Regional IMPHAL, FRIDAY 17 OCTOBER 2014 NE India turns to Myanmar, Bangladesh for rice Meghalaya Govt seeks financial assistance from Centre rice through the traditional system and route.” Saha also said that 5,000 tonnes of rice transported in three small ships from Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh reached the Ashuganj river port in Bangladesh Oct 12. “From Ashuganj, Bangladeshi trucks will carry the rice to FCI warehouses in Nandannagar (near Agartala) within a day or two,” the minister told IANS. In August, 5,000 tonnes of rice reached Tripura through the same route. Ashuganj port over the Meghna river in eastern Bangladesh is located around 40 km from Agartala. The minister said the FCI had recently floated tenders to carry another 10,000 tonnes of rice via Bangladesh. The eight northeastern states, including Sikkim, are largely dependent on Punjab, Haryana and other states for foodgrains and essential commodities sold through PDS. The railways transport more than 70 percent of foodgrain to northeastern states from the rest of the country. Transportation via Bangla- desh is easier as road connectivity is a big factor for the landlocked northeastern states surrounded by Bangladesh, Myanmar, Bhutan and China. There is only a narrow land corridor to the northeastern region through Assam and West Bengal. But this landslide-prone route passes through hilly terrain with steep gradients and multiple hairpin bends, making plying of vehicles, specially loaded trucks, very difficult. The distance from Kolkata to Agartala via Guwahati is 1,650 km and from New Delhi 2,637 km . The distance between Agartala and Kolkata via Bangladesh is only 350 km. The railway line is broad gauge from Assam‘s main city Guwahati up to Lumding in southern Assam. From Lumding it is metre gauge — in southern Assam and till Agartala, western Manipur and northern Mizoram. The 437-km Lumding-Agartala metre gauge rail line, covering southern Assam, Tripura, Mizoram and Manipur, will be converted into broad gauge in two phases. -IANS Railway Minister to be met with request for more trains 70 fall ill after eating ‘prasad’ in Tripura AGARTALA, Oct 16 Transport bottlenecks have forced India‘s northeastern states to procure much needed rice from neighbouring Myanmar and Bangladesh. The Indian government has floated bids to import rice from Myanmar for Manipur and Mizoram. The Food Corporation of India (FCI) is ferrying rice from other parts of India via Bangladesh for Tripura. The poor transport connectivity in some northeastern states worsened after train services from the rest of India were halted in southern Assam Oct 1, snapping rail connection to Tripura, Manipur and Mizoram. This has been done so that rail tracks can be converted from metre to broad gauge. This 18-month two-phase track conversion work undertaken by the Northeast Frontier Railways is scheduled to be completed by March 2016. Mizoram Food and Civil Supplies and Transport Minister John Rotluangliana told IANS: “We have asked the central government to import rice from Myanmar. The RANCHI, Oct 16 When Union railway minister Sadananda Gowda will arrive in Ranchi to hold a review meeting of the South Eastern Railway (SER) on Thursday, the Ranchi railways division will table before him one of its passengers’ longstanding demands of providing more trains connecting Ranchi to south India. The officials are set to table before Gowda the demand for two pairs of trains to Tamil Nadu to manage the ever growing rush. “The division has drafted a request for two pairs of trains to Trivandrum and Chennai which will be tabled to the minister at Thursdays’ meeting,” said a top official requesting anonymity. “This will ease the burden off 12385 Hatia-Yeshwantpur and 13351 DhanbadAlaapuzha Express,” he added. “South bound passengers face trouble in getting Metals and Minerals Trading Corp (MMTC) has floated tenders for this purpose. “We are expecting rice from Myanmar very soon,” Rotluangliana added. He said he recently visited Chin hills in Myanmar adjoining eastern Mizoram to gather knowledge regarding transportation of rice from there. Mizoram shares an unfenced border of 404 km with Myanmar. According to the minister, Mizoram, with a population of 1.1 million, requires about 52,000 quintals of rice per month for distribution through the Public Distribution System (PDS). The MMTC last month floated global tenders to import about 100,000 tonnes of rice from Myanmar for Manipur and Mizoram. Tripura Food, Civil Supplies and Finance Minister Bhanulal Saha told IANS: “Rice is being ferried from other parts of India via Bangladesh to avoid the long and mountainous surface road up to Tripura via Assam and Meghalaya. “Also, the stoppage of train services has created serious problems for carrying tickets. If approved, the trains will cater to the pilgrims and patients that ply to south India in heavy numbers throughout the year,” the official added. In his maiden visit to Ranchi after assuming office in May, Gowda will hold a review meeting of the officials of SER on Wednesday that will be attended by general managers of SER and divisional railway managers (DRM) of Adra, Chakradharpur, Kharagpur and Ranchi divisions. “Wednesday’s meeting will feature performance and progress of SER. Safety measures of rail routes in red corridor is also on the cards,” Ranchi DRM Deepak Kashyap said. The officials of Ranchi division started preparations on Wednesday as the DRM held a closed door meeting to tabulate their performance ahead of the meeting. In addi- tion to the review-meet, Gowda is slated to visit Maoist hotbed Chatra to oversee the commissioning of the new Shivpur-Kathotia railway track under Dhanbad division of East Central Railway (ECR). Meanwhile, members of Jharkhand Passengers Association (JPA) headed by consumer advisor of Ranchi railway division R K Sarawagi wrote to the DRM for providing better services in Namkum station after his visit on Wednesday. The JPA demanded the construction of a foot overbridge , clean drinking water and a separate reservation counter for women in the station. “The JPA is also planning to meet the railway minister and demand improved passenger services in stations across the state,” JPA secretary Prem Kataruka said. -Agencies AGARTALA, Oct 16: Around 70 people, including women and children, fell sick after eating ‘prasad’ - offering to deity - in Tripura, an official said on Thursday. At least 27 of them were hospitalised. “About 70 people, including women and children, suffered stomach pain and disorders like loose motions after eating ‘prasad’ at a religious function at Udaipur (60 km from Agartala) Wednesday night,” a health official said. He said of the 70 people 27 have been admitted to the government-run Tripura Sundari Hospital in Gomati. The remaining people have taken treatment from the OPD of the hospital. Residents told reporters that the number of people fallen sick after consuming the ‘prasad’ - the offering to the deity - is over 100 as some people have taken treatment privately at their homes. ‘Roller-coaster’ Dhakuria bridge puts lives at risk KOLKATA, Oct 16 On Panchami, homemaker Shyamali Sen, 65, met with an accident on Dhakuria bridge that left her hospitalized with rib fracture during the entire festival. In fact, it was not even an accident. She was sitting in a bus when it jerked ominously while passing Dhakuria bridge. The driver was aware of the bridge’s undulating surface. But he couldn’t help it. Even the authorities know accidents are waiting to happen on the bridge, but things continue to remain the same for years. The likes of Shyamali pay the price. On that fateful day, Shyamali and her husband Prabir, 75, had boarded a Volvo AC bus for pandalhopping. Pronam, a Kolkata Police community initiative, had organized the outing for senior citizens. “Since we were among the last to board, we had to sit at the extreme rear,” recounted Prabir, a retired engineer. Atop Dhakuria bridge, there was a sudden jerk. Shyamali, seated facing the isle with nothing to hold on to, pitched ahead and crashed on the floor. “Our Puja ended even before it had begun. My wife lay crippled in a hospital bed throughout the festivity while I shuttled between home and hospital. And it was all owing to a faulty bridge that poses a threat to the safety of commuters,” fumed Prabir. The bridge was constructed more than 50 years ago. Weakened by both wear and tear and rats gnawing at its base, it has sunk in sections, leading to a carriageway that is extremely undulating. The bridge has a gentle gradient at either end. A quarter way up the bridge, the slope disappears and for the next quarter it is a flat ride. Then the slope suddenly becomes steep till one reaches the topmost section of the bridge. Here, a flat surface greets the two steep slopes on either side. It is in this section LOSS OF ADMIT CARD I have lost my Admit Card of Class X bearing Roll No. 20255 of 1998 issued by BOSEM in between Chandel to Imphal on 13-10-14. Finders may kindly contact to the undersigned. Sd/- B.S. Samuel Anal S/o Lamphou Pasna Tse/22664-17 Chandel, # 9862949411 MAY YOU VISIT ! CHUNNU ENTERPRISE Bethel C.C.pur Est. 2005 Deals in : Videography, Sound system, Pal and Audio cassette converting. Electronics, Computer repairing. Prop. Lulun Haokip Tse/22677-17 ALUMNI MEETING A meeting of the Alumni/past students of St. George School, Shillong will be held on 31st October, 2014 at 3.00 p.m. in the school. All ex-students are requested to attend the meeting. Sd/- Principal St. George school, Shillong Tse/22673-17,20 9436994898 No.F/15/PC/73/3Sem/Vol.I GOVERNMENT OF MANIPUR OFFICE OF THE PRINCIPAL : PRESIDENCY COLLEGE MOTBUNG EXAM. FORM FILL UP NOTICE Motbung, the 14th Oct. 2014 It is hereby notified that the last date for submission of duly filled in Examination forms to the College Office for B.A./B. Sc. 3rd Semester Exam. 2014 (Dec) are fixed as under: 1. 27-10-2014 (Without fine) 2. 07-11-2014 (With fine) Details can be had from the college office during office hours. Sd/- Principal Presidency College, Motbung Tse/22717-17 Government of Manipur of the bridge where the steep slope and the flat top joins that motorists unfamiliar with its peculiar nature hit on the brake hard, causing vehicles to lurch. And it is here that Shyamali broke her ribs. There are even cracks with gaping holes at the joint between the top-most section and the slopes on either side. But no agency has shown any urgency to mend it. Engineering and consulting firm Rites observed that the bridge was past its retirement age but was still in use due to traffic pressure. The flyover stands on inclining concrete walls filled with sand or earth, a technology that became obsolete several decades ago. “When the flyover was built, traffic was a minuscule fraction of what it is today. The heavy traffic has taken a toll on the bridge,” said an engineer of Kolkata Improvement Trust (KIT), the flyover’s custodian. Officials of Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) roads department complained that repairs were difficult because traffic could not be stopped on the busy bridge. But others point out that there would be no alternative if the bridge collapsed. “South-bound traffic can be diverted via Lake Gardens flyover and Tollyunge Phari. North and east-bound vehicles can take the Anwar Shah Connector. But here, nothing gets done till there is a major accident,” remarked Prabir. KMC member mayor in council (roads) Sushanta Ghosh said, “I did get in touch with the Sens and expressed my sorrow. We do intend to repair the bridge but it can happen only after Diwali when Rites submits its report,” said Ghosh. Engineers felt the only solution was to demolish the current bridge and build a pier-based one with a smooth gradient. That will take at least two years, a disruption that traffic cops are unwilling to shoulder at present. GOVERNMENT OF MANIPUR OFFICE OF THE DC/ DISTRICT ELECTION OFFICER: THOUBAL PRESS NOTE Thoubal, the 15th October, 2014. No.21/4/DC (DEO)/TBL/ELEC/SSR-2014: As per directions of ECI letter No.23/2014-ERS dated 21st July, 2014 and in pursuance of CEO, Manipur letter No. 2/ELEC/SSR-2015 dated 25th July, 2014. It is hereby informed for information of all concerned that all SDOs/EROs of Thoubal District viz. SDO/ERO, Lilong, SDO/ERO, Thoubal and SDO/ERO, Kakching have published the Draft Photo Electoral Rolls, 2015 of the following 10 (Ten) Assembly Constituencies viz. (i) 30-Lilong A.C. (ii) 31-Thoubal A.C. (iii) 32-Wangkhem A.C. (iv) 33-Heirok A.C. (v) 34-Wangjing Tentha A.C. (vi) 35Khangabok A.C. (vii) 36-Wabagai A.C. (viii) 37-Kakching A.C. (ix) 38-Hiyanglam A.C. and (x) 39-Sugnu A.C. falling within the jurisdiction of Thoubal District today, the 15th October, 2014 in connection with the Special Summary Revision of Photo Electoral Rolls, 2015 with 01-01-2015 as the qualifying date as per schedule fixed by the ECI, New Delhi. 2. Further, it is informed that copies of the Draft Publication of Photo Electoral Rolls, 2015 are available at the Offices of SDOs/EROs, Lilong, Thoubal and Kakching for inspection by the general public and all concerned. If any interested person desires to have the details, the same be seen from the Office of the SDO/ERO concerned. 3. If, with reference to the above said qualifying date, there be any claim for inclusion of a name or any objection to the inclusion or any objection to particulars in any entry, it should be lodged to the concerned SDO/ERO on or before 10th November, 2014 (Monday) in Form 6, 7, 8 & 8A as may be appropriate. 4. Every such claim and objection should either be presented to the Offices of the concerned EROs or AEROs or to the Designated Officers at the relevant Designated Locations on or before 10th November, 2014 (Monday) during Office hours. Sd/- T. Ranjit Singh Tse/bill-17 DC/District Election Officer, Thoubal SHILLONG, Oct 16 Meghalaya government has sought Rs 3,072 crore financial assistance from the Centre for restoration of key infrastructure damaged in last month’s flash floods and landslides caused by cloudburst in which 59 lives were lost and five persons are missing since then. Chief Minister Mukul Sangma handed over the memorandum to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh yesterday in New Delhi where a detailed report of the damages due to the September 24 flash floods and landslide was given. “We have sought Rs 3,072 crore financial assistance from the Centre for repair and restoration of properties and infrastructure damaged by flood and landslide,” Mukul Sangma told media. This he said, was necessary in view of the fact that the state is not in a position to meet the financial requirements for rebuilding the lives of affected people and their infrastructure. The extent of damage to houses, crops and public properties is estimated around Rs 1,550 crore and Rs 422 crore was sought from the National Disaster Relief Fund. In addition, the state also requested Rs 1,100 crore as Special Financial Assistance for permanent restoration of critical infrastructure particularly roads and bridges, irrigation, water supply and power, the chief minister said. The Chief Minister said the natural calamity claimed the highest number of lives. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh for the 59 people who died in the calamity and five others who were missing. A total of 1,659 number of villages were affected by the flash floods and landslides and over 10,000 houses and about 16,000 Ha of cropped area is reported to have been damaged, a statement released by the government said. About 8,200 Ha of agricultural land needs to be de-silted in the Garo Hills region and over 2,500 fish ponds were damaged, it said. Inspired by Gandhi not Modi, says Gogoi “I am not following in the footsteps of PM Modi in Clean Assam campaign. I am inspired by Mahatma Gandhi..." says Gogoi GUWAHATI, Oct 16 Chief minister Tarun Gogoi on Wednesday clarified that he was not trying to imitate Prime Minister Narendra Modi, but was inspired by MK Gandhi while referring to his ‘Clean Assam’ campaign which was launched on October 5. Since Modi launched the Swacch Bharat Abhiyan, both the leaders have been engaged in mutual admiration through media statements for their individual cleanliness initiatives. Soon after launching the “Pariskar Aru Seuj Asom Khajagota Abhijan” (Cleanliness and Green Assam Awareness Campaign) here on Wednesday, Gogoi tweeted, “I am not following in the footsteps of PM Modi in Clean Assam campaign. Inspired by Mahatma Gandhi, I joined Kalyani Sangha Intellectuals slam AGP for not resolving influx issue GUWAHATI, Oct 16 Intellectuals of the city and members of the civil society and social organizations, who have gathered in the city for the twoday national political convention of Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), slammed the party leadership for failing to address the state’s primary problem of illegal foreigners. “There is no point in giving excuses. AGP has failed to work for the state. People had great faith in the party. It is unfortunate it forgot its primary agenda,” said former Asam Sahitya Sabha president and noted author Kanak Sen Deka. Addressing AGP leaders and workers from across the state, Deka said AGP did some good for Assam. “If the party really wants to win back its glory, its leadership must start working for the welfare of the people instead of scrambling for power,” he added. Eminent scholar Hiren Gohain, who was also part of the convention, stressed on the need to move ahead. AGP invited representatives of social organizations, students’ bodies, various tribal organizations and Assam Sahitya Sabha, besides other prominent personalities like representatives of Asom Jatiyata- badi Yuva Chatra Parishad (AJYCP), Karbi Students’ Union, Bengali Jatiya Parishad and All Adivasi Students’ Association of Assam Earlier, former CM and party president Prafulla Kumar Mahanta said he is sorry if the party has failed to live up to the expectations of the people. GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT & HIGHWAYS TRANSPORT BHAVAN, NO. 1 SANSAD MARG, NEW DELHI-110001 Invitation OF Request For Proposal Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Government of India (MoRT&H) invites Request for Proposal (RFP) for the following projects Name of the work Length Applica- Start/last Bid Due (Km) tion date of Date fee (Rs) downloading Consultancy Services for preparation of Detailed Project Report (PR) for Two laning of Churachandpur - Tuima section of NH-102B in the State of Manipur 92 5,000/- 10.10.2014/ 25.11.2014 25.11.2014 Consultancy Services for preparation of Detailed Project Report (PR) for Two laning of Tuima - Tuivai section of NH-102B in the State of Manipur. 70 5,000/- 10.10.2014/ 25.11.2014 25.11.2014 when I was a school student way back in 1951 and swept the Sweepers’ Colony in Jorhat. When I became the chief minister, I wielded the broom and swept the streets of Guwahati during the Clean Guwahati campaign in 2012. Then, I took part in the Clean Assam campaign which kicked off in Guwahati on October 5.” This is the second cleanliness-related campaign that Gogoi has launched in the state within a span of 10 days. Soon after Modi launched the Swacch Bharat Abhiyan, Gogoi followed suit with his state’s own campaign, which earned him words of appreciation from Modi. Gogoi, too, lauded the PM’s Swacch Bharat Abhiyan. On Tuesday, Gogoi had again lauded Modi’s Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana’ (SAGY) but suggested that the campaign has to be more vigorous if one wants to see ‘achhe din and clean India” amid the axing of Congress national spokesman Sashi Tharoor by the party for praising Modi. Launching the week-long clean and green Assam awareness campaign, Gogoi announced a wage hike of Rs 200 per month for those engaged in cleaning jobs. 3 injured in a crude bomb blast in Malda KOLKATA, Oct 16: Three people have been injured in a crude bomb blast in the Malda district of West Bengal. The bomb went off when it was being removed in a hurry during a police raid. The incident comes close on the heels of the unearthing of a terror module in Burdwan. However, the police say this was one of the local criminal incidents in the area. They say it come out of a long standing tussle between two families. Meanwhile, the NIA, along with West Bengal Police, are currently investigating the October 2 explosion case at a house in the Burdwan town in which two persons died and the involvement of a terror group is suspected. Joint teams of West Bengal CID, the NIA and central intelligence agencies are interrogating three persons who were arrested following the blast - two women, Razia and Amina, and one Badrul Alam Molla. Bomb blast in Murshidabad BAHARAMPORE, Oct 16: A bomb blast took place at a house used by beedi workers to manufacture beedis at Shamsherganj in Murshidabad district of West Bengal in the early hours on Thursday, police said. No one was injured in the incident, police said, adding, the compound wall of the house was damaged in the blast. The house was used by a beedi factory owner to manufacture beedis. At the time of the blast, no one was in the house as the workers had left for the day. On receiving the information, the police rushed to the house and the bomb squad was informed. Police were looking into the cause of the blast. Two persons were yesterday injured in a separate blast in Malda district while making bombs, police said. National level athlete branded as ‘witch’, assaulted in Assam DIPHU, Oct 16 A national level athlete was allegedly branded as a ‘witch’ and assaulted by a group of people of her own village Cherekuli in Karbi Anglong district in Assam, police said on Thursday. Superintendent of police M J Mahanta said Debajani Bora, medal winner in javelin at several national meets, was dragged to a ‘namghar’ (community prayer hall), tied to a post and beaten up by the group last evening. The group was allegedly instigated by the ‘namghar’ head Radha Laskar saying that she was a witch and was responsible for various problems faced by some villagers, Mahanta said. Bora became unconscious following the assault and her family members took her from the ‘namghar’ to Dokomoka Primary Health Centre with severe injuries in her back and neck, the SP said. Her family members filed an FIR today and two persons, including Laskar, was arrested while search was on to nab the others, Mahanta said. Bora, a mother of three and wife of a farmer, was selected to represent the country at an international meet at Malaysia in 201112 but could not attend it due to financial constraints. -PTI LONG LIVE BABA NABAKISHORE The stone (calculus) had gone after eating the medicine in only two days given by Pabung Laishram Nabakishore of Sagolband Khamnam Leirak, Imphal West. And now, there was no pain in my body. Please save me more patients like me. So, I am thanking Pabung through this paper and may the almighty God give him a long life. LEITANTHEM NAOCHA SINGH LAMDENG MAKHA LEIKAI L. Nabakishore Tse/22500-17 THE ONLY JOB WITH 8 WAYS OF INCOMES MAGNESSA wellness industry provides the best opportunity to those who have big dreams. Start earning 25000+in the first two weeks of joining. Zero investment. MAGNESSA opportunity meeting with top leaders:Venue:- Hotel Classic, North AOC, Imphal Date :- Oct, 19, 2014 Time :- 11 a.m. ìSAY YES TO SUCCESSî ëRequest for Proposal document* can be downloaded from e-tender portal of MoRT&H from dates as mentioned in above table corresponding to respective projects. The RFP document will be available on e-tender portal of MoRT&H website: https://morth.eproc.in/. The original copies of the Bid Security and tender fee should reach MORT&H at the address for communication not later than 15.00 hrs on 01.12.2014. Address for Communication Sunil Kumar Verma, Chief Engineer (NER) Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, Transport Bhawan, 1, Parliament street, New Delhi 110 001. (Tel/Fax:- +911123739074) davp 37101/11/0034/1415 Tse/22711-17 Mr. Dinganpou Panmei IBO in MAGNESSA 8414882168/9402465135 NOTICE The Road Renovation Committee (Khoibu Centre to Lamchum), Khoibu Centre, would like to invite the attention of the General Public specially the Khoibu Centre Area and Hairok area, that the road between Khoibu Centre and Lamchum (CharaWanphom) have been badly affected during raining seasons. The committee invites kindhearted donors and has scheduled to start the renovation work from 20th October 2014. The Committee would also like to mention that the renovation work is not included in any Govt. program/scheme, but the work will be solely done by donations. In this regard, the committee invites any individual or organization for kind support and donates either in cash or in kind for further development of the renovation work. Any individual or organizations are requested to contact the undersigned for any donation, suggestion and moral support. Your kind support will be counted and recognized sincerely. Sd/- Saka Ami (Chairman) Ph: 8132088516 Denial Khaling (secretary) Ph: 8974713526 Road Renovation Committee Tse/22722-17 Khoibu Centre.