Month: January 2015

IMPHAL, December 14: The Citizens Concern for Dams and Development (CCDD) expressed strong condemnation at the ongoing efforts of the Government of Manipur to complete construction of Mapithel Dam of the Thoubal Multipurpose Hydroelectric Project from 10 January 2015 by filling up the portion of dam left for diverting Thoubal River to facilitate dam construction works.

In a press release the CCDD said the move will lead to direct submergence of agriculture land, grazing ground, forest areas of Chadong and other villages, and threaten affected indigenous peoples`™ survival and rights. Entire Chadong Village will be submerged and other villages along Mapithel Range will be affected.

It said the CCDD also seriously considered the deployment and resents reliance on security forces for dam completion works by the Irrigation and Flood Control Department as a clear undemocratic, anti people and anti development process.

This is a direct threat and intimidation to the safety of affected villagers and confirms the undemocratic nature of pursuing development projects in Manipur, the release further said.

The ongoing construction is despite the fact that the National Green Tribunal of the Supreme Court is still considering the violation of Forest Rights under the Forest Conservation Act, 1980 and the Forest Rights Act, 2006. In clear procedural violations, the Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF), Government of India accorded final Stage II Forest Clearance for Mapithel Dam only on 31st December 2013 after more than thirty years of project approval in 1980 without conducting any site visits into affected areas, which is a serious violation, it said.

The fresh construction work is amidst controversial and manipulative rehabilitation and resettlement process that has caused confusion, division and violation of affected indigenous communities`™ rights, it said adding the Rehabilitation and Resettlement is being carried out in a piecemeal and divisive approach.

Beginning from multiple violations of the 1993 Terms of Agreement for Rehabilitation with affected communities, the Government of Manipur failed to conduct a holistic impact assessment as sought by communities under the Expert Review Committee of 2008. The construction of Mapithel Dam is still fraught with the absence of a detailed impact assessment on communities with their rightful participation, especially impacts on forest land and other livelihood sources and further down in the downstream portion of Thoubal River, the release said.

The CCDD urged upon the Government of Manipur to stop Mapithel Dam construction till all rehabilitation process acceptable to all affected communities is fully ensured. All militarization process that support Mapithel Dam construction should halt immediately, it said.

There should be no commissioning of Mapithel dam until the `free prior informed consent` of the affected communities is taken with. The Mapithel dam construction should fully comply with the recommendations of the World Commission on Dams, 2000 and the provisions of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, 2007, the CCDD`™s release said.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/01/ccdd-wants-fresh-work-at-mapithel-dam-stopped-till-rehabilitation-issues-settled-to-everybodys-satisfaction/

LAMKA, January 14: Even as the district administration has initiated steps to control dog bite issue in the district, the death toll of victims in the district reached 11 last night with the death of the latest victim identified as Thangkhanmang Tonsing, 58, husband of Nianglam of Mata Village, Churachandpur.

Meanwhile, replying to a query from IFP, DC Lunminthang Haokip said there is no provision of compensation for the victims at the moment; however, the administration will try to provide all possible help and support to the families with support from the Health minister.

Lunminthang also said that the district administration is trying to contain the issue.

Replying to a query on the reported transit of dogs from the district to other districts, the DC said such practice is of serious concerned and check posts will soon be set up on the main roads of the district.

According to a statistic released by the DC, since last October 18 persons have been administered with vaccines for dog-bite, around 2000 dogs have been vaccinated, 253 dog bites reported including 11 death cases.

An authority of the district hospital said most of the deaths had come to the hospital at an advanced period of their infection when there are little chances of any success with medication.

Churachandpur CMO Dr Thangchinkhup Guite and the medical superintendent said there is a very limited supply of vaccines for dog-bite victims and as such as for the moment victims with BPL card holders will be given advantage.

The CMO said of the 11 deaths, three had been victims of bites by pups.

A few days back talking to this IFP correspondent, the joint director Veterinary Dr Rosangrouol Kholum had said that the practice of killing the dog that had bitten an individual without checking whether the dog was rabid is unfortunate. He had said that there were signs of rabies infection like hydrophobia in some of the patients.

The doctors apprehension and concern however has been somewhat vindicated by the latest casualty Thangkhanmang who died yesterday but was bitten way back in October 2014 and the dog already killed back then

Locals who have somewhat developed a dog phobic stance have expressed concerned that the number of casualties will soon rise in the coming days.

The authorities need to take help of the philanthropic groups, they observed while at the same time lauded the authorities for initiating the mobile teams on the roads to check dogs.

The PO to the DC Khaikhopau also read out the DC`™s order which stated that the dog caught by the mobile team will be open for reclaiming by the owner within three days from the time of the dog being caught, with a fine that will be determined by the availability of valid documents of the dog`™s vaccination etc, by the owner and after the lapse of that three day window no one will be able to claim their dog irrespective of whether they have proper documents or not.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/01/another-dogbite-related-death-in-ccpur-toll-rises-to-11/

IMPHAL, January 14: The Directorate of Tourism Government of Manipur has refuted news reports that the proposed cable car project at Loktak Lake has been cancelled even before its implementation as baseless.

Reacting to the news report, director Tourism Shyam Lal Poonia has issued a clarification stating that the report was not based on correct facts and published from incompetent information.

According to the report, the project which was due to be implemented with a Bangkok based private firm, M/s Red Hills Company limited on a Public Private Partnership (PPP) model is currently in a mess. The project has been cancelled against the backdrop of allocation of crores of rupees, the report had said.

Moreover, the State government has reportedly paid huge amount in advance to the M/s Red Hills Co. Ltd. even before the work was started it said alleging that the Bangkok firm was picked by the Chief Minister after coming across the said firm during a foreign tour.

The director Tourism however has clarified that a sum of Rs 20.35 crores for the project `Integrated Cable Car and Lakeside Tourism Development Project at Loktak Lake`™ was sanctioned by Ministry of Tourism, Govenrment of Manipur (vide letter No. F. No, 6-ENE (15)/2013 dated February 21, 2014 and dated March 31, 2014 being 25 percent of the project cost, out of which Rs 10 lakhs have been released as token amount for starting the work to the State government under Large Revenue Generating Scheme (LRGS) of the Ministry of Tourism .

Accordingly, Tourism department had floated e-tender for selection of PPP partner, but having not received any response on the first bid a fresh tender was floated vide letter No.4/426/2013-DTSM March 4, 2014, it said.

Following the second bid the department reportedly received bids from two companies including M/s Red Hills Company Limited, Bangkok and M/s Aarchem Enterprise, Kolkata, it said.

After evaluating the two firms by Higher Tender Committee in its meeting held on April, 30, 2014 the committee recommended M/s Red Hills as PPP partner for passenger Ropeway with revenue sharing at 9.75 percent along with other conditions.

It revealed that the matter was put up before the cabinet and with the approval of the cabinet the work was awarded to M/s Red Hills by the Tourism department (vide letter No.4/426/2013-DTSM dated June 4, 2014).

Magnifying on the report of cancellation, it explained that after the award of work, further steps were taken by the Government, Directorate of Tourism and Manipur Development Society in expediting execution of work.

Since, not much progress was made by the Bangkok firm, the Directorate of Tourism issued show cause notice (vide Notice No.4/456/2014-DTSM dated November 20, 2014) to the firm as to why the works assigned to them should not be withdrawn and cancelled or their acts of omission/commission, it continued.

Responding to the notice the Bangkok company (in their leeter No. RH/DOPP/SCN/001 dated December 10, 2014) explained that due to change of Government in Thailand and consequent change of rule with serious restrictions on Financial Institutions and their functioning, it remains impossible for them to arrange for the project. Accordingly, the firm intimated that they shall be able to put forward their contribution of 60 percent of the project cost, it said.

The statement held that in view of the developments, the government is in the process of cancelling the work awarded to M/s Red Hills Company Limited, Bangkok and to forfeit their security deposit, after adjustment of expenditure incurred by the firm on conducting various relating to Geological Contours, Alignment of Towers and Soil Testing.

It strongly reacted that the Chief Minister during his foreign visit never came across the said firm adding that the firm has not been given any advance money by State government.

Against this backdrop, it pointed out that after the award of work by the Government, the firm has completed various surveys relating to Geological contours, alignment of Towers and Soil testing etc. and added that the Government is quantifying the value of these works executed by the firm, after which a decision would be taken for forfeiting their security deposit.

The cecision to cancel the work to the firm is being taken based on their reply, it said.

Clarifying on the allocation of money, it said that the State Government has allocated only Rupees 610 lakhs during 2014-15 and not Rupees 610 crores adding that it was improper to say that 25 percent of the sanctioned amount has been given in advance.

It further put forward that the state Government is taking necessary steps to float RFQ-cum-RFP once again for selection of new PPP partner and for implementation of the said project on priority.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/01/report-of-cancelling-proposed-cable-car-baseless-tourism-director/

IMPHAL, January 14: A special team of the Churachandpur Police has arrested the suspected accused involved in the murder of Imphal West Police Commando Elangbam Joykumar, 42, son of E Bamon Singh of Samurou Mamang Leikai at PCTC Oil Pump, Khuyathong on September 25, 2014.

According to a statement of the PRO, Police, the arrested accused has been identified as Thangthiansong Tonsing, 26, son of T Tualgou of Vengnuam, New Lamka, Churachandpur.

He was arrested from Tuimazing Village area under Singhat Police along with a 9 mm pistol (suspected to be the weapon snatched from the slain driver) and 11 live 9 mm ammunition said the police.

The case of killing the commando driver is under investigation by Imphal police Station.

Meanwhile, the statement has also said that on January 11, based on a reliable information, a team of the Imphal East District Police commandos conducted a frisking and checking at Khurai Lamlong Bazar area and apprehended an active member of PREPAK identified as Tonjam Tondon Meitei alias Boicha, 30 son of (L) T Nandakishwor Meitei of Pukhao Khabam Makha Leikai.

He was, according to the police PRO statement, arrested from in front of the AXIS ATM Booth.

Incriminating articles were seized from his possession and in follow up action, the police team arrested two active members of the outfit identified as Ningthoujam Manglem Singh alias Joychandra, 30, son of N Nabachandra Singh of Uyumpok Maning Leikai on the same day from Khurai Telipati Road, Chingambam Leirak Machin, and Ningthoujam Uttam Singh, 36 son of (L) N Ibohanbi Singh of Khurai Thongam Leikai from Khuman Lampak area.

It said incriminating articles were seized from the possession of both the UG cadres.

Investigation revealed that they were involved in extortion of money from the general public, private firms, government offices, etc, it said adding that a case has been registered at Porompat Police Station and investigation is going on.

On January 13, a combined team of Bishnupur District Police Commando unit and 2 JAKLI conducted search operation at Moirang Lamkhai area and arrested an active member of UNLF, namely, Hemam Premananda Singh alias Heingamba, 31 son of H Ranjit Singh alias Ibomcha Singh of Moirang Panshang.

A case has been registered at Moirang Police Station and investigation is going on.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/01/irb-personnel-accused-in-shooting-commando-driver-case-arrested/

IMPHAL, January 14: Villagers of Thengsang under the Tamei Assembly Constituency are facing life-threatening health care issues even if there is a fully operational Primary Health Centre within the range of 20 to 25 kms at the Tamei headquarters.

A villager told IFP that Thengsang villagers are facing the healthcare problem from a long time because no development has been made to avail health care facilities in the village which also has a bad road connectivity issue. In the village, there are altogether 100 households.

The villager narrated that a man in his early fifties died of Asthma and the pain generated by a stone case due to lack of medical facilities in his village last November as he could not afford the money for his treatment elsewhere. His health problem was a minor one but due to lack of even basic medical facilities in the village it took his life, the villager added.

Villagers of Thengsang go to a pharmacy at Challawa which is 10 kms away for any health check-ups, treatment of any minor injuries or getting their vaccinations done. The pharmacy at Challawa is important to the villagers here because if anybody falls sick, he will receive first aid such as pain killer injections to get some relief. Those seriously ill are later taken to the hospital at Kangpokpi which is 60 to 65 kms away from Thengsang.

Comparing the distance between the hospital at Kangpoki and Tamei PHC from the village, the Tamei PHC is nearer but going to Kangpoki is more logistically convenient for patients and those tending him. Villagers faced serious trouble during the rainy session because the condition of the road is bad.

Most of the villagers prefer to go to Kangpoki instead of hospitals at Imphal because they couldn`™t bear the cost of the medical treatment.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/01/even-minor-health-issues-lifethreatening-for-thengsang-villagers/