Rain to continue in the North-East

Thiruvananthapuram, April 14

Seasonal thunderstorms have announced their arrival with a vengeance over Bihar and West Bengal with typically destructive gale-force winds wreaking havoc in the contiguous border areas of the States late on Tuesday night.

Brute force

Thunderstorms during this time of the year are seasonal in nature and are called Nor'westers, thanks to the trigger in the westerlies blowing from northwest India.

Nor'westers can at times pack a deadly punch with accompanying high winds, lightning and thunder activity. Moisture incursion over heated land sets up the ideal conditions for the storms to take shape.

India Meteorological Department (IMD) said in its update on Wednesday that the causative land-based trough ran down from Bihar to south Chhattisgarh across Jharkhand and Orissa.

WESTERLIES TO GAIN

Another trough ran down from north Karnataka to Tamil Nadu with an embedded cyclonic circulation over Karnataka and neighbourhood.

Satellite cloud imagery showed the presence of low to medium clouds (partly clouded conditions) over parts of peninsular India, the north-eastern States, south-east Arabian Sea and south Bay of Bengal.

Meanwhile, international weather models indicate that the westerlies would hold sway over the region during this week and possibly the next, with western disturbance activity picking up once again.

The first of the series may enter the northwest as early as Thursday (tomorrow) and may get particularly accentuated over east and northeast India due to the presence of the trough. The wind strength and the depth of the trough are mutually complimentary, with one feeding the other. Since the Nor'westers have drawn first blood in the Bihar/West Bengal region, it is likely that the latter could witness continued activity over the next few days as well.

The IMD has forecast scattered to fairly widespread rain or thundershowers over the north-eastern States during the next 24 hours but may decrease thereafter.

Isolated rain or thundershower is likely over West Bengal, Sikkim, Jharkhand and Orissa during the same period.

Widespread showers

Forecast until Monday hinted at the possibility of scattered to fairly widespread rain or thundershowers with isolated thunder squall over the Northeastern States. According to the US National Centres for Environmental Prediction, the week ending April 21 would see isolated rains over parts of northwest India, scattered over northeast India and the southwest coast (mainly Kerala, south-coastal Karnataka).

But the proceedings would likely get a leg-up during the week that follows (April 22-30) with showers activity being indicated from southwest Rajasthan to the rest of the northwest India, east India and northeast India.

The northeast is shown to ‘light up' yet again thanks to raised level of thunderstorm activity from Nor'westers.

The ‘rain trail' from the northeast will sneak down south-southeast to east India, east-central India and adjoining peninsular India before linking up with the weather activity along the southwest coast.

This is being mainly attributed to the arrival of strong western disturbance around April 20, which is expected to dig its heels into northwest India before moving further east.

Given this context, the heat wave in the northwest and east India might scale down during the last 10 days of the month. But this could also interfere with the heating process necessary to set the stage in the northwest for monsoon to drive in.

Meanwhile, overnight on Wednesday, heat wave conditions prevailed over many parts of Northwest India, north Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, interior Orissa, Jharkhand and isolated pockets of northeast Madhya Pradesh, Vidarbha, costal Andhra Pradesh and costal Orissa.

The highest maximum temperature of 45.5 deg Celsius was recorded at Hirakud in Orissa. Rain or thundershowers have occurred at many places over the Northeastern States and at a few places over Karnataka and at isolated places over Kerala during the past 24 hours.

Normal life disrupted in hill districts

Imphal, April 15 : Normal life was paralyzed in four hill districts of Manipur on Tuesday following a 24-hour bandh since last night called by the Manipur Tribal JAC against elections under Unwanted District Council Act.

At least 20 loaded trucks were stranded at Mao Gate, Senapati district while 17 tourist buses were escorted towards Imphal by the security forces.

All the inter State and the inter district buses were off the road in all the four districts, Ukhrul, Chandel, Senapati and Tamenglong.

The business establishments in all the districts were closed.

However, there were no reports of any untoward incident till the time of filing this report.

ANSAM has called a 6-day economic blockade along the two NHs and on all the State highways from the midnight of April 11 in protest against the Manipur (Hill Areas) District Councils (3rd Amendment) Act, 2008 .

Manipur’s anti-tribal government

Through your esteemed paper, I wish to share some few thoughts in regard to the Manipur (Hill Areas) District Council Act and Amendment 2008 and its repercussion to the Tribal community in Manipur.
That, after much pressure from the Center Government and repeated demands voiced by the Tribals, the State Government finally lifted the iron curtain laid over the Hill Districts of Manipur. Consequently, the Manipur District Council election schedule was announced recently for the Hill districts of Manipur, with it the present SPF led State Government under the leadership of CM O.Ibobi Singh seems to have found a solace in gratifying the Tribal people. But are the Tribal really excited and benefitted with the long delayed MDC Election?
Minutely studying the Manipur (Hill Areas) District Council Act (third amendment) 2008, we can note those deceiving and discriminative acts such as: - *Section 29(i) ClauseXIII *Section 29(1) Clause XIV *Section 29(2) (a) *Section 29(2)(b) * Section 46(3) *Section 47 and others. Again, It is to bring kind notice of the Tribal people that, the Order of Warrant of Precedent dated Imphal, 6th February, 2010 issued by the Government of Manipur, clearly defines the horrific example of repressive and bais authority of the Valley based Administrations over the Tribal people. Here, the Adhyaksha of Zilla Parishad or Up Adhyaksha or the Deputy Commissioner are placed higher even before the Chairman of the District Council. Then, Hon’ble CM, what is the meaning of grass root level administration? Again, when CM O.Ibobi can recruit thousands of IRBs, Commandos,VDFs and Govt.Services just from his Thoubal constituency alone, why is he playing a ‘sabotage-trick’ against the whole tribal rights of those ADC primary teacher’s recuritment candidates?
I represent one such discontent tribal educated youth who has no intention to condemn the Act and the election but compelled by the fact that, the discriminative Act of 1972 and Amendment of the Act 2008 mentioned above represents a ‘Mockery and Deprivation’ of the Tribal Rights by the present State Government. Moreover, the Act completely denies the genuine demands and rights of the Tribal people as it is purely to exploit the Tribals politically and financially through the money/power hungry valley based State Government. Thanks to the CM I. Ibobi Singh led Congress Government for passing the bill in the Manipur Assembly tacticfully through the self appointed Select Committee rather than Hill Areas Committee (HAC) which is empowered with responsibilities for administration in the welfare of the Tribal in Manipur under Article 371-C of the Indian constitution.
The Tribal elected MLAs including the HAC Chairman, TD Minister, Tribal Ministers must therefore resign on moral ground for betraying the faith and trust of the Tribal people in Manipur. All your complacency and hand in glove with the State Government cannot be compromised with the Tribal Rights and Determination. Remember, you are all elected to benefit your people and also open your mouth in the Manipur Assembly and not cry over the Bill passed against the interest of the Tribal people.
The present State Government thus can be clearly defined as ‘Anti-Tribal Government’ by its malicious intentions projected in the 1972 Act and its Amendment 2008. When the Municipalities in the Imphal Valley can flourish politically and financially for the past many years now, why does the present State Government still deny the rights and wishes of the Tribal people?
Peter Dave
New Hope Colony,
Senapati District H/Q

AR seize 4320 SP capsules

Tamenglong, April 14 : The 11 Assam Rifles under the aegis of Red Shield Division seized huge quantity of contra banned SP Tables from one passenger on his way from Jiribam to Imphal yesterday late at night by the permanent vehicle Check Post of 11 Assam Rifles at Khongsang.

The person was indentifying as one Narul Haq 43 son of Kutubdeen of Village, Lakhipur of District Kachar in Assam.

The 11 AR foiled an attempt of trafficking of huge consignment of 4320 tablets of SPASMO PROXYVON from Assam to Manipur and was travelling from Jiribam to Imphal when he was caught at Khongsang late night on 9 April 2010, the adjutant informed the reporter late tonight.

The individual has been arrested and handed over to Police station, Tamenglong along with the illegal consignment of drugs.

This praise worth achievement by Assam Rifles has given a huge set back to the illegal trafficking of drugs across the state borders.

The arrest person has also sent signals all across that no such acts will be tolerated in the Tamenglong region and Assam Rifles has once again lived up to the glory of its renowned name, the source said.

Centre asks FCI to transport sugar to Manipur

Shillong, Apr 13 : The Centre today asked the Food Corporation of India (FCI) to find out ways and means to ensure that sugar is lifted to Manipur regularly.

The directive came in the wake of reports that FCI did not transport sugar from Dimapur in Nagaland to Manipur through the National Highway 39 via Senapati district which according to Manipur Food Commissioner P Vaiphei, the problem was due to “extortion”.

“Sugar is not coming from Dimapur to Imphal due to extortion from FCI contractors,” Vaiphei who attended the meeting of Food Secretaries North East States at Orchid Lake Resort here told Imphal Free Press.

At the meeting, Vaiphei brought to the notice of Union Food Secretary Alka Sirohi and FCI Chairman and Managing Director Siraj Hussain that sugar which has to be transported to Manipur through Dimapur did not reach regularly.

Stating that extortion is one of the main bottlenecks, Vaiphei informed that Manipur and Nagaland governments jointly used to provide security to ensure smooth transportation of the product to Manipur.

However FCI Executive Director (NE Zonal) AK Roy accused that security was not provided regularly.

The Union Food Secretary later asked Manipur government and FCI to sort out the problem and suggested using of alternative routes through Silchar in Assam via Jiribam if the need arises.

Sirohi has also assured that more money would be extended to Manipur for construction of godowns.

Manipuri Children Trafficking- Absconding Pastor

Effective steps on to nab absconding pastor,cop tells SC

New Delihi: Concerned by the preliminary reports from the Tamil Nadu police,which rescued 76 children belonging to Assam and Manipur from homes run by missionaries,the the Supreme Court on Wednesday asked the National Commission for Protection of Childrens Rights (NCPCR) to conduct a probe into the issue.
The Kanyakumari SP informed the SC that all the children belonged to the Zeme tribe in Manipur and Assam and that Rev Paul belonged to the same community.Due to poverty,parents of these children entrusted them to Rev Paul on the promise that he would provide better education and healthcare to them, the SP said.
At the time of taking the children,Rev Paul collected Rs 5,000 from each of the parents for expenses, he said.
Giving details of the manner in which these children were brought to TN,the police officer said,Rev Paul brought them from Manipur and Assam to Chennai in 2008.Initially,they were accommodated in Alice Rebecca Matriculation School,Red Hills,Chennai,then they were taken to Kerala and finally handed over to Pastor Shaji during the year 2009.
Mentioning the arrest of Pastor Shaji,the SP said,Effective steps are being taken to nab the absconding accused,Rev Paul.Only after arresting him,we can get more information about the transportation of children. He said the 76 minor children were sent back to their native places on February 11 and had since been united with their family.
However,amicus curiae Bhat drew the courts attention to another report on the rescue of 17 more Manipuri children by the police in Chennai on March 27.The Bench said there could be a possibility that these organisations were bringing children from the NE to the southern states to impart education as they must be receiving huge donations in this regard.Everything may not be legal in this, the Bench added.
But Jaising said whether it was for education,labour or sexual exploitation,illegal trafficking of children had to be stopped and no one had any business in uprooting them from their family without their consent.

Snap power blackout affects normal life

Imphal, Apr 1 : Power blackout in Imphal following joining of cease-work strike by the employees of the Electricity Department severely affected normal official works in government offices including secretariats.

In the meantime, a statement of the Manipur Electricity Employees' Union in a statement signed by its publicity secretary Soraisam Dwijamani circulated to the media informed that the cease strike has been deferred for some time following a talk with the Chief Engineer of the department today.

Due to the total blackout, normal working in government establishments including secretariat, the administrative backbone of the government paralyzed.

However, the blackout could not affect the Imphal Raj Bhavan and Chief Minister's Bungalow.

"Working in the entire block of the secretariat disturbed from around 1 pm with power blackout without warning," an employee working in one of the block of the Old Secretariat who wanted not to name said.

The blackout also affected in the working in several sections of the Manipur Police Department.

Government sent out police forces to hunt out the employees of the electricity department in the efforts to resume the power supply but till late evening normal power supply in the VIP installations could not be resumed.

The Manipur Electricity Employee's Union which had earlier served ultimatum to the Manipur government to arrive at an amicable solution to the deadlock with the striking employees yesterday announced joining the cease work strike even though government warned of stringent action under Essential Service Act.

The deadlock between the government and its employees continue as both sides remaining stick to their guns.

Government said it has no funds to provide the arrears effective from January 2006 while the Joint Administrative Council (JAC) of All Manipur Government Employees' Organisation (AMGEO) and All Manipur Trade Union Congress (AMTUC) is claiming that enough funds for payment of arrears included in the grants awarded by the 13th Finance Commission.

It has been 75 days completed since the launching of the cease-work strike of the employees banner of the JAC which was commenced from January 17 last demanding in toto implementation of the revised pay bands on the recommendation of the Sixth Pay Commission from January 2006 .

While announcing the suspension of the strike of the employees of the electricity department, the statement of its publicity secretary said that the planned joining the cease work strike has been deferred after a talk with the Chief Engineer N Sharat today.

The body agreed to defer considering the damages caused to the electric post and other due to the heavy hailstorms swept across the state, the statement added.