Month: August 2015

IMPHAL, August 28: The present condition of the national highways of the State has been of much concern for the State`™s people as both lifelines – National Highway 2 and the National Highway 37 – have remained blocked since the past week or so.

While NH 2 has been cut-off since August 21 due to a major landslide in Nagaland, NH 37 has been blocked due to a damaged Barak Bridge, inaugurated last year in September, since August 25.

Scarcity of petroleum products and other essential commodities have already hit the State due to the cutting off of the two lifelines.

The Manipur Truck Owners`™ Welfare Association has been holding the Border Road Organisation responsible for the dilapidated condition of the Barak Bailey Bridge.

The association today charged the BRO of still neglecting the Barak Bridge and the NH 37, even though the State is totally cut-off from the country.

Speaking to media persons at their MG Avenue office, president of the association H Ranjit said considering the difficulties faced in the present scenario, MTOWA has decided to take initiatives to repair the old Barak Bailey Bridge on its own and could complete the work in two days if the PWD and the BRO allow.

He continued it is unfortunate that an assistant engineer of the 83 Road Construction Company of the BRTF had reportedly claimed that it will take another 12 more days to repair the Barak Bridge.

Even if the engineer had claimed 12 more days to complete the work, there is no picture of work being initiated to repair the bridge till date, he said.

This is a clear evidence of the charges that the BRO thinks of only profit making from the contract works of NH 37 and not in quality control of their works along the highway he snapped.

Enquiring about the reasons for the delay in starting the repairing of the bridge, he said whether it was because the BRO had no spare part or lack of manpower and machinery?

The BRO has never sought help from the transporters on the issue, although we are ready to help Ranjit continued.

In such a scenario, the MTOWA has decided to take initiatives to repair the old Barak Bailey Bridge on its own and fix it to top condition he added.

He said MTOWA can complete the work in two days if the PWD and the BRO allow it to take the initiative.

He said transporters consider the Imphal-Jiribam highway a safer route than NH 2 where they have to pay more taxes to UG groups.

The Manipur government also never takes the NH 37 as an important route until something happens at NH 2.

The government and the PWD must clarify before the public about the huge sums of fund sanctioned by the Centre for improvement and development of the highway, he continued.

The BJP had recently divulged the amount of fund sanctioned for improvement of the road which is huge and more than enough for a facelift of the highway, however, there is not much change, he claimed.

He further appealed to the politicians not to politicise development of the NH 37.

Ranjit said we are aware of certain politicians who are working with the BRO and trying to earn political milestone.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/08/transporters-body-ready-to-repair-old-barak-bailey-bridge-in-two-days/

IMPHAL, August 28: The State cabinet decided today to send a proposal to the Central government to provide special packages to mitigate the loss incurred in the recent flood which affected large parts of the State including both in the hill and valley districts.

A cabinet meeting convened today minutely discussed the Flood Damage Report (FDR) prepared by the Public Works Department (PWD) on the losses incurred in the recent floods.

The meeting chaired by Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh began at 4 pm at the CM`s Secretariat.

Elaborating on the cabinet meeting, CAF & PD and Education minister Moirangthem Okendro who is also the government`™s spokesperson said that the recent devastated floods washed away several important bridges at Heirok Constituency, Thoubal district and Chakpikarong Bridge in Chandel district.

He informed that the meeting also approved to extend retirement period of doctors under Manipur Health Services (MHS) to 62 years from 60 taking into account the shortage of specialist doctors in the State.

The required strength of MHS Specialist Grade I, II, III and IV doctors in the State is 2203, he said.

However, there is only 1130 specialist doctors at present, the minister informed.

Stating that around 45 doctors in the State retire each year making it hard to fill up the vacant posts, Okendro said that the retirement period of doctors in West Bengal and Odisha has been increased to 62 years and 65 years in Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh.

He went on to inform that the Cabinet meeting also approved creation of 43 posts of Assistant Election Supervisor (AES) in State Election Department to increase its workforce.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/08/cabinet-decides-to-seek-central-aid-for-recent-floods/

IMPHAL, August 28: The Zeliangrong Youth Front (ZYF) has appealed to all the tribal people representatives who are elected from the hill districts to be very cautious enough in case of any issue which may affect the interest of the tribal is brought up in the State Assembly or in any platform.

According to a statement signed by president of ZYF Titus Kamei, the tribal people representatives in the Manipur Legislative Assembly who are the members of the `Hills Areas Committee` shall be solely responsible if any matter contrary to the wishes of the people is passed in the State Assembly.

It is the trust of the tribal people that their representatives who are elected by the people do not consider themselves too powerless or incompetent to fight the rights and interest of the tribal people. The unresponsiveness nature of the tribal people representatives should not be the factor to reduce the entire tribal people as insensitive people therefore any move or decision if taken in their presence which may affect the tribal people Constitutional rights, sentiments and interest will not be acceptable but strongly opposed, it said.

Time has come particularly for the tribal people representatives and the tribal populace in general to exercise their wisdom in order to save the future of the tribal people therefore mute spectators despite their presence in the situation should not be the reason to deprive the tribal people legitimate rights.

The best way for the tribal people representatives to protect and safeguard the rights and interest of the tribal and to stand solidarity with their people in case of any serious issue is to express their opinions and views loud and in clear terms in any situation, the statement said.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/08/zyf-appeals-to-tribal-representatives-to-be-cautious/

IMPHAL, August 28: In a major successful operation at Pangsha in Tuensang District of Nagaland, Security Forces neutralised seven cadres of the NSCN (Khaplang), including one woman cadre, in an exchange of fire between the two groups, according to a release of PRO IGAR (N) Kohima.

According to the statement, a Security Forces team on patrol carrying out routine domination of the border area along the Pangsha town when they saw a motorcycle, a Gypsy and a Bolero vehicle approaching along the road.

It said just as the patrol team asked the motorcycle to halt for checking, there was intense firing from the Gypsy and Bolero vehicles which were following behind.

The PRO IGAR (N) statement continued that the security forces retaliated with equal fire power and in the ensuing fire fight seven cadres of NSCN (K) were killed, and three Over Ground Workers (OGWs) were injured.

The security forces displayed a very higher order of restraint and fire discipline to ensure that the OGWs did not suffer fatal injuries during the fire fight, it claimed.

A large quantity of arms and ammunition has been recovered from the neutralised cadres, it said.

One soldier of security forces was also injured in the firing from NSCN (K) cadres, it claimed.

the statement claimed that the cadres who have been killed were from the NSCN (K) camp located at Ponyu Village inside Myanmar and belong to the group headed by SS Lt Gen Niki Sumi.

There have been regular inputs of movement of NSCN(K) cadres from camps located inside Myanmar to the border villages of India for collection of extortion money (sent from Dimapur, Kohima etc), illegal taxation from villagers, purchase of ration and other daily necessities, it continued.

The trans border movement of the NSCN (K) cadres was being carried out under the garb of Free Movement Regime existing between the two countries, it said.

However, since the rules of Free Movement Regime are not being implemented effectively by the border administrations, the loopholes are being exploited by the anti-social elements including cadres of NSCN (K), ULFA (I), and NDFB (S) etc for unhindered movement across the border, the release said.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/08/seven-nscn-k-cadres-killed-three-ogws-injured-in-nagaland-pro-igar-n/

IMPHAL, August 28: The much anticipated Protection of Manipur People Bill 2015 and two related amendment bills were introduced today in the Manipur Legislative Assembly amid an ongoing demand from the public for a strong Act to provide legal safeguard to the indigenous people under the ambit of the Constitution.

Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh tabled the Protection of Manipur People Bill 2015 on the first day of the two-day emergency sitting of the eleventh session (part III) of the 10th Manipur Legislative Assembly today.

The emergency sitting of the House which will conclude on Monday was approved by the Governor after the State government inked an agreement with the Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System on the demand for the ILP or a similar Act.

The special session was summoned by the Speaker following a decision of the State cabinet.

Revenue minister Th Devendra who is also chairman of the government constituted Drafting Committee of the new bill introduced the Manipur Land Revenue and Land Reforms (Seventh Amendment) Bill 2015 while, Labour and Employment minister I Hemochandra introduced the Manipur Shops and Establishment (Second Amendment) Bill 2015.

The three government bills will be deliberated upon and are likely to be passed on August 31.

Before introduction of the three bills, leader of the House Ibobi presented the 16th Report of the Business Advisory Committee 2015 and the approval report for withdrawal of the previous bill Manipur Regulation of Visitors Tenants and Migrant Workers Bill 2015 from the under secretary Union Home Ministry which was received by the Manipur Law department on August 21, 2015.

Assembly secretary K Meghajit read out the letter of the Union Home Ministry informing approval of the withdrawal of the bill in the House.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/08/protection-of-manipur-people-bill-and-two-more-introduced-in-house/