RANGIYA, August 16: The lifeline of the Northeastern region as well as the only road link between the region and the rest of the country - the National Highway 31 is being gravely endangered due to the change of course by the Nona river and the consequent massive erosion during the recent spate of floods at Bhatkuchi near here. The river whose floods caused extensive damage to the entire locality suddenly changed its course at bridge no 1078/2 from which point the Nalbari division of PWD begins. The PWD staff in charge of maintenance of the bridge and the road stretch there spent several nights in constant fear of its being washed off by heavy floods. BK Das, executive engineer of the PWD's National Highway division informed that several temporary measures have already been taken up for minimising the damage by the river to the highway and to divert its course to the original one. However, Das pointed out that curiously enough the Nona river bed has risen four-to-five feet above its normal height due to deposition of silt in huge amounts forcing her to change course. He said unless the river bed was dredged properly, embankments strengthened and the height increased by at least 300 metres this problem would remain. Das also said a proposal for raising the level of the highway stretch by up to 1.20 metre from the bridge point to several hundred metres has been hanging fire for a few years which if implemented would have saved the road from such threats. Apart from the chaos that snapping of communication links entail, the immediate problem is the threat of inundation of four villages by the new course of the river in the event of another spate of floods. Several hundreds of bighas of cultivable land have already been rendered useless by several feet of slush and silt. So far the changed river course is not posing a major problem as the river water is flowing out through a paddy field outlet and a network of drains. Another important feature, Das pointed out, is that the recent floods have washed away the base structures of the NH 31 at several points leaving the upper part intact only by sheer strength of the soil and bitumen. But any moment these might cave in to strong floods. He further said movement of overloaded trucks and buses should be curtailed or controlled so that the pressure upon the road is bearable. Besides, this NH has to bear a much bigger burden of commercial vehicles everyday as the people prefer to take this road compared to the Jalukbari-Pancharatna stretch. On an average, this road caters to just less than 15,000 commercial vehicles on any given day and closing it for traffic even for a single day might cause havoc. The expenditure for the repairing of the national highways are reimbursed by the Ministry of Surface Transport (MoST) through its regional office at Guwahati. This year, however, no one from the Ministry has visited the spot yet for verification of the situation. Das has prepared an estimate of about Rs 12 lakh for temporary repairs of the stretch and another estimate of about Rs 79 lakh for permanent repair of the road. Das attributed this unprecedented flood to equally unprecedented torrential rains at the place in Bhutan where Nona originates and falls into the Baralia river at a spot about four kilometres from Bhatkuchi. Baralia in turn falls into the Pagladia river. (Abhijit Bora; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; August 17, 2000)

SHILLONG, August 16: Lt General (retd) SK Sinha, Chairman, Northeastern Council inaugurated the NEC guest house in New Delhi, constructed by CPWD at a cost of Rs 2.28 crore on Monday. PD Shenoy, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, Krishna Murty, Director General of CPWD, PL Thanga, planning advisor, Northeastern Council and LK Ganju, advisor (T & C) were present among others. Speaking on the occasion the Chairman said that with the functioning of this guest house, problems of accommodation in New Delhi being faced by NEC officials and other officers from the NE region will be minimised, if not solved altogether. The NEC guest house has 2 VIP suites, 5 double bedrooms, 2 dormitories with 4 beds each, conference hall and dining hall for 30 people. (Correspondent; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; August 17, 2000)

IMPHAL, August 17: A major scandal is threatening to rock the UF ministry after matters came to light that not less than 107 part time lecturers in various government colleges have been allegedly regularised even though there is a Memorandum of Understanding between the state government and the Centre that there would be a total ban on all fresh recruitment and regularisation till the financial crisis blows over. The 107 part time lecturers were regularised as per notification issued under the signatures of Commissioner of Higher Education, and Deputy Secretary of Higher Education on August 14. According to an official source that the part time lecturers were regularised without holding any DPC and after a meeting of the Selection Committee was held on April 10 this year. The source continued that the regularisation of the lecturers violates the norms of the UGC and also all other rules and regulations. Moreover the appointments were not on the basis of any vacancies. On the other hand following the court directives the MPSC has announced the interview date for selection of lecturers to various vacant posts in the government colleges. The sources said that the state government has committed gross irregularities in regularising the part time lecturers even as the MPSC is getting ready to fill up the vacant posts through a common competitive examination. (The Sangai Express, E-Pao; Imphal; August 18, 2000)

IMPHAL, August 17: The House Committee which is looking into the misappropriation of a staggering amount of money in Churachandpur and Kangpokpi and the fake appointments in the Education Department is tying up all loose and ends before handling over the same to the CBI by the Manipur government. The House Committee had started holding its meeting since yesterday. The charges against the officials of the education Department and some teachers who were involved in the scam are being examined once again to ensure that there is no loophole when the cases are investigated by the CBI. The House Committee meeting will continue till tomorrow. The state Vigilance Department which is investigating the financial misappropriation has submitted an interim report to the House Committee on the activities of the two zonal educational offices at Kangpokpi and Churachandpur. The Committee had also decided in an earlier sitting that the special police team investigating into the scam should complete it within three months. However, in view of the complexities in the investigations it was decided that the CBI be entrusted with the investigation. (Matamgee Yakairol, E-Pao; Imphal; August 17, 2000)

IMPHAL, August 16: With a view to encouraging the forest guards while performing their duties to protect the rare species of animal like sangai, the government will consider giving awards to the dutiful guards. Announcing this during a function to mark release of a sangai brochure in the conference hall of Hotel Excellency recently, Forest and Environment Minister Gangmumei Kamei said only the wildlife department could save the rare species like sangai. He also appealed to people from all walks of life to extend cooperation to the wildlife protection programme in the state. Terming the sangai as a prize animal since the ancient time, he further said that the Wildlife Board is yet to find an alternative habitat for sangai in view of the deplorable condition of Keibul Lamjao National Park. The Chief Conservator of Forest (Wildlife) T Priyobor who presided over the function, reiterated that the state Wildlife Board is currently examining an alternative habitat for the endangered sangai in the interest of the state. Eminent sangai protection activist K Shamumngou said that only 14 sangai deer were reported in the wild in Keibul Lamjao in 1974. However, the number has increased to 162 this year, he said. Giving a detailed report on the lifespan of the sangai deer as well as the prevailing situation at Keibul Lamjao, Shamungou also highlighted some of the precautionary measures to maintain the home of the sangai. Noted filmmaker Aribam Shyam, secretary of MASS RK Ranjan and executive director of MASTEC RK Shyamananda also made their observations during the gathering. Earlier, the Forest and Environment Minister released a brochure on sangai entitled The Sangai - A photo profile by freelance journalist Salam Rajesh during the function. (Correspondent; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; August 19, 2000)

NEW DELHI, August 20: The recent flash floods in Arunachal Pradesh has left the experts clueless with a puzzled Ministry of Water Resources not ruling out defence implications of the floods, while it is still trying to figure out the cause of the floods, considered unprecedented. Although news of floods in the distant Northeast is no news for Delhi, the flash floods that hit the border state of Arunachal Pradesh in the month of June has made officials at the Central Water Commission (CWC) and the Ministry of Water Resources sit up and notice. As officials pour over the technical data, a new dimension that the Chinese Army in Tibet as part of an experiment may have deliberately blasted the dam has been added to the already hazy picture. According to Arunachal Pradesh MP, Nabam Rebia and confirmed by top officials here, puzzled by the nature of the floods and equally mysterious response of China, the Government of India's remote sensing agency hired a Canadian satellite to take a close look at the scene of the breach. "All the technical details and pictures of the area are with us now and confirm that a breach on a dam on the river Tsangpo had taken place leading to the flash floods in the Northeastern region," confirmed a senior official talking to this newspaper. According to the official who had seen the technical data, the flash flood occurred because of a breach in a dam located in an area pinpointed as latitude 30.15 degrees north by 94.50 degrees east, in China controlled Tibet. The river runs 1625 km as Tsangpo in Tibet, 918 km in India and 363 km in Bangladesh before falling into sea. In the Northeast, the river is known as Siang in Arunachal Pradesh and Brahmaputra in Assam. The theory that the breach may have serious defence implications for the country has gained credence because of several unexplained events. Sources claimed that first unusual aspect that came to the notice of the official was that the water level of Siang in Arunachal Pradesh, suddenly on June 11, recorded an increase of 30 meters within a span of less than 10 hour, a phenomenon considered unprecedented in the history of floods in the region. Then came the response of Government of China to the floods. Interestingly, news reports by foreign news agencies quoted unnamed officials as confirming that a breach had indeed occurred in a natural dam on the river in Tibet region. But when the Ministry of External Affairs contacted China it was conveyed that there was no floods on the Chinese side on the river Brahmaputra and instead attributed it to the occurrence of floods on the Indian side to natural causes, revealed the Minister of state for External Affairs, Ajit Panja in the Parliament last week. Officials suspect that the People Liberation Army of China may have blasted the dam to experiment the impact of the flash floods in the sensitive Northeast and to study the potential such a flood may have to cause damage on the Indian side. The potential to cause damage, official concede, are enormous as the flash flood besides destroying properties, crops and leaving over 26 people dead, washed away three strategic bridges - Sagarm, Dite Dimea and Nubo, all three considered crucial from the defence point of view. The floods mainly affected the four districts of East Siang, Upper Siang, West Siang and Dibang Valley in Arunachal Pradesh. Then the officials came across publicity material of a German construction company that specialises in Dam construction called Lurgi claiming in its site on the internet as having built a pendulum dam in the area under adverse condition. However, the item was mysteriously withdrawn soon after the floods occurred and all attempts made by the Ministry of Water Resources have been stone walled by the Company, sources disclosed. If the German Company as it claimed had built the dam then it contradicts the version of the engineer who was quoted as having said that the dam was natural and was created by soil erosion. The same engineer further stated that the dam was breached following rain in the area and despite massive attempt to canalise the river it could be saved. Sources said they have to take all this very seriously because it is also the area where the Siang Hydel project is coming up. Impact of such a flood on the multi-purpose project has to be now factored in. In all, the Centre proposes to spend about Rs 25,000 crore on three multi-purpose projects in the area, official said. Sources said a team of officials drawn from various fields including the CWC was going through the entire sequence of events and the technical data now in their possession to figure out exactly what happened. Meanwhile, the Arunachal Pradesh Government too has drawn the attention of the Central Government to the sudden floods that left the state devastated, urging it to take up the issue with China. (Kalyan Barooah; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; August 21, 2000)

KOHIMA, August 21: Sexually transmitted HIV cases were on the rise in Nagaland with recent statistics revealing that 700 persons tested HIV positive, reports PTI. This was discovered after screening 16, 922 blood samples with 50 full-blown AIDS cases reported till May, according to joint project director of AIDS Control Society, Kumuni Kathipri. The infection rate was high in the age group of 20 to 29, Kathipri said, adding that out of 50 AIDS cases, 16 patients had so far died. The officials of the society, a branch of National AIDS Control Organisation, stressed at a media workshop on Friday the need for a massive awareness drive as the spread of the disease in the state had assumed dangerous proprietors. Stating that HIV cases among intra-venous drug users in the state were declining and transmission through sex rising, Kathipri said the infection is more prevalent among neo-natal mothers and paediatric cases. The two-day media workshop, organised jointly by core group on AIDS and AIDS Control Society in collaboration with UNICEF, urged the media to play an active role in this regard. The workshop insisted that funds released from different sources to departments concerned be properly utilised and no vernacular newspapers be deprived of advertisements meant for creating awareness about the disease among the people. It also observed that media-persons should have certain degree of commitment towards the burning problem in the state and insisted on adherence to ethical and legal aspects of the disease and its victims. The workshop also asserted that the media should play an active role in removal of social stigma attached to HIV/AIDS. The AIDS Control Society office-bearers told the workshop that as part of its sensitisation programme, it contemplated to cover all the schools in Nagaland in the next two years, targeting students between class-VII and class-XII. Similar sensitisation programmes are on the cards for MLAs, ministers and church workers in the state. (Press Trust of India; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; August 22, 2000)

PATACHARKUCHI, August 22: The entire Bajali area under Barpeta district of Lower Assam was once famous for the production of betel nut and coconut but now the production is decreasing at an alarming rate due to squirrel attacks since last few years. The squirrels, which were earlier not seen at all in the area, are now spreading like wild fire in the area. The squirrels damage the nuts at the early stages and are even able to bore holes in the hardshells of dry coconut fruits with their powerful teeth. Besides, the use of the nuts in traditional purposes like invitation to social functions, marriages, Bihu, religious functions. It contributes a lot to the economy of the rural people. The poor people earn considerable amount of money for their livelihood. Even the unemployed youths are engaged in the trade of nuts. From time immemorial, people of the area have been planting betelnut and coconut trees, around their residences as a symbol of beauty and prosperity but are now facing serious threats from the squirrels. People of the area sometimes been crackers to drive away the squirrels and used traps but have got no positive results at all. The entire cultivation of nuts is the verge of being wiped out in the area if no action is taken immediately. (Correspondent; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; August 23, 2000)

KOHIMA, August 23: Out of 45 species of anopheles mosquito so far identified, 18 species of anopheles were detected in Nagaland alone, according to state senior entomologist, Ketholoho. The entomologist said out of 18 species, three types of vectors-anopheles mirimdvs, anopheles dirus and anopheles fluviateles are in increased numbers, for which the strategy was adopted under three projects. The strategies are early detection and prompt treatment, awareness and selective anomector control. The state medical department had launched a project in 1996 named as the impregnated bednet project to control malaria in Nagaland. (United News of India; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; August 24, 2000)

ITANAGAR, August 23: The All Galo Welfare Society has opposed the move of a section of the people to recognise the Galos as one of the sub-tribes of Adis. Talking to newsmen here on Sunday, general secretary and member secretary of the advisory board of the society, AT Kulo and Mokar Riba respectively said the Constitution of India has recognised the Galos as one of the major tribes of the state. But some vested interests were trying to regard the Galos as one of the sub-tribes of the Adis, they said. In fact, the Adis are not recognised as a tribe of Arunachal Pradesh, only Abors are the recognised tribes who now want to identify themselves as Adis, they stated. (Correspondent; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; August 24, 2000)

GUWAHATI, August 25: Blood samples of seven population groups of the Northeast have been taken for the worldwide human genome project which will help in understanding and preventing diseases and discovering cures. The mapping of genes, which the project intends to do, has profound implications for developing an understanding of various races and can shed new light on the genetic diversity of the region which is a melting pot of various ethnic groups. The complex tribal identities of the Northeast have often confused policy makers and scholars in formulating strategies for the region. Of the seven population groups selected for study, three are from Assam and one each from Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Tripura. The population groups from Assam that have been selected are Kalitas, Rajbongshis and Boro-Kacharis, whose blood type is considered unique in the world. Among the other groups are the Khasis from Meghalaya, Sherdukpen from Arunachal Pradesh, Nagas from Nagaland and Reangs from Tripura. "More population segments should have been selected from the Northeast which has a large number of tribal groups. This would have thrown more light on the tribal identities of the region," said Baphukan Choudhury of the anthropology department of Gauhati University. Asked why only these population groups have been selected for the project, Choudhury said: "The Kalitas might have been taken as they are a numerically dominant caste group while the Boro-Kacharis are dominant among the tribal groups in Assam." "Although some studies have been undertaken on the genetic diversity of the ethnic groups in the Northeast, the deciphering of the genes at the chromosome level has not been done," Choudhury said. Citing an example, he said it would be interesting to know the extent of hybridisation which the Khasis have undergone. "There is a lot of difference among the Khasis as one goes into the interior areas," he added. Choudhury revealed that the Boro-Kacharis have an "abnormal" haemoglobin type. Fifty-four per cent of the tribal group has this type, which is a very high proportion globally. "The examination of this blood type can help in knowing the kinds of diseases which are characteristic of this tribal group," he said. (Roopak Goswami; The Telegraph; Calcutta; August 26, 2000)

AGARTALA, August 27: The Tripura government has introduced a welfare scheme for working journalists in the state. Announcing this here on Friday, state Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism Minister Jitendra Chowdhury said the Council of Ministers approved the scheme and granted Rs 1 lakh for the purpose. The Agartala Press Club and the Tripura Working Journalists' Association had contributed Rs 1.67 lakh for this fund, the first of its kind in the country. Chowdhury said the Tripura Working Journalists Welfare Scheme-2000 was introduced for the benefit for the working journalists and their dependant family members to tide over financial hardship and for promotion of professional activities. A nine-member committee would be constituted with the Secretary of the Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism department as chairman. The term of the committee members would be two years. A Working Journalists' Welfare Fund would be created under the scheme. (United News of India; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; August 28, 2000)

IMPHAL, August 27: The Government of Manipur has sanctioned prosecution against the three police officials including the commandant of 6th Bn Manipur Rifles N Ngaraipam in the Rs 55-lakh police uniforms scandal. The genesis of the uniform scandal goes back to 1991 when Ngaraipam was the commandant of 2nd Manipur Rifles and Additional SP, Ukhrul K Pishak was the AC quarter master. The various items of police and Manipur Rifles personnel had been reported missing during 1990-93. The prosecution order which was issued by the Chief Secretary said that the three personnel had entered into a conspiracy and misappropriated uniform items of the Director General of Police, Manipur to the tune of Rs 55,03,605.94. The receipts and allotment orders of the missing items were forged by the three officials including the Commandant Ngaraipam. One havildar of 2nd Bn Manipur Rifles N Jasobanta, who is the in-charge of the store, was also involved in the case. The order said, in 1991, state DGP had purchased police and Manipur Rifles uniforms. The Commandants of the 1st and 2nd Manipur Rifles were appointed as consignees. However, eyebrows were raised when the personnel did not get their uniforms. However, the then CO of 2nd MR Ngaraipam failed to deliver the specified number of uniforms allotted by the DGP to the MR battalions and district civil police for which complaints were lodged. Thereafter, the state DGP on April 22, 1993 constituted a committee headed by the then DIG (Ops) WK Lengen to verify the uniform items actually supplied by Ngaraipam. The DGP also had earlier constituted another committee headed by the then AIG ( and Housing) Arambam Pradeep on January 25, 1991 to verify the book balance for the uniform items held by the CO of 2nd MR. The committee headed by DIG Lengen verified that uniform items worth Rs 21,58,113 were not issued by the CO of 2nd MR to the Manipur Rifles battalions and police. At the same time, the committee headed by AIG Pradeep to probe the book balance of Ngaraipam also found that there was a shortage of uniform items worth Rs 14,11,779. Thereafter, Lengen lodged a written complaint alleging that there was misappropriation of uniforms worth Rs 35,69,892. The complaint named Ngaraipam, A Thanpuia Deputy Commandant 2nd MR, K Pishak, AC quarter master and N Jasobanta as responsible for the misappropriation. The case was later transferred to the CID crime branch for investigation, the Chief Secretary's order said here. However, the Deputy Commandant of 2nd MR A Thanpuia was absolved of all charges as he had no role in receipt and disposal of the uniform items, it added. (Correspondent; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; August 28, 2000)

IMPHAL, August 28: Thousands of students and meira paibis and other members of different voluntary organisations took out a mass rally here on Sunday afternoon in connection with the observance of 35th Hunger Marchers' Day celebration. The All Manipur Students Union (AMSU), the powerful student organisation in the state, organised the historic mass rally. The students and meira paibis in school uniform and traditional attires participated in the rally. The mass rally was kicked off from the Pishum-Chinga hillock at Singjamei and passed through the main streets. (Correspondent; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; August 29, 2000)

DIPHU, August 29: The East Karbi Anglong reserve forest has been officially declared a wildlife sanctuary, an official release said here today. The 221-sq-km sanctuary has rich flora and fauna and is surrounded by rivers Dikru , Kalyani and Barpung. The sanctuary is rich in birds, reptiles and insects and its wildlife include tigers, elephant, barking deer, mongoose, Himalayan black bear. (Press Trust of India; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; August 30, 2000)

KOHIMA, August 31: Nagaland stands tallest in the record book of Guinness having registered the world's tallest tree in the Japfu mountain in Kohima district, reports UNI. According to state Forest Department a rhododendron tree in the Japfu mountain range measuring 30.79 mts in height and 2.41 mts in girth has been recorded as the world's tallest tree in The Guiness Book of Records. The Forest Department sources said that a rare species of orchid, Bulbaphyllum Rothschildianum and also been recorded in the Guiness book adding that there were other rare species of flora and fauna that remained to be discovered. The Silviculture division of the Department, during 1999-2000, had taken up works on sample plots of the tropical economic tree species and Mokai, Nahar and Champa has been established at Singphan forest in Mon district. A sub-tropical botanical garden had also been set up at Minkong forest in the Mokokchung district for preservation, cultivation and displaying of variety of indigenous species. (United News of India; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; August 31, 2000)

TURA, August 30: The plain belt areas of West Garo Hills district are once again facing the gloomy prospect of floods as there is still more than a month time left for the monsoon to pass over this region. The people of these areas neighbouring Assam are once again preparing for the worst. Only a month ago flood waters had risen to dangerous levels. The cause of floods in these areas is not heavy rains in Garo Hills but the rise in water levels in the two major rivers, the Brahmaputra in Assam and river Jinjiram in Garo Hills due to heavy rains. It is an annual affair for places like Phulbari, Rajabala, Bhogularbita, Bhaitbari I and II Hallidiganj, Hatsingimari, Haribanga, Jugiechar, Burijoe, Pabhomari, Bangaljora, Bangalkata, Bolarbita, Molakandi, Pataekatta, Chelbatapara et al get affected by the flood waters while the mighty Brahmaputra passes nearby an equally strong river Jinjiram makes its way through Garo Hills. When heavy rains take place in Assam the two rivers merge causing untoward damage to crops, livestock and humans. This year, flood waters had risen to dangerous levels in the plain belt areas following the construction of a 7-km embankment on the Assam side of the river. While it has eased the problem of the people of that area to a great extent the excessive water has now entered into Garo Hills resulting in flooding. Fortunately there has been no loss to human lives and livestock. Damage to crops has also been minimum 10 per cent compared to earlier years. The biggest fear once the monsoon is over and the waters recede is the outbreak of diseases such as cholera, typhoid, diarrhoea, gastro-enteritis and skin diseases. Hundreds die annually in the plain belt due to complications arising out of these diseases. The most vulnerable are always the children. While a medical team is annually posted in these areas, it has only been able to play a limited role. - Lack of basic amenities such as clean drinking water and proper sanitation are vulnerable points for these people. (Correspondent; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; August 31, 2000)

JORHAT, August 31: The premier literary organisation of the state, the Asam Sahitya Sabha, has decided to publish the Banhi and Jonaki of yore in book form. Banhi, which was earlier edited by Lakshminath Bezbaruah, will be compiled in book form comprising editions up to the 24th year of publications and be released at the next Sabha session to be held at Dibrugarh. Another two parts will subsequently be published, a press note said. Jonaki, which is a historic document of the Assamese people is being re-edited by former Sabha President Nagen Saikia and has since been handed over to the Sabha by the Assam Publication Board on August 19. The Board having spent Rs 1 lakh for publication of Jonaki, could not complete the project due to acute fiscal crunch. Hence acceding to the request of the Board, the Sabha has agreed to reimburse its expenses for publishing Jonaki. Publication work of Jonaki is likely to be completed by January next, according to the general secretary of the Sabha Basanta Goswami. The painstaking initiative, it is felt will receive wide acclaim from book-lovers and conscious section of public in the state, the release added. (Staff Correspondent; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; September 1, 2000)