the chief secretary, senior cabinet ministers, top officials, bureaucrats, state DGP and other top officials of the state and Central security forces like the Assam Rifles, BSF, CRPF and Army.The meeting mainly focussed on the AR-IM stand off at Shiroi village and the security forces are likely to table a brief account on the developing situation in the state.After meeting with the chief minister the Union minister visited the Governor of the state Gurbachan Jagat at Raj Bhavan where he discussed possible steps for the development of the state and how to bring peace in the state. Later, he left the Raj Bhavan for the airport.Talking to the local media persons at the airport the Union home minister maintained that he had a meeting with the chief minister of the state and other top officials on development and law and order aspects of Manipur and also mentioned that violence by the militants would not be tolerated at any cost.The problem of extortions in the state which had caused the slow progress of development should immediately stop, he said while asking the state government to take all steps to clear all such issues urgently.Although the Union home minister was deeply concerned about the current issues like the matter at Siroy village he did not give any comments on the queries of the mediapersons.Later, the Union minister left Imphal for Dimapur in Nagaland around 12.45 pm. It may be mentioned that the state government had received an intimation containing the tentative programme of his tour in the state very late yesterday and took up strict security measures in the state for his arrival.

No designated camp will be allowed: CM

IMPHAL, Feb 4: The State Government being not a party to the truce pact signed between the Government of India and NSCN (IM), ceasefire between the two parties should not be enforced in Manipur and no designated camps of the rebel group would be allowed within the boundary of Manipur, stated Chief Minister Okram Ibobi.The Chief Minister was speaking to reporters during his inspection visit of the ongoing infrastructure deve- lopment work for the Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences at Porompat this morning.He was accompanied by Health Minister Ph Parijat and Works Minister K Ranjit. Without specifically stating that the peace talk with the Union Government is with a rebel group based in Nagaland to which the State Government is not a party, the Chief Minister categorically stating that the State Government is not a party to the parleys between Government of India and NSCN (IM), the Chief Minister asserted that the State Government would not allow extension of the ceasefire within the boundary of Manipur nor permit establishment of any designated camp for the rebel group in the State.No UG group will be allowed to open their camps in Manipur, unless the group(s) strike an agreement with the State Government first, the Chief Minister said.However, demands for sovereignty from any UG group will not be considered as Manipur is a part of democratic, sovereign country of India, he asserted.On being asked about the recent siege laid by Assam Rifles around an NSCN (IM) camp at Siroy and subsequent safe passage given to the rebel cadres till a designated camp located in Senapati district which AR claimed to have been ‘approved’, Ibobi denied existence of any such camp. There was no ‘identified’ NSCN (IM) in Manipur, he asserted.Notably, proposals were made for NSCN (IM)’s designated camps at Tamenglong, Senapati and Chandel to the then incumbent Governments at both the State and Centre in 1998, 2000 and 2001. During the tense Siroy stand-off between AR and NSCN (IM), the State Government conveyed its stance explicitly to the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister that no designated camp for NSCN (IM) will be allowed in Manipur. Moreover, troops deployed in the State were also informed that there was no harm in performing their duties, he stated.Talking about the tripartite peace talk between KNO, UPF, the State Government and the Union Government, Ibobi said that cadres of these two conglomerates of Chin-Kuki-Mizo UG groups will be issued identity cards after physical verification.Both the groups claimed to have 1800 cadres each but the State Government thinks the figure is inflated. Yet, leaders of these groups have been already issued identity cards.

Moreh rapists punished

IMPHAL, Feb 4: A joint investigation team of five UG groups has shot dead two persons who were allegedly involved in raping and killing a physically challenged young woman identified as Lamkhotin Mate (35) at Moreh on January 23 last.A resident of Thangnom Veng, Moreh Ward no. 9, Lamkhotin Mate was found murdered on the bed of her Pan Dukan located just opposite to Forest IB of the border town in the morning of January 23 last.The two alleged murderers who have been awarded capital punishment by the joint investigation team of the five UG groups were identified as Md Ipham Amir Khan (30) s/o Babu Khan of Kwakta Thingel Leikai but staying at Moreh Ward no. 7 and Achom Romen Singh (27) s/o late Ibochoubi of Moreh Ward no. 7 Heinou Makhong.Md Ipham Amir was reported to be a Grade-IV employee in Horticulture office at Moreh and he also worked as a porter in transportation of goods at the border. The bodies of the two alleged murderers with bullet marks on their heads and chests were recovered by the police from a spot 300 metres away from the AR post at Moreh Gate no. IV today morning. People of the area reportedly heard gun shots last night. The bodies have been picked by the police and kept at the mortuary of RIMS Hospital here.