British-era Hydel Project Re-commissioned in Mehalaya

Shillong, Dec 17 : Meghalaya’s heritage project, the Sonapani mini-hydel power project has been officially re-commissioned Thursday by Chief minister Mukul Sangma.The Sonapani mini-hydel power project at Lum Kshaid, Mawprem, set up in 1925, which was abandoned in 1982, started in 2001.

However, the actual construction of the Rs 9.88 crore project commenced in 2004. Commercial distribution through the 1.5 MW project was started in 2010. Dedicating 1.5 MW hydel project to the people of Meghalaya, Dr Sangma stressed on the need to increase power generation in order to bring down the electricity charges.

The revival of the British-era project, which was abandoned in 1982, started in 2001. However, the actual construction of the Rs 9.88 crore project commenced in 2004.

Commercial distribution through the 1.5 MW project was started in 2010. Besides being one of the three oldest power projects in the country, the project was also an opportunity for the Meghalaya government to commission a power project in the state after over 30 years.

The genesis of the project was sowed through a report in 1908 prepared by J.W. Meares, which pointed out that Shillong was one of the “worst lit” hill stations, though it was the Summer Capital of the New Province (Eastern Bengal and Assam).

Based on the Meares report, the Sonapani Mini Hydel Electric Project, as it is now called, was constructed and commissioned in 1922 by the Shillong Hydro Electric Supply Company Pvt. Ltd. which was owned by former West Bengal chief minister B.C. Roy. The project, as commissioned in 1922, consisted of two weirs, one on the Umkhrah river and the other on the Umshyrpi river.

The waters from these two weirs were carried by open channels to the forebay at a distance of 632 metres and 1145 metres, respectively.

However, the erstwhile Meghalaya State Electricity Board (MeSEB), now known as Meghalaya Energy Corporation Limited (MeECL), had planned to revive the project in 2001 and the government started the work in 2004. The project was completed in 2009 and the commissioning of the revived scheme was done in 2010.

The total cost of the project was Rs 9.88 crore, out of which, Rs 6.75 crore was funded by the Union ministry of new and renewable energy. “Our requirements (power) can be met through renewable energy resources and by leaving aside all those sources of power dependent on the fossil fuels which contribute towards global warming,” Dr Sangma said.

Stating that it was imperative to invest more in the power sector, Sangma cautioned the people not to “misunderstand” the intentions of the government. “The intention of the government when it wants to invest more on power projects should not be misunderstood. The misunderstanding might have happened because of lack of clarity,” Dr Sangma said.

Mizoram To Have 15 RMSA Schools Before Christmas

Aizawl, Dec 16 : Newly-constructed 15 RMSA higher secondary schools would be opened before Christmas to enable them to commence classes from the next academic session, RMSA state project director said today. Another eight (RMSA) schools are likely to be opened during January next year, T Rohmingliana, the SPD, said in an official statement.

Each school was constructed at the cost of Rs 55.50 lakh, 90 per cent of which was funded by the Central government while the remaining 10 per cent was shared by the state government.

Each building has four classrooms, a science laboratory, a computer room, art/craft/culture room, a library, a teachers common room, a principal room and two toilet blocks separately for boys and girls.

The Classrooms are designed to accommodate 35 students and a computer room has a space for ten computer sets, the official said. Teachers and laboratory assistants have been recruited so as to start classes from the new year, he added.

The RMSA schools in Aizawl district to be opened before Christmas are: Zotlang HS, Phunchawng HS and Sesawng HS to be inaugurated by education minister Lalsawta and his parliamentary secretary Chawngtinthanga on December 16 and December 21 respectively. In Champhai district: Champhai Vengthlang HS and Zokhawthar HS near the Myanmar border.

They will be inaugurated by constituency legislator T T Zothansanga tomorrow. In Kolasib district: Bualpui HS and Serkhan HS. They will be inaugurated by local MLA Hmingdailova Khiangte and education secretary Esther Lalruatkimi respectively on December 16 and 17.

In Mamit district, the RMSA school is Luangpawl HS, and it will be inaugurated by RMSA state project director. There are three RMSA schools-- Hrangchalkawn HS, Ralvawng HS and Thenhlum HS to be inaugurated on December 16, 19 and 21 respectively by Parliamentary Secretary S Laldingliana, HPC-Lunglei vice-chairman Joseph Lalhimpuia and RMSA Lunglei district PD S T Zaduna.

In Lawngtlai district, there are two--Siachangkawn HS and Rulkual HS--to be inaugurated by parliamentary secretary H Zothangliana on December 16 and 19.

Saiha district has two RMSA schools, Chapui HS and Kawlchaw E HS, which will be inaugurated by Saiha ADC chief executive member S Khipo on December 19.

Mizoram To Produce 2,000 MW Power

Aizawl, Dec 16 : Once all the ongoing hydro electric projects in Mizoram are completed, the state will produce at least 2,000 MW of power, a significant leap from the present capacity of generating 17.50 MW. Mizoram has a capacity to produce during the peak season only 17.50 MW of electricity, against the total requirement of 100 MW.

Once all the ongoing projects are completed, the state will produce 2,000 MW, Parliamentary Secretary (power & electricity) Lal Thanzara said during a National Energy Conservation Day function here yesterday.

A lot of money will have to be spent to achieve that, he said adding conservation of energy is as important as generating it. Whereas there is shortage of power all over the country, judicious use of energy presently available could save 25,000 MW of power, he maintained.

The state government has signed memorandums of understanding to construct 460 MW Kolodyne Hydro Electric Project, 815 MW Lungreng Hydro Electric Project, 635 MW Chhimtuipui Hydro Electric Project, 76 MW Mat Hydro Electric Project, 42 MW Tuivawl Hydro Electric Project and 38 MW Tuirini Hydro Electric Project.

Construction of 210 MW Tuivai Hydro Electric Project under public private partnetship and 12 MW Serlui B and 60 MW Tuirial Hydro Electric Project are expected to complete in the next few years.

The power and state electricity department was introduced into Mizoram only in 1962 when a diesel engine generated 75 KW of power in Aizawl.

During today s function, Lal Thanzara handed over state energy conservation award 2011 for hospital group to Greenwood Hospital.

Among the hotels/guest houses, the state guest house received the award. The award carries Rs 10,000 in cash an certificate.

He also distributed prizes of painting competition on the topic of energy conservation among school students.

As conservation measures, the state government has introduced light emitting diode (LED) street lights in Aizawl. Plans are on to install 120 LED street lights in Lunglei in February 2012.

Manipuri Kids Score for Peace

By Mercy Kamei

Footballs returns many Manipuri childhoods and offers a better future.

Even as the ethnic conflict between the Naga and Kuki tribes continues to burn the Chandel district of Manipur, hope shines in an unlikely corner. The children of the conflict are attempting to affect
catharsis over the region. They are reconciling their troubled histories, making peace with their rivals and coming together on the ground for a round of that most beautiful game – football.

“The struggle of Manipur has been long and complicated,” says Kamei Mercy, IndiaUnheard Community Correspondent from Manipur. “Just the sight of these children coming together and playing is a vision that one wishes to keep for the future.”

In 2006, the Ministry of Panchayat Raj named Chandel among one of the 250 most backward districts in the country. Poverty, unemployment and malnourishment are rife. There are no proper healthcare facilities or schools. The prolonged civil strife has paralyzed the district. It is a heavily militarized zone with over one military personnel for less than 50 civilians.

Children are one of the most vulnerable groups in the regions. Some are recruited as child soldiers by the insurgent groups. Many children have killed in cross-fires between the army and the insurgents. They are illiterate and malnourished, the war has broken their families. They are easy prey for trafficking and child labour cartels. They are emotionally scarred and psychologically damaged by the violence, fear and displacement.

The sports are an initiative of the Manipuri Alliance for Child Rights, a right based forum of NGOs, people’s organizations, activists and individuals who are working for child rights in the state of Manipur.

“Education and healthcare are essential,” says Mercy. “But there is something more about a game of football. Your playmates are your first idea of community and in getting the children to play sports, the
Manipuri Alliance for Child Rights is doing a great job in restoring not only their childhoods but a sense of community among the future citizens of Manipur.”

The Naga-Kuki conflict has been a long standing and bloody fight for the control of land and resources. In the late 60s, the Kuki tribes were forced to immigrate from Burmese borders to the hills of North
East Indian to avoid being persecuted by the Burmese military.   With the rise of Naga insurgency in the 1990s, the Kuki became the target of ethnic cleansing. Entire settlements were razed to the ground. The intervention of the Indian Army only escalated the violence and the Kuki were once again caught in between.

“The situation of Manipur needs fresh ideas and outlooks,” says Mercy. “There children are our hope. They’re scoring one for peace.”

Source: indiaunheard.videovolunteers.org

Cold Wave Grips Manipur

Imphal, Dec 16 : Manipur is in the grip of a cold wave as the mercury plunged to 3.7 degree Celsius in the State capital today. The maximum temperature recorded was 22.7 degree, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Imphal sources said.

The minimum temperature of the volatile State that has around 10 degree Celsius in an average this month, has been gradually going down since Friday recording 8.4 degree Celsius.

Besides the State capital, the severe cold wave conditions also prevailed in other hill district headquarters of the State as Chandel recorded a minimum of 4.3 degree Celsius today, weather data observer of the ICAR, Imphal informed.

Similarly, hilly Tamenglong district headquarter, around 155 km west of here have been experiencing unusual cold since the last few days. “We’ve been facing chilly wind in the night forcing us to stay indoors,” says D Kamei, a resident of Tamenglong over phone. “There are also reports of snowfall in some parts of the town two days back.”

However, Tamenglong on record had a minimum temperature of just 6.4 degree Celsius on Wednesday against Tuesday’s 6.5. Churachandpur and Ukhrul are also experiencing similar cold waves.

So far January 21 having a minimum temperature of 2 degree Celsius is the coldest day of the current year against last year’s 2.3 degree Celsius as per Meteorological Office Imphal records on January 13.

“Even though coldest day of the year 2010 was in January, people feel colder this fortnight because fog has remained for a longer period,” MET office sources said.

The cold wave has forced households in Manipur to burn a huge amount of charcoal to burn their Meiphu (local charcoal heater).

Irina Shayk Will Bring you Holiday Warmth

I have no clue as to where Irina Shayk is in these pictures. But if this is how she is spending the Holidays then I'm with her. The stocking stuffing will take care of itself after that.

56 Trained Officers March Out Of North Eastern Police Academy

Shillong, Dec 15 : As many as 56 police officers from Meghalaya, Manipur, Tripura, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh were commissioned into active policing after completing a year-long training in counter insurgency and counter terrorism operation at the North Eastern Police Academy (NEPA) here on Wednesday.

Calling upon the officers to be committed to their duties, Meghalaya deputy chief minister BM Lanong urged them to uphold the pledge of duty and sacrifice. "You are here not to take, but to give and serve the people. Police are the guardian of the law and peace makers," he said.

Apart from adequate outdoor training inputs in counter insurgency and counter terrorism, human rights and police-public relations, the young officers were also taken through a well researched training module approved by the Bureau of Police Research and Development of the Union government.

Deputy SP Thungrhoni Kikon of Nagaland was awarded the Meghalaya Governor's Sword of Honour for all round best probationer, the Meghalaya Chief Minister's Baton of Honour and the NEPA gold medal in indoor training.

Sub Inspector Th Sarda Devi of Manipur won the Meghalaya Governor's Sword of Honour award for all round best cadet.

Deputy SP Bomto Kamdak and Jummar Basar of Arunachal Pradesh also won the Arunachal Pradesh chief minister's Baton of Honour and NEPA gold medal respectively.

Established in 1978 to provide training to police personnel from the northeast, NEPA trains about 500 police officers annually.

In 2011 alone, 924 police officers from different parts of the country were trained in 41 in-service courses at the institute.

Mizoram Ministers Feel Better Being Chief Guests: PRISM

Aizawl, Dec 15 : Anti-corruption organisation PRISM(People Right to Information and Development Implementing Society of Mizoram) today alleged that the chief minister, the ministers and the parliamentary secretaries in Mizoram were more comfortable being chief guests than visiting development projects.

While the chief minister and the ministers visited ongoing development work under their respective departments for 49 times, they attended government and non-government functions as chief guests and guests of honour for a whooping 468 times during December one, 2010 to November 30, 2011.

Prism recorded the activities of the Chief Minister, ministers and parliamentary secretaries, based on government press releases, during the last eleven months and compiled them in a booklet Zopui which was released here yesterday.

According to the booklet, Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla topped the list by attending functions as chief guest for 94 times. He was followed by Education Minister Lalsawta for 43 times. Art, Culture and Transport Minister P C Zoramsangliana was 'an honourable chief guest' for 36 times.

Parliamentary Secretary to the chief minister, Lal Thanzara, the second-most important man in the Congress Ministry, attended function as chief guests for more than most of the senior Cabinet ministers, chief-guesting for 31 times.

Among the ministers, Social Welfare Minister P C Lalthanliana was number one when it comes to accompanying the chief minister or receiving him at the airport.

He did either of the two for 10 times, followed by parliamentary secretary H Zothangliana, accompanying or receiving the CM for nine times.

Since some programmes of the ministers were missed out in the government press releases, Prism pointed out that the actual number of times the ministers attended functions as chief guests could be much higher.

''If they (the chief minister and the ministers) had given more importance to visiting project sites or sitting in their offices, development would have been much faster,'' commented Prism president Vanlalruata.

During a discussion on the activities of the public servants, most of the participants felt this was due to the politicians’ thirst for publicity.

A few of them justified it as it gives an opportunity to highlight the government’s programmes, policies and achievements.

Regarding their tours to the rural areas, some participants said rural tours were necessary as they came into contact with the rural people for whom traveling to Aizawl was financially not viable.

However, some also argued that even if the ministers went to the villages, those they actually interacted with, were party workers.