Mizoram Steel Plant Ready To Roll

Aizawl, Jun 5 : The Mizoram's Iron Steel Plant Industry (ISPAT) ready to start production as 99 per cent of works have been completed.

"The only hurdle now is power supply. If the power and electricity department gives us power, we can start a test run within one week," ISPAT CEO Roshan Agarwal said.

The steel re-rolling industry has obtained clearance from the Mizoram pollution control board and the state's power and electricity department.

The industry will require at least four megawatt of power for which it has installed a 2500 KW transformer and two 500 KW transformers.

A power sub-station has been built at about eight kilometres from the industry.

The industry has submitted a proposal to the state's works department for maintenance of the approach road.

A plot of land measuring 15,000 square metres at Export Promotional Industrial Park (EPIP) was leased to the industry for a period of 99 years.

After the opposition Mizo National Front created a furore, the Congress government has recently reduced the term of landlease to the non-tribals' owned industry to 25 years, thus settling the dust.

The CEO said the industry will depend on 50 per cent recycled metal scraps from Mizoram and another 50 per cent virgin iron ore from West Bengal's Durgapur.

The industry has so far stocked 1,500 metric tonnes of metal scraps.

"We purchase metal scraps at Rs 20 to Rs 25 per kilogram, based on the quality of the metal," the CEO said and expressed concern that not a single Mizo has involved in the metal scraps business. The industry will utilise all the metal scraps in Mizoram thereby creating job opportunities.

The industry will also create 60 skilled jobs and another 60 unskilled jobs, the CEO said, adding that locals would be given preferences in the unskilled jobs.

The industry is expected to produce 90 tonnes of steel, including TMT bar, MS Angle, square bar and flat iron.

The company had availed Rs 20 crore loan from NEDFI and SBI, Guwahati to set up the plant. While 65 percent of the share is owned by Agarwal group, Baid group owns 33 percent, while a local C Lalduhawma, of Aizawl's Ramhlun Veng owns one percent share.

FIFA, AIFA To Start Football School in Mizoram

Guwahati, Jun 5 : Football in the northeast is all set to receive a huge boost as world body FIFA, in association with the All India Football Federation (AIFF), has agreed to set up an academy for developing the game at the grassroots level in the region.

Mizoram Football Association (MFA) secretary Lalnghinglova Hmar told IANS Monday that the academy will be fully functional after the monsoon season.


"Last year some FIFA and AIFF officials visited Mizoram and some other places for setting up grassroots football school. The FIFA and the AIFF had selected Aizawl for setting up the school considering the soccer potential in the hilly state," said Hmar.

"This grassroots school will be initially a one year project and it would be completely sponsored by FIFA. The international body will send their coaches and supporting staff as and when required to run the project," he said adding that all the football enthusiasts between the age of 6 to 12 will be provided international level coaching during the training sessions.

Hmar also informed that although FIFA had started such grassroots schools in African counties, it will be the first such project in India.

"We plan to start with three months training programmes and are expecting enrolment of over 50 enthusiasts for the first batch which is likely to be started by September this year," he said.

There are over 200 Mizo footballers playing for various clubs in the entire country. The Mizoram government had also supported the MFA for availing best of the trainings to football enthusiasts in the state.

"Over 80 percent of the children in Mizoram now dream of becoming a footballer. We have been trying to popularize football in each district sand villages and state government had also given us the much needed help in popularizing the game. The success of state's footballer like Jeje Lalpekhlua, who plays for Pune FC, have become an idol for the football enthusiasts in Mizoram," he said and added that the MFA will continue the grassroots football school, if FIFA withdraws its support after completion of one year.

Mizoram: Unresolved Tensions

By Veronica Khangchian

A 20-year insurgency, in what was then the Lushai Hills District of Assam (after 1972, the Union Territory of Mizoram) came to an end on June 30, 1986, with the signing of an accord between the rebel Mizo National Front (MNF) and the Government of India (GoI).

The accord resulted in the creation of Mizoram as a State in February 1987. The end of the insurgency, however, only solved the 'Mizo' (Lushai speaking people's) issues, leaving out the State's minority tribes, such as the Hmars and the Brus. Nagging issues continue to feed cycles of low grade strife, and the 'silent' activities of the Hmar (a Mizo tribe who trace their origin to Sinlung, the location of which is unclear) militants, under the Hmar People's Convention-Democracy (HPC-D), and the issue of Bru (Reang) refugees, remain unresolved, more than two-and-a-half decades after peace was restored to the State.

On May 24, 2012, the Hmar Peoples Convention (HPC), the main Hmar political party in north-eastern Mizoram, headquartered in the Sakawrdai area of Aizwal District, alleged that the Mizoram Government had failed to implement the Memorandum of Settlement (MoS) signed on July 27, 1994, between the HPC (till then an armed group) and the State Government. The 1994 Peace Agreement, which resulted in the formation of the Sinlung Hills Development Council (SHDC), was signed, inter alia, with the assurance that the SHDC would be elevated to a full-fledged Autonomous District Council (ADC) for the Hmars, after an interim period of two years. The matter has, however, been constantly deferred. Indeed, Hmar leaders allege that not a single assurance of the MoS has yet been fulfilled, and add that they will not continue to wait indefinitely. The HPC also accused the Young Mizo Association (YMA - Mizoram's biggest and most influential civic organisation) of interfering in the HPC's demand for an ADC under the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution, and promoting centrifugal forces among the Mizos, rather than unifying the community.

Bringing issues to a head, on April 18, 2012, the HPC-D served a 'dissolution order' to all YMA branches in the HPC-D demand area [the projected area of the proposed ADC] in north and northeastern Mizoram. The HPC-D accused the Central YMA (CYMA) President T. Sangkunga of making derogatory remarks against the Hmar community, and of opposing the upgradation of the SHDC to ADC status, and asserted that CYMA did not accept non-Lushai-speaking people as Mizos. Subsequently, at least 16 branches under YMA's Tuisual tendered their resignations on April 25, 2012 - the deadline announced by HPC-D. The Tuisual group is located in Aizwal, the heartland of HPC-D's demand area, while three other YMA groups - Tuivai, Serlui and Chalfilh - in the District, have a few branches falling under the demand area.

Meanwhile, Mizoram Home Minister R. Lalzirliana, rejecting the Hmar's ADC demand, reiterated, "The Mizoram Government would not support any demand of the creation of ADC and other related demands; and the Government does not have any will to give any ADC in any constituency." Lalzirliana had earlier stated, on April 25, 2012, "Three ADCs had been created in Mizoram without our consent. As Mizoram was a Union Territory at that time, we could not do anything. We are not giving any more ADC for any tribe." The Lai Autonomous District Council had been formed on April 29, 1972; the Mara Autonomous District Council, on 29 May 1971; and the Chakma Autonomous District Council, on April 29, 1972.

The HPC-D, an armed insurgent group formed in 1995, is an offshoot of HPC. HPC entered into an agreement with the Government of Mizoram in 1994, resulting in the formation of SHDC in North Mizoram. Dissatisfied with the peace accord, some HPC leaders formed HPC-D to continue an armed struggle for Hmars autonomy. The outfit's 'commander-in-chief' is Lalrupui; its 'chairman' is H. Zosangbera; its 'vice-chairman' is Elvis L. Hmar; and 'secretary' is David L. Hmar. The outfit is active primarily in Mizoram, the Hmar inhabited areas of Churachandpur District in Manipur, and the Cachar (with base camps in the Bhuban Hill range) and North Cachar Hills (Dima Hasao) Districts of Assam. The purported objective of the group, over the years, has changed from an independent Hmar State (Hmar Ram) consisting of the Hmar inhabited areas of Mizoram, Manipur and Assam, to an ADC covering north and northeast Mizoram. The group is now agitating to involve the Centre, so that provisions of the 1994 Peace Agreement can be implemented.

The HPC, on the other hand, is a political group launched in 1986, which went underground in 1987, after the 1986 Peace Accord failed to create a 'greater Mizoram' (to integrate Hmar inhabited areas of Assam and Manipur into the new Mizoram State). HPC came over-ground after the agreement in 1994.

The HPC-D entered into a Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement with the Government of Mizoram on November 11, 2010, for six months. The SoO expired on May 11, 2011, and was not extended by the Mizoram Government on the grounds that the HPC-D was violating SoO ground rules. Peace talks with the group were supposed to start in January 2011, but the Government refused to resume talks on the grounds that HPC-D had involved a foreigner, a US citizen (Rochunga Pudaite), as interlocutor. Again, on July 27, 2011, the Mizoram Government alleged that some HPC-D militants were still engaging in illegal activities. Mizoram Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla stated that the matter had been notified to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (UMHA) for appropriate action.

On the same day, HPC-D declared that the SoO no longer existed, in view of the absence of any proactive interests on the part of the Government of Mizoram. On March 31, 2011, HPC-D had alleged that repeated attempts had been made by the Government of Mizoram to dictate terms and conditions outside the purview of SoO Agreement, in attempts to 'sabotage' the peace process.

On August 25, 2011, people belonging to different political parties took out peace processions in three villages in the North Eastern part of Mizoram, adjoining Manipur, demanding resumption of peace talks between the State Government and HPC-D militants, to find a lasting solution to the Hmar problem, and end the pall of fear under which they were living. On March 4, 2011, the Chairman, Vice Chairman and 16 members of SHDC tendered their resignations in a demonstration of support to HPC-D.

According to the South Asia Terrorism Portal (SATP) database, HPC-D has been involved in 34 incidents of violence within and outside the State, since 1998. In the worst incident in the State, HPC-D gunned down four security personnel, including a sub-inspector of the Mizoram Armed Police (MAP) and injured another three in an ambush at Saipum village in Kolasib District on September 2, 2008. Following the killing, an HPC-D statement declared, "Political reasons were behind the ambush and we warn the Mizoram Government that it was only the beginning". HPC-D has been involved in widespread extortion and intimidation, even after the signing of the SoO Agreement in 2010. A May 30, 2012, report suggests that HPC-D cadres murdered one Lalfellien (25), after abducting him on May 22, 2012. Earlier, on February 22, 2012, the State Election Commission postponed civic polls in 15 villages, following HPC-D's alleged diktat to vote for HPC-D backed HPC candidates. All 15 villages, two under Kolasib District and 13 under Aizawl District, fell under the HPC-D demand area for the Hmar ADC.

On January 6, 2012, in an initiative to push the issue towards resolution, UMHA urged the Mizoram Government to resume dialogue with HPC-D. The Centre fears that if immediate steps are not taken, HPC-D may resume underground activities. Indeed, on January 11, 2007, when the Mizoram Government had initiated talks with the outfit, HPC-D had asked for the involvement of the Union Government, declaring, "If there is any negotiation to discuss the fulfillment of the provisions of the 1994 accord signed between the Mizoram government and the HPC, the Centre must intervene."

Mizoram also continues to be plagued by the Bru Refugees issue. The fourth phase of repatriation of Bru refugees from Tripura to Mizoram ended unsuccessfully on May 15, 2012. Reports claimed that the Brus had raised a fresh demand for the creation of an ADC on their return to Mizoram. Significantly, on April 26, 2012, the first day of the fourth phase, Bru refugees had refused to return without a written assurance guaranteeing security, livelihood and other facilities from the Centre and the Mizoram Government. Of the 669 Bru families proposed to be repatriated in this phase, only seven returned to Mizoram.

Some 35,000 Bru refugees fled Mizoram and took shelter in six relief camps at Kanchanpur in North Tripura, following ethnic-violence of 1997. The immediate cause of the conflict (between ethnic Mizos and Bru tribesmen) was the demand for an ADC in the Bru-dominated areas of western Mizoram by the Bru National Union, a political organisation of Bru tribesmen formed in 1994. Repatriation started in May 2010, for the first time, and a total of 231 displaced Bru families consisting of 1,115 persons, returned to Mizoram. The second phase of repatriation occurred in November 2010, in which another 53 Bru families returned to Mizoram. The third phase began in April 2011 and continued till May, with more than 600 families restored to Mizoram.

There are growing apprehensions of violence by the HPC-D in Mizoram. On May 14, 2012, Security Forces (SFs) stepped up their vigil after an intelligence report indicated possible HPC-D violence. Deputy Inspector General of Police (Northern Range) Zorammawia told reporters, "Security forces led by Superintendents of Police have been conducting flag marches in various parts of the mountainous State, bordering Myanmar and Bangladesh. We have asked all the Police Stations to remain vigilant over the prevailing situation, so that the tribal guerrillas do not create any violence or any kind of disturbances." On May 11, 2012, State Home Minister Lalzirliana disclosed that a 'large number' of armed Police personnel were sent to the north eastern part of Mizoram adjoining Manipur to reassure the people of the area, inhabited mainly by the Hmars, that they should have confidence in the Government, despite intimidation by the HPC-D. Intelligence reports further suggested that HPC-D was planning to bomb important power lines, such as the Manipur to Mizoram line, the Loktak Hydel Project, and bridges along National Highway-54 connecting Aizawl and Silchar (Assam).

Fortunately for the Government, none of these 'intelligence inputs' has been realized. Nevertheless, as long as the rankling issues of the minority tribes remain unresolved, the potential for recurrence of violence in the State will remain.


(The writer Veronica Khangchian is Research Associate, Institute for Conflict Management)

Dr. HT Sangliana for President of India

Sinlung.com Supports Dr. HT Sangliana for the Post of the President of India.

We sincerely ask our readers to visit this Facebook Page

Dr. HT Sangliana for President of India

or 

https://www.facebook.com/DrHtSanglianaForPresidentOfIndia

Mizoram Govt Expresses Grief Over Cows' Death

Aizawl, Jun 4 : Amidst the opposition's hue and cry, the government on Saturday shared the grief of dairy farmers, who have lost their cows to diseases and consoled them not to worry to about the misfortune.

"The department deeply regretted the unforeseen misfortune that has befallen the dairy farmers. However, the farmers should not worry as the department has requested higher authority to give new cows those who have lost theirs," the animal husbandry veterinary and department said on Saturday.

More than 80 dairy cows imported from Haryana and Punjab for beneficiaries of the state's flagship New Land Use Policy opting for dairy farming have died while in transit and after arrival.

The veterinary officials, who confirmed that some of the imported cows were infected with foot-and-mouth disease virus, later denied that the FMD did not cause the cows' death.

Worried by the mounting criticisms against the imported cows, Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla had convened the meeting of veterinary officials, senior Cabinet ministers, NLUP implementing department officials at his office on Thursday afternoon seeking solution to the problem.

The veterinarians have been closely watching the FMD-infected cows and the cows have now recovered. As the hybrid cows require special kind of treatment failing which they easily fall prey to diseases, the vets are also giving training to the beneficiaries.

With an objective to bring about a white revolution, the AH and veterinary department had looked for high milk-producing cows all over India.

With much difficulty, the department imported the cows from Haryana and Punjab after they were certified by the state's veterinarians.

However, the 2500 kilometres long journey that took two weeks, coupled with the heat, weakened the cows and also made them susceptible to disease, the statement said.

The state government had ordered 1,896 cows from Ludhiana (Punjab) and Karnal (Haryana) for 948 families, who opted for cattle rearing under the NLUP.

As many as 86 cows have died, 43 during transit, 16 at transit camp and 27 after they were distributed to the beneficiaries.

In the wake of the detection of FMD, the government put a brake on the import of cows and subjected those cows on the way to quarantine.

The officials said that the cows in quarantine have recovered and have been distributed to the beneficiaries.

Lumding-Silchar Trains Cancelled Due To Landslides

Silchar, Jun 4 : Torrential rain in the Barail Hill range for the past many days triggered landslides at least five places along the Lumding-Silchar section of Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) early on Sunday. Authorities have suspended and regulated services of all the trains in this 214-km section until tracks are cleared.

A senior official of NFR here said at around 3am on Sunday, a large amount of soil and mud, boulders and trees came down the Borail Hill on the tracks at five different places in Dima Hasao district. The affected places are between Harangajao and Mailongdisa, Bandarkhal and Chandranathpur, Maibang and Daotohaja, Lower Haflong and Bagetar and between Mahur and Migrendisa.

Sources said tracks have been washed away along a 130-metre stretch due to impact of the landslides. Large areas of the tracks have also gone under four-five feet of debris.

Soon after the incident, hundreds of workers, along with engineers and other NFR officials from Badarpur and Lumding rushed to the place. Work to clear the debris is on at a war footing.

The sources said so far the tracks have been cleared at three places including the areas between Maibang and Daotohaja, Lower Haflong and Bagetar and Mahur and Migrendisa.

The other two places are the worst-affected because of washing away of tracks. "Our officials and engineers will first make an estimate of the extent of damage of the tracks. After this, restoration work will be taken up at these places as well," said a senior NFR officer.

Services of all the trains in this section have been cancelled for an indefinite period as there's no time-frame for restoration of the tracks, officials said.

While the Silchar-bound Cachar Express was brought back to Lumding from Jatinga station, Silchar-bound Barak Valley Express came back to Lumding from Maibang station and the Lumding-bound Tripura Express had to go back to Agartala from Chandranathpur station.

Authorities are making arrangements to ferry the stranded passengers to their destinations through alternate means of transport.

Landslides in the Lumding-Silchar section that runs through Borail hill range are a common phenomenon during monsoons due to failure of the drainage system along the route and unmaintained tracks. This has been causing a lot of harassment to the people.

In 2010, the route was closed to railway traffic for 34 days after a 300-metre track between Harangajao and Maliongdisa, 78 km from Silchar, was washed away due to a heavy landslide. During 2004, the route was closed for four months due to landslides.

Lalrokhuma Pachau Is New Police Chief

By K.V. Subramanya

The new Director-General and Inspector-General of Police L.R. Pachau taking over charge from outgoing DG&IGP A.R. Infant in Bangalore on Thursday.

Senior IPS officer Lalrokhuma Pachau, who took charge as the Director-General and Inspector-General of Police on Thursday, said that he would utilise the experience of his senior colleagues and make the Karnataka police, the best police force in the country.

After taking charge from the outgoing DG and IGP A.R. Infant here, the new police chief emphasised that he would consult his senior colleagues while dealing with the challenges the State police force was facing.

The State Government on Thursday appointed Mr. Pachau as the Director-General of Police (CID) with concurrent charge of the post of DG and IGP. He will be the in-charge DG and IGP until a panel is finalised by the Union Public Service Commission and made over to the State Government to complete the appointment process. Incidentally, he the first officer from the North-East region to occupy the top post in Karnataka.

The Aizawal-educated Mr. Pachau, a 1977 batch officer of the Karnataka cadre, said that it was a “home coming” for him as he was away from the State for almost five years. He was head of the Mizoram State police force for the past four-and-a-half years.

Meanwhile, Mr. Infant said that his batch mate Mr. Pachau was a “noble human being” and an “upright” officer who functioned without any biases.

Mr. Infant, who retired on superannuation, said that his 35-year-long career was rewarding and satisfying, although the last six months was a “period of turmoil” as he had to move the Central Administrative Tribunal and the High Court in regard to the case pertaining to appointment of DG and IGP. “I have nothing to regret. There were some stumbling blocks and occasional pinpricks,” he observed.

Curiously, Director-General of Police Shankar Mahadev Bidari, who too retired on Thursday, was conspicuous by his absence on the occasion. Senior police officers from across the State were present on the occasion.

Mizoram Launches Blue Ribbon Campaign

Aizawl, Jun 1 : Mizoram, which is the heaviest tobacco-consuming state in India, today embarked on the Blue Ribbon campaign, a WHO institutive to save lives from second-hand smoke.

On the occasion of the World No Tobacco Day, the Blue Ribbon campaign was launched simultaneously in Mizoram with chief minister Lal Thanhawla cutting a blue ribbon at the main function at Chanmari YMA Hall here.

Emphasising the harmful effects of second-hand smoke, Lal Thanhawla said, "Not only second-smoke, but third-hand smoke, they have discovered is more hazardous than the first hand-smoke," he said.

He said his government is planning tough anti-tobacco laws to curb the high prevalence of tobacco consumption in the state and also to prevent non-smokers from second-hand and third-hand smoke. With 67.2 per cent of the total population of a little more than ten lakh consuming tobacco, Mizoram is the heaviest tobacco-consuming state in India.

This also makes it one of the most cancer-prone states in the world. Sixty-two per cent of female population in Mizoram are consuming tobacco in various forms, against the national average of only 2.9 percent.

Meanwhile, 72.5 percent of the male population consumes tobacco. Indian Society on Tobacco & Health, Mizoram chapter president Lal Riliana, who also addressed the function, emphasised on the hazardous effects of second-smoke to others, especially to pregnant women.

She highlighted that 98 per cent of households in Mizoram are not free from second-hand smoke, and a whopping 98 percent allow people to smoke inside their houses. She called for concerted efforts to fight against tobacco menace in the state.