Day: January 3, 2018

“No dustbin, no shop license” policy hits rule hurdle

By B. Rakesh Sharma

IMPHAL | Jan 3

“No dustbin, no license” policy for shops under Imphal Municipality Corporation (IMC) area will be implemented very soon in the state as announced by MAHUD minister, Th. Shyamkumar on December 27 during the launch of SP Group Private Limited.

IMC commissioner, Th. Harikumar said according to the present rule dustbin was not mandatory to obtain a shop license so approval of the House is needed to implement “no dustbin, no shop license” policy. The matter will be taken up in the House discussion which will be held on January 25, he added.

“If dustbin is made compulsory for all the shops it will be very helpful in maintaining a clean environment and moreover the mindset of the public also plays an important role in keeping a clean society,” the IMC commissioner said.

Regarding the compulsory parking facilities for big shopping complexes the IMC commissioner claimed that only the shopping complexes which were constructed from 2014 onwards have parking facilities in their basement as it was not mandatory before 2014.

When enquired about the parking area approved by the Traffic Regulation and Parking Committee (TRPC), Harikumar said that there are many “self-styled” parking in many areas which were not approved by the government. The self-styled parking were mostly run by local clubs so it is difficult for IMC to evict them, he added.

Harikumar said IMC is working at its best level to streamline the past mistakes and the present government is giving huge support in it.

According to officials of the IMC, there are approximately 12,000 shops which acquired shop license and from the parking tickets IMC were able to collect around  Rs. 7 lakhs per month.

When Imphal Free Press conducted a survey in some areas under IMC today it is found that only a few shops keep dustbin despites Shyamkumar’s announcement of cancelling shop license which does not have dustbin from the beginning of this year.

Moreover, big shopping complexes which were constructed after 2014 mostly do not have basement parking. Instead they let their customers parked on the road side and the shopping complex which have basement parking also let their customers parked their vehicles on the road side.

Shyamkumar had announced to implement ‘no dustbin, no shop license’ policy with the objective of keeping the environment clean which is one of top priorities of the present government.

Imphal is one of the 500 cities selected under the Shachh Bharat Mission and the survey for competition among the 500 citires will begin this month. Last year Imphal ranked 122.

IMPHAL | Jan 3

Directorate of Education (S), government of Manipur has stated in its orders that Khumukcham Kritichand Singh, who is the primary teacher of Kakching Khunou New Primary School has been placed under suspension with immediate effect as the disciplinary proceedings against him is contemplated.

It further ordered that Kritichand shall not leave the headquarters at Imphal without obtaining prior permission from the director of Education (S).

IMPHAL | Jan 3

Forests and environment minister Thounaojam Shyamkumar said his department is keeping a strict vigil to safeguard the Loktak Lake, including the wildlife.

He said the department will take stern action against those who are found hunting and trapping of migratory birds. He also warned the fishermen to refrain from fishing at night time.

He was addressing media persons at his office chamber at New Secretariat while releasing the 2018 calendar of the Loktak Development Authority (LDA) which functions under the aegis of department of forests and environment. The calendar depicts developmental projects undertaken during the previous year including pictures of wildlife and periphery of the lake.

Shyamkumar further said his department’s officials are committed to work for the development and saving the largest freshwater lake of the North East India.

He appealed to the people living near the periphery of the Loktak to encourage and support the staffs of the department.

Indrajit Singh, MLA and LDA staffs were present during the release of the calendar.

IMPHAL | Jan 3

The Socialist Student’s Union of Manipur (SSUM) has appealed to all organisations of the state not to organise any form of festivities from January 31, 2018 onwards for the sake of the students who will be taking the upcoming class X and XII exams.

A release said the organisation appeals to all not to organise any activities which will harm the students, from the mentioned date. Those who go against the prohibition will be held responsible for any untoward outcome which may result by the steps taken up by SSUM Manipur, it added.

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | Jan 3

Ashok Kumar Agarwal appealed to the state government to take up the case of Parvish Chanam seriously and to hand over the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to find out the culprits immediately.

Addressing a press conference today at Manipur Press Club, Majorkhul, Ashok said Pravish Chanam went on missing after he attended a music concert at Noida, Uttar Pradesh on September 8.

On the next day his brother, Ravikanta Chanam filed a missing report at Knowledge Park police station at Gautam Budh district of Uttar Pradesh. But by declaring the body as unclaimed without informing to anyone even without flashing at newspaper Pravish was found cremated on September 13 by Uttar Pradesh police, he lamented.

He said the Centre should take up the case of Pravish seriously and hand over the case to CBI immediately to find out the culprits in the mysterious dead of Pravish Chamnam. It has been four months but the state and the Centre have failed to find a clue, he said.

All the communities of the state including Punjabi Samaj, Brahman Samaj, Bengoli Samaj, Agarwal Samaj and Jain Samaj are also participating in the movement of Pravish to bring justice and to punish the culprits involved in the case, Ashok asserted.

On the other hand report of the post-mortem conducted on September 11, states that Pravish died of “haemorrhage and head injuries.” The report also said that the time of death is “2 to 3 days” ago.

Meanwhile, a protest was carried out in front of the Uttar Pradesh Bhavan, Sardar Patel Marg, New Delhi. It was participated by six Manipuri meira paibi leaders namely vice-president of Apunba Manipur Kanba Lup (AMKIL), L. Ngangbi, president of Kanglei Ima Lup (KIL), R.K. Shanahanbi, secretary of Iramdam Kanba Apunba Lup (IKAL), W. Satyabati alias Luwngleima, president of Kangleipak Women’s Welfare Association (KWWA), Ak. Memchaleima, president of Women Association for Socio Economic Development (WASEDEV), R.K. Tharaksana and secretary of Poirei Leimarol Meira Paibi Apunba Manipur (PLMPAM), Th. (O) Apabi. They headed for Delhi on January 1 to seek justice for Pravish and the matter to be handed over to the CBI.

They staged the protest with slogans “We want justice”, “We demand CBI enquiry” and holding banners “Justice for Pravish Chanam, Stop racism against Northeast people”. The protestors also held placards reading “Stop racism against North-East”, “Organ trafficking must be stopped”, “Silence is not the solution shame on U.P. government” and others.

The protest was jointly organised by AMKIL, KIL, PLMPAM, KWWA, WSEDEV, IKAAL, PAC, MASAD, UNIKAS, DAMMS.

In support of the six meira paibi leaders at Delhi, a meira rally was held yesterday in Uripok Kangchup Road, which was participated by many student bodies and meira paibi organisations of the state.

The rally began at Uripok Achom Leikai and moved towards Bir Tikendrajit fly-over bridge and after passing through RIMS road from Nagamapal road it ended at the residence of Pravish Chanam.

Were the real culprits exposed? Investigation points that belts sample was not given for cross-checking

By Paojel Chaoba

IMPHAL | Jan 3

The state police department which was  rocked by a scandal pertaining to supply of inferior quality belts referred to as ‘paper belts’is now seemingly sweeping its filth under the carpet. The case has now been resolved following an tame agreement that 20 numbers of “defective belts” will be replaced. It is also learnt that no sample of these belts was given for cross checking.

Background

Following a source from the social media that the ‘paper belts’ were being stored in the 1 MR campus, chief minister, N. Biren Singh had gone  to the storage room and himself inspected the belts. He found that the belts could be torn with his bare hands and later demonstrated it before the media at a press conference held on June 7 last.

An inquiry committee was instituted comprising of IAS Suhail Akhtar, additional chief secretary R. Sudan and IPS Soibam Ibocha and the inquiry report was submitted. The government investigation had implicated three police officials in the scam.

Action taken up against them included suspension from service and holding back retirement benefits.

While Senapati SP, F. Gonglin and additional SP (Ops), M. Kumarjit was suspended, retired IPS, S. Manglemjao’s pension benefit was held back.

Now, the matter has been resolved following replacement of only 20 belts. Each of these will be replaced at a cost of Rs 117 per piece.

The following is the finding of an investigation conducted by Imphal Free Press.

Case against supplier

In furtherance of the inquiry and representing the state government, IGP (Admistration) Soibam Ibocha lodged a report to Imphal police station under FIR number 174(6)2017 under section 406/409/420/120-B of the Indian Penal Code against the supplier of the belts namely one Md. Abdul Gani from Masjid Road. (Gani had supplied 20,000 numbers of belts at a cost of Rs 23,40,000 back in 2014). He was arrested and interrogated.

As per statements of Gani during interrogation, he had divulged that he supplied “black belt” and not “leather belt” and the belts were kept at the 1 MR campus. Later, only 20 belts were recovered and seized from there as per Soibam Ibocha’s affidavit given to the High Court of Manipur. Gani was later released on bail by the court on health grounds. His firm was blacklisted by the government on October 31, 2017.

Agreement with DGP

When the tender for the belts was accepted on 5 April, 2014, there was an agreement between Gani and the then DGP. The agreement in clause (5) mentioned that the first party ( Gani) agrees that in the event of rejecting by the second party (DGP) on the ground of any manufacturing defect or otherwise, Gani will replace the items by new ones as per specification at his own cost.

The blacklist was finally cancelled on Dec 20 last following an order of the home department stating that the law department has been consulted in this regard and Gani should replace the defective belts. The case registered against him had apparently no merit as per the court’s proceedings. Gani also in a statement in response to a show cause notice served on Dec 21, 2017 said that the government had charged him with only 20 numbers of defective belts and he will replace them, further that the ratio of defective belts is 1:1000 which is quite negligible.

Further, the said belts cannot be identified as belonging to his supply being devoid of identification marks on the belts and the belt procurement is a continuing process. His supply was back in 2014 and the self life is 2 years for a belt.

Police supply process

The requisition of supplies for the police depends on the protocol that an evaluation committee shall first invite firms for procurement of the needed items in the form of tender. Later, a tender committee shall inspect the bids and quality of the goods. The tender committee will finish the purchase protocol and finally hand it over to a line committee. The duty of the line committee is to inspect whether the goods supplied adhere to the specifications and to the sample given by the tender committee. It was learnt that  the line committee never received the sample from the tender committee in regard to the belt supply. This failure of the tender committee to submit the sample for matching with the supplied items merits a question. How will the line committee check the supplied items (the belts) if the belt sample was not given, sources asked.

For the sourced items for the police including the belts for 2014, the evaluation committee was comprised of IPS Pachao, MPS Ibotombi Singh and IAS Bobby Waikhom. They committee invited tender and samples from various firms. The tender committee was comprised of additional chief secretary (Finance) R. R. Rashmi, principal secretary (Home ) J. Suresh Babu, DGP Shahid Ahmed and additional secretary (Finance) H. Gyanprakash. They are the committee members who finalized the quality of the product to be purchased and procured the items. The last committee that will check the quality approved is the line committee, which was comprised of IPS, S. Manglemjao, IPS F. Gonglin and additional SP, M Kumarjit. The line committee checked the 1024 belts at 1 MR on June 23, 2014 and another remaining 18,976 belts on July 21, 2014.

Sample not given

 It is alleged that the line committee was not provided with the sample to be matched with the supplied belts. It was learnt in this investigation that the line committee is seldom provided with the specified sample for cross checking with the supplied items which leaves a huge room for manipulation in the supply process. This is the main reason for the police department being supplied with inferior materials which causes a huge discontent among the police ranks.

It was also learnt from reliable sources that owing to the police hierarchy, the junior ranks do not complain about the “faulty process” of their seniors about the loop-hole in the tender and supply process. In this compliance of hierarchy, the line committee also signed the inspection report and mentioned that specifications are adhered to. As per sources, this is the crux of the problem and a proper tender process needs to be adapted for the police web equipment supply.

Officials let off hook?

The investigation points to the flaw that the state government had suspended officials as a punishment in the belt scam, but were the suspended officials left high and dry and as sacrificial lambs? Another question raised is why the tender committee did not hand over the belt sample for checking to the line committee and why the tender committee is also not being investigated also. The charges slapped on the suspended officials are based on the inspection carried out by the chief minister at the store room of 1 MR and not on the investigation report conducted by IAS, Suhail Akhtar. 

TAMENGLONG | Jan 3

Zeliangrong Youth Front (ZYF), Tamenglong zone strongly denounced the state government for passing bill for giving right to vote for nominee members of Autonomous District Council (ADC) in hill district of Manipur in recently concluded of State Legislative Assembly.

The statement signed by finance secretary of ZYF Tamenglong, Melodi Gangmei said that the voting right of ADC nominee member in any meeting or proceeding of the district council is unconstitutional.

The High Court of Manipur has equivocally denounced the right of the nominee members of ADC in its judgement pronounced on October 10, 2017

The statement further said that the bill introduced by MLA is nothing but a contempt of court and violation of its judgement passed.