Nagaland Post www.nagalandpost.com
Vol XXXI No. 68
DIMAPUR, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2021 Pages 12 ` 5.00
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international, Page 9
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Need to move swiftly for Naga solution: Ravi
Correspondent
KOHIMA, FEB 12 (NPN): Nagaland Governor, R.N. Ravi asserted that political negotiations between the Government of India and the Naga Groups over the past many years has “concluded” and that there was now a need for efforts to build on the substantial gains made so far and move swiftly for the final solution. Addressing the inaugural session seventh session of 13th Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA), Ravi reminded the house on what was described as “historic consultative meeting” at Kohima on October 15, 2020 where all the tribal hohos, civil society organizations, political parties and representatives of various other sections of the society deliberated on the Naga Political issue. He said the meeting was held to reiterate “one solution for the Naga Political Issue” after which a seven-point resolution was unanimously adopted. Ravi said that even as the entire nation was fighting COVID-19 pandemic, the Centre’s focus for the past many months, was for early resolution to the long-drawn
Illegal tax at check gate under probe, says DFO Dimapur DIMAPUR, FEB 12 (NPN): In connection with the Nagaland Timber Traders’ Union (NTTU) allegation of illegal tax collection by forest personnel manning Check Gate Chumuokedima on February 10 last, the divisional forest officer (DFO) Dimapur Friday said that matter was under investigation and assured that appropriate action would be taken against any personnel found guilty. In a press release, DFO Dimapur informed that at present no forest check gate was operating at Chumukedima. DFO stated that check gates were primarily located at inter-state boundaries only. DFO, however, said mobile team was deployed frequently in order to contain any sort of illegal activities during the movement of forest produce. Further, DFO said that for movement of forest produce including timber within the State or its exports outside Nagaland, the various provisions in NFA 1986, NFTR 1969, NTFR 2017 and NJA 1970 were applicable. According to DFO, the orders pronounced by the Supreme Court from time to time regarding movement of timber was also adhered to.
This is it!
“They’re on the move. They’ve shifted gear from tractors rally and next to trains blockade.” K Y M C
Governor RN Ravi addressing the assembly session, Friday. (DIPR)
Naga political issue. He also referred to the December 18, 2020 joint statement issued by chief minister Neiphiu Rio and leader of opposition TR Zeliang which welcomed the positive approach of the Centre under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah in expediting the ongoing peace talks and urging upon all Naga groups to come together under a spirit of reconciliation, mutual trust and understanding, and strive with sincerity. He said the joint statement also urged upon Naga organisations to uphold the values of reconciliation and non-violence in the interest of the future of Naga people. Law and order: Ravi described the law and order
situation in the State as largely peaceful though admitting that there were some localised incidents. However, he said these were contained with swiftness by the district administration and police and called upon people to hat Nagas must continue to strengthen the capabilities of Nagaland Police. To enhance tackling crime against women, he said a woman police station at Kiphire was established which will also cover all 11 districts. He said the government also intended to establish one such police station in the newly-created Noklak district soon. To improve technical capacities in fighting cyber crime, Ravi informed that a Cyber Crime Prevention Against Women and
TMC MP Dinesh Trivedi resigns Feeling suffocated in the party which is ‘no longer in hands of’ Mamata NEW DELHI, FEB 12 (PTI): Trinamool Congress MP Dinesh Trivedi Friday resigned from his Rajya Sabha seat just a couple of months before the assembly polls in West Bengal, saying he is feeling suffocated in the party which is “no longer in hands of ” its supremo Mamata Banejee. His resignation came two days after he had endorsed Prime Minister Modi’s speech in Lok Sabha in which he called for a key role of the private sector. Trivedi, who represented West Bengal in Rajya Sabha for the third time and was a former railway minister, announced his resignation in the house during a debate on the Union Budget, saying he cannot
Children Lab-cum-Training Centre (CCPWC) was made operational with cyber cells set up in all districts to investigate cyber crimes. He also mentioned that Nagaland Police has set up “anti-extortion cells” in all districts to work in close coordination with other law enforcement and security agencies to tackle the menace of extortion and curb illegal taxation and other illegal activities. The governor said police had played an exceptional role in enforcing SOPs and transporting essential goods during the fight against COVID-19. Health: He appreciated doctors, nurses and all frontline workers for their determined and selfless services while battling COVID-19 under very demanding circumstances, even as the mortality rate due to the virus remained relatively less in Nagaland than other States. He also thanked mass-based organisations and churches for their whole-hearted support to the government in its fight against COVID-19. Ravi expressed satisfaction with the State Government for successfully combating the COVID-19
pandemic by setting up three BSL labs when the state did not have even a single testing lab besides acquiring 32 TrueNat machines. He said capacities were enhanced by private healthcare providers who walked handin-hand in the fight against COVID-19, while the State government took steps to increase the number of health professionals and workers in public health facilities by creating 134 posts of doctors, 221 posts of nurses, 23 posts of technicians and 12 posts for the BSL labs. He informed the House that the Health & family welfare department was setting up medical oxygen generation plants in 10 district hospitals and Jalukie community health centre with a total generation capacity of 1,680 litre of oxygen per minute, which would reduce dependence on pre-filled oxygen cylinders and ensure ready availability of bedside oxygen for patients. Acknowledging that the pandemic-induced lockdown had adversely affected many economic activities, affecting revenue generation and receipt, the governor said the government had
sports, Page 12
Rahul-BJP war of words over LAC disengagement pact with China PM Modi is a coward who cannot stand up to the Chinese
NEW DELHI, FEB 12 (PTI/AGENCIES): Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday called Prime Minister Modi “a coward” who cannot stand up to the Chinese. Addressing a press conference, Gandhi said the PM has “not fulfilled the responsibility of protecting India’s territory” and has instead ceded territory to China. “The PM is a coward who cannot stand up to the Chinese. He is spitting on the sacrifice of our army. He is betraying the sacrifice of our army. Nobody in India should be allowed to do it,” Gandhi said. Gandhi questioned why the PM did not make a statement on LAC situation, and said Defence minister Rajnath Singh “sheepishly” made a statement on the issue in both Houses of Parliament. “The Prime Minister should say - I have given Indian land to China, this is the truth,” he said targeting Modi. He said it has emerged that Indian troops are now going to be stationed at Finger 3 at Pangong Tso lake. “Finger-4 is our territory, that is where our post used to be. So, now we have moved from Finger-4 to Finger-3. Why has Prime Minister Modi given up Indian Ter(Cont’d on p-5) ritory to the Chinese?,” Gandhi said.
District
Petrol
Diesel
Dimapur
Rs. 90.55
Rs. 81.30
Kiphire
Rs. 93.57
Rs. 84.01
Kohima
Rs. 91.47
Rs. 82.02
Longleng
Rs. 92.64
Rs. 83.17
Mokokchung
Rs. 92.62
Rs. 83.06
Mon
Rs. 92.17
Rs. 82.75
Peren
Rs. 90.80
Rs. 81.52
Phek
Rs. 91.66
Rs. 82.29
Tuensang
Rs. 93.54
Rs. 83.88
Wokha
Rs. 92.08
Rs. 82.58
Zunheboto
Rs. 92.89
Rs. 83.25
DIMAPUR, FEB 12 (NPN): Fuel prices were revised across the country for the fourth straight day on Friday, as the state-run Oil Marketing Companies (OMC) hiked petrol and diesel prices by 29 and 38 paise per litre respectively. A litre of petrol in Delhi is selling at Rs. 88.14 and diesel is at Rs. 78.38 a litre. With the latest hike, a litre of petrol in Dimapur is selling at a record high of Rs. 90.55, while
diesel is at Rs. 81.30 per litre. In the State capital-- Kohima, petrol price was at its all time high at Rs. 91.47 per litre and diesel is retailing at Rs. 82.02.
Govt told to cut taxes
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) had suggested that the Union and state governments reduce taxes on petroleum products to provide some relief to customers who are paying record high prices for petrol and
diesel. “Pump prices of petrol and diesel have reached historical highs. An unwinding of taxes on petroleum products by both the Centre and the states could ease the cost-push pressures,” the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) said. The statement comes a few days after the Centre imposed an agricultural infrastructure and development cess on petrol and diesel at the rate of Rs 2.5 and Rs 4 per litre, respectively, in the Budget. However, the government proportionately reduced basic excise duty and special additional excise duty to make it a revenue-neutral exercise and also to ensure that consumers are not affected. Assam cuts fuel price by Rs. 5: The Assam State Assembly election is still two months away but the BJP is already paving the way to woo voters. The state’s finance minister Himanta Biswa Sarma withdrew additional cess on petrol, diesel and alcohol on Friday. (Read more on p-4)
NLA session: Gov highlights projects implemented by depts DIMAPUR, FEB 12 (NPN): State Governor RN Ravi, while addressing the seventh session of the 13th NLA on February 12, highlighted about various projects implemented by the departments. Rural Development: Governor said department had been implementing several major development programmes for the rural people through 1285 VDBs in the State and under MGNREGS, during the current financial year. Out of the approved labour budget of Rs. 200 lakh person days, 152.72 lakh person days have been generated till date, he said. Among others, Ravi also said that under PMAY-G against the fund received, 1316 Houses were earmarked to be constructed in the State and in NSRLM the key achievements during the current financial year has been facilitating behaviour change among rural population towards Community Preparedness and Resilience to COVID-19 through
Rahul Gandhi
He must ask his grandfather about who gave India’s territory to China
GK Reddy
Ministry of Defence (MoD) as well as the BJP came out with a hard-hitting response. A MoD statement said that on the contrary India has enforced observance and respect for the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and prevented any unilateral change in the status quo. It said those who doubt the achievements made possible by the sacrifices of the country’s military personnel are actually disrespecting them while MoS home G Kishan Reddy said the Congress leader must “ask his grandfather (Nehru) about who has given India’s territory to China.” “He must ask his grandfather (Jawaharlal Nehru) about who has given India’s territory to China, he will get the answer.. Who is a patriot and who is not, the public knows it all,” said Reddy. BJP president J P Nadda asserted that Gandhi’s claim was an “insult” to the armed forces who are leading the disengagement strategy. Nadda also wondered why Gandhi was bent upon making a false claim that the disengagement is a “loss’’ for India, and asked is it a part of “INC-China MoU”. The MoD said the territory of India is as depicted in the map of India and includes more than 43,000 sq km currently under illegal occupation of China since 1962.
Fuel prices skyrocket for fourth straight day Advertise 5 unadvertised
Dinesh Trivedi
speak about the violence in his state. He handed over his resignation to chairman M Venkaiah Naidu and it has been accepted. Minutes after his resignation, BJP general secretary and party’s West Bengal in-charge Kailash Vijayvargiya said Trivedi is welcome in the party. Assembly elections in West Bengal are due in April-May. Announcing his resignation, Trivedi said, “If you sit here quietly and cannot do anything, then it is better that you resign from here and go to the land of Bengal and be with people. What I mean to say is the way violence is taking place in our state. Sitting here, I am feeling perplexed as to what should I do.”
Hyderabad FC hold SC East Bengal 1-1 draw
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SHG network covering 1,14,463 households in all the intensive villages across the State. School Education: Following the closure of schools in the state as a result of the COVID19 pandemic and imposition of lockdown, he said the School Education department took the initiative of implementing online digital education since March in the state to ensure that students do not suffer. He also said the department developed ‘online students evaluation portal, online school monitoring system, Teacher’s app and teachers’ online transfer portal and ensured that the teaching-learning activities were effectively carried out. Ravi also informed that the decision on resuming classes for lower classes will be taken in due course of time. Power: Ravi said Centre sanctioned Rs 42.18 cr under DDUGJY-NEW (Phase-II) scheme, for construction of new power sub-stations, electrification of un-electrified villages
and village intensive electrification, metering of distribution transformers and feeders in 12 districts of Nagaland. And to strengthen the transmission ability in the state, he said the capacity of the sub-station at RESS Nagarjan, Dimapur, was upgraded from 100MVA to 200MVA which was officially commissioned on December 9, 2020. The department would be further developing 220kV downstream connectivity from 400kV substation at Zhadima (Kalpataru) to the State owned 220kV sub-station at Zhadima which would greatly improve power stability in Kohima, Kiphire, Phek & Wokha districts in particular and the whole state of Nagaland in general. The project is scheduled for completion by March 2021, he said. Road: With road sector being of the most important aim of his Government, Ravi said Nagaland PWD (NH) has taken up 1095.56 kilometers National Highways out of the
total of 1507.88 kilometers of NH existing in the State and it were carrying out several road improvement and widening works. The NH-2 from Botsa to Tsungiki Bazaar (km 40.00 to km 101.00) and from Yisemyong to Unger (km 168.0 to km 185.00), about 78 kilometers in all, were widened and strengthening of existing pavement for 173.46 kilometers on NH-2, NH-702B & NH-702A were also in good progress, Ravi informed. Further he said during the current financial year 2020-21, improvement works of the city portion of Dimapur (New Field Check Gate to Patkai Bridge via Purana Bazar and Chumukedima = 17.3 KM) has been completed successfully while also tenders for awarding of work for widening to two lane road from Tsungiki Bazaar to Izheto Village (km. 101.00 to km 125.00) on NH-2, and strengthening of NH-2 from TCP gate to IG Stadium (Km 0.00 to Km 6.00) are underway. (Cont’d on p-5)
posts: NNQF urges NPSC
DIMAPUR, FEB 12 (NPN): Asserting that out of the 110 sanctioned posts of assistant professor and librarian under the higher education department, only 105 posts have been advertised till date, the Nagaland NET Qualified Forum (NNQF) has appealed to the Nagaland Public Service Commission (NPSC) to advertise the five unadvertised posts. In a press release, NNQF stated that as per RTI reply, the reason cited for withholding five posts in the first Common Educational Service Examination (CESE) advertisement was that the matter was under review and examination. Expressing hope that the reviewing and examination have been completed by now, the Nagaland NET Qualified Forum has requested the Commission to advertise the remaining five posts. Further, the forum said that the online mode of registration and application was proving to be a problem to many of the candidates. It said that since timeframe for CESE application was from February 5-26, 2021, many remain apprehensive of being left out due to inability to register or failing to fill the applications on time. NNQF has, therefore, appealed to the NPSC to ensure that all candidates applying for the CESE were accommodated despite prevailing technical glitches.
State COVID Air travel to be costlier as tally 12176 fare limits by up to 30 pc
DIMAPUR, FEB 12 (NPN): Nagaland on Friday reported one COVID-19 positive case in Kohima, taking the tally to 12176. As on February 12, the state recorded 77 active cases while 11861 patients have recovered so far from the infection. 10,908 inoculated: A total of 754 beneficiaries were vaccinated on Friday taking the total vaccinated tally in the state to 10,908. State immunization officer (UIP) Dr. Ritu Thurr stated that 6,710 healthcare workers and 4,198 frontline workers have been vaccinated till date. To speed up the process, he said the last date for health care workers vaccination would be February 20 across the state. The second dose vaccination for healthcare workers would start from February 15, 2021 for those who have already received the first dose.
NEW DELHI, FEB 12 (PTI): Passengers will have to shell out more money for air travel from now as the civil aviation ministry increased the lower and upper limits on domestic airfares by 10-30%. These new limits would remain “in force up to March 31, 2021, or until further orders”, the ministry said its order on Thursday. While announcing the resumption of scheduled domestic flights on May 21 last year, the ministry had placed limits on airfares through seven bands classified on the basis of flight duration. The first such band consists of flights that are of less than 40 minutes duration. The lower limit for the first band was increased on Thursday from Rs 2,000 to Rs 2,200. The upper limit in this band was set at Rs 7,800, which was Rs 6,000 earlier. The subsequent bands are for flights with durations of 40-60 minutes, 60-90 minutes, 90-120 minutes, 120-150 minutes, 150180 minutes and 180-210 minutes. The fresh lower and upper limits set by the ministry for these bands were: Rs 2,800 – Rs 9,800; Rs 3,300 – Rs 11,700; Rs 3,900 – Rs 13,000; Rs 5,000 – Rs 16,900; Rs 6,100 – Rs 20,400; Rs 7,200 – Rs 24,200, respectively. K Y M C