Monthly Archives

April 2019

Indigenous no-state people

Nagaland: Expect heavy rain & thunderstorm from April 19-21

The Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority (NSDMA), Home Department, in coordination with the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), Regional Office Guwahati, has stated that heavy rain along with thunderstorm and gusty winds (speed 40-70 kmph)/lightning is expected at isolated places such as Kohima, Peren, Mokokchung, Longleng, Kiphire from April 19 to April 21.


Further, in districts such as Mon and Tuensang, thunderstorm with gusty wind (speed 40-50 kmph) is expected at isolated places on April 21. The Maximum temperature will see a dip during this time, settling even below 20 degrees Celsius over the hilly areas, stated a press release from Johnny Ruangmei, OSD to the Government of Nagaland.


All the DDMAs and other line departments who are responsible to attend to any emergencies caused by natural calamities have been requested to be on alert to “save lives and properties” during this period.


The NSDMA also urged the public to “be vigilant” during this pre-monsoon period from lightning, gusty winds and thunderstorms and “not to take shelter under large trees and near the river banks to prevent unnecessary risk to life from lightning and flash floods.” (Source: Morung Express)

Indigenous no-state people

Cyclonic storms displace over 10,500 families in Meghalaya

Several school buildings, community halls damaged alongside Indo-Bangladesh border; 3 sustain minor injuries in West Garo Hills district

Over 10,500 families in 700-odd villages of Meghalaya were affected after a massive cyclonic storm ravaged the state in the past three days. Many of the victims have been left without food and shelter.

Meanwhile, three persons sustained minor injuries during a massive storm that struck the West Garo Hills district of the state on Wednesday.

About 100 school buildings and a few community halls in the hill districts alongside the Indo-Bangladesh border were also damaged by the disastrous storm that hit Meghalaya in the past few days.

“Many houses and property have been damaged due to cyclone and hailstorm in different districts throughout the state. The state disaster management department and the respective district administrations are following up and taking necessary action to ensure relief is given to the people affected,” Meghalaya chief minister Conrad K Sangma tweeted after the incident.

Meanwhile, in a high-level meeting in Shillong on Thursday, revenue minister Kyrmen Shylla reviewed the situation in the storm-hit districts. The meeting was also attended by chief secretary PS Thangkhiew.

Shylla further directed the deputy commissioners of all the affected districts to reach out to the families and provide relief materials, especially to those in far-flung areas. The state chief secretary also asked the concerned DCs to submit a detailed assessment report of the damages at the earliest.

In the meantime, power supply to parts of West Garo Hills, South West Khasi Hills and Ri-Bhoi districts that were disrupted following the storm are in the process of being restored. (Source: ASTMOJO)

Environment

Snowy rendezvous with democracy at 13500 feet in Arunachal Pradesh

They walked for more than 10 hours at sub-zero temperatures to help 35 people cast their invaluable votes at 13,583 feet.

After completing the process at Luguthang polling station in Arunachal Pradesh’s Tawang district, the highest in the state, before 8.30am on Thursday, the 35 personnel, including 24 porters, reached Tawang on Friday.

Gepiam Mize, the sector officer for Luguthang polling station, told The Telegraph: “The road to Luguthang was a difficult one as we had to climb from 800 feet to 14,000 feet through tough terrain, crossing mountains. As the oxygen level goes down with altitude, one gets tired after walking for some time .”

The team left Tawang on April 9 at 4.50am and reached New Malling village, the last motorable point, at 7.30am. All the porters were waiting there and the poll materials were distributed among them, including electronic voting machines (EVMs), with utmost care.

“We encountered snow after crossing 11,000 feet. The route was quite slippery and it was difficult to move ahead,” Mize said. Mountains with spiky dwarf plants appeared at 12,000 feet and there were no trees, he added.

“Around 3.30pm, the weather changed and there was snowfall and high winds started lashing us.It was biting cold. Holding on to the umbrellas was becoming tough too,” he said.

The team walked through the icy conditions for 10-and-a-half hours to reach Luguthang. “We reached Luguthang in chilly conditions at 6.30pm on Wednesday,” Mize said.

The polling station is under Mukto (ST) Assembly constituency, which is represented by chief minister Pema Khandu, and falls under the Arunachal West parliamentary constituency.

On polling day, the weather was fine.

Mock polls for parliamentary and Assembly constituencies were conducted before 6.30am on Thursday and voting started on time at 7am.

“All the voters, comprising 19 men and 16 women, exercised their franchise before 8.30am,” Mize said.

“Luguthang is really a beautiful village. It is located where there is no vegetation. The way the villagers spend their time with yaks was interesting,” he added.

It is said that fortune favours the brave. The weather gods smiled on Friday and the polling personnel reached New Malling village in six-and-a-half hours from Luguthang.

Official spokesperson for the Election Commission Sheyphali Sharan tweeted on Saturday, “Polling parties in Arunachal Pradesh. 13583 feet altitude Luguthang — Mukto Assembly Constituency. Whatever the challenges — they do cross them all to reach the voters after all!”

By Roopak Goswami, The Telegraph

Environment

SC directed the DGP to ensure that no mining activity takes place near Kaziranga

The Supreme Court on Friday ordered a ban on mining and construction activities in Kaziranga National Park and animal corridors.

Mining activities were banned along the southern boundary of the Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve, and construction was ordered to be stopped on the routes that form nine animal corridors.

The bench of Justice Arun Mishra and Justice Deepak Gupta ordered the ban on the recommendations of the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) in its report.

The CEC report came in the wake of alleged large-scale illegal mining and stone crushing activities within the elephant corridor connecting the Kaziranga National Park and Karbi Anglong Hills.

This included the private forests falling in the Karbi Anglong Hills Council Area, and within the eco-sensitive zone.

Seeking a response from the head of the Karbi Anglong Hills Council Area on the report, and on the recommendation of the CEC, the court directed the Director General of Assam police to ensure that no mining activity takes place in the catchment area of the streams/rivers originating in the Karbi Anglong Hill ranges.

The court also directed the police to ensure that no transportation of illegally mined material from Karbi Anglong Hill took place.  Wildflowers Assam

Wildflower Assam, the group for livelihood and environment welcomes the order and thanks Rohit Chawdhury for his efforts bringing the matter to the CEC.

Indigenous no-state people

Smiti Iranis qualification exposed

Dubbing Union minister Smriti Irani a “serial liar”, the Congress on Friday alleged that she has “falsified records” of her educational qualifications and submitted contradictory affidavits to the Election Commission for which she should be disqualified.

Congress spokesperson Priyanka Chaturvedi also accused Irani of misusing her influence and power as a Union minister.

“We have no issue with the fact that Smriti Irani is not a graduate. The issue here is that she has lied repeatedly on oath and to the courts. People of India will see through these lies and give a befitting political reply to a ‘serial liar’!”

It is clear that she has not only “falsified records” of her degrees but has submitted contradictory affidavits to the EC for which she is guilty of offence under Section 125A read with Section 33 of the Representation of Peoples Act, Chaturvedi said.

Union minister and Bharatiya Janata Party candidate from Amethi Lok Sabha seat Smriti Irani on Thursday submitted to the Election Commission that she did not complete her graduation from Delhi University.

In her affidavit filed during her nomination, Irani, who is contesting against Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, said she passed secondary school examination in 1991 and senior secondary school examination in 1993.

Irani has said she did not complete her Bachelor of Commerce (Part-I) – a three-year degree course – from Delhi University’s School of Open Learning in 1994.

In her affidavit for 2014 polls, she had reportedly said she graduated from the university in 1994, triggering a row over the veracity of her claim, with opposition parties alleging she was not a graduate.

Indigenous no-state people

Congress encouraged infiltration in Assam for vote bank: PM Modi

Prime minister, Narendra Modi on Thursday said the congress encouraged infiltration in Assam for vote bank. 

Modi who addressed rally in Kendukona in Mangaldoi Lok Sabha constituency on Thursday said, “People of Assam and Northeast India had to fight to protect their identity and culture. Congress family and their courtiers in Guwahati, in order to be in power hatched conspiracy to create infiltration vote bank.”

He added,” The issue of border demarcation with Bangladesh was kept on hold and infiltration continued, Congress took advantage out this and people continue to suffer. This is what people got from Assam.” 

He added, “After 1971 war Congress could have solved all the problems of Assam, Jammu and Kashmir. Kashmir continued to burn and situation in Assam became grim. To protect Assam’s interest, integrity we have taken concrete steps. We did land boundary agreement with Bangladesh followin .. 

Bangladesh following which fencing the border became easy. Those who infiltrated the process are on to identity them; soon the work will be completed. We are ensuring that no genuine Indian citizen is left out and no infiltrator’s name is there in the National Register of Citizens (NRC).”

Modi said that to implement the clause 6 of Assam accord of 1985 concrete steps are taken. “We are working to give Scheduled Tribe status to six communities. A bill was tabled in this Rajya Sabha for this by our government. However we will ensure that rights and privileges of existing tribes will be protected. This is my promise.” 

Clause 6 provides for constitutional, legislative and administrative safeguards to protect the cultural, social, linguistic identity and heritage of the Assamese people. E

Source: ET

Environment

A journey along the Chinese border – Metok

Zhu Mei

China has the longest land border in the world totaling more than 22,000 kilometers. Many of the border towns are diverse and share both Chinese and foreign characteristics. CGTN has collected 10 beautiful border cities and towns in China for tourists.

Wrapping up our last trip in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, let’s move further south and kick off an adventure journey in southwest China’s Tibet Autonomous Region. Metok or Medog is a border county of the Nyingchi Prefecture in southeast Tibet, sitting close to India. Due to its complex geographic and weather condition, Metok County is a paradise for adventure seekers.

Tourists would be amazed by the ecological environment in Metok County as it ranks first among all counties in China in terms of forest coverage, with a forest coverage rate of over 79.2 percent. Metok also boasts as many as 500 waterfalls with the famous ones include the U-shaped Waterfall, the Hanmi Waterfall and the Tiger`s Mouth Waterfall. The following are some recommended tourist spots and travel routes. 

An aerial view of the Metok County in Nyingchi Prefecture, southwest China’s Tibet Autonomous Region. /VCG Photo

Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon

Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon is the largest and deepest canyon in the world, 504.6 kilometers long and 6,009 meters deep at its deepest. The world highest river Yarlung Tsangpo River runs through a narrow passage between the two 7,000-meter high peaks of Namjagbarwa and Jialabailei, forming the canyon, located ninety percent in Metok County.

The canyon is regarded as “the Gene Pool of Biological Resources” as it is home to many living species. There are more than 3,500 species of plants and nearly 5,000 species of vegetation have already been found here. 

Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon in southwest China’s Tibet Autonomous Region. /VCG Photo

Mount Namjagbarwa

Regarded as “the father of glaciers”, Mount Namjagbarwa was named the top of the ten most beautiful mountains in China by Chinese National Geography in 2005. It is the highest peak in the eastern part of the Himalayas, with an altitude of 7782 meters.

Mount Namjagbarwa is also known as the “shy girl mountain” as its huge triangular peak covered by snow and clouds all year round never shows its true face. Mount Namjagbarwa stretches across the tropical and boreal regions, thus, it is also a “museum of natural history.”

Mount Namjagbarwa in southwest China’s Tibet Autonomous Region. /VCG Photo

China’s last county without a highway

Metok County is China’s last county with no highway link. Local people used to deliver supplies only by manpower. The terrible weather conditions like snow and rainstorm have made the construction of mountain roads extremely difficult.

In 1993, the Bome-Metok Highway was discarded only three days after its opening to the public because of a severe rainstorm. The renovation project commenced at the pass of the Galongla Snow Mountain in 2009. Finally, on October 31, 2013, the renovated highway was open to traffic officially, marking the end of Metok’s history without a permanent highway.

The monument of the Bome-Metok Highway in southwest China’s Tibet Autonomous Region. /VCG Photo

Trekking in Metok

The trekking route from Pai Village to Metok County is 78 kilometers, known as the No.1 challenging trekking route in China and is also the most attractive one. It usually takes three days to complete the whole path and trekkers need to climb across the Doxong La Snow Mountain with an altitude of 4200 meters. Trekkers are highly recommended to hire a professional guide to lead the adventure route. 

Source: https://news.cgtn.com/news/3d3d674e31557a4e33457a6333566d54/i

Art & Culture

Preserving Cultural Heritage: Hometown of Tibetan incense sees transformation

Located on the north shore of Yarlung Zangbo River in southwest China’s Tibet Autonomous Region, Toinba township, Nyemo County is the hometown of Tibetan incense.

Toinba is the birthplace of Thumi Sambhota, who is not only the inventor of the Tibetan character but also the founder of the Tibetan incense. Toinba is famous for incense making, which has a history of more than 1,300 years. Tibetan incense is an important representation of Tibetan culture.

Nyemo’s Tibetan incense is used mainly at sacrificial ceremonies and also for mediation and relaxation. The incense is complicatedly blended with more than 30 herbs, including saffron, sandalwood, Chinese usnea and borneol.

Dhongrub is a local Tibetan incense artisan who has been making incense for more than forty years. The incense artisanship of Dhongrub’s family has passed down through four generations. Making Tibetan incense has brought Dhongrub income and other benefits.

Dhongrub is making Tibetan incense sticks. /Screenshot

“My eldest daughter successfully found a job after graduating from college and my youngest daughter is going to the college this year. These are the rewards of the Tibetan incense,” said Dhongrub. His youngest daughter also helps promote Tibetan incense online, letting more people know about its origin and history. 

A client wants to buy some Tibetan incense from Dhongrub. /Screenshot

As Dhongrub’s Tibetan incense business grows, his incense products have been sold inside and outside of Tibet. Since 2006, Nyemo County has promoted Tibetan incense as a main tourist souvenir and set up incense-themed tourism attractions. To help with poverty alleviation, the local government also established a Tibetan incense cooperative where Dhongrub teaches villagers incense artisanship. 

Dhongrub teaches villagers how to make Tibetan incense at the cooperative in Toinba township. /Screenshot 

“Tibetan incense has deeply influenced me, so it became an essential part of my life. I hope to carry on the traditional artisanship of Tibetan incense and develop it so that more and more people will know about Nyemo’s Tibetan incense,” said Dhongrub.     

Society

Meat was never an issue, says brother of Assam man assaulted by mob for ‘selling beef’

Narrating the events leading up to the attack on his brother, he said a group of four youth had visited the market last Thursday and beat up some people for selling beef.

Assam beef attack

By Prasanta MazumdarExpress News Service

GUWAHATI: Mohammed Sahabuddin says some people have been selling beef in the bi-weekly market of Madhupur in Northern Assam’s Biswanath district for decades and nobody ever made a hue and cry over it.

His younger brother, Shaukat Ali (45), was thrashed by a mob on Sunday for allegedly selling beef in his “rice hotel”. The victim, who hails from Kalakati village located 15 km from district headquarters Biswanath Chariali, is admitted to a local hospital. 

The incident came to light on Monday evening after a video of it, captured by the locals, had gone viral on social media. So far, two people have been arrested by the police based on an FIR which Sahabuddin filed. He alleged in the FIR that his brother was also force-fed a piece of pork by the mob that day.

“A lot of people come to the bi-weekly market on Thursdays and Sundays. We have been running the rice hotel for 40-45 years. My father started it and later, I took its charge. Some time back, I asked my younger brother, Shaukat, to run it. I won’t tell a lie, we have been selling beef all along. Beef was never an issue here,” Sahabuddin told this newspaper.

Narrating the events leading up to the attack on his brother, he said a group of four youth had visited the market last Thursday and beat up some people for selling beef. Subsequently, he said, those beaten up had brought the matter to the notice of market committee.

“On Sunday, a mob of 10-12 people appeared in the market and vandalised our hotel. Soon after, it launched an attack on my brother, beating him up mercilessly. They had also made him eat a piece of pork,” Sahabuddin alleged.

“Taking Thursday’s incident as a warning, we had decided against selling beef on Sunday, yet they attacked my brother,” he lamented.

The police are examining the video of the incident to identify the perpetrators of the crime. They have appealed to people to refrain from sharing it on social media. The district authorities convened a meeting with leaders of various local organisations on Tuesday to try and maintain communal harmony.

Biswanath Deputy Commissioner (District Magistrate) Pabitra Ram Khaund said, “As soon as we learnt about the incident, we took him (victim) to the hospital and provided treatment. He is now out of danger”.

Additional Director General of Police Mukesh Agarwal said all measures were being taken for the maintenance of peace. 

Biswanath district falls under the Tezpur Parliamentary seat which will go to elections in the first phase on April 11.