The Arunachal Times - Archives

Arunachal has a special place: Narayanasamy

ITANAGAR, Aug 09: The beautiful state of Arunachal Pradesh has a special place in the hearts of UPA government in the centre. Over 24 thousand crore Prime Minister’s massive developmental package is testimony to it through which the much needed infrastructural gap could be bridged, stated Union Minister of State for Planning, Parliamentary Affairs etc. V Narayanasamy while addressing a mammoth gathering at Kanubari and Khonsa in Tirap district today. The union minister also inaugurated an Independent ADC headquarter at Kanubari bordering Assam and Nagaland on the day. Extending his gratitude to the people of the state for enthusing confidence upon the Congress led Government in the centre as well as the state; the union minister said that the UPA government is aam admi’s government. Due to the party’s mature and Aam Admi manifesto under the leadership of UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, the UPA swung into power for the second consecutive term, Narayanasamy emphatically said. He dwelt in length on the flagship programmes of the centre which are being effectively implemented in the country and are being widely applauded.

Speaking on the occasion, State Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu revealed that considering the infrastructural bottleneck of Tirap and Changlang a separate department (Department of Tirap and Changlang) was created and fund to the tune of Rs. 25 crores per annum earmarked to the two districts by the then state government. But due to financial constraint the total allocation were curtailed. During his tenure he ensured that full amount of Rs 25 crores in each year were released under DoTC for tangible development of the two districts, he disclosed. Reiterating his stand over the implementation of 6th Central Pay Commission for the state government employees, he informed that the pressing demand of 30 months arrears by the employees association has been decided to be released in two phases. In the first phase, 15 months arrears would be given in cash by 15th August and the remaining arrears by coming March in cash or deposited in GPF subjecting to the financial position of the state government, Khandu disclosed. He also informed about the creation of two new districts – Longding and Lower Siang which has been approved in principle by the cabinet.

He assured the visiting Union Minister that his government would ensure that every penny of the Prime Minister’s Massive Package would be judiciously utilised. He extended his gratitude to UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Prime Minister Dr.. Manmohan Singh and Union Minister V Naryanasamy for enthusing confidence upon his government. I would not let them down, he said.

MPs Ninong Ering and Takam Sanjoy, while extending their gratitude to the people assured to take up their grievances in the floor of Parliament. They promised to uphold the responsibility shoved upon them to reflect the problems of the state in the power corridors of New Delhi.

Former Chief Minister Gegong Apang also spoke on the occasion. Among others Health Minister C C Singpho, Environment and Forest Minister N Tingkhatra, MLAs, T Aboh, W Lowangdong, K Lowang, T Wangham, H Ngandam and former minister T L Rajkumar were present on the day. (PRO to CM)

Chinese Army to celebrate I Day with Indian Army even as relation strains

TAWANG, Aug 09: The Chinese Armed Forces - the People's Liberation Army (PLA) - are all set to celebrate India's Independence Day along with the Indian Army at Bumla, the border outpost on the Indo-China border, 30 km from Tawang.

A full contingent of the PLA will enter India through the Tawang sector on August 15 as guests of the Indian Army.

The occasion, which will also see Border Personnel Meeting (BPM) between the topmost commanders of the sector, is being viewed as critical since the tension has been escalating over the status of Arunachal Pradesh as China intensifies its claim and India is also taking a tough stand.

According to Defence sources, a contingent of around 40 PLA officers and ranks, along with their families, are supposed to come from the nearby Lee camp of China.

India has minimal infrastructure just on the border while China has significant infrastructure extending to about 20 km from the Line of Actual Control(LAC).

The meeting assumes great significance as only yesterday at New Delhi, National Security Advisor MK Narayanan and Chinese Minister of External Affairs Dai Bingguo held a meeting in an attempt to re-start talks on the boundary issue.

For the last three years, border discussions have been stuck on Tawang, this monastery town, which China is claiming as its own in what is largely seen as a politically motivated move.

China has maintained that Tawang should be given to the Tibetans in China, a position, which has, however, found no favour with the Tibetan government in exile.

China's claims on Tawang are behind the constant public statements on Arunachal Pradesh.New Delhi has refused to accept Chinese claims and has told Beijing repeatedly that Arunachal Pradesh is an integral part of India. The Indian side has also made it very clear that it will not accept any boundary settlement that involves exchange of territory or inhabited areas. However, in the tiny hamlet of Tawang, the common people are least bothered about the boundary talks and it is only the Army which is working round the clock to see that the Bumla passes off without a hitch.

With just a week more to go, the facilities on the border are being revamped, roads have been made easier as the last few kilometers re treacherous and only four-wheelers can ply such roads.

However, on the Chinese side, the great Tibetan plateau will make it easier for them to travel and reach the LAC.

Meanwhile, the boundary talks are taking place in the backdrop of recent alleged attempts by China to block an ADB loan for Arunachal Pradesh as it is meant for an irrigation project near Twang.

Each year both the armies meet on their national days. The PLA comes to India on August 15 while the Indian Army goes to the Chinese side on October 1.

Although such BPM also takes place in Nathula in Sikkim, the Bumla meet bears the greatest significance because it falls under the contentious territory as per Chinese claim.

In fact these meetings have become even more important following the Cabinet Committee of Security Affairs' decision to move more troops near the Chinese border, especially on Arunachal side.

These interactions between the Indian and Chinese Armies started initially with flag meetings and later transformed into Border Personnel Meetings since May 1999. Since then it has become a regular event here.

Both the Armies will assemble near the 'Heap of Stones', a monument created by every soldier working on both sides by leaving a stone as a symbol praying for peace, but back at New Delhi and Beijing things are far from cooling off. UNI

AAPSU terms alleged allegiance to Nagas by ministers as “shocking and disturbing”

ITANAGAR, Aug 9: The All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union (A.A.P.S.U) reacting to alleged undertaking by ministers CC Singpho and Newlai Tingkhatra vowing their allegiance to certain proscribed Naga Organization termed it as “shocking and disturbing”.

The revelation if it is true is not a matter to be overlooked and it needs to be understood deeply for it can have fatal consequence for the state in the long run.

Their undertaking as read in the documents carrying their signature, if it is to be real, is an act of treason against the state of Arunachal Pradesh and the continued silence on part of the state government is not helping the matter either, said its president Takam Tatung in a press release.

The state government should immediately hand over the case to CBI to unearth the truth behind the accusation and everything should be made crystal clear in front of the people of the state without any further delay as every stakeholder of the state has the right to know the real scene. The people of the state want to whether this is mere accusation to draw cheap publicity or a real fact. AAPSU requests the state government to accept the demand of the organization that have brought up the issue in the interest of the state otherwise it will always remain a blot for the present regime that envisage itself as “peoples first” government.

‘Raja’ likely to become Capital dweller soon

RANJIT SINHA

ITANAGAR, Aug 09: The bond of love and friendship between the Jairampur PWD field labourer Bishnu Newar and an infant Hoolock Gibbon may not last longer as the initiatives are afoot to provide natural habitat to the orphaned Gibbon.

The story of Newar and Raja (Newar fondly calls the Hoolock Gibbon - Raja) published in local media has caught the attention of the higher authorities of forest department.

Talking to the Arunachal Times, deputy chief wildlife warden Chukhu Loma said, though we have no official information about this endangered species, initiatives are being taken for providing new habitat to the infant Gibbon. Accordingly, Jairampur DFO would be asked to ensure safe rescue of the rare Ape species and hand it over to Itanagar Zoo cum Biological Park, Loma said.

Newar unexpectedly discovered the infant Gibbon from the roadside jungle of Jairampur one fine morning, last year when the gibbon was mourning the death of his mother. Newar took the infant Gibbon out of compassion and since then, it has been his friend and family member.

When asked about the man who has been taking care of the Gibbon for over a year, Loma said, Newar who gradually becomes animal and nature lover deserve appreciation for his pro-active action in saving the baby. He added, there is a strong bond between the people and wildlife in this hilly state since time immemorial.

A mass awareness programmes involving NGOs on the wildlife acts will be very helpful in making the bond more meaningful for survival of the endangered species of the Himalayan state, he said.

The infant Hoolock Gibbon would be kept under strict observation at Itanagar Zoo for 15-20 days. At present Itanagar Biological Park has 18 Hoolock Gibbon.

When the attention of the deputy chief wildlife warden was drawn towards the news that the Centre for Environment Education (CEE) has taken up a two-year project – Hoolock Gibbon Conservation Awareness programme -- in North East involving teachers and students, Loma said, he has no knowledge about such project while adding that if any educative project for conservation of Hoolock Gibbon is taken up excluding Arunachal Pradesh, it is unacceptable and injustice to some 1000 Gibbon population of Arunachal Pradesh.

The report quoting the CEE official said that ‘it will undertake site specific conservation education programme in selected Gibbon inhabited areas of Assam, Nagaland, Manipur, Meghalaya, Tripura involving 20-25 selected schools and a local NGO partner forming a cluster’.

India has 180 zoos of which only 8 zoos have Hoolock Gibbon.

Cabinet decision

ITANAGAR, Aug 09: Arunachal Pradesh state government spokesperson and WRD minister Tako Dabi in a press meet here this morning informed that the cabinet has approved immediate sanctioning of Rs 15 crores to the Panchayati Raj institution.

The cabinet has also approved immediately to release 15 months arrears to the government employees in hard cash.

It also approved to extend the 6th CPC to part B which includes teachers and nurses.

The state cabinet keeping in mind the need for quality teachers has further decided to hand over the recruitment of Junior Teacher and Assistant Teachers to the Arunachal Pradesh State Public Commission, Dabi said. He also informed that the cabinet has approved the creation of two news districts namely Lower Siang and Longding.

ASM calls for renovation of bridge

ITANAGAR, Aug 9: ASM Bilat Ellison Siram has called for appropriate initiative to repair Sille Suspension Hanging Bridge over Sille River in Bilat, East Siang. In a letter to the Deputy Commissioner, he urged for his intervention in issuing directives to the Rural Works Department for immediate renovation of the bridge as it serves as a lifeline for more than 50 families who has paddy fields across the river.

He further informed that as the bridge collapsed, four women fell and almost got swept away by the strong currents of the river. They were miraculously rescued by one Tasi Jerang who jumped onto the river to rescue the women. He said that Jerang deserved a bravery award for rescuing the lives of the farm women.

Environment awareness camp

Correspondent

ROING, Aug 9: The two days extensive National Environmental Awareness Campaign (NEAC) launched by the Abralow Memorial Multipurpose Society (AMMS) in association with Ke-raa Society organized plantation at Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya (KGBV) Hunli.

Around 200 people from different walks of life participated in the programme.

Headmistress KGBV Sumila Linggi stressed on educating the children on the importance of environment so that they develop a sense of responsibility towards the environment. The growing population has inflicted untold damage to environment, she added.

Deputy Range officer R. Kanunggo while sharing his feeling said that human being is destroying the environment for their own greed. They are rampantly cutting down forests and polluting air, water and soil. Our survival is at stake yet we are not taking care of our environment. It is high time we generate awareness on environment for our survival, he further said.

The environment is a vast and vital subject which requires a strong commitment and everyone should pitch in for protection and preservation, said Amuge Misu in charge Govt. Middle School, Hunli.

As many as 200 seedling were planted within the school premises. Literary competitions were also organized to mark the occasion.

AAPFWU appeals for re-interview

ITANAGAR Aug 09: All Arunachal Pradesh Forest Workers’ Union (AAPFWU) in a letter to the state chief minister Dorjee Khandu appealed for re-interview of forest guard.

The union opposed the recently held walk in interview for forest guard under Western circle Banderdewa.

According to recruitment rule of the department, 25% should be promoted and 75% should be directly recruited on the basis of merit through written competitive examination, the union said.

It further claimed that there is vacancy for post D group in the concern department which has not been advertised for a long time. The union urged that appointment to the post of D- group should not be given to fresh candidates.

Create infrastructure, posts while upgrading administrative centres: APCSOA

ITANAGAR, Aug 9: The Arunachal Pradesh Civil Service Officers Association (APCSOA) has taken serious view on the random upgradation of administrative centres in the state.

At the conclusion of the 2-day conference of APCSOA here today, it urged the government to ensure upgradation of infrastructure alongwith creation of posts at all the administrative centres to facilitate the officers manning these establishments.

APCSOA also demanded time bound scale and super time as provided to other services, pointing out that the entry grade scale was high in five states (Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra).

Expressing resentment over the gross irregularity in posting policy of the state government, the APCSOA general secretary Jalash Pertin appealed for removing the disparity to imbibe sense of duty and dedication among the officers.

Pertin pointed out that at present the officers were performing their duties undergoing various hardship in tough working condition, especially in the interior areas of the state, having very little infrastructure and no accommodation facility besides risking their life under adverse working atmosphere.

The association also demanded for increasing its present strength of 387 which was insufficient to meet the challenges facing the civil service officers operating in the state. It also demanded training for the APCS officers in IT and e-governance for facilitating better transparency in their functions.

In an appeal to the government, APCSOA demanded welfare fund for its officers and families by setting up a corpus fund Rs. 50 lakh to enable the families of officers to cope up with their immediate requirement in case of accident or death.

The streamlining of lateral entry system to APCS officers, soft loan for purchase of light motor vehicles to needy officers were other demands submitted to the government. DPNN

Bee- a boon to farmers, orchardists and unemployed youths of the state

Philip Tayeng

Beekeeping is the art and skill of managing bees in modern hives for pleasure, hobby and for the production of honey, bee wax, bee venom, royal jelly, propolis, pollen and for pollination service. Beekeeping is a profitable enterprise both as subsidiary industry and as a whole time profession. It is quite different from other agro-based subsidiary industries as it needs more art and skills. The beginners should be clear in thier mind about the objectives of beekeeping enterprise whether he wants to work as an amateur or a commercial beekeeper. The amateurs are those who keep only a few colonies of bees to provide their families with honey and selling some surplus locally. Commercial beekeepers on the other hand are those who earn major portion of their livelihood from beekeeping. Though proper beginning of any enterprise is utmost importance for its, success, yet in beekeeping it assume even more significance.

The saying “well begun is half done” proves even more meaningful in beekeeping. Therefore, beekeeping should be started after thorough planning with great zeal and full confidence. If started half-heartedly, there are chances of initial setback and even an able person may lose interest and abandons the industry in its infancy. The write would, I believe prove useful for starting beekeeping.

Who could be a beekeeper?

A man good in dairying, poultry, etc. may not prove as successful in beekeeping as, perhaps, no specialised branch of agriculture requires more skill than beekeeping

A person desirous to start beekeeping should have the general ability and interest to understand the bee behavior and must have acquire training in beekeeping. Beekeeping enterprise which is yet to attain popularity in the state is quite suitable for small, marginal as well as progressive farmers, orchardists, under employed and unemployed youth and other in-service and retired personnel.

Apiary sitting

For obtaining initial experience and expertise the apiary should be at a convenient place for easy access to the bees. However, a great care is required for the selection of good site by the commercial beekeepers. There are certain requisites while choosing the apiary site for the profitable production of honey. The availability of bee flora is the main pre-requisite for sitting a commercial apiary. The site should be pollen and nectar sources in abundance in the near vicinity. Citrus, pigeon pea, brassica (toria and rape or sarsoo), apple, banana, eucalyptus etc. are some of the major cultivated sources of surplus honey available throughout the state. Site should be selected so that these crops are present within the flight range of the apiary bees. Generally, bees can forage up to a distance 2-3 km.

It is always not possible to find a site where the bees will be provided with a source of food in abundance during all the seasons of the year. Fortunately, hives are transportable and may be moved from one location to new source of supply which is called migratory bee keeping.

Apiaries should be located where they are readily accessible for economic operation. Colonies should not be placed near public road where the bees will interfere with the live stock and living premises of people. The colonies purchased during off seasons do not take a good start on building up their strength and remain weak. The weak colonies can pose a number of problems to the beginners. Such weak colonies are more prone to the attack of bee diseases and enemies robbing and need frequent sugar feeding during death period. The procured colony should have at least four frames full of worker bees having enough amount of honey, brood and a freshly mated quality queen bee.

Transporting colonies

The procured colonies should always be shifted after dusk or before dawn when all the bees are inside the hive. Before shifting, plug the entrance gate to avoid the leakage of bees. Add empty frames into the chamber to fill it to its capacity. Fix the bottom board and chamber with wooden or iron strips and nails on all the sides except the front side of the hive. Tie the whole hive with ropes to completely avoid the disposition of its parts during transit. While shifting colonies should be packed ensuring proper ventilation without the risk of bee leakage.

Placing colonies

There may be a number of possible arrangements for the placement of honey bee colonies according to the layout of the apiary. The most preferred and convenient arrangement is to place these in about 3-4 m rows apart. The hives in a row should be 2-2.5 m apart from each other to provide ample room for colonies manipulation and to minimise chances of robbing. There should be a clear space behind the hives for the working convenience of the beekeeper. But when colonies are placed in straight rows facing in one direction only the drifting of bees to adjacent colonies may occur. Thus, while placing the hives in rows, the entrance should face in somewhat different directions to minimise drifting. The entrance should preferably be towards north-east direction to receive the early sunrays in the morning. This way bee starts working early in the morning and continues late evening in winter. The colonies can be placed in circles or around the tree trunks with their entrance facing outwards.

Then hive- placing sites in the apiary should be pre-selected as once placed it is not advisable to readjust their placing. After placing the hives at their proper sites, untie the packing ropes and open the entrance gates. Ensure that hive entrance is not blocked. After placing at the prescribed sites the colonies should not be opened for examination a day or two. On the second or third day inspect the colonies after puffing some smoke into it. Examine the colony for the presence of queen bee and clean the bottom board of broken bites of combs and bees, brood etc.

The number of colonies for an apiary site depends largely on the abundance of available nectar and pollen plants and the number of other colonies within flying range of the same floral source. The number can also vary in different seasons. During the brood rearing and multiplication season more number of colonies can be placed at a particular place. But during honey flow season 50-75 colonies are enough for a good apiary site. It is known that 2-3 colonies are sufficient for collecting surplus honey from one acre of Toria or Rai.

Apiary setting

Apiary setting does not mean placing of the colonies but involves all the steps after the selection of site to the actual placement of the hives. The selected apiary site should be properly leveled and drainage channels be laid out. The apiary should be protected from the predominant prevailing winds by erecting suitable wind breaks. A number of plants are recommended as wind breaks. Eucalyptus is an ideal multipurpose wind break. They not only provide safety to the apiary but also are a good source of food for bees. Shade is very important for honeybee colonies during summer months. Therefore, suitable plantation should be done in the apiary. Mulberry is the best for providing shade in the apiary as these plant shed leaves in autumn allowing uninterrupted sunshine to the colonies in winter.

Procuring colonies

The desirable unit for a beginner to start with should consist of five to ten colonies. Due to lack of experience he may not be able to handle more colonies and the loss may be heavy where as too less number of colonies has greater risk of failure owing to insufficient inter colony help, if needed. There are two breeding seasons for honeybees i.e. February-April and September-October. These are the best suitable period to start beekeeping, the former being more suitable. The bees should be purchased early in the start of season. The queen bees mated in the previous season (6 month old) are also purchase worthy. The young queen bee Apis cerena indica is generally light brown and shining. As she becomes old the colour of abdomen turns dark brown and dull. Its egg laying capacity also drastically dwindles. The colony having a young queen bee builds up quickly to the desired strength to collect surplus honey during the ensuing honey flow season.

Scope of Beekeeping in the state

The beekeeping enterprises have tremendous scopes in the state as it has endowed with diverse natural and cultivated bee flora. The state has large geographical areas mostly covered with forests. The honey bees collect available nectar and pollen grain from the natural bee floras which are abundantly found in the forest. The beekeepers can exploited these abundant natural bee flora for harvesting honey and other bee products such as bee wax and royal jelly. The cultivated bee flora in the state mainly comprises of Brassica toria (cultivated on large scale in the East Siang, Lower Divang Valley and Lohit Dist.), Pear, Peach, Apple (West Kameng and Ziro Valley), Citrus raticulla, Citrus sinensis (Entire Siang belt, Lower Dibang Valley, Lohit and other places), Banana, Ber, and many other. These crops are rich in nectars and pollen grains on which honey bees thrives. The success of Citrus, Apple, Pear, Peach and Plum orchards mainly depends on proper and effective crop pollination. The honey bee acts as a major pollinating agent in these crops and improves fruit setting.

Hence beekeeping has lots to offer to the farmers, orchardists and unemployed youths of the state.

(The author has done M.sc (Entomology) from Punjab Agriculture University Ludhiana and specialized in Honey Bee Queen Breeding. He is currently the Circle Officer of Yangte, Kurung Kumey District (A.P). He can be contacted at 943689770, 03788264363 or filiptayeng@yahoo.com for any queries related to beekeeping.)

2 inter school quiz competition held

ITANAGAR Aug 09: The 2nd Inter-School Grand Gandhi Quiz Competition 2009 was organized by Hornbill Centre for Development at Vivekananda Hall, R K Mission on August 8.

15 schools from the capital complex participated in the competition. The first place was bagged by Prakash Khundrakpam and Meemoh Haque of Alphabet Public School, Nirjuli along with cash prize of two thousand and two books.

Harosit Baroi and Risso Tach of P Sector Middle School Itanagar were placed second and received cash prize of one thousand five hundred and a book while Aneejit Sengupta and Chera Akup of Vivekananda Central School Itanagar were placed third and received one thousand and books.

World youth day observed

ITANAGAR Aug 09: Arunachal Pradesh Youth Congress (APYC) observed the World Youth Day here today under the leadership of its president Likha Saaya.

The day was observed with focus on good governance and role of youth in the society and nation building.

Quit India Movement day

ITANAGAR, Aug 9: Quit India Movement day was observed at Rajiv Gandhi Bhawan today which was attended by officer bearer of APCC, members and other frontal wings.

The function was presided over Samchoom Ngemu, Vice president of APCC.

The speakers called on all to shun violence and communalism and work in tandem for the welfare of the citizen so the country.

RKM power woes to be thing of past as it get auto start DG set

ITANAGAR, Aug 9: A two set of 250 KVA auto start diesel generating (D.G.) set was dedicated to the R.K.M. Hospital by MLA Kipa Babu Itanagar Assembly constituency at the premises of the Hospital today.

Executive Engineer, CED Itanagar Er. T.K. Tara said that it was for the first time in Arunachal Pradesh that such a DG set has been commissioned. It is canopy type and pollutes less than that of the conventional DG set. It will be automatically start itself within 10 seconds when GRID supply fails. It may be manually operated too. The scheme was under the special plan Assistance (SPA) under Govt. of India costing about Rs 68.00 lakh

Babu appreciated the works of the Executive Engineer (E) Capital Electrical Division Er. T.K. Tara and his team for evaluating the concepts of installing a fully automated start 2X250 KVA D.G. set in a short span of time.

It will usher in a new era of service to the hospital which will benefit all sections of the people.

The MLA also appreciated successful effort made by the Executive Engineer and his subordinate officers and staffs to improve the power scenario of the capital. He also dealt on improving the water supply to the capital complex.

MLA has lauded the selfless service of the hospital to the people of the state and request to keep the same spirit in future.

Swamy Vishwatmananda, Secretary, RKM Hospital, Itanagar thanked the Department of power for installing the fully auto start DG set at the premises and appreciated the innovative concepts by the Executive Engineer (E) CED, Itanagar Er. T.K. Tara and expressed his happiness for commissioning of these DG sets. By commissioning these DG sets the power problem of the hospital is solved. He thanked the State and central Government for recognizing the services of the R.K. Mission Hospital.

Dolphin Mishing, Model vill. record big wins

NAHARLAGUN, Aug 9: Dolphin Mishing FC demolished Dera Natung FC 4-0 while Model Village FC trounced Battalion (B.N) FC 5-1 in their league level matches of the Third Abotani Cup Football Tournament played at Rajiv Gandhi Stadium here today.

Bhopen Pegu (9, 46 min.), Biju Pegu (11 min.) and Ranjit Doley (48 min.) were the scorers for Dolphin Mishing FC.

For Model Village FC, Tai Bharat (8, 26 min.) and Loi Kena (24, 45 min.) scored two goals each while Techi Tassar completed the drubbing by scoring a goal in 68 minute. The lone goal for Battalion FC was scored by Tsering Dorjee in 40 minutes.

Bandh called off

ITANAGAR: Deputy Commissioner Bidol Tayeng informed that the proposed bandh called by Papum pare District Youth Association on Monday has been withdrawn.

While agreeing to look into the complaint of the association, DC has asked the Association to give specific details of their complaints.

The DC further asked the youths to concentrate more on burning issues of the youths like drug addiction, awareness on AIDS, poor CBSE results in Papum Pare rather than organizing bandhs which has no relevance to the youths.

Drought relief sought

ITANAGAR: Former Anchal Chairperson of Bogong Anchal Block, East Siang Kaling Moyong has appealed the authorities to form a committee to assess drought situation in Pasighat in particular and East Siang in general. He informed that the situation is grim and needs intervention from the government to mitigate the situation of the farming community.

He further thanked Governor Gen J J Singh, Border Road organization and Gammon India Limited for successful completion of Bridge over Siang River.