Day: October 22, 2014

IMPHAL, October 22: The talks between the All Tribal Students`™ Union, Manipur and the State government held from 9 am to 2 pm today has produced a positive outcome with the students`™ body and the government reaching an agreement.

In a press meet held at its Nagaram office this evening after negotiating with the government, ATSUM president Maun Tombing said the Chief Minister, deputy Chief Minister, several ministers, the Chief Secretary and directors of various departments represented the government.

ATSUM is satisfied with the results of the talks as the government has agreed to concede 80 percent of the RoTO Phase three charters of our demands, he added.

We made various demands in the education and health sectors, and raised issues relating with the police jurisdiction in boundary land records and governance of the State, Tombing said.

The government has assured to create several posts in various departments of the State which are lying vacant, he said, adding the government later assured to publish it in the State gazette after reviewing the orders from the various departments.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/10/govt-agrees-to-concede-80-percent-of-atsum-roto-demands/

IMPHAL, October 22: A consultation on Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 at Meghalaya resolved to sensitise the student community of the North East on the human rights consequences of the prolonged imposition of AFSPA in the region, said a NESO statement.

North East Students`™ Organisation (NESO) supported by the Khasi Students`™ Union (KSU) organized a `North East Consultation on Human Rights: Soliciting People`™s Opinion on Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958`™ on October 21 at the Shillong Club, Shillong.

Former chief information commissioner of Meghalaya GP Wahlang attended the consultation as the chief guest.

Advocate Alester Diengdoh, Rev PBM Basaiawmoit and Babloo Loitongbam, human rights defender spoke as resource persons.

According to the statement, after a thread bare discussion, the consultation unanimously resolved to demand the repeal of AFSPA and similar draconian state laws like the Meghalaya Maintenance of Public Order Act and Meghalaya Preventive Detention Act, to translate the AFSPA text and other related literature into vernacular languages in order to deepen the understanding by the communities and demand the establishment and effective functioning of human rights institutions like the National Human Rights Commission, State Human Rights Commission, Women`™s Commission, Right to Information Commission etc. in all the North Eastern States to protect the human rights of the people.

The consultation also resolved to pressure the Members of Parliament from the North East region to raise the issue to repeal AFSPA in the Parliament and to ensure that the issue of repeal of AFSPA in the list of priorities of NESO, it said

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/10/sensitise-students-on-human-rights-consequences-of-afspa-imposition-neso/

Imphal, October 22: A consultation on the issue of Inner Line Permit System and Rights of the Indigenous People was held today at Chandel.

The program held at Chamdil Khubul village in Chandel District was organized by Chamdil Khubul Social Welfare, Arts and Cultural Association (CKSWACA). Anal Naga Tangpi (ANTA) president Kohring, vice-president PS Jailngam and finance secretary TS Ismail Church leaders along with various village chiefs and civil society leaders of the district attended the consultation.

United NGO Mission, Manipur`™s president U Nobokishore and human rights activist Jiten Yumnam participated in the discussion and expressed serious concern over the uncontrolled influx of

non-locals in the state of Manipur including Chandel district.

Nabokishore expressed his apprehension that the indigenous population in the State could be reduced to a minority in their own land some day. He also expressed deep concern over the aggression shown by the government in taking up developmental projects in cooperation with multinational companies.

Following the employment of a large number of labours by the construction agencies couple with massive plans for further construction of infrastructure projects, the participants revealed their fear that the influx of non-locals in large numbers could destroy the economic, cultural and social system of the indigenous people.

Jiten Yumnam said a huge immigration leading to socio-cultural, political and economic assimilation with the indigenous people living in the territory of Manipur is a clear violation of the guidelines of International Covenant on Elimination of Racial Discrimination and the UN Declaration of the Rights of the Indigenous People.

The participants in the consultation therefore unanimously expressed the need for a regulation to control the influx of non-locals into the territory of indigenous people by respecting their rights as outlined in the UN Declaration on the Rights of the Indigenous People, 2007.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/10/consultation-on-ilp-system-and-rights-of-indigenous-people-held-at-chandel/

IMPHAL, October 22: The Manipur Pradesh Trinamool Congress Committee (MPTCC) is already preparing for a grand strategy to ensure a resounding success at the General Assembly elections in 2017 after losing the Hiyanglam assembly constituency seat to the Congress.

The first batch of the names of candidates who have bagged AITC tickets for the 2017 General Assembly elections will be announced on November 17 this year after the arrival of AITC general secretary here in Imphal, MPTCC president Thounaojam Shyamkumar said today.

He was speaking at a press meet at the MPTCC office in Moirangkhom this morning where he further extended his warm greetings to the people ahead of the Hindu`™s festival of lights, `Diwali`, and the biggest festival of the Meiteis, Ningol Chakkouba.

`The press meet is the first being held after the result of the recent Hiyanglam bye-poll was announced. Though the MPTCC suffered defeat in the Hiyanglam bye-poll at the hands of the Congress, the party respects the verdict of the people of Hiyanglam,` Shyamkumar said.

We believe that the ruling Congress party will stand committed to fulfilling the demands of Hiyanglam people in various sectors of health, education and road transportation, he adds.

Shyamkumar said MPTCC will wait and watch the status of development projects in Hiyanglam initiated by the Congress. We believe that Hiyanglam won`™t remain backward after the next two and half years if the Chief Minister`™s assertion of developing the constituency on a war footing is translated into action.

The Congress government has not completely repaired the Imphal-Jiribam road, one of the lifelines of the State, during the last 13 years. The health service system in all the hill districts is in an abysmal state but we still believe that the Congress will work wonders in Hiyanglam, he added.

If the 47 MLAs of Congress who showed their strength and unity during the Hiyanglam bye-election take their share of responsibility in repairing the NH-37, AITC MLAs will also pull in all its mite to the effort, the MPTCC president opined.

He also said he is certain the government of Manipur will soon introduce an ordinance or enact a law to control the influx of outsiders which poses a threat to the indigenous people.

Meanwhile, the Hiyanglam AITC candidate Dr Yumnam Radheshyam said the party accepts the electoral defeat in the Hiyanglam bye-poll but he believes that they won the moral battle. He added that he was fighting with a platoon of Congress MLAs in Hiyanglam.

The bye-poll was not conducted in a free and fair manner because the Congress government coerced voters to cast their ballots for the Congress candidate by using money and muscle power. It was akin to an individual taking on the entire Government of Manipur, Dr Radheshyam lamented.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/10/mptcc-to-announce-phasei-tickets-for-2017-assembly-elections/

R Lester Makang

UKHRUL, October 23: More than 1000 cases of duplicate voters have so far been detected out of the 2046 possible cases of double/multiple entries which were sorted from the overall electoral list of Ukhrul district recently.

An official source of the Ukhrul District Election office today informed Imphal Free Press that as per the directive from the Election Commission of India (ECI) cross-verification of electoral voters`™ list has been continuing in the district since September last.

A total of 2046 voters`™ names were accordingly sorted out on suspicion of duplication, it continued while adding that: `it is confirmed that so far more than 50 per cent are duplicate or double entries while some simply cases of identical images and the rest awaiting cross-examination.`

At the same time, as per the text based duplicate report of the State data, the sources further disclosed, a large chunk of hill district voters`™ names including those from Ukhrul have been found entered in various parts of valley assembly constituencies of the State.

Meanwhile, the sources have informed that a special review drive for errorless electoral lists has begun from October 15 and would continue till November 10, 2014. `During this period enrolment of names, correction of particulars of voters and other changes could be made,` it added.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/10/over-1000-cases-of-duplicate-voters-detected-in-ukhrul/

IMPHAL, October 22: Tanker drivers under the All Manipur Petroleum Tankers`™ Drivers Union have launched a steering wheel-down strike from 1pm today against charges made by an oil tanker driver that the union`™s president Y Bhupenchandra Ghosh had used a gun to intimidate and assault him yesterday.

Tanker driver Nirmal Lama, 34, of Gautam Basti, Khatkhati, Assam driving for Heirangoithong Service Station (oil pump) had charged yesterday that when the president of the union was asked to provide receipts for unloading two tankers (bearing regd number MN-01/ 9165 and MN-01/ 7048) including his, the president assaulted him using his gun.

At the same time, dismissing the charge as baseless, drivers today demanded the police to withdraw the complaint filed against the president.

They further warned that their strike will continue until their demand is met.

Following the strike, no tanker has left the ISBT.

Speaking to media persons at the ISBT, Bhupenchandra Ghosh said there is no incident in which he intimidated driver Nirmal using firearm.

CCTV cameras are fixed at the IOC gate to give foolproof evidence, he said, adding that an inebriated Nirmal had tried to jump the line and demanded his challan.

He continued that Nirmal while using expletives even tried to seize the challan from his hands which had resulted in some scuffles which can be witnessed from the CCTV footage.

The press meet was also attended by representatives and office bearers of four transporters`™ bodies.

Later in the evening, another source informed that driver Nirmal Lama has gone missing when high ranking officials of the IOC Ltd called both the union president and the driver this afternoon.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/10/oil-tanker-drivers-go-on-steering-wheeldown-strike/

IMPHAL, October 22: The All Tribal Students`™ Union Manipur has withdrawn its highway bandh following an agreement reached during a meeting today with the State government under Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh, said deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam.

He was speaking at the inauguration of a free animal health campaign and distribution of rabbits under the scheme `Establishment of Mini Angora Rabbit Farm`™ at the Veterinary complex.

The programme was organised by the Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Service, Manipur.

He said the programme which was originally scheduled for 11:30am was inaugurated around 3pm, because the meeting with ATSUM which started at 9am continued till 2pm, clarified the deputy Chief Minister for the delay in the opening of the function.

He said considering the inconvenience the general population would be faced with in the event of a highway blockade just before the Ningol Chakkouba festival, the government decided to bring the student body to the table and find an amicable solution.

The Veterinary and Animal Husbandry is an important department, although it seems that less emphasis has been given to the department, he said.

Expressing his concern over the present condition of the department, he said it is not the same as it was some 40 years ago.

Now, it seems that the government has to keep a special eye on the department to improve it, Gaikhangam maintained.

He said the department helps in protecting the live stocks for the general public, and the health of the public largely depends on the conduct of the department.

Two of the most important department, the Directorate of Information and Public Relation and the Veterinary and Animal Husbandry seem to be neglected the most, he said before adding that it would be best to take some initiatives to strengthen the two departments.

Meanwhile, the deputy Chief Minister appealed to beneficiaries who received the Angora rabbits distributed by the department to rear the rabbits properly and help themselves to improve their own economic conditions.

Veterinary & Animal Husbandry minister Govindas Konthoujam also spoke during the occasion.

Director, Dr Saigokhum Joute said 15 Angora Rabbits each will be distributed to 30 beneficiaries from Churachandpur and Bishnupur districts with three bags of rabbit feed and Rs 10,000 for the construction of the shelter for the rabbits, he said.

The Angora rabbits originated from Germany, and those distributed today were brought from Himachal Pradesh and prefer colder climates, he said.

He said the Angora rabbit has thick fur which is also long and can be use to produce various items. Its fur cost somewhere around Rs 1000 to Rs 1500 per kg, Joute added.

At the end of the function, the deputy Chief Minister along with the minister inspected the infrastructure of the Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Services office.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/10/angora-rabbits-to-be-distributed-to-livestock-farmers-in-ccpur-and-bishenpur/

IMPHAL, October 22: A 44-year-old woman, injured in yesterday`™s devastating fire at Koirengei turning has succumbed to her burn injuries at the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences raising the death toll from the car crash ignited inferno to two. A five-year-old was also killed in the fire.

Locals identified the Getz car as bearing regd number MN 01 W 0093, although the identity of the driver and the owner could not be established.

Langpoklakpam Sobita Devi, 44, wife of L Biren Singh of Koirengei Bazar received burn injuries all over her body during yesterday`™s incident and had been getting treatment at the RIMS, however died around 1:25am today.

Her body has been handed over to family members after post mortem was conducted at the JNIMS.

On the other hand, Thokchom (o) Ibempishak Devi, 42, wife of Th Shyamkishor Singh and mother of five year old Loyumba alias Wilson killed in the fire yesterday is also getting treatment at the Shija Hospital and Research Institute. She received 28 percent burn injuries, but is stated to be out of danger.

The body of the young victim has been handed over to his family after post mortem was conducted at the JNIMS morgue.

Locals have also placed the damaged from the fire to be worth around Rs 1.5 crore. The fire which ravaged 11 structures also destroyed around nine two-wheelers kept at the workshops, they said.

Meanwhile, the police have recovered the Getz car which crashed into a shop starting the fire and is trying to establish the identity of the driver and owner of the car.

On the other locals also came out on the National Highway to collect relief fund for the affected families today.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/10/woman-succumbs-to-injuries-raising-koirengei-fire-death-toll-to-two/

IMPHAL, October 22: The present pipelines for the water supply system in Imphal began being laid in 1960 and continued till around 1990. This is the main reason for the corroding pipes and leakages of the supply lines, PHED chief engineer H Sunil Singh told media persons.

The Public Health Engineering Department, Govt. of Manipur had organised a `Stake Holders`™ Meeting` for `Integrated Water Supply Project for Imphal planning area`™ at Hotel Imphal today.

The meeting was sponsored by Japanese International Co-operation Agency (JICA).

The chief engineer said the Integrated Water Supply Project for Imphal is a big and ambitious project estimated to be around Rs 1300 crores.

Success of the project will mean that people of Imphal area will get safe and clean water and will not face frequent water problems, he elaborated.

Completion of the project is proposed in three phases, he said.

The former UPA government had already sanctioned Rs. 29 crores in the month of March 2013 for the project and the implementing agency already selected through e-tenders, he said.

Work is likely to start soon before the end of the current year, he said.

The chief engineer continued that the 1st phase is expected to be complete within one and a half year.

The PHED has also submitted the estimated cost of Rs 320 crores for the second phase to the Urban Housing ministry, he said.

The third and last phase of the project will be taken up by the Japanese International Co-operation agency (JICA), and a Japanese team has been in the State for almost a year doing research on the areas for the construction of water systems in Imphal area.

Research work is expected to end by middle part of next year and if JICA is able to sign an agreement with the Government of India, than the project is expected to be completed by 2019 or 2020, he continued.

Once the project is completed, consumers will be provided with a water consumption meter and would have to pay according to their consumption quantity, he said.

During the meeting, a delegate of the Japanese research team Dr Kenji Takayanagi also spoke on the topic `Environment impact and mitigation measures.`™

Another delegate of the Japanese team Kotaro Kikuchi elaborated on the imposition of water tariff and its benefit while, Kikuo Matsushima, JICA, study team spoke on water meter and supplying pipe connections.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/10/ambitious-integrated-water-supply-project-for-imphal-already-underway-phed-chief/