Nagaland Post www.nagalandpost.com
Vol XXVIII No. 25
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2017 Pages 12 ` 4.00
US weighs withholding $255m in aid to Pakistan
Fourth Ashes Test ends in draw
U’khand CM accused of falsifying poll details
international, Page 9
sports, Page 12
national, Page 5
2017: A Year of Test for Nagaland Staff Reporter:
D imapur , D ec 3 0 (NPN): For people in Nagaland, the year 2017 will be remembered as the most restive period which began with mass state-wide agitations followed by the tragic killing of two youths in a police firing and the most poignant scene of Kohima burning on the night of February 2, 2017. If the DAN did an about-turn on November 24, 2016 by revoking the September 22, 2012 resolution on 33% women reservation, it again did a U-turn when on December 15, 2017 the house revoked the November 24, 2016 resolution as demanded by the various public organisations. Though the JACWR had withdrawn from the Special Leave Petition (SLP) it filed in the Supreme Court for 33% women reservation, yet the People Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) has been impleaded in its place. The fall-out of the agitation and loss of lives was the change of guard where regional political veteran Dr. Shürhozelie Liezietsu was made the chief minister after T.R.Zeliang had to step down.
New militant outfit busted in Manipur IMPHAL, DEC 30 (IANS): A joint team of Manipur Police and 26 Assam Rifles troopers on Saturday busted a newly formed militant outfit and arrested three of its cadres. Imphal East district Police SP, Kabib K said: “The Chingtam Liberation Army had kidnapped truck driver A. Akhikho on Thursday night demanding a ransom of Rs 13 lakh.” Akhikho was kidnapped from Motbung in Senapati district triggering a highway blockade. Acting on a tip-off, the joint team launched a search operation during which the driver was rescued, Kabib added. A China-made 9 mm pistol, four mobile handsets and a scooter were recovered from the arrested cadres. The highway blockade demanding Akhikho’s release was called off on Friday afternoon.
Holiday Notice
Offices of the Nagaland Post will remain closed in view of ‘New Year’ from December 31, 2017 to January 1, 2018. The offices will resume on January 2, 2018. Wishing all our readers A Blessed New Year
This is it!
“I was thinking, soon we’ll have to go hi-tech if church members pay with ATM cards.” K Y M C
In a history of sorts Dr.Shürhozelie went to the bypolls as chief minister but when he won he had already been sacked from office by the Governor on July 19 after losing support of a majority of NPF legislators. As chief minister Dr.Shürhozelie Liezietsu presided over his cabinet which withdrew recognition to Rongmei as indigenous tribe of Nagaland on June 3, 2017. This was a burning issue among tribes of Nagaland. NPF also created history when the party split with a group led by its president Dr. Shürhozelie with 11 legislators on one side and the chief minister T.R.Zeliang with 37 legislators on the other side. It was a strange equation of a party which had no government and a government which had no party. The 12th NLA has witnessed three chief ministers being sworn-in and as many reshuffles of ministry. The ‘trioka’ comprising of three-time chief minister and Lok Sabha MP Neiphiu Rio, present chief minister T.R.Zeliang( who has been sworn-in twice since 2014) and NPF president (since 2005 and briefly chief minis-
ter from February 22 to July 19)-have been the factors for the changing equations within NPF. T.R.Zeliang joined hands with Lok Sabha MP Neiphiu Rio to counter onetime patron Dr.Shürhozelie. However, the marriage of convenience lasted for hardly five months and presently T.R.Zeliang and Dr.Shürhozelie have reconciled. The state police was also rocked by a huge scam widely repor ted in the national media when IT sleuths in Kochi unearthed unaccounted money worth Rs. 400 crore from a firmSreevalsam Group- owned by MKR Pillai and his family. Pillai was re-employed as consultant at PHQ after retirement as Add.SP. Dr.Shürhozelie as chief minister had asked for CBI probe on Pillai but after he demitted office nothing had been heard. The other issues that have been in public domain involved blatant corruption and irregularities in the high echelons of the government as highlighted by Nagaland Public Rights Awareness and Action Forum (NPRAAF) and ACAUT Nagaland. Funds allocated
twice to one project and also full payments made for less than 25% of works done and also questionable payments made in various government departments have yet to see positive response from the government. The state is scheduled to go for election sometime at the end of February 2018 but the confusion within political parties is rife as the cycle of crisis within NPF has seriously eroded public confidence in the elected members. Even so, the demand by the elected members and also the house resolution to the government of India for an early solution and in anticipation, to postpone election has only added to the confusion. The death of veteran Naga nationalist from Myanmar and leader of NSCN(K) S.S.Khaplang on June 9, 2017 and election of Khango Konyak as the chairman NSCN(K) on June 21, 2017 were also another major development in Naga national politics. As Nagaland welcomes 2018 with all unresolved issues, the outcome of the expected election in February 2018 will show who the people trust to take care of their problems.
CM donates `1.2 lakh as relief to fire victims
TR Zeliang interacting with elders and affected families at the spot on Saturday morning. (CMO)
DIMAPUR, DEC 30 (NPN): Nagaland chief minister (CM), T. R Zeliang donated Rs. 10,20,000 as an immediate relief measure for the families who lost their homes in the December 29 fire at Burma Camp bazaar. Informing of this in a
communiqué, press secretary to the chief minister, Azeu Namcyn Hau said that the amount was handed over to the Dimapur district administration so that it may be disbursed equally among the 102 affected families at Rs. 10,000 each. He said that the CM
rushed to the spot in the morning to evaluate the situation first hand and on reaching the spot he assured the families and elders that were present that all possible relief measures would be taken. According to Azeu, the CM termed the incident as “very unfortunate” and also directed the Nagaland State Disaster Management Agency and the district administration to immediately start assessing the situation for further necessary relief actions. The chief minister also extended profound sympathy to the affected victims, the communiqué added. It may be noted that a fire ravaged the Burma Camp Bazaar area and was suspected to have started from a kerosene-stove in one of the hutments. 102 families lost their homes although no fatalities have been reported.
Dense fog in Delhi; 36 trains delayed, 13 cancelled NEW DELHI, DEC 30 (AGENCIES): As North India continues to reel under dense fog, train services remain disrupted in the national capital. As many as 36 Delhi-bound trains were on Saturday delayed and another 13 were cancelled. In addition, at least two trains were rescheduled by the Indian Railways due to foggy weather. North-western plains, including Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and West Uttar Pradesh, were covered under dense fog on Friday morning. The train routes were affected due to low visibility and other operational reasons. In a written reply in the Lok Sabha, Railway Minister Piyush Goyal had said that 3,119 trains were delayed fog between November 1 and December 21 on account of fog. Goyal had said portable global positioning system (GPS)-based fog pass devices were being issued to the loco pilots for the regions which get seriously affected due to fog.
NCR air quality dips to ‘severe’ New Delhi, Dec 30 (IANS): Air quality in the National Capital Region (NCR) worsened to “severe” on Saturday with a drop in wind speed and lowering of effluents’ mixing height, officials said. According to the Central Pollution Control Board, the air quality across 16 active monitoring stations of Delhi was severe, with major pollutant PM2.5 or particle with diameter less than 2.5 micrometres recorded at 274 units at about 8.00 p.m.- about 11 times the international safe limit. The Air Quality Index (AQI) of Delhi on Saturday was 395 points which is considered “very poor” and on the verge of turning into “severe”. On Friday, the AQI was 364 points in Delhi. The national safe limit for PM2.5 is 60 microgrammes per cubic metre, while the international is 25 units.
`2.5 lakh crore for new NE roads
KAZIRANGA, DEC 30 (AGENCIES): The Central government has sanctioned Rs 2.5 lakh crore for the construction of new roads in the North Eastern region. This was announced by Union Minister of Road Transport, Highways and Shipping, Nitin Gadkari on Saturday evening after the review meeting with chief ministers and State PWD ministers of the region. This is the first time in the history of India after Independence that such a huge amount of money for roads in the North East has been announced. Addressing media persons here, Gadkari said, “Our Government will give first priority to the North Eastern states including Sikkim. So to develop these States, I have already sanctioned about 32,000 km road for the North East. I have given permissions to the chief ministers of all these eight States to make review of all the roads already completed or yet to be completed.” Giving a breakup of the sanctioned amount for the development of road and infrastructure in the region, the Union Minister said: “I have sanctioned Rs.
Will personally monitor the progress of each project in NE on a regular basis - Nitin Gadkari 1 lakh crore to Assam, Rs. 25000 crore to Arunachal Pradesh, Rs. 12000 crore to Mizoram, Rs. 22000 crore to Meghalaya, Rs. 20000 crore to Nagaland, Rs. 17000 crore to Sikkim and Rs. 8000 crore to Tripura.” Gadkari conveyed his ministry’s priority to complete 262 road projects involving a financial outlay of Rs 2 lakh crore in the North East. He also underscored the need for strict adherence to the time-frame to complete the existing projects related to several national highways in the region. Gadkari also asked NHIDCL and NHAI to extend full cooperation to the state governments for expeditious completion of all the pending projects and start the works of new projects on a fast track basis. Taking a stern view at the purported delay in completing some of the road projects in the region, Gadkari asked the implement-
ing agencies the reasons responsible for the delay and ensure early completion of the projects. Regarding the encumbrances faced by the NHIDCL and NHAI which come in the way of successful and expeditious completion of the ongoing and upcoming projects in the region, Gadkari asked them to report to the chief ministers and the chief secretaries concerned to remove the bottlenecks. Gadkari also asked the chief secretaries of the states concerned to take review of the ongoing projects every three months and send the report to the Ministry. He also maintained that he would personally monitor the progress of each project in the North East on a regular basis. Gadkari also maintained that the construction projects in the North East would also be divided in parts if required, to involve local contractors.
Assam ups secuirty as draft NRC to be published today GUWAHATI, DEC 30 (AGENCIES): On Saturday midnight millions across Assam will be glued to their smart phones or computer screens trying to find out whether their names are in an updated draft recording details of Indian citizens amid heightened security in the state. The first part-draft of the contentious updated National Register of Citizens (NRC), a process which is being undertaken only in Assam with a view to weed out illegal immigrants, will be made public on December 31st midnight. Apprehending violence and unruly incidents from those whose names get left out from the first draft, nearly 45,000 police and paramilitary forces have been deployed in sensitive places across the state. Army has been kept on standby for emergency. The draft would be crucial for many like
Mohd Azmal Hoque. The retired junior commissioned officer from Indian Army would be praying his name and the rest of his family members and relatives are listed. The 49-year-old had hit the headlines two months ago when he was summoned
by a foreigners’ tribunal asking him to prove he is an Indian and not an illegal Bangladeshi immigrant. Following public outcry and verification of his records, the police claimed that the notice sent to him was a case of mistaken identity.
6.8 lakh in NRC for Karbi Anglong
Diphu Correspondent Adds: 6.8 Lakh names of residents have been incorporated into the National Register of Citizens roll for Karbi Anglong district of Assam according to Deputy Commissioner of Karbi Anglong, Adil Khan. “After publication of the first draft there will be time for claims and objection, it’s needless to think otherwise, in this draft roll, 6.8 lakh names of residents of this district have been incorporated and the best effort has been made to make the NRC correct and fault free, any individual can check the list by visiting the websites and toll free numbers” Adil Khan mentioned in an official press conference on Saturday.. He has urged all stakeholders to not panic and or listen to any kind of rumors from any undependable source on this issue. Quoting numbers of government websites Khan said that every legitimate citizen’s name that has fulfilled the decisive factors has been enlisted in the draft roll.
Only 7% of `9,860 cr spent so far under Smart City Mission: Govt Former CM Lapang removed as NEW DELHI, DEC 30 (AGENCIES): Out of Rs 9,860 crore released to 60 cities under the Smart City Mission only seven per cent, or about Rs 645 crore, have been utilised so far, an issue which has raised concerns in the Urban Affairs Ministry. Of the Rs 196 crore released to each of around 40 cities, Ahmedabad has spent the maximum amount of Rs 80.15 crore, followed by Indore (Rs 70.69 crore), Surat (Rs 43.41 crore) and Bhopal Rs 42.86 crore, according to a data of the Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry. On the other hand, the data revealed that of the sanctioned funds Andaman and Nicobar could utilise only Rs 54 lakh, Ranchi 35 lakh, and Aurangabad Rs 85 lakh. A HUA official recently said the ministry was concerned about the
Smart government
Smart health
Mobility/ Wi/Fi
Smart manufacturing
Open data
Smart farming/ agriculture
Smart/ digital citizens
Smart grid/ energy/ utilities
Smart buildings Smart transportation
SMART CITY COMPONENTS “unsatisfactory” progress of the project in some of the cities. He had said that the ministry would approach the cities that are lagging behind to find out the “bottlenecks” with an aim for speedy implementation of
the projects. Among cities which got around Rs 111 crore each from the Centre, Vodadara has spent Rs 20.62 crore, Namchi in Sikkim spent Rs 6.80 crore, while Salem, Vellore and Thanjavur in Tamil Nadu could
utilise only Rs five lakh, Rs six lakh and Rs 19 lakh, respectively. Ninety cities have so far been selected by the government under the smart city mission and each of them will get Rs 500 crore as central assistance
for implementing various projects. The cities are required to set up Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) to get funds from the Centre for the implementation of the project.
Rs 14000cr for 8 NE Smart City projects
In October last, Hardeep Singh Puri informed that 464 projects costing Rs 14,124 crore were approved for eight cities of the North East under the Smart Cities Mission. It includes Rs 826crore Brahmaputra riverfront development project in Guwahati and Rs 409 crore ropeway project in Kohima. Currently, five projects costing Rs 95.5 crore were under execution, the minister said after reviewing the progress of urban missions in the North Eastern states.
Meghalaya Congress president
NEW DELHI, DEC 30 (IANS): A day after five Congress MLAs resigned from the Meghalaya Assembly to contest upcoming polls on the ticket of NDA-affiliated National People’s Party (NPP), Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Saturday removed former chief minister, D.D. Lapang as state unit president and replaced him with Celestine Lyngdoh. Lyngdoh is a cabinet Minister in Chief Minister Mukul Sangma’s cabinet. Vincent H. Pala, who is a Lok Sabha MP from Shillong, has been appointed PCC working president. However, in a bid to assuage Lapang, Gandhi has appointed him as advisor of Pradesh Congress Committee. Gandhi also appointed Celestine Lyngdoh as president of the 13-member Pradesh Election Committee for the upcoming assembly
elections in the state. Among the others who are present in the Election Committee are chief minister, Mukul Sangma, Vincent H. Pala, James S. Lyngdoh, D.D. Lapang, Debora C. Marak, M.M. Danggo, R.C. Laloo, Kennedy C. Khyriem, Cherak W. Momin, Charles Pyngrope, R.V. Lyngdoh, Joplin Scott Shylla. In a setback to the Congress in Meghalaya, eight MLAs including five from Congress, on Friday resigned from the assembly to contest the polls on the ticket of NPP, which is part of NDA. The Congress legislators, who include former deputy CM Rowell Lyngdoh, former ministers Prestone Tynsong, Coming One Ymbon, Sniawbhalang Dhar and Ngaitlang Dhar submitted their resignation letters to Assembly commissioner and secretary, Andrew Simon. K Y M C