May 25

News Impact

• Rain cripples life in East Siang
• Students’ demand LPC for border residents
• Endangered Slow Loris rescued from Pasighat town
• EE responds to PPWF demands
• UDSAA & AYUSH to boycott APPSC exam
• Mega health camp
• DA intensifies cleanliness drive
• GBPIHED distributes 1 lakh fish seedlings on International Day for Biological Diversity

Orgs call capital bandh

ITANAGAR, May 24: All Arunachal Pradesh Youth Forum (AAPYF), All Nyishi Youth Council (ANYC) and Arunachal Pradesh Abo Tani Clans Youths Organization (APATCYO) have unanimously decided to launch its first phase of 12 hours capital bandh on May 28 in protest against Govt’s alleged failure to cancel illegal land allotment to non-APST. The organizations in a joint press release today said that they have compelled to call the bandh as the present Govt  failed to pay heed to their demands during last four months.

 

‘Demarcate school boundary’

ITANAGAR, May 24: All Langbang Sera Yarba Pado and Sigriang Youth Association and Parsi-Parlo Educated Forum alleged that some individuals are encroaching Parsi Parlo Secondary School land due to lack of proper demarcation of school boundary.

Both the organizations appealed to the Kurung Kurung Deputy Commissioner to look into the matter and initiate immediate steps for early demarcation of school boundary.

 

ATASU demands action

ITANAGAR, May 24: All Tali Area Students’ Union (ATASU) has lodged a complaint against alleged construction a kitchen at boys’ hostel which was originally meant for girls’ hostel of Govt secondary school, Tali and poor quality construction of footpath from CPO godown to helipad ground, Tali.

In its complaint letter to Chief Secretary, the Union said the concerned executive engineer released the contractor’s payment despite request from the Tali CO not to do so without verification of work. The authorities did not even pay  heed to its 7 days ultimatum, the union said and demanded necessary action against the wrong doer.

 

Tawang DA reacts

ITANAGAR, May 24: Tawang Deputy Commissioner Kemo Lollen has dismissed reports of heads of department going missing from the district headquarter. Clarifying the report that HoDs are not reporting to office, the DC said the report is untrue. However, he did agree that HoDs went hiding during financial year ending.

“During the month of March,  the  officers got threatening from various quarters. I had personally monitored situation and had urged them to lodge complaint. But there was no written complaint and it made our case bit difficult,” said DC.

Further he added, “I tried my best to help them and even asked HoDs to stay in DC Bungalow if they feel threatened.”

 

KMTS demands immediate rescue of kidnapped GB

ITANAGAR, May 24: Kyun Moung Tai Society (KMTS), Namsai, while condemning the recent kidnapping of Chow Mikhita Namchoom, Gaon Burah (GB) of Pankhao village by some miscreants in broad day-light, has demanded the police to trace out the abducted GB and rescue him immediately.

Describing that the incident portrayed the State Government in poor light in tackling insurgency problem and providing security to innocent tribal people in the state, KMTS demanded for a permanent solution to the insurgency problem which has become a major threat to life and security of common people and future industrial growth in the state.

It appealed to all conscious citizens and NGOs to put pressure on the authority to conduct a rapid search operation to free the GB from the abductors and also apprehension of the culprits.

Rain cripples life in East Siang

Prafulla Kaman

RUKSIN, May 24: Incessant rain for the last three days has paralyzed life in Siang belt, especially Pasighat, Pangin-Boleng, Ruksin, Nari-Koyu areas of East Siang and parts of Upper Siang district and adjoining Dhemaji areas of Assam.  Heavy showers are causing water clogging in several places, worsening the link roads creating hardship for the commuters.

After a dry spell for a week, the shower on last Tuesday evening gave respite to the people from a weeklong scorching heat due to sunny weather. But the downpour which turned torrential has crippled the lives of the entire region for the last two days. Clogging of water in Pasighat and Ruksin after the heavy rain caused problems for the pedestrians.

During the last three years, the upper Arunachal districts witnessed heavy downpour which resulted in flash flood and landslide causing disruption in roads communications with rest of the world.  The ongoing construction of Trans-Arunachal Highway between Pasighat and Pangin is also hit by the torrential rain for the last few months, causing immense trouble in transportation of essential commodities. The highway at both banks of mighty Siang river are the vital lifeline for the people of Pangin-Boleng and Upper Siang to reach Pasighat.

Heavy rainfall also inundated a large portion of Mirem-Mikong-Jonai PWD road near Mirem, creating problem in traffic movement.

The East Siang district situated on the both bank of mighty Siang river has a tropical climate and receives rain from the South-West and North-East Monsoon. Over 2000 mm of annual rainfall during the South-West monsoon from the month of July to September has been recorded while temperature of the region is varied from minimum 7-degree Celsius during the cold seasons and maximum of 44-degree Celsius during summer season.

 

 

Students’ demand LPC for border residents

Car rally to mobilize people

Correspondent

RUKSIN, May 24: The East Siang unit of All Arunachal Pradesh Border Students’ Union (AAPBSU) has reiterated its demand to the state government for issuing Land Possession Certificate (LPC) to the Arunachalee people, who are residing along inter-state boundary areas.

The leaflet published by the Central Committee of AAPBSU denotes that the union, since its formation in December last year has been moving the government to find out an amicable solution to the boundary problem, but the government is lending a deaf ear towards its demand. The union has already submitted a 10-point “Charter of Demand” to the state government, which is being unheard.

The union in the charter of demand urged the state government to issue LPC for the border dwellers. It is alleged that the government, in the pretext of forest clearance is denying LPC to the indigenous Arunachalees. It further alleged that Arunachal government, pretending to Supreme Court’s status-quo order, allegedly not initiating any step to solve the vexed Assam-Arunachal boundary problems, which is fueling frequent communal clashes along the border areas.

The union has launched a mobilization drive to garner moral support from the tribal people of Arunachal regarding its movement for early settlement of the vexed Assam-Arunachal boundary problem. Circulating a leaflet, the Union has appealed to the locals residing along  boundary area to extend their support towards the movement against the state governments’ alleged inaction.

The East Siang unit AAPBSU led by Tajing Tamuk took out a car rally in  and around the district yesterday shouting slogans- “we want LPC”, “state government soo roha hei” and “Save our land, save Arunachal” etc. The rally came to an end at Ruksin gate.

 

 

Endangered Slow Loris rescued from Pasighat town

ITANAGAR, May 24: The Slow Loris are a group of five species of Strepsirrhine primate which make up the Genus Nycticebus, and this 'Nycticebus bengalensis' are locally called Lajuki Bandor in Assamese and Besung Raaye in Adi. Found in South and Southeast Asia, they range from Bangladesh and Northeast India in the east to the Philippines.

This primate will be released in D. Ering Wildlife Sanctuary after performing some certain tests, said Tashi Mize DFO (wildlife).

Meanwhile, the Fringe People's Forum-WL led by its president John Apum has strongly reacted to the news item published in this daily where the reporter had categorically put D. Ering Sanctuary under threat while writing on Poba RF.

Showing dissatisfaction over the news item, the forum said, 'D Ering Wildlife Sanctuary is no more under threat today. By the active participation of Fringe People in the conservation effort, the threat has lessen to almost zero. The awareness programmes going around all these days in the fringe villages of both left and right bank of Sanctuary like Borguli, Namsing, Mer-Gadum, Kiyit and Oyan, Berung, Mongku etc proves that its no more under threat'.

In the recent past the vigilance and monitoring activities in and around the sanctuary has been intensified which resulted in seizure of guns,  boats, gillnetting nets etc from poachers. Further, local people surrendering Deer Cub and Leopard Cat Cub to the Wildlife department proves that the D Ering Sanctuary is no more under threat, said DFO Mize. With so much supports and co-operation coming in from Fringe Villages where they are gradually realizing this Sanctuary as their matchless future assets, it would not be appropriate to say it is 'Under Threat' as this would be a kind of undermining Fringe Peoples active support, added DFO Tashi Mize.

 

 

EE responds to PPWF demands

ITANAGAR, May 24: Reacting to the demands of Pasighat Peoples’ Welfare Committee (PPWF) regarding power scarcity in Pasighat township, Executive Engineer (E), Pasighat Electrical division said that the 33 KV line from Koyu to Pasighat is physically completed and will be commissioned shortly to draw 2 MW power from Rina hydel to Pasighat.

Regarding 132 KV line from Aalo to Pasighat, EE said that out of 172 towers to be erected to draw 132 KV line, only 49 towers are within the jurisdiction of Pasighat division which have already erected and the stringing work of 6 spans of the said segment has been already done, it said adding that the work for the remaining portion of the same segment is afoot.  However, monsoon season may hamper the progress of the work.

It further said that during non-restriction period power supply is given to all and if at all there is unequal distribution of power supply it may be due to load shedding on account of load restriction to maintain grid discipline.

Clarifying  on the special power supply connection the EE  said that the special supply connection is decided by board and all connections are approved by Deputy Commissioner and the present list of special supply connection was decided prior to the tenure of the present EE.

However, the department will recommend to the Deputy Commissioner for cancellation of all special connections except general hospital.

The government is doing its part by way of sanctioning schemes and funding them subsequently and the department is optimistic that the power scenario will be pleasant in a very near future, it added.

 

 

UDSAA & AYUSH to boycott APPSC exam

ITANAGAR, May 24: Expressing its strong resentment over non-inclusion of equal number of seats for BDS, BAMS and BHMS in Arunachal Pradesh Public Service Commission (APPSC) advertisement published recently, the Unemployed Dental Surgeon Association  of Arunachal (UDSAA) and Arunachal Pradesh Unemployed Ayush Doctors Association (AYUSH) have decided to boycott the APPSC examination for MBBS (Allopathy) to be held later.

The Commission while allocating 60 seats for MBBS (Allopathy) (10 reserved for Non-APST) has not included a single seat for BDS, BHMS and BAMS, both the associations said in a joint press release and demanded immediate inclusion of equal number of seats for MBBS, BDS, BAMS and BHMS in the APPSC as per the recruitment rule. The union said that not a single post of BDS, BHMS and BAMS has been recruited through APPSC since 2000.

“As a welfare body of the state the Department of Health should give equal preference to all the systems of medicines to improve and provide a better health service,” the release said.

The UDSAA and APUADA requested the Director of Higher and Technical Education to immediately cancel and stop those GOI seats allocated for BDS, BHMS and BAMS, if the Health Department is not interested in promoting such system of medicine. They also demanded immediate and early revocation of all the vacant contractual General Duty Medical Officer (GDMOS) posts under NRHM.

The Govt of Arunachal Pradesh after regularizing the services of 68 GDMOs had extinguished/put off/discarded all the contractual vacant posts by a Cabinet decision. Terming the decision taken by NRHM Arunachal Pradesh as completely immature and inappropriate both the associations demanded immediate revocation of all the discarded posts and immediate appointment of GDMOs as early as possible failing which the two organizations would be compelled to launch democratic movement.

It is pertaining to mention here that the NRHM has been extended till 2017 as per the decision taken by Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

 

 

Mega health camp

BOMDILA, May 24: Manifesting the saying, ‘Service to men is service to God’ into reality, the Sajolang Elite Society (SES) conducted the first day of the 2-day Mega Health Camp here at Nafra in the district a day before its 6th Foundation Day.

Inaugurating the free Mega Health Camp here at Nafra this morning, Parliamentary Secretary for Hydro Power Development R T Khunjuju, who also is the local legislator of Nafra-Bomdila assembly constituency, lauded the humanitarian role played by SES and hoped that such noble acts and missions would continue on larger scale and in different fields.

Being the apex body and the torch bearer, the SES has massive responsibilities, duties and obligations towards the Sajolang (Miji) society, said Khunjuju. As the stakes are very high, the SES needs to tread its path carefully and responsibly, he said. Affirming to do everything possible and permissible in his capacity as the elected representative and in his personal capacity as a member of the community for the welfare of the people of the area, Khunjuju hoped for the people to come forward and take part in engagements as this is solely targeted for the benefit of the people.   

Replying to the 1-point demand of the SES for immediate posting of a regular Doctor at Community Health Center Nafra, Khunjuju assured for early posting of the same.

Earlier, Deputy Commissioner Rinchin Tashi in his address lauded the efforts of the Sajolang Elite Society and the services of the Ramakrishna Mission Hospital and its doctors for bringing in and making available the life saving health services at the door step of the sick, poor and needy.

Expressing happiness over the good Samaritan role played by few NGOs and Societies of the district, the DC conveyed the ruling government is not to take up registration of any new NGOs/Societies but to go for strengthening the already existing ones and making them more responsible and purpose oriented.

A host of Eye, Gynae, Pediatrics, Ortho, ENT  specialists and medicines from Ramakrishna Mission Hospital, Itanagar with technicians and assistants and specialists and doctors from the district including DMO are taking part in the 2-day health camp. Besides consultation, blood investigation, ultra sound, ECG, Audiometry etc, medicines, spectacles, crutches, hearing aids and wheel chairs would be given away free of cost to the needy.

This health camp is a pre-emptive attempt to curb and curtail diseases before the onset of monsoon in full swing and aims to cover patients from at least 25 villages of the area.

Among others, the inaugural function was attended by the Zilla Parishad Chairperson, HoDs from district headquarters, Bomdila, EAC, ZPM  and  other Panchayat and public leaders of Nafra. DIPRO

 

 

DA intensifies cleanliness drive

ROING, May 24: Taking serious note on public health and hygiene, the District Administration has intensified cleanliness drive in and around Roing township.

The District Administration has already launched an operation to free the Roing township from stray animals. The DA viewed that the stray animals like pigs, cows, goats, etc roaming freely in the township mainly in Bazaar area were the major contributing factors for the spread of garbage on the streets and every nook and corner of the township besides adding dirtiness with their faces.

The failure and carelessness on the parts of animal owners to keep their domestic animals confined/tied in their respective area/compounds despite issue of repeated Notice in the form of Executive Orders and announcement through PA System has compelled the District Administration to start the operation.  

The nabbing operation against stray animals which started on May would be carried out once in every week by a team headed by Town Magistrate with staff from DUDA and other working departments. The caught animals are being handed over to the veterinary department and will not be released until further orders from the Chief-Judicial Magistrate cum DC.

In an Executive Order issued recently, Garima Gupta, DC cum CJM has also directed the shopkeepers to keep their shops and surrounding areas neat and clean. In case of garbage found in front of any shop, the DA has decided to levy fined to the shopkeepers.  It also asked the Chairperson, Anchal Samity Roing to keep the Anchal Market sheds clean and hygienic. Any violation on the standing order would invite penalty as per the law, the order said. DIPRO

 

 

GBPIHED distributes 1 lakh fish seedlings on International Day for Biological Diversity

ITANAGAR, May 24: G.B. Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment & Development (GBPIHED), North East Unit, Itanagar in collaboration with Nature Care and Disaster Management Society (NCADMS), Ziro celebrated the International Day for Biological Diversity at Apatani plateau.

On the occasion, one Lakh fish seedlings were distributed among 170 identified beneficiaries from 15 villages of the Apatani plateau to under the ongoing GOI-UNDP CCF-II project entitled “Biodiversity conservation through community based natural resource management in Arunachal Pradesh”.

Attending programme, Lower Subansiri Deputy Commissioner Taru Tallo highly appreciated the work being done by the G.B. Pant Institute and NCDAMS. He urged and encouraged the peoples to actively participate in the efforts of the project for biodiversity conservation of the area.

The programme also included awareness campaign on biodiversity conservation.

During the programme, Er. M.S. Lodhi, Scientist of the Institute briefed the gathering about the IDBD, UNDP-GoI project as whole and its progress so far and future plans. He appealed to peoples to give their best for achieving the targeted goals.

Rubu Buker, Chairman, NCDAMS, Ziro informed the participants about the importance of the celebration of IDBD and also elaborated on how important role the people can play in conservation.

Mihin Dollo, Programme Manager of the project highlighted the importance of livelihood activities promoted by the institute such as fish farming, cash crops, tailoring, piggery etc.

Copyright © 2008, The Arunachal Times Publications Pvt. Ltd., Siang House, Sector - E, Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh - 791111, India

All rights reserved.

A farce named IPL

Dear Editor,

Kudos to Poonam I Kaushish for her brilliant article on the farce named Indian Premier League.

Cricket was an absolutely gentleman's game, which was used to be appreciated by true connoisseurs in Indian winter. But with the advent of One-day cricket, the game started to get played throughout the year. Due to instant and confirmed results, which are not possible in Tests, and breezy batting with flood of boundaries and sixes, people of lesser cricketing intellect started to dominate the stadiums. But the IPL has indeed struck the last nail in the coffers of Indian cricket. Cricket became uglier due to rash shots by the batsman so that to ensure maximum runs in mere 20 overs. A batsman, even if completely beaten by a superb delivery from the bowler, still gets a four due to non-existence of slip fielders in T20. Moreover non-cricketing issues started to dominate the circus named IPL to a deadly extent. Did any civilized person ever envisage that skimpily clad girls would dance seductively outside the boundary line of cricketing arena? When people get more interested in enjoying the curves of the dancing girls instead of the duel between bat and ball, it is a foregone conclusion that cricket is destined to a gory death. Thanks to this gross lumpenisation of cricket, obviously spectators of questionable character and credentials would flock the stadium. Moreover when the cricketers are expected to lead a disciplined life, especially when a tournament is being played, franchisees religiously throw late-night parties just after completion of the game. And alcohol, nudity and all things commercial and crude mark those parties. And in this Philistine environment, flow of drugs, molestations and ugly brawls are inevitable.  IPL has indeed drastically changed the face and environment of cricket in India and that change is for worse. All things cricket have simply got consigned to oblivion. In the name of entertainment, cricket has been  transformed into a milching cow to be exploited to the full.

If the BCCI is really interested in saving purity and respectable position of cricket in India, it should immediately ban the farce named IPL.

Yours,

Kajal Chatterjee,

Kolkata

 

 

Equal opportunity

Dear Editor

This is regarding the advertisement for the posts of doctors (Allopathy). I have deeply relied on the department for equal opportunity to be given to us under APPSC but it has been a misconception and we feel cheated. It is very sad to express that I being an unemployed Ayush doctor was pursuing after a vacant post for homoeo medical officer at Balek CHC since long time.

The answer that I used to get from the officers was that it has already been placed for interview under APPSC, but alas they have again cheated me and my friends who also applied for the same post.

I was preparing myself for the interview, but finally the result is that they have advertised 50 posts for allopathy medical officer. It seems that there is no scope for Ayush candidates who have spent their 5 & half years of life studying the subject.

So it is a request to the concerned department and the government to tell us what is the alternate source of survival for a poor Homoeo graduates like me?

Yours,

A  Ayush graduate

 

 

Unjustified

Dear Editor,

I have purchased a Sumo ticket from Naharlagun at a cost of Rs.500 to reach Seppa. But, to my utter surprise I was asked to pay Rs 100 more when I approached the Sumo counter next morning to enquire about vehicle number.

Justifying the demand for extra money, the man in counter said that Central Govt. increased the Petrol price at midnight!

I think it is only a drama played by counter person to get higher commission despite the fact that Sumos need Diesel not Petrol.  Moreover, Rs.500 is very high rate for the poor passengers like me.

Therefore, I appeal to the state Govt.  and district authority  to look into the matter and fix the Sumo fare  so that poor people can also avail the  sumo service.

Yours,

Sanjay Killo

East Kameng

 

 

Water crisis

Dear Editor,

I would like to draw the attention of the authorities towards the drinking water problem faced regularly by the public of P- Sector area, Itanagar. Water is supplied for 10 minutes only in a day around 5.30 am forcing many households to look for water from elsewhere. Therefore, I request the concern authority to look into the matter and provide minimum required water to the sector dwellers.

Yours,

Tage Loder

P-Sector, Itanagar

 

 

In support of a letter

Dear Editor,

This is in support of letter “Declare results” written by one T. Mize of Miram village of East Siang on May 24. We also like to know as to why the authorities are taking a very long period of time to declare the result? Is there something going wrong? As the others district have already declared the results, we the candidates for the posts of UDC, LDC, Lab attendant and peon request the competent authorities to declare the results as early as possible.

Yours’

O. Saroh, M Taboh

B. Siram, Y Talom, T Taki

Pasighat.

 

 

 

All email and surface mails must be accompanied with contact numbers and full postal address. Do keep writing but please make sure that letters are short and to the point.        

----Editor

Health and environment

India has environmental health risks of both categories: traditional hazards related to poverty and lack of development, such as lack of safe water, inadequate sanitation and waste disposal, indoor air pollution and vector borne diseases; and modern hazards caused by development that lacks environmental safeguards, such as urban air pollution and exposure to agro-industrial chemicals and waste.

Environment has deteriorated significantly due to unplanned urbanization, industrialization and indiscriminate use of pesticides in agriculture. The solid waste generation in cities is expected to increase to 300 mts by 2047. Agricultural activities including widespread use of fertilizers and  pesticides also alter the environment and create health hazards. Water stagnation and the consequent multiplication of vectors have increased the risk of vector-borne diseases. The high level of air pollution is resulting in increased respiratory diseases in cities.

The proportion of population covered with access to safe water source is not up to the mark. The main constraints with regard to water supply are inadequate maintenance of water systems, lack of finances and poor community involvement. Most of the people in rural areas are not aware of the health and environmental benefits of improved sanitation.

However,  both Central and State Governments initiated various measures including implementation of rural water supply programme, more responsibilities to local bodies and creation of public awareness regarding safe water and sanitation. It is hoped that  the programme and policies would be implemented properly to achieve the goal.