‘India Needs To Push Connectivity Corridors with Myanmar’

New Delhi, Aug 15 : Key connectivity projects between India’s landlocked northeast and Myanmar, a crucial part of India’s Look East Policy, need to be completed on time to boost trade and partnership between India and the booming Southeast Asian region, especially with China stealing a march, experts said here Thursday.

Releasing a report titled “Transforming Connectivity Corridors Between India and Myanmar into Development Corridors”, officials and experts said that Myanmar, which shares an over 1,600 km border with four northeastern states, is a key part of the development of India’s northeast.

V.S. Seshadri, India’s former ambassador to Myanmar who formulated the report, said the timelines of the Trilateral Highway and the Kaladan Multi-modal projects need to be straightened out fast, especially with democracy striking firmer roots in Myanmar and its economy opening up. Both projects are officially set to be completed by 2016.

He pointed out that land border trade between India and Myanmar is much lower than between Myanmar and China. While formal land border trade between Moreh in Manipur and Tamu in Myanmar and Zokhawthar in Mizoram with Rhi in Myanmar amounts to around $35 million, the two-way trade between Muse in Myanmar and Jingao in China is over $2 billion.

The condition of roads on the Chinese side, in Yunnan province, is also much better with double-laned roads. “China has several 22-wheeled tractor trucks parked on its side of the border which it uses to transport goods to Myanmar that exports mainly agricultural goods like rice,” said Seshadri.

However, informal land border trade between India and Myanmar is thriving with people of both sides, including women, carrying headloads of goods across small river borders. This trade is said to be approximately worth Rs.35,000 million.

Another factor, said Seshadri, is that in Namphalong Market in Tamu in Myanmar, there are around 1,000 shops stocked with goods like toys, confectionery, blankets, agricultural produce. The market is bustling.

But there is no market on the Indian side in Moreh, Manipur. He said that “greater predictability and stability” was required to boost land border trade between the two countries.

The former envoy said there was a realization in Myanmar that its western sector, especially Rakhine state that borders India, needs rapid development and that Myanmar “would welcome India taking the initiative in boosting development”.

He also suggested that a broad gauge rail line that is supposed to be built in Imphal by 2018 could be extended to Moreh and then on to Kalay in Myanmar’s Sagaing division with international funding. “It will be a crucial link in connectivity,” he said.

There is a proposal to develop Moreh in Manipur into a major township, equipped with hospitals, educational institutes and banking facilities that would go a long way in boosting connectivity and trade, he said. An Integrated Check Post is set to come up at Moreh by the end of a year.

Besides, Special Economic Zones could be set up in Mizoram and Manipur bordering Myanmar to boost trade, the report by Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS) suggests.

Minister of State for External Affairs and Development of the Northeastern Region V.K. Singh said in a statement that was read out that development of the northeast was “organically and intrinsically” linked with Southeast Asia and that Myanmar was “key to development of the Northeast”.

Sujata Mehta, Secretary (Economic Relations) in the external affairs ministry who read out the minister’s statement, expressed hope that the report would be of enduring value.

RIS chairperson and former foreign secretary Shyam Saran said Myanmar was the gateway to Southeast Asia and shares border with four northeast Indian states.

He suggested that with Myanmar opening up economically and moving towards a democratic framework, India should take prompt action to push through the connectivity projects to transform them into development corridors.

AASU Begins Hunger Strike Over Assam Accord ‘Failure’

Guwahati, Aug 15 : All Assam Students' Union (AASU) activists on Thursday began a hunger strike, demanding that the state government fulfill the promises made by it in the historic Assam Accord 29 years ago. The activists will continue their hunger strike till the tricolour is hoisted on Friday.

Addressing a news conference on the banks of the Dighalipukhuri, Aasu activists said they want a time-bound action-plan from the government regarding the implementation of the clauses of the Assam Accord. The students' body said this would solve the problem of illegal influx in the state.

"Since the beginning of the Assam agitation in 1979, the state's people have been pressing successive governments to protect their Assamese identity. As per the accord, signed with the Centre in 1985, foreign nationals who entered Assam illegally after March 24, 1971, should have left the state," said Aasu adviser Samujjal Bhattacharyya.

He lamented that successive governments at the Centre and the state have not done enough to implement the Assam Accord, which he termed a 'national commitment'.

The students' body, a signatory of the Assam Accord which ended the six-year-long Assam agitation seeking deportation of illegal immigrants, asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and chief minister Tarun Gogoi to set a deadline for the implementation of the clauses of the accord.

"The then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi announced the signing of the accord on 15th August, 1985. Nothing has been done to implement its clauses. Assam and the northeast have turned into a transit camp for jehadis and fundamentalists," Bhattacharyya added.

Aasu demanded that the BJP-led government at the Centre fulfill its poll promise of sealing the Indo-Bangla border, updating the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and safeguarding the identity of the Assamese people.

The Aasu leadership hit out at the Tarun Gogoi-government for failing to update the NRC, which, they say, is necessary to identify illegal immigrants in the state. "During a discussion with the PM on May 5, 2005, Tarun Gogoi said the NRC will be updated in Assam within two years. The promise remains unfulfilled and illegal immigrants have unrestricted movement in the state," Aasu president Sankar Prasad Rai said.

In all district headquarters, Aasu members will continue their hunger strike till the morning of August 15.

Normal Life Affected by 48-hour bandh in Meghalaya

Shillong, Aug 15 : Normal life was affected in seven districts in the Khasi Jaintia Hills region in Meghalaya in view of the 48-hour shutdown called by an outlawed organisation, the Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC), against the National Green Tribunal ban on coal mining and to boycott the Independence Day celebration in the state.

Even as there was no untoward incident during the bandh since 6 PM last evening, there was panic buying by people ahead of the bandh hours, East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner Sanjay Goyal told PTI.

Attendance was affected today in view of the bandh coupled with heavy rain that lashed the entire region, Goyal said.

The overall attendance was about 40 per cent in government offices as most banks, educational institutions and business houses shut shop and fewer vehicles plied in the state's capital, he said.

Security in government institutions and sensitive areas has been beefed up following the bandh call by the HNLC, East Khasi Hills district Superintendent of Police, M Kharkrang said. Meanwhile, in the Garo Hills region, Bank Associations and Union have temporarily suspended their strike in view of Independence Day.

All 41 branches of the SBI were opened today, two days after they resorted to agitation after one of their staff was abducted by armed miscreants, the Association said.

The Bank Association also informed that they will again open on August 16 in view of the Independence Day celebration but are likely to close in the coming days.

Petrol pump owners, who were also on indefinite strike after one of their workers was shot dead in West Garo Hills district two days ago, have also informed that they will open their shops tomorrow in view of the Independence Day, provided security personnel were deployed by district authorities. The strike will continue after August 15 again till their demands are met, they said

Mizo Govt Discusses Preventive Steps from Ebola

Aizawl, Aug 14 : Mizoram Health department officials today deliberated on preventive measures to be taken against the dreaded Ebola disease.

The meeting of the officials chaired by state health minister Lal Thanzara decided while no infection have been detected in the country till date, there was no room for complacency as the world has become a global village.

Increase in malaria cases during this year was also discussed in the meeting in which officials said 6,297 persons suffering from malaria were found from January till June this year, while the number of detection was 3,578 during the same period last year.

Efforts being taken to reduce Infant Mortality Rate, specially in the souther districts, were also discussed in the meeting.

Border Violence: Assam Points Finger At NSCN-IM

Activists of the Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuva Chatra Parishad blocking the Assam-Nagaland road in protest against the killing of innocent Assamese people by Naga miscreants, in Sonari on Wednesday.

Guwahati, Aug 14 : The state government has accused the NSCN (IM) of inciting the ongoing flare up on the disputed Assam-Nagaland border in Assam's Golaghat district that started on Tuesday, resulting in the death of three Adivasi villagers of the state. However, the official toll is one.

Over 6,000 people of five villages of the Uriamghat area in Dhansiri sub-division of the district have fled their homes after armed Naga miscreants raided their villages in the last 24 hours and set houses on fire.

On Tuesday, the miscreants fired at a gathering of villagers at Chetiagaon when they had gathered near the CRPF camp (stationed as neutral force) in search of two students, who were suspected to be kidnapped by NSCN (IM), on July 26. The two kidnapped Class X students — Phingson Kujur and Ajar Gar — are still missing.

State home secretary GD Tripathi, who is camping at the site, said, "There were some incidents of houses being set on fire on Wednesday morning. But since then, the situation is under control as we have deployed adequate number of security personnel."

The state home secretary said his Nagaland counterpart has described the incident as 'people-to-people animosity. "We don't deny the involvement of NSCN (IM)," said Tripathi.

Tripathi added that about 6,000 people, who have fled their villages, are taking shelter in eight relief camps of Uraimghat. Chetiagaon, which was the centre of attack on Tuesday, is known for the presence of Maoists and Adivasi militant outfits.

Chief minister Tarun Gogoi called up Union home minister Rajnath Singh and sought additional central para-military forces in the trouble-torn Uriamghat area.

There was NSCN (IM)'s involvement in several border flare ups in the past and many of their cadres were found issuing threats to Assamese villagers. The two states are locked in decades-old border dispute which have turned violent several times.

According to state government records, Nagaland has encroached on 59,159.77 hectares of Assam land. The Nagas, on the other hand, claim that 4,974.16 sq miles of their state have been transferred out to Assam. The disputed border has been categorized as A,B,C,D,E & F sectors for the administration's convenience.

Manipur Youth Makes it to Guinness Book

By K Sarojkumar Sharma

Imphal, Aug 14 : Even before celebrations over the feat of state athletes at the recently concluded Glasgow Commonwealth Games could die down, a local youth has made it to the Guinness Book of World Records for his eye-grabbing "magic pull-ups".

The 26-year-old weightlifter, Maibam Itomba, stunned viewers during his second successful attempt for the world record on March 15 this year as he did 16 pull-ups with his deft fingers in 30 just seconds during an official function at the SAI NERC complex here.

A resident of Naoremthong Samusang in Imphal West, Itomba made his first attempt on October 14, 2012, at the JN Manipur Dance Academy here.

"I am so happy that the Guinness authorities have given me recognition. I will continue to practice so that no one in the world can beat me," said an elated Itomba on Wednesday.

In 2007, the young weightlifter had bagged silver at a national championship in Imphal.

"On July 24 I received the official mail from Guinness informing me that my name would be included in the book. I received the hard copy of the record certificate yesterday," he said.

Prior to this, in 2002, Manipur agriculturist M Okendra had entered the Guinness book by grooming his 61 feet "Duranta erecta" (an ornamental plant cultivated in tropical and subtropical gardens, locally known as "Sambalei sekpil") at his Sagolband Sayang residential complex in Imphal West.

Meghalaya To Formulate Plan To Help Farmers

Shillong, Aug 14 : Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma yesterday said the state government would formulate a comprehensive action plan to help farmers who were facing a drought like situation.

“A comprehensive action plan will be formulated keeping in mind foreseeable impact due to climate change.  Where paddy is no more suitable, alternative crops will be suggested to our farmers using suitable scientific interventions,” Sangma said.

The measure was being taken following reports of several agricultural fields in the state becoming unfit for the usual rice plantation due to water scarcity, he said.

“A large number of farmers especially in the Garo Hills region have suffered tremendously due to water scarcity and there is an urgent need to tackle the situation at the highest level,” the chief minister told PTI.

The Chief Minister who convened a high level review meeting of all line departments here has asked the deputy commissioners of at least five Garo Hills districts to submit a factual report to the government by Thursday for requisite intervention.

Stating that there was over 41 per cent deficit in rainfall this year, Sangma said, steps would be taken for the betterment of the irrigation projects and advocated for the urgent need for regenerating the state’s green cover.

He said interim measures were being considered to support farmers to enable them utilise their land.

Drought Turning Paddy Fields into Football Grounds: Meghalaya CM

Shillong: Meghalaya is facing a drought-like situation and paddy fields in the state, having no use, are fast becoming football grounds, Chief Minister Mukul Sangma said on Tuesday.

The state was facing a rainfall deficit between 20 and 59 percent, he said.

"The current drought-like situation is a cause for concern. I saw paddy fields having turned into football grounds while travelling to places like Rongjeng and Kharkutta (in the East Garo Hills)," he told journalists in Shillong.
Efforts are being made to provide interim relief to the affected families, he said.

Sangma said the government has adopted several measures to tackle the situation.

"The agriculture department and its allied departments have been tasked to assess the situation. Officials have already been deputed across all 11 districts to make an assessment to enable the government to work out solutions," he said.

The chief minister said he would take up the drought issue with the central government, and seek interim relief.

"Climate change is the main factor for this situation. We will draw a comprehensive plan to ensure food security," Sangma said.

The Indian Council of Agriculture Research has exhorted the farming community in Meghalaya to adopt "climate-smart" measures.

"The entire Northeast, barring a few districts, experienced severe water problem in June and July, because of scarce precipitation as a result of climate change, that is posing a threat to agricultural production," SV Ngachan, director at the ICAR Research Complex in Umiam, said.
Ngachan suggested that farmers go for irrigation through water sources like streams, community ponds, wells or any stored water (jalkund), and conservation of soil moisture through mulching with locally available biomass, applying foliar spray, weeding in crops and planting short-duration rice varieties.