IMPHAL, August 1: The Manipuris Students' Federation (MSF) has expressed serious concern over the killing of four Manipuris in ethnic clashes in Tripura recently. Castigating the unfortunate incident, MSF urged the Tripura Government to look into the matter seriously in the interest of the Manipuris so as to avoid any form of untoward incident in Manipur, too. The general secretary of MSF Thokchom Bomcha in a press statement said that the four innocent Manipuris were killed by the rival group of Tripuris on the ground that Manipuris residing in Tripura have a close relation with the Tripuris in the Indo-Bangla border state. The MSF general secretary also urged the state Chief Minister Wahengbam Nipamacha Singh to discuss the matter with his Tripura counterpart in time to protect the lives of Manipuris settling in various corners of the Tripura. It also appealed the ethnic groups of the state to shun all forms of violence in the interest of the future generation. Condoling the sudden death of four Manpuris, the MSF also shared the grief with the bereaved families. (Correspondent; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; August 2, 2000)

IMPHAL, August 1: The Manipur government has imposed a ban on cultivation of ganja (cannabis) under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985. A notification to this effect was issued by Excise commissioner P Vaiphei on Friday. Official sources said the apex security coordination committee of the state government decided to impose the ban during a meeting here on June 5. The coordination committee comprises representatives of the civil administration, the police, Army and paramilitary forces. According to the notification issued by Vaiphei, anyone found violating the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act will face imprisonment for a term extending up to five years and a maximum fine of Rs 50,000 for the first year. For the second and subsequent offences, the Act provides for a minimum prison term of 15 years and a fine of Rs 1.5 lakh. Ganja is cultivated in several parts of the state, particularly in Ukhrul and Imphal East districts. There are several such plantations in the northeastern part of Chandel district and the southeastern part of Senapati district as well. A section of Manipur Rifles and Central Reserve Police Force personnel is allegedly hand-in-glove with ganja smugglers. An inspector-general of the CRPF was once arrested for his involvement in the illegal trade. He is serving a prison term in Patna. Depending on its quality, a kg of ganja is priced between Rs 30 and Rs 40 in the state capital. Once it reaches Bihar or West Bengal, the price goes up to at least Rs 500. Ganja produced in Manipur is considered the best in the country, which explains the high prices in Bihar, West Bengal, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh. Rhino shot 'accidentally' From our correspondent Jorhat, August 1: A rhino was "accidentally" killed at a village near the Kaziranga National Park yesterday. Park director RS Bonal told The Telegraph that the rhino had strayed into the village from the Bagori range. "Forest guards and villagers were trying to direct the rhino back into the park when it came charging. The guards opened fire in the air to keep the animal at bay, but one of the bullets accidentally struck it," Bonal said. The 1,200 square km park had 152 rhinos in 1999. Of these, 20 died this year. "Only two rhinos were killed by poachers. The rest died of natural causes," he said. The park official said the increased efficiency of the "intelligence-gathering network" had helped in bringing down the level of poaching in recent times. (Correspondent; The Telegraph; Calcutta; August 2, 2000)

NEW DELHI, August 2: The Agriculture Ministry has sanctioned Rs 37 crore to the Assam government for undertaking flood control work provoking some of the Congress members to protest the 'meagre' allocation of funds. Union Agriculture Minister, Nitish Kumar, however, did not feel that the amount was inadequate. He argued that the flood control problem in Assam has to be seen in larger perspective. So far over 4560 km embankments have been constructed and 945 km drainage channels have been created in Assam to tackle the flood problems in the state, he claimed. Kumar was reacting to Paban Singh Ghatowar's contention that the amount was inadequate to control floods in the state. He also demanded that the Centre should take overall view of the flood problem of the state to tackle it. The Minister earlier informed the Lok Sabha that his Ministry has prepared what was called flood plain zoning through which the states were given detailed information about the flood-prone areas of the concerned states. The states, accordingly, have been advised to formulate regulations to minimise losses caused by the floods. The regulations the Minister was referring to related to the proposed plans to limit economic and human habitation in the flood-prone areas in a state to ensure minimal loss by floods. The clause, it may be mentioned, is now proposed to be included in the National Water Policy which is at the drafting stage. Meanwhile, the Agriculture Minister revealed that outlays for flood control for year 2000-01 for the Northeastern states were as follows: Arunachal Pradesh Rs 12 crore, Manipur Rs 10 crore, Meghalaya and Nagaland Rs 30 crore each, and Tripura Rs 5.90 crore. The minister also said that during the previous year Assam sustained a loss of Rs 54.14 crore due to floods and heavy rains as against a total loss of Rs 36.36 crore the year before. According to the Agriculture Ministry's own estimate, on an average 13.34 lakh hectares of area in Assam is destroyed by erosion while another 4.50 lakh hectares are affected by water logging. Meanwhile, Union Minister of State for Water Resources Bijoya Chakraborty in a written reply said that according to a Master Plan prepared by the Brahmaputra Board the following areas have been identified as severe erosion-prone : Mathala, Oakland, Mohanaghat, Disangmukh, Neamatighat, Moriahola, South Salmara, Gumi, Palasbari, Goalpara, Fakirganj, Alikash on the southern bank and Majuli, Viswanath, Silguri, Soalkuchi, Hatimora, Mukalmua and Bahari on the northern bank. The Minister asserted that the remedial measures suggested in the Master Plan included construction of embankment, raising and strengthening of existing embankments, anti-erosion and drainage development measures. (Staff Correspondent; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; August 3, 2000)

SHILLONG, August 2: The first and only broadsheet Garo daily Salantini Janera (Daily Mirror) hit the news-stands in Tura in West Garo Hills district yesterday. Janera, which was started in January 1993 as a weekly tabloid has successfully completed seven years of uninterrupted publication. The daily is designed to be a link among the million-strong Garo community both inside and outside Meghalaya. The daily's publisher-editor, Manas Choudhury, said that the publication would strive to continue its endeavour to reflect the needs and aspirations of the society. Launching the daily at a function at Tura yesterday, Meghalaya Speaker ED Marak hoped that Salantini Janera would live up to the expectations of the readers of Garo Hills. "The press has a great role to play in cleaning and redeeming the civil society by cultivating and educating the people to exist in tolerance and respect for other people's point of view," he said. (Special Correspondent; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; August 3, 2000)

GUWAHATI, August 2: Rainfall in the NE region is likely to continue for two more days, Meteorology office (Met) sources said here yesterday. More than 75 per cent of the rain gauge stations reported rainfall in the entire NE region yesterday. According to Met sources, Shillong reported 120.4 mm of rainfall yesterday, while rain gauge stations at Manas NH Crossing 114.8 mm, Aie NH Crossing 107.0 mm, Mela Bazar 104.6 mm, Kokrajhar 91.2 mm, Beki Road Bridge 88.6 mm, Puthimari NT Road Crossing 65.6 mm, Bahalpur 64.2 mm, Chouldhowaghat 59.8 mm, Guwahati (at Borjhar) 58.7 mm, Bhalukpung 58.6 mm and Mathanguri 50.4 mm of rainfall yesterday. As per yesterday's position, the eastern part of the axis of the Monsoon Trough shifted northward and was passing at 8.30 am yesterday through Gorakhpur, Siliguri and Jorhat, causing sharp increase in rainfall activity over the NE region during the past 24 hours, the Met sources said. It may be mentioned here that Arunachal recorded 31 per cent deficit rainfall in July this year, while Assam and Meghalaya recorded 42 per cent deficit rainfall and Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura recorded 39 per cent deficit rainfall during the last month, the sources said. (Staff Reporter; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; August 3, 2000)

IMPHAL, August 2: Altogether 96 students from Meghalaya, Mizoram, Tripura and Arunachal Pradesh, who were studying at College of Agriculture, Central Agricultural University, Iroishemba, abruptly fled the college early this morning without informing the authorities and tried to leave the state, but were stopped by the police. The fleeing students were forcibly taken back to the college later this afternoon but not before a tussle with the police that left several students injured. The 96 students, including a number of girls, left their hostels with their luggage early this morning without informing the college authorities. Attempts by local students and residents of the nearby locality to persuade them not to go failed. The students also refused to give any reasons for their abrupt departure. However, a police team, led by the SDPO, Lamphel, intercepted them near Hindu Hotel, where they were boarding a bus at around 6 am today. The students again declined to give any reason why they were leaving, and consequently they were taken to the Lamphel police station and detained there. The vice-chancellor of the University, SS Bhagel, dean, College of Agriculture, AI Singh, and other teaching staff also attempted to negotiate with the students but had no better success. The students instead requested the college authorities for permission to return to their homes. Several IAS officers from Mizoram and other states also came to talk to the students. The students were ultimately forcibly made to board buses and taken back to the college premises, where they were made to return to their respective rooms. It was later learnt that about half of the students who tried to leave today had no idea why they were leaving, but followed along as asked by their colleagues. Others however told media persons that their lives were at risk in Manipur. (E-Pao; The Imphal Free Press; Imphal; August 3, 2000)

IMPHAL, August 2: In the interesting discovery, portion of two human skeletons, possibly the remains of warriors who died in the battle Khongjom, were exhumed from the ingkhol of Chingtham Haridas of Khongjom Tengol Leikai while leveling a mound on July 30 last. The unexpected discovery was made when digging the half leveled mound to built a chicken shed. A team of Archaeologist led by S Bheigya, Superintendent of State Archeology and accompanied by renowned historian and Padmashree Khelchandra visited the site today and made a brief study there. No other items such as sword and shield, which might have been expected if the remains were those of Manipuri warrior, were to be found at the moment. Though the exact facts about the discovery can be ascertained after a detailed study by archaeologists and anthropologists, the locals have already adopted a reverend attitude to the remains, as they believe the bones of to be that of Meitei warrior who fought the Khongjom war of 1891 with the British at Tengol Leikai. At this present juncture the local elders were of the opinion that the next step of excavation could reveal more unknown facts of the battle and urged both the state government and archaeology department to look into the matter to settle the findings. (E-Pao; The Imphal Free Press; Imphal; August 3, 2000)

GUWAHATI, August 3: Altogether 9,70,186 people in 16 districts of the state have been affected by the current wave of flood, even as Army and paramilitary forces have been pressed into service to rescue the marooned people in Sonitpur, Nalbari, Kokrajhar and Kamrup districts. Meanwhile road communication between the state and the rest of the country by NH-31 has been snapped as the flood waters of rivers Nona and Pagladiya overtopped the NH at several places between Ghograpar and Baihata Chariali today. Vehicular movement on the NH has been ordered closed at 4 pm today. The Brahmaputra breached its embankment at Hatighuli in Tinsukia district in the midnight of August 1 causing serious flood situation in at least 25 villages, said an official press release here today. According to Our Tezpur Correspondent, Soniptur district administration has pressed into service Army and para-military forces to rescue the marooned people of three revenue villages of Tezpur, Charidua and Naduar, even as Air Force helicopters have also been engaged to airdrop foodstuff among the flood-hit people. Official sources said that at least one lakh people of 29 villages have been affected by the flood waters of Jia Bharali during the past two days. The river is also threatening the vital Dolabari-Pachmile Road. Army personnel are deployed to check further erosion by the river in the vulnerable areas. Government offices and educational institutions in Rangiya town remained closed today and jawans of the 18 Sikh Regiment were deployed to rescue the marooned people in Rangiya town and 30 villages under Rangiya subdivision as the flood waters of Nona, Baralia and Puthimari rivers created a serious flood situation since yesterday night, reports Our Rangia Correspondent this evening. Around 40,000 people in 30 villages, besides the residents of Rangiya Municipality wards 8, 9 and 10 are affected by the flood caused by the Nona, Baralia and Puthimari. The Nona breached its embankment at Koya village. The river Pahumara breached its embankment near Kalarguri village and inundated Bamakhata, Muguria etc villages, besides Pathsala town, reported Our Pathsala Correspondent. The Pathsala Community Health Centre (CHC) premises were submerged by flood waters necessitating shifting of the patients to safe places. On the other hand, the flood waters of Kaldiya river also affected Nityananda, Panbari, Anandapur, Bichankuchi etc villages badly, while the entire Pathsala-Anchali PWD Road is also under flood waters, while the Patacharkuchi-Anchali PWD Road is also submerged by flood waters at several places. Vehicular traffic on both the roads remained suspended. Our Nalbari Correspondent reported that the flood waters of Mora Pagladiya and Pagladiya rivers have created havoc in Nalbari district inundating over hundred villages in three revenue circles of Barama, Ghograpar and Barbhag affecting over 50,000 people. The vehicular traffic on the NH-31 had to be diverted via Nalbari-Hajo Road this afternoon following the overtopping of the National Highway by the flood waters of Nona and Pagladiya at several places between Ghograpar and Baihata Chariali. The Mora Pagladiya river breached its embankment at six places in Barama area last evening. At least 6,000 people of 550 families in 16 revenue villages have been severely hit by the flood. Flood waters also eroded two PWD roads in the area. Army jawans has been pressed into service in rescue and relief operations. Road communication between Barbhag and the rest of the district remained cut off as the Pagladiya washed away the wooden bridge at Sonkurihaghat last night. Our Sipajhar Correspondent reported that more than 50 villages in Sipajhar LAC of Darrang district have been inundated by the flood waters of Nonoi, which breached its embankment at several places near Dhokapara and Badiahisa near Solpam on August 2. Official sources here this evening said that movement of heavy vehicles have been prohibited between Hajo and Nalbari in view of the flood situation. Our Staff Correspondent reported from Jorhat that the swirling Brahmaputra has been threatening Neamatighat and Majuli. In lower Majuli, massive erosion by the Brahmaputra has been noticed, while 65 villages in Majuli island are reeling under flood. A UNI report adds that flood situation in Chaygaon and Palasbari also remained critical. (Staff Reporter; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; August 4, 2000)

IMPHAL, August 3: In what could be construed as a blow to the academic atmosphere in the entire north-eastern region, all the students of the Central Agriculture University (CAU) at Irsishemba here, barring Manipuri and Sikkim students, have made a vain bid to leave the varsity campus and the state alleging harassment. However, they were intercepted by a strong team of Manipur Police in time and were sent back to their respective hostels with their bag and baggages on Wednesday. The Vice-Chancellor of the University, SS Bhagel, while talking to The Assam Tribune said that he had no idea about the causes that led to outside students' agitation. He, however, assured that the matter will be looked into carefully. The Vice-Chancellor also made it clear that there was no plan to shift the University complex to some other parts of the NE region. In the meantime, the VC of the Central Agriculture University apprised the matter to the state Chief Minister Wahengbam Nipamacha Singh before his departure to New Delhi today. When this correspondent visited the University campus, which is about 5 km west of Imphal city, everyone in the campus was seen watching the events. When asked what the matter was, most of them declined to give a clear-cut explanation as to why the students from outside the state wanted to leave the campus. Even the Dean of Agriculture College, A Ibopishak, was not able to give a proper reason in connection with the incident. He, however, admitted that so far no written complaint from the agitating outside students has been received in connection with the alleged harassment. He said that he was completely "blind" in the matter. On the other hand, when this correspondent met the non-local students studying in the university in their hostels, most of students studying in the university in their hostels, most of them even thought that the newsmen were sent by the authorities. "We, don't want to disclose anything, we just want to go home," they said. "We are feeling uncomfortable here in this campus," said a second year student from Arunachal Pradesh, who did not want to be identified. He further asserted that "it is our internal problem among the agri students, which can't be solved by the authorities." Lamenting over their suppression in the University, one second year student from Tripura said, "We are coming here only to study and not to risk our lives". A Khasi student, Nongthymmai (Shillong), also asserted that they didn't want to lose their lives just for a degree certificate. However, the local students denied the charges levelled by the students from other NE states. The president of the Agriculture College Students Union, Waikhom Jiten Singh, said that there was no enmity between the local and outside students. Besides, there is no 'ragging' system in the University campus and only a self-introduction was done, he added. In view of the sudden development, the university authorities have decided to conduct an investigation into the matter. Meanwhile, the police kept a strict vigil around the University campus to stop fleeing of the students and avoid any untoward incidents. Sources said presently the practical examination of the students are under way. Moreover, the semester examination of all the students will start on August 7 and it will conclude on August 17. Another informed source further revealed that the daughter of a Meghalaya Minister and children of some top officials of Mizoram are studying in the college. There are about 150 students in CAU. The non-local students who tried to flee the University include 27 from Meghalaya, 25 from Arunachal Pradesh, 37 from Tripura and 7 from Mizoram. Some of the girl students, who also tried to flee reportedly locked up some of their fellow students in their rooms in the hostel before leaving the campus. (Correspondent; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; August 4, 2000)

RANGIYA, August 3: The civil administration in a raid carried out recently at Rangiya seized huge quantities of Bhutanese currency notes of different denominatons from shops and general public. The people possessing foreign currency notes were severely warned not to deal with the currency notes of a foreign country like Bhutan, which had affected the Indian economy. It may be mentioned here that the currency notes of the Royal Government of Bhutan are in wide circulation at Rangiya, Goreswar, Nalbari, Tamulpur, Nagrijuli and Kamalpur areas since long. It has been noticed that the Bhutanese currency in the denomination of Re 1, Rs 2, Rs 5 and Rs 10 are freely exchanged every where. The matter has become worst due to inadequate supply of one, two, five rupees notes of Indian currency. People generally prefer to take Bhutanese currency instead of the soiled and tattered Indian notes. Taking this advantage, some unscrupulous businessmen have started running illegal foreign currency racket at a cheaper rate from the nearby Bhutan. Now, it has become a profitable business. The conscious people have urged upon the authorities concerned to release adequate Indian notes specially of Re 1, Rs 2 and Rs 5 denominations immediately, otherwise the present situation will deteriorate further. (Correspondent; The Sentinel; Guwahati; August 4, 2000)

TEZPUR, August 3: Kaziranga was notified as a National Park in 1974 and is today a world re-known wild-life sanctuary housing endangered species like the one-horned rhino, swampdeer, wild buffalo, elephant, tiger, hoolock gibbon, gangetic dolphin, sambar, florican and the great Indian hornbill. Situated 85 km east of Tezpur, the Park stretches over 430 sq km of riverine terrain along the south bank of the mighty Brahmaputra. Due to its location, the park is annually ravaged by the fury of floods causing extensive loss to wildlife and property. In 1998, 80 per cent of the Park was submerged under eight feet of water leading to the loss of 31 rhinos, five elephants, 20 buffaloes and 520 deer of various species. Several animals were mowed down by vehicular traffic along NH-37 when they were seeking refuge from rising flood waters. Bases on an appeal from the WWF, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), General V.P. Malik asked 4 Corps to render all assistance to safeguard wildlife and restore the Park, to its pristine glory. Under the directions of Lt Gen N.C. Vij, General Officer Commanding 4 Corps, Army Engineers constructed 10 highgrounds and the Gajraj Viewpoint along NH-37 which offers a breathtaking view of the park against the backdrop of the great river. Construction of the 10 highgrounds each measuring 100 metres in length, four metres in height with a top width of four metres involved excavation of 30,000 cubic metres of earthwork. On the other hand, erection of the cantilevered viewpoint involved filling of 500 tons of earthwork to create additional parking space so that travellers using the viewpoint do not obstruct traffic along the national highway. This massive work was completed in a record time of 46 days. On a special invitation from the WWF, the COAS, Gen VP Malik inaugurated the viewpoint on December 26, 1998, and formally dedicated the highgrounds to the Kaziranga National Park. The impressive ceremony was attended amongst others by Goswami, secretary WWF for the north-eastern region, Harish Sonowal, secretary, Forest Department of Assam and B.S. Bonal, Director, Kaziranga National Park. Towards the end of 1999, BS Bonal, Director, Kaziranga National Park approached the Corps Commander, Lt Gen DB Shekatkar with the other problem that plagues the Park which is the silting of over 200 ponds which are the lifeline for the wild animals. In pursuant to this request, Army Engineers were again pressed into service to desilt a major waterbody along NH-37. The desilted material was concurrently dumped along the highway to raise its level, atop which the Kanchanjuri Viewpoint has been constructed. This Kanchanjuri Viewpoint was inaugurated by Maj Gen S.S. Chahal, Chief of Staff 4 Corps on June 8 and is finding great favour with tourists and travellers along NH-37. At the inauguration ceremony, B.S. Bonal, Director, Kaziranga National Park requested for further assistance to desilt other waterbodies in the Park which has been agreed to in principle and survey work is in progress. In undertaking these projects, the Army continues its drive to preserve the country's ecology and wildlife as they believe it to be their bounden duty to society and future generations. (Correspondent; The Sentinel; Guwahati; August 4, 2000)

IMPHAL, August 3: There is considerable concern among the people and Government of Manipur over the increasing number of Manipuris getting killed in many parts of Nagaland. There have also been scathing comments in some local newspapers and taking to task the Chief Minister and Home Minister W Nipamacha for their failure to ensure that the lives and properties of the people of Manipur, now residing in Nagaland, are protected. Following the recent killings of two Manipuris in Nagaland a number of organisations had pressurised Nipamacha to take some concrete steps. He had announced that he will personally talk to his Nagaland counterpart S.C. Jamir when the Chief Ministers of the Northeastern states meet in New Delhi to submit memorandum to the Prime Minister for financial concessions and the like. Nipamacha has not taken the people into confidence on whether he had talked with Jamir in Delhi or whether he had succeeded in extracting assurances on the protection of the lives and properties of the Manipuri settlers in Nagaland. Even if such an assurance was given to Nipamacha it is by now clear that it was a mere lip service. Because within a few days another Manipuri who had been running a shop selling fruits, vegetables and other consumer items at Jakhama where the Army headquarters is located was stabbed to death. In all cases, the police were caught napping and so far no investigation has been instituted. The number of Manipuris in general, the Meiteis and the Tangkhuls in particular, who stay in various parts of Nagaland is legion. They are either Government employees or traders. Some of the Meiteis also have motor workshops. In the past several Tangkhuls were badgered and shot dead. From time to time there had been reports on the killings of taxi drivers, small time traders, and low-rung Government employees by the criminals of all hues. Now that the Nagaland Chief Minister has not taken up any steps for the protection of the lives and properties of the people of Manipur, indications are that Nipamacha will be armstwisted to take up some firm steps. Because there is a allround dissension that these Manipuris who are law abiding citizens are killed in the most gruesome manner and yet nothing has been done to round up the ruthless killers. Apart from these unprovoked killings, there have been several border skirmishes and unavoidable harassment of the people of Manipur by the villagers and students of Nagaland. In the past it was common practice for the Nagaland villagers to sneak into many villages in Senapati district for poaching, felling trees, harvesting the verdant paddy crops and the like. On one occasion the marauding villagers had burnt the Liyai Khunou village to cinders, following a stand-off. On a number of occasions personnel of the Nagaland Armed Police have been making incursions into the Manipur territory to kidnap villagers. These villagers had reportedly objected to the intrusions by the Nagaland villagers. These kidnapped villagers had been released only when the Chief Secretary of Manipur took serious steps and had informed the Central Government. On the occasion several employees of the forest department of Manipur was forced to go to Dzouku Valley in Manipur following reports that the Nagaland Government was bent on encroaching upon this valley. The officials had taken some local guides from Mao. Since the Manipur Government has not constructed a road leading to the valley as yet they took a long detour through Nagaland. Angami students "arrested" the officials and guides as if Manipur were in a foreign country! Instead of intervening, the Nagaland government sent the officials and villagers to jail. The Government persistently refused to set them free, despite the fact that they had committed no crime under the law of the land. Having no alternative the Manipur Government had approached the Central Government with full facts and figures. Under the direct intervention from the Union Home Minister, all of them had been released. But then the bad memory still lingers in the minds of the people and officials in Manipur. (Correspondent; The Sentinel; Guwahati; August 4, 2000)

IMPHAL, August 4: Following the announcement of an inquiry into the Central Agriculture University (CAU) incidents by the Deputy Chief Minister of the state, Leishangthem Chandramani Singh, the situation in the university campus has totally calmed down. It may be noted that a total of 96 students from Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh,Tripura and Mizoram had tried to run away from the Irishemba Agriculture University hostels packing all their belongings on August 2 morning. The Deputy Chief Minister, who is the Chief Minister-in-charge, said that certain developments had come up regarding the incident and an investigation was being carried out to ascertain the veracity of the reports. The state government is looking into what it can do as the issue concerns a Central University. All kinds of measures, including provision of security personnel, will be taken up to ensure a peaceful academic atmosphere, the Deputy Chief Minister said. A high-level meeting was also held on Thursday morning a the Chief Minister's bungalow before Chief Minister Nipamacha Singh's departure to Guwahati, in which the CM, the Deputy CM and the Vice-Chancellor of the University SS Bhagel discussed he issue. Besides, high-ranking security officers have been rushed to the university campus to take stock of the situation over there after the incident. The state Agriculture Minister Ashangbam Biren Singh has also visited the CAU campus and discussed the ongoing problems with the university authorities. The Agriculture Minister also held talks with the Vice-Chancellor, Dean, teaching staff and the students of the university during his visit this morning. However, till filing of this report, the details of the discussion were not available to the Press. When this reporter visited the CAU campus, the situation there was normal with no untoward incidents occurring today. In the meantime, reliable sources said that the situation in Shillong, slightly became tense following the August 2 incident at Imphal. Reports say the residents of Shillong have contemplated strike-back against the Manipuri students staying there. It is also learnt that the president of the Khasi Students Union Paul Lyngdoh has apprised the matter to Meghalaya Home Minister T Rangad. However, the Meghalaya Home Minister has reportedly told the Khasi student leader that everything has calmed down, a source from Shillong said here today. The source further informed that the Khasi Students Union had warned the unit of Meghalaya Manipur Students Union that if the Meghalaya students in Manipur were thrown out of the CAU, the same would be done to the Manipuri students studying in Shillong. So far no details have been received in this regard from any sources. It is reliably learnt that the intelligence wing of the Meghalaya government and the mediapersons based in Shillong have also enquired about the prevailing situation through their counterparts over telephones. Meanwhile, the College of Agriculture Students Union (CASU) has dismissed the allegations that the outside students tried to flee because of continuous harassment and threat to their lives by the local students as baseless. In this regard the general ecretary of the studnts union A Tarajit submitted a staement to the Deputy Chief Minister yesterday. According to the statement, the relations between the local students and outside students have always been cordial. The union, however, admitted that there were some instances where a few students of other states were questioned for their immoral acts inside the university campus. Expressing a suspicion that an instigation could be behind the August 2 incident, Tarajit said 90 per cent of the students who left their hostels had not acted consciously but they were rather compelled by a few masterminds with ulterior motives to exaggerate the whole situation. (Correspondent; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; August 5, 2000)

IMPHAL, August 4: A one man enquiry committee to be headed by the deputy director general of the Indian Council of Agricultural research, ICAR, SL Mehta, has been instituted to investigate the reasons behind the attempted mass exodus of non local hostellers of the Central Agricultural University, CAU, at Iroishemba, according to a CAU press release. The term of enquiry of the one-man committee would also be to identify responsible person for the attempted flight, if any. Meanwhile, although complete normalcy has still not been brought to the crisis, it definitely seems to be very close by. Classes were not held today either, but CAU authorities are confident they will resume very soon. According to CAU release by the registrar of the University, the uncertainty resulting out of the attempted exodus of hostellers from Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Meghalaya and Tripura, on August 2, has been resolved. This came after a thorough discussion between the students of the CAU, Vice Chancellor of the University, MoS, Agriculture, MoS, Mangibou, officials from Mizoram and Manipur and Commissioner agriculture. It is also learnt that apart from the CAU authorities, local students in the college have come forward to assure their outsider colleagues that they would share all their perceived risks. Security arrangement in and around the college also remained tight ever since the crisis broke out, and no untoward incidents have been reported ever since. (E-Pao; The Imphal Free Press; Imphal; August 5, 2000)

IMPHAL, August 4: The All Manipur Students' Union, has expresses deep concern at the publication of a news item in a Shillong based daily, to the effect that the AMSU had pressurised students of the CAU, who hail from outside Manipur, to leave the state. AMSU representatives told media persons at a press meet that the AMSU had never pressurised CAU students from neither outside the state to leave nor for shifting of the CAU from Manipur, and questioned the grounds on which the allegations had been made. Remarking that the situation at CAU remained tense in the aftermath of the attempt by around a hundred students, an AMSU spokesman said the AMSU, NESO and three representatives each of other states held talks today to bring an amicable solution to the crisis. He said among other things, it had been agreed at the meeting that the present students union of CAU should be dissolved. On the other hand, Manipur Students Federation, MSF has alleged that the attempt by some students of the CAU to flee from the institution was instigated by the governments of some other Northeastern states, and high-ranking officers from these states serving in Manipur. The MSF, in a statement claimed that the objective was to shift the CAU from Manipur to other state, in particular to Meghalaya. The statement dismissed outright charges of harassment of outside students, and reiterated that the MSF would strongly oppose any attempt to shift the CAU from Manipur. (Staff Reporter; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; August 2, 2000)

GUWAHATI, August 5: National award winning best Assamese film in 1999 Kuhkhal (The price of freedom) produced and directed by noted filmmaker Jahnu Barua is ready for commercial release by the year-end. A press release issued by Barua here today said the film completed two years ago and premiered on December 2, 1998, was now ready for public screening following completion of certain formalities. Selected for the Indian Panaroma and screened at the 30th International Film Festival of India in 1999, Kuhkhal has been funded by the Directorate of Cultural Affairs, Assam, as a grant-in-aid. (Staff Reporter; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; August 6, 2000)

GUWAHATI, August 5: The overall flood situation in the state has remained the same with only a little improvement in some places. About 15,06,237 people in 1,443 villages in 16 districts have been affected by the current wave of flood. Vehicular traffic on NH 31 resumed today, while traffic on Hajo-Nalbari road remained disrupted. National Highway between Rangiya and Ghograpar was over-topped at several places and remained closed for vehicular traffic, while road communication in many affected districts still remained disrupted. The National Highway has also come under serious threat from surging flood waters. According to an official release here this evening, 17 human lives have been lost so far due to flood (six lives) and landslide (11 lives) and about 2,28,000 people have been sheltered in 135 relief camps in the flood affected districts. The Army, Air Force, Police and Home Guards personnel have been deployed in rescue and relief operations. From Tamulpur Garobasti area in Nalbari district 118 marooned people were rescued by Air Force helicopters yesterday. In the isolated areas of Tamulpur food packets are being dropped by helicopters for marooned people. Food packets were also dropped for the marooned people in Panchmail area of Tezpur sub-division yesterday, said the official press release. Diseases : Meanwhile, 34 persons have died of suspected Japanese encephalitis in Dibrugarh, Tinsukia, Sivasagar, Jorhat, Dhemaji and Kamrup districts. Altogether 70 cases of encephalitis were reported from these districts, said the press release. Breaches : There are reports of breaching of one embankment from Tezpur, seven from Darrang district, three from Lakhimpur district, two from Bongaigaon district by the surging flood waters. Serious cases of erosion have also been reported from Dhubri, Dibrugarh, Goalpara, Tinsukia (Hatikhuli and Sumoni), Biswanath Chariali and from many other places, said the press release. Official meeting : A meeting of Commissioners and Secretaries of all the concerned departments of the state Government was held at Dispur today with Additional Chief Secretary MS Pangtey in the chair. The meeting instructed the Deputy Commissioners and Sub-Divisional Officers to undertake rescue and relief operations on war footing with the available fund and resources at their disposal. They have also been instructed to take help from the local Army, Police etc authorities. The Health and Family Welfare Department have been launching awareness campaigns among the people in the flood affected areas to prevent encephalitis, besides providing symptomatic treatment to the diseased ones, the meeting was told by Secretary, of the department. To prevent gastro-enteritis precautionary steps have been taken by the PHE Department for the protection of sources of drinking water by using disinfectants, the meeting was told by the PHE Secretary. Rivers : Meanwhile, the Brahmaputra is flowing above the danger mark in Dhemaji, Darrang, Dibrugarh and Goalpara districts, while majority of its tributaries in flood affected districts are also flowing above the danger level, said the official flood bulletin, adding, the Manas and Aie are rising alarmingly in Abhayapuri Sub-division of Bongaigaon district. (Staff Reporter; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; August 6, 2000)

AIZAWL, August 5: Mizoram Director General of Police (DGP) M. Tumsanga on Friday gave appointments on compassionate ground to the dependents of 17 policemen killed in action, reports PTI. The appointees included wives or next-of-kin of the seven policemen killed by Bru National Liberation Front (BNLF) militants near Malsury in Lunglei district on June 30 and those five policemen killed by Manipur's PREPAK ultras at Mizoram-Manipur border hamlet of Vaitin in 1999. All the 17 new appointees were given jobs according to their educational qualifications in the police department. Addressing the simple ceremony, Tumsanga implored the policemen that their family members should be ready for any eventuality as Mizoram is bound by trouble-torn states and foreign countries where insurgents have their camps and hideouts. He said that a memorial stone would be erected at the place where seven cops were killed in the BNLF ambush near Malsury. (PTI; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; August 6, 2000)

IMPHAL, August 5: Classes at the College of Agriculture, Central Agricultural University, Iroishemba is likely to resume only after the completion of one man enquiry into the sudden and unheralded attempt by non local hostellers studying in the college to flee the state, according to CAU officials. The committee headed by the deputy director general of ICAR, SL Mehta, will begin its probe from tomorrow afternoon and adequate security and other arrangements have been made for its safe conduct, the official said. The CAU officials said complete normalcy has returned to the college campus, and all is well and under control. Guardians of the non-hostellers have been however trickling in at the college after they heard of the alarming development on August 2 and meeting their wards. They have also been holding meetings with the CAU authorities, according to sources. Mysteriously, no reason for attempted exodus has been forthcoming. Meanwhile, sources from Shillong clarified that there were no high tension or uproar in Shillong over the incident. The students communities of either side were merely taking precautions and reassuring each other that nothing untoward should not happen in either of the two states. Both communities appealed to the press in either of the two states to exercise restraints while reporting on the sensitive matter and to eschew violence. (E-Pao; The Imphal Free Press; Guwahati; August 6, 2000)

IMPHAL, August 6: The Irabot Memorial Charitable Trust, Manipur will install a life-size statue of Jana Neta Hijam Irabot at his birthplace at Pishum Oinam Leikai. The construction of the statue is now being done on war footing for unveiling it on September 30. The construction committee of the trust has been raising funds to complete the project which is estimated to cost around Rs 3 lakhs. The committee has made an appeal for seeking contributions from the general public. Considering Irabot as a pioneering social worker of Manipur, Lamyanba Irabot Khonggul Liba Lup, Oinam Leikai took its decision to establish the Irabot Memorial Trust on July 15 this year to bring a general awareness about the political philosophy of the great leader. Former Veterinary minister M Nara, president of the charitable trust while talking to media persons at Kheba Ching, Khongjom disclosed the statue of Irabot will be unveiled at the leader's residence at Pishum Oinam Leikai in the morning of September 30 next. Considering September as an important month for all major events in Irabot's lifetime, Nara said that the dates of birth and death of the leader occurred in September. He appealed to all to observe Irabot's birth anniversary on September 30 as 'Cleanliness Day' and light candles at night. (E-Pao; The Sangai Express; Imphal; August 7, 2000)

IMPHAL, August 7: SL Mehta, deputy director general of ICAR has completed his inquiry into the circumstances leading to the attempted mass flight by non-local students of the College of Agriculture, Central Agriculture University, on August 2 last. Mehta, who was accompanied by his wife, and an assistant deputy director general of the ICAR, left Imphal for New Delhi today. According to official sources, as the enquiry was done confidentially, Mehta did not disclose any details even to the CAU authorities. The enquiry report will be discussed by the higher authorities of the ICAR, and they are to decide on the line of action of action to be taken up. The sources however said Mehta blamed the CAU authorities, particularly the VC and the dean of agriculture, for not anticipating the problems and taking appropriate steps to head them off in time. Before he left, Mehta personally met all the non-local hostellers individually since yesterday, and obtained their statements concerning their recent attempt to flee from CAU without informing the college authorities. He also met local students today and took their statements in connection with the same incident. Mehta has also reportedly secured written assurances from the non-local students promising not to repeat the mass exodus attempt without informing the authorities. Before leaving Imphal, D Mehta also expressed his desire that normal classes should be resumed at CAU as soon as possible. Official sources added that classes may be resumed in two or three days. (E-Pao; The Imphal Free Press; Imphal; August 8, 2000)

GUWAHATI, August 8: The misery of Assam due to Bhutan is no longer restricted only to the ULFA and Bodo militants taking shelter in their territory. Now, it is the heavy rain in the Himalayan kingdom that has become a matter of concern for the state. The third wave of the flood that affected at least 15 districts of Assam was caused due to the heavy rain in neighbouring Bhutan where more than 200 people are feared to have been killed due to land sliding and heavy rains since Thursday. Speaking at a press conference here on Tuesday, chief minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta said that most of the rivers originate from Bhutan and heavy rain in neighbouring country caused the flash flood that affected the lower Assam districts. He also clarified that total death toll in the flood during the current year is 14. Mahanta clarified that the death toll could climb but there was no shortage of funds for relief purposes. He also informed that a total number of 3,424 villages comprising an area of 366,706 hectares have been inundated by floodwaters. Crop areas over 197,031 hectares of land have been affected. He pointed out that the state government has promptly taken up relief and rescue operations to help the distressed people in the entire flood hit areas of the state. An amount to the tune of Rs 216.5 lakhs has already been sanctioned to the deputy commissioners for providing relief to the flood victims. Altogether 347 relief camps have been opened in the flood-hit areas while gratuitous relief has been distributed to the affected people. He, however, said that exact extent of damage could be worked out only after the floodwaters subside. Chief minister said that Army has also been pressed into service to assist the civil authorities in carrying out rescue and relief operations in several flood-hit areas. He said that the state government has also taken adequate steps to ensure that supply of essential commodities remains undisrupted throughout the state with adequate stock of essential commodities maintained in all the areas. state flood control minister Pramod Gogoi, who was also present at the press conference, said that third wave of flood that hit the lower Assam districts on Tuesday was unexpected as it was caused due to incessant rain in Himalayan Kingdom that itself is reeling under the flood. Most of the rivers in Assam originate from Bhutan. He also clarified that amount of the flood damage was less in comparison to the earlier years. More than 200 people are feared to have been killed in a massive land sliding in Bhutan's Pashkha village following incessant rainfall since last Thursday. (Manoj Anand; The Asian Age; New Delhi; August 9, 2000)

NEW DELHI, August 8: In a significant development, the Union Government on Monday set deadlines for Mizoram Government to take back the Reang refugees currently taking shelter in neighbouring Tripura, in a fresh attempt to resolve the Reang refugee problem. Although the settlement, arrived at a tripartite meeting convened by the Ministry of Home Affairs with the state governments of Mizoram and Tripura, here on Monday left the Left Front government all smiles, it had a reverse effect on its Mizoram counterpart. The meeting, chaired by the Union Home Minister, LK Advani was attended by Tripura Chief Minister, Manik Sarkar, Mizoram, Home Minister, Tawnluia, besides top government official including the Union Home Secretary, Kamal Pande. According to the agreement hammered out at the meeting, Mizoram government was given a deadline of December 31 for completing verification process of the refugees currently settled in the neighbouring state. In the first phase, verification of the first batch of some 16,000 displaced persons is to be completed and taken back. In second phase, verification of the rest of the total 31,511 persons belonging to 6,956 families was directed to be completed so that they are taken back by December 31. Tripura government had supplied a list of the displaced persons to its counterpart in Mizoram. At the meeting, Mizoram government confirmed having received the list and informed the Centre that its district administration was in process of verifying the list. A spokesman of the Ministry told newsmen that the state government was told that the process needed to be expedited. The Centre has also assured the Mizoram government that a tripartite committee of the state Government, Central Government and the Reangs would be set up to simultaneously sort out the outstanding issues, the spokesman added. As for those misplace persons under dispute, the Centre proposed to set up a joint verification committee comprising the states of Tripura, Mizoram and Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), besides the representatives of the Reang refugees. In a major concession of the Tripura Government, the Centre on Monday agreed to reimburse the sum of Rs 22.25 crore the state had spent on the refugees since 1997. The state has been demanding its reimbursement as they pointed out that it was an additional burden on their exchequer. As for the issue of the Bru National Liberation Front (BNLF), the Centre appears to have downplayed the problem saying that the Mizoram and Tripura governments have been asked to open a dialogue with them. The officials at the MHA feel that the outfit is in a nascent state and the state should not have any problem in tackling the ultras. The Mizoram Government officials, however, contradicted the MHA by stating that the BNLF has to give up militancy and surrender before the state Government takes them back. They claimed that the outfit had been targeting Mizoram Government officials. The resolution of the Reang refugee issue has taken a political colour with the BJP, under pressure from the RSS and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, adopting a tough stand on the issue. The organisations have been crying hoarse over alleged maltreatment of the Reang refugees at the hands of the Mizoram government. The MHA spokesman said that the Government of India would be playing an active role in resolving the impasse and to arrange repatriation of the displaced persons, reflecting the new thinking in the Ministry. The spokesman also added that the Mizoram government was obligated to take back the refugees according to the 1997 agreement between the Union Home Ministry and the state Government. The Mizoram government officials have predictably not taken kindly to the latest development by asserting that they have not made any commitment to the Centre. A spokesman of the state Government told this newspaper that they would take back only those displaced persons who were original settlers in the state. They have also taken a tough stand on the BNLF by stipulating that it has to give up militancy. They also raised doubts about the intentions of the militant outfit by alleging that both the president and general secretary of the BNLF were from Assam and had nothing to do with Mizoram. (Staff Correspondent; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; August 9, 2000)

GUWAHATI, August 8: It's an annual feature that almost everyone in Assam has learnt to live with. Every year floods wreak havoc in the state, claim hundreds of lives, damage crops, disrupts communication and causes a heavy financial burden on the exchequer. This year too, the scene has been almost similar to the past years. Three waves of floods since April have affected lakhs of people in 16 districts of Assam. Nearly 100 have lost their lives by drowning, in landslides and diseases that accompany the scourge. "Apart from heavy rainfall, there are several reasons for the recurring spectre of floods in the state. Breaches in embankments of the major tributaries of the Brahmaputra is one reason for the large-scale damage witnessed every year," said PC Hazarika, Chief Engineer, Flood Control Department. This year itself, 54 breaches have occurred in the three waves that lashed the state. The third wave, which started last week, has so far affected nearly 3,000 villages in 15 districts. The rising waters of Brahmaputra and its tributaries, damaging a crop area of 1,23,569 hectares have inundated over three lakh hectares of land. Nearly 26 lakh people have been affected and 20 lives have been lost. While the situation is improving in Nalbari, Barpeta, Bongaigaon, Kokrajhar and Sonitpur districts, it continues to remain grim in the other 10 districts. The water level of Brahmaputra and its tributaries continue to flow above the danger level in Darrang, Dhubri, Lakhimpur, Jorhat, Goalpara and Morigaon districts. Road and rail communication in most of these districts also continues to remain disrupted as sections of rail tracks and highways still remain under water. To provide food and medicine to the affected people, the state government has set up 277 relief camps in the flood-ravaged areas. The Government has also sanctioned Rs 3 crore to provide relief to the affected people. During the current financial year, a sum of Rs 31.42 crore have been sanctioned from the Calamity Relief Fund as relief. Apart from the amount spent on providing relief material, floods also affect the fiscal position of the state in other ways. Every year the government spends crores in constructing dykes and embankments along the major tributaries of the Brahmaputra. (Correspondent; The Hindustan Times; New Delhi; August 9, 2000)

AIZAWL, August 9: At least 90 people, including seven women have died due to drug abuse in Mizoram since January, state Excise Commissioner R Lalzuava said on Monday. Lalzuava said 90 per cent of the drug deaths were due to abuse of spasmo proxyvon, a painkiller widely misused by the youths here and the death figure during the seven months this year has surpassed last year's record of 84. The latest victim was a Myanmar national who died of drug overdose at the Aizawl police station lock-up on Thursday and an unidentified persons, whose body along with proxyvon capsules was found inside Assam Rifles complex here on Sunday. state Excise department officials said the drug laws, now in force in the state, were ineffective to combat the menace. The Mizoram Drug Control Bill, 2000 is likely to be introduced in the next session of the state Legislature. (PTI; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; August 10, 2000)

AGARTALA, August 9: The Bill passed by the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council to introduce the Roman script for the "Kokborak" - the state's tribal dialect - has given rise to a political controversy. The Roman script seeks to replace the Bengali script in which the "Kokborak" is taught in primary schools in the hill autonomous areas of the state. The Indigenous Peoples' Front of Tripura, the ruling group in the council, has decided to introduce the Roman script in primary schools in the hill autonomous areas immediately "as the Governor will take a long time to give assent to the Bill". "The IPFT wants to implement its decision without waiting for the Governor's assent. This shows its hatred towards the majority community in Tripura," the state CPI-M unit alleged in a statement here today. It felt IPFT's stand may undermine ethnic harmony. After coming to power in 1978, the Left Front declared "Kokborak" as the second language after Bengali and introduced the dialect in Bengali script at the primary level in the hill areas. Hill regional parties including the Tripura Upajati Juba Samity, Bijoy Kumar Hrangkhwal's TNV and the IPFT have long been wanting the Roman script. (Statesman News Service; The Statesman; Calcutta; August 10, 2000)

AIZAWL, August 9: At least 90 people, including seven women have died due to drug abuse in Mizoram since January, state Excise Commissioner R Lalzuava said on Monday. Lalzuava said 90 per cent of the drug deaths were due to abuse of spasmo proxyvon, a painkiller widely misused by the youths here and the death figure during the seven months this year has surpassed last year's record of 84. The latest victim was a Myanmar national who died of drug overdose at the Aizawl police station lock-up on Thursday and an unidentified persons, whose body along with proxyvon capsules was found inside Assam Rifles complex here on Sunday. state Excise department officials said the drug laws, now in force in the state, were ineffective to combat the menace. The Mizoram Drug Control Bill, 2000 is likely to be introduced in the next session of the state Legislature. (PTI; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; August 10, 2000)

KOHIMA, August 11: Some parts of Nagaland and Manipur were cut off from the rest of the country by road following landslides on National Highway-39, reports UNI. Official sources said here that there were landslides in at least seven places on NH-39 triggered by heavy downpour for the last four days. At Kiruphema, a 100-metre portion of the road was eroded by the landslide. A three-storey building was still standing at 100 feet below the road. At One Point below Naga Hospital, the entire road was under mud from the slide that rose some 15 feet in height. At 174 KM Point, an entire area of three-and-a-half square km was still being eroded. The NH-39, which the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) personnel were constructing, was the seventh road to be hit by landslides as earlier six roads had been eroded away by the landslips. The state authority had regulated the traffic for the last one month due to the landslide, but the road link was totally cut off on Wednesday night. About 2000 trucks carrying essential commodities to Manipur were still stranded on NH-39. This could lead to shortage of essential commodities in some parts of Nagaland, including the capital town of Kohima and Manipur. In Kohima, the prices of all essential commodities have squared. No green vegetables, including fish, meat and vehicular fuel, are also running short. There were landslides in several parts of Kohima, leading to a damage of at least 11 government and private buildings. The town also experienced intermittent heavy downpour for the last one week. Water supply, electricity supply and the roads were also damaged in several parts. The commercial town of Dimapur had experienced an unprecedented flood for last few days that claimed four lives so far. The situation is gradually improving, but some low-lying areas are still under water. The district authorities and town committee of Dimapur are keeping a strict vigil for any possible outbreak of waterborne diseases. (UNI; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; August 12, 2000)

TURA, August 10: The Tura campus of the Northeastern Hill University (NEHU), even after years of its establishment, continues to function from the hostel of the Government Boys High School. A site selection committee for looking into the acquisition of land for the permanent campus has already selected a large area outside Tura on the National Highway. But now there is concern among the people of Garo Hills that even this selection will only be on paper as the state government is yet to pay up. The Garo Graduates' Union (GGU), an influential and intellectual group, has expressed concern over the delay in paying up for the land to the Nokmas, who are the original custodians of the land. It may be mentioned that a total of 600 acre of land with availability of drinking water has been selected for the campus but the NEHU authorities are unable to move in due to the fact that the Nokmas are yet to be compensated for the land. These Nokmas are now facing a vexed problem - while having given the permission for acquiring the land, the villagers are now turning their anger on them as they are unable to utilise the reserved land for Jhum cultivation. Time seems to be running out for the Nokmas to either continue keeping the land on hold with no returns or to give it to the villagers for utilisation. The general impression of the public is that the government should, at the earliest, either give some form of assurance and compensation or inform the Nokmas as to when exactly are they going to acquire the land. A large number of villagers are now facing the grim prospect of empty granaries for the coming winter as the season for cultivation of crops will soon be over. (Correspondent; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; August 12, 2000)

GUWAHATI, August 11: Despite the fact that Hindi is becoming more and more popular among the people of the region, thanks largely to television and cinema, its progress as the primary language for carrying out official works in Central Government offices, public sector undertakings (PSUs) and nationalised banks is far from satisfactory. Targets set for such establishments in the region in promoting the official language of the country are left untouched in most of them. Lack of interest and enough effort on the part of the officials entrusted with the task of implementing the official language programme is said to be the primary reason behind the poor show. The Official Language Resolution passed by the Parliament in 1967 directed the Centre to prepare and implement intensive and comprehensive programmes to speed up propagation of Hindi and is progressive use for official purposes. The goal is to replace English with Hindi for official purposes of the Union as envisaged in Article 343 of the constitution. "Hindi is popular among the general public in the Northeast but targets set for offices with regard to its implementation as the official language has not been achieved," says deputy director (implementation), Department of Official Language, Ministry of Home Affairs, RB Singh. The deputy director, based in Guwahati, is in charge of overseeing the implementation of Hindi in offices all over the Northeast, including Sikkim. Pointing out the reasons behind the poor show, Singh says the most crucial reason is the tenure basis on which implementing officers in concerned offices are posted. "It is a major problem", he feels and adds that it is because of the short tenures of the officers that they do not show interest in the implementation of Hindi. "It is hindering the proper implementation of the official language," he says. The deputy director also points out at another factor inhibiting the implementation of Hindi. This is the non-filling of posts specifically related to Hindi. "The minimum requirements of officers and staff are not being met," he says. Singh says that several such posts in banks, PSUs and Central offices are lying vacant not necessarily because of lack of qualified people. According to norms, every office with staff strength up to 25 should have one Hindi typist and one translator. For offices with staff strength of 50 or more, there should be a senior translator too. There should, on top of it all, be a Hindi officer in offices with over 100 staff members. Clearly, few offices are complying with the norms. Singh says that a superficial review done by his office in major towns in five states of the region revealed that there are over 100 such posts lying vacant. A full-fledged review of all the states will surely reveal more such anomalies. "We can only pressurise but not force the offices concerned to comply with the norms," says Singh. The regional implementation office regularly sends reminders to the errant organisations." They always say they are working towards it," he confides. Singh's office carries out at least 12 inspections of offices every month. Apart from mounting assurances the concerned officers in the errant offices have not done much. The Department of Official Language, in a bid to encourage and motivate employees to learn and use Hindi, hands out awards every year. It has helped matters to a great extent as far as making Hindi popular among the employees is concerned. It is only in its use as the language of official transaction that problems arise. "The employees are very interested, the problem lies with the system," says Singh. The Northeast states fall into the 'C' category of states for which the target set by the Department in its 2000-01 annual programme is 55 per cent originating correspondence in Hindi, 20 per cent notings in Hindi, etc. With a series of poor shows in the preceding years, there is little hope of targets like these getting fulfilled. If the situation is dismal in the Northeast, the overall picture in the country is not too happy either. The annual programme for this year clearly says that while targets set for the last 31 years have been met to some extent a considerable amount of work is still being done in English. "Hindi is being used as a language of translation while English enjoys the pride of place in official work. This is a violation of the provisions of the Constitution," the programme points out. (Staff Reporter; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; August 12, 2000)

IMPHAL, August 12: Forest and Environment Minister Prof Gangumei Kamei released a brochure on Sangai entitled "The Sangai- A Photo profile" by freelance journalist Salam Rajesh at a simple function at Hotel Excellency today. Chief Conservator of Forest T Priyobrata presided over the function. The brochure contains four photo profiles of Sangai, the most threatened deer species. Slides of Sangai profiles taken by Salam Rajesh from Keibul Lamjao wildlife sanctuary and Sangai captive breeding centre at Meitei Langol were also displayed. Rajesh, who is also a photography enthusiast explained to the gathering the unique and special features and characteristics of the brow antlered deer. He took three years to make the compilation of the photo profiles. Kh Samungou, an expert on the rare species delivered a talk on the deer. Speaking on the occasion Prof Kamei called for an organized and united effort to save Sangai from extinction. He said poaching and hunting of the deer could not checked effectively as the strength of the forest guards and other officials is inadequate at Keibul Lamjao. The Government is considering raising the strength of the forest guards at the National Park. Noted film personality A Shyam urged the Government to institute awards for forest guards, engaged in the task of protecting the deer. (E-Pao; Sangai Express; Imphal; August 13, 2000)

GUWAHATI, August 13: It has not rained in the adjoining hill states for the past two days, and the water level of the Brahmaputra and its tributaries has begun to recede. But that is hardly anything to rejoice in Assam, 16 of whose districts have been left devastated during the past two weeks. An estimated 30 lakh people have been badly hit and several hundred families rendered homeless with the rivers taking away their homesteads. Lakhs of people are still living in temporary relief camps, while thousands are living under the open sky on embankments and high roads. Assam revenue minister Zoinath Sharma has put the initial estimate of damage at Rs 300 crore. "This is only a rough estimate, and we are yet to assess the damage caused to crops, both standing as well as those which perished in the granaries in the villages," he added. Medical teams with vaccines to help combat the threat of epidemics have deployed in the flood-hit areas, where more rain was forecast, Reuters quoted a government official as saying on Sunday. Field staff in interior Assam had reported that people were suffering from fever and skin diseases caused by contaminated water, but there were no signs of epidemics so far, the official said. "Medical teams have spread out to affected districts of Assam with medicines, vaccines and first-aid materials to set up medical centres," Biren Dutta, Secretary in the Health and Family Welfare Department, told Reuters. "Our medical teams have sufficient medicines and every precaution has been taken to prevent outbreak of epidemics like cholera," Dutta said. Reports from Nalbari and Darrang among other districts say that people are facing shortage of foodgrains. Minister Sharma says maximum effort has been put in to reach out marooned families. But government relief is always government relief. At least one government official engaged in relief duty has been placed under suspension for misusing relief materials. Red Cross has made an appeal to the international community to provide assistance to the state to the tune of $3.5 million, particularly to meet the need for foodgrains, water purification tablets, mosquito nets (Assam is a malaria-infested state), tarpaulins and clothes. The UK government announced a $ 3,75,000 help for the Assam flood victims on Saturday. This is the first time that any direct international support has come to Assam's flood victims since Independence. The fund-starved state government has been so far able to fish out only Rs 41 crore for relief work, of which Rs 30 crore has come from the Calamity Relief Fund set up by the government of India. Assam has not been able to pay regular salaries to its government employees due to an unending cash crunch. Added to the relief needs is the immediate restoration of communication. Roads and railway tracks have been badly affected by floods, the easternmost district of Dhemaji is still cut off. The National Highway No 37, which links Guwahati to the rest of India was severed at four spots near Rangiya, about 60 kms from here two weeks ago, with supply of essential items coming to a grinding halt to the entire Northeastern region for four to five days. The highway has been temporarily repaired. One major downpour in the Bhutan hills north of lower Assam, and it will get delinked any moment. The local meteorological office has forecast more heavy rain within 24 hours. (Samudra Gupta Kashyap; The Indian Express; New Delhi; August 14, 2000)

GUWAHATI, August 14: The Assam government is hoping that a British government grant of 250,000 pounds for the state's flood victims will help ease the people's hardships. The British government announced the aid in London on Saturday, after repeated appeals by Red Cross and other voluntary organisations. This is the first time that any direct international support has come to Assam's flood victims since Independence. It has not rained in the adjoining hill states for two days and the water level of the Brahmaputra and its tributaries has begun to recede. But that is hardly anything to rejoice in Assam, where 16 districts have been devastated in two weeks. Assam revenue minister Zoiinath Sharma has put the initial estimate of damage at Rs 3 billion. "This is only a rough estimate and we are yet to assess damage caused to crops, both standing as well as that damaged in granaries in villages," he added. An estimated 30 lakh people have been badly hit, with several hundred families rendered homeless with the rivers taking away their homesteads by way of erosion. Several people are still living in relief camps set up by the authorities, while thousands are living under the open sky or embankments and roads. Reports have come in from interior areas of Nalbari, Darrang and other districts of people facing a foodgrain shortage. Sharma said maximum efforts are being made to reach out to those marooned. Interestingly, a government official engaged in relief duty has been suspended for misusing relief material. Except for one or two local non-governmental organisations, none has come forward to help people. The Red Cross has woken up to the situation and appealed to the international community to assist the state. It has called for international assistance to the tune of $3.5 million, particularly to meet needs for foodgrains, water purification tablets, mosquito nets [Assam is hit by malaria], tarpaulin and clothes. The state government has not been able to dish out much for relief work. In fact, it has not been able to pay regular salaries to its employees due to a cash crunch. Added to relief work, is the immediate need for restoration of communication. Roads and railway tracks have been badly affected by floods and the easternmost district of Dhemaji is still cut off. A police officer in that district died while trying to rescue marooned people last month. National highway No 37, which links Guwahati to the rest of India, was cut off at four spots near Rangiya, about 60 km from here two weeks back, with supply of essential items to the north-eastern region grinding to a halt for four to five days. The highway has been temporarily repaired, but a downpour in the Bhutan hills, north of lower Assam will cut it off any moment. Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta has said that the government has left no stone unturned to provide succour to the people. The army, even though its camps have been under knee-deep water for two days, has been helping the government in relief work at Rangiya, the headquarters of the 21 Mountain Division. (Nitin Gogoi; Rediff.com; August 14, 2000)

GUWAHATI, August 14: The forum for protecting the identity of the people of Assam in its meeting held on August 6 last resolved to launch a vigorous and sustained mass movement against the notorious IMDT Act and to create national public opinion for early solution of the problems faced by the Assamese community, stated a press release. The executive committee of the forum styled as the Asom Astitwa Suraksha Manch in its meeting also called upon the people of Assam to boycott socially and politically all those individuals and political parties and organizations holding brief for the unjust IMDT Act. The meeting held under the presidentship of D.N. Chakravarty discussed the draft constitution of the manch and constituted a number of committees to formulate guidelines, and to draw up strategy of action to fight against infiltration of foreigners, wanton destruction of forests, unjust claims on Assam's land by some of the neighbouring states and rampant corruption in different administrative and development departments of the Government of Assam in general, and the APSC in particular, in order to ensure the advent of a congenial atmosphere in the state, conducive to the security and prosperity of the Assamese community. The Asom Astitwa Suraksha Manch was set up last month at a convention held at the District Library, under the presidentship of senior journalist, DN Chakravarty. A 31-member executive committee was constituted in the convention with DN Chakravarty as president, Mridul Sarma as working president and Bhaskar Das as the general secretary. The convention was attended by over 500 representatives drawn from the different districts and belonging to various political affiliations. The manch has decided to organize a two-day workshop here on September 23 and 24 next with a view to drawing up a strategy to organize the indigenous communities of the state against all fissiparous forces and to build a solid movement to frustrate the designs of inimical forces both within the state or from outside. The manch also made an appeal to the press to uphold the genuine cause of the people of Assam, added the release. (Staff Reporter; The Sentinel; Guwahati; August 15, 2000)

GUWAHATI, August 14: The Forest Department is trying to evict the encroachers of the Kaziranga National Park (KNP) who are involved in poaching and illegal fishing, said Union Minister of State for Forest and Environment Babulal Marandi while replying to an unstarred question by Arun Kumar Sarma, MP from Assam, in the Rajya Sabha on August 11, says a release here. Marandi admitted that out of the 50,000 inhabitants in and around Kaziranga National Park (KNP), 500 were encroachers. Even though the authorities had initiated steps for the eviction of the encroachers, they obtained stay orders from the Guwahati High Court and the process got delayed, the minister said, adding that the Forest Department had approached the High Court for withdrawal the stay orders for the eviction of the encroachers immediately. Replying to another question raised by Sarma on the progress of urban development schemes in Assam, the Union Minister of State for Urban Development, Bangaru Dattatreya informed that a total of Rs 13,593,131 was sanctioned for the water-supply schemes for Barpeta, Morigaon, Hailakandi and Dhemaji during the 9th Plan. Rs 19 crore was also sanctioned for water-supply schemes at Bilasipara, Sarthebari, Nazira, Bihpuria, Lakhimpur, Naharkotia, Bokakhat, Lala and Rongapara, the minister said. (Staff Reporter; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; August 15, 2000)