ELECTION INDIA - Is India at the threshold of a Progressive Era like that of the US?

Is India at the threshold of a Progressive Era like that of the US?

India is at the crossroads - more at a multiple-way intersection without traffic lights, police and surely no Zebra crossing.  However, more Indians, than ever before, would take this road. They would brave the onslaught of the no-holds-barred political traffic and predators – some would succumb – in this quinquennial migration of Indians’ search for greener pastures in one of the greatest spectacles on Earth called the Indian General Elections.

Along with the 81.5 crore voters are 2.3 crore new young voters, who are now strong and capable enough to take this journey and forever have their indelible mark in Nation building. The new voters constituting 10 per cent of the total voters  is the highest number of such voters in India’s election history. A lot many of these new voters aren't the gullible kind any longer, but are educated well-informed and therefore would make informed choices and demand for their rights. They are already seeking answers for the chaos and muck around and demanding a clean-up job – for confirmation run through some of the social media sites. These days a good many guys in the rural area have mobile phones loaded with Facebook, Whatsup etc. This is precisely the story of the great migration that Nations undertake through time in their journey towards a State of development.

Take the example of one of the most powerful Nations on the Planet - the United States. During the 1890s, the United States was growing as an Industrialized Nation. Factories, business houses, banks, roads, ports, railways were being created at a furious pace.  And with this developmental rage the ugly heads of corruption and crony capitalism rose, labourers were crushed under the burden of greed, women and race were disregarded and humiliated, environment was abused. Something similar is happening in India now, if we factor in the local conditions and issues. There are  more industries being developed, there are talks of corporatizing railways, ports, airports, creating new roads and a whole lot of new ideas.

The period from 1890 to 1920 was the Progressive Era in American history. A number of people and organizations rose to fight together against the prevalent criminal-chaos and contributed in America’s path breaking reforms during that era. One of the campaigns was the Efficiency Movement. The movement tried to identify old rotting ways and introduce modern means in the political, social, economic and personal fronts. It was during this period that women first got their right to suffrage in 1920 when an organization called the Women’s Suffrage Association continued a sustained campaign to allow women to vote. In 1920 the American Constitution ratified the Nineteenth Amendments and declared men and women are equal in terms of suffrage.

India   is at war to make the country a safer place for women against perverts and those misogynists who have failed to provide equal space for women in social, political and the economic arena. There is the women's reservation bill. (However, it is debatable if reservations on the basis of caste, race, religion or gender is the answer or would further polarize Indians from Indians. The more viable option would be reservation on the basis of Human Poverty Index.) Nonetheless, 49 per cent of the voters are women, who would give their verdict during this election.

It was during the Progressive Era, several political reforms were undertaken such as adoption of Direct Primary. The Seventeenth Amendment to the American Constitution in 1917, enabled people to elect US senators directly, rather than being selected by corrupt State legislatures. This move gave people more say on the kind of candidates they wished to see in the elections. People were also encouraged to drop proposals in ballot boxes for new legislation, with adequate number of people’s signatures, so that referendum could be undertaken on these proposals. Recalling of non-performing candidates was also introduced.

How wonderful it would be if political parties in India hold elections amongst it cadres  for allotting tickets, rather than doling them to the biggest buyer, the notorious crook or someone who has the birthright on tickets because of having a particular surname. Moreover, one of the scourges of the Indian democracy is the use of “unaccounted” money during elections. There have been proposals for political parties to come under the purview of the Right to Information. Ironically, some parties which preach about the RTI and its efficacy aren’t the best practitioners of this legislation and refuse to come under its preview. 

However, one of the major election reforms undertaken in India recently was introduction of Non Of The Above or NOTA option. This button is a great step in participatory democracy. It has given the freedom to disenchanted voters to come to the polling station and press the button in case he/she dislikes all the participating candidates – chances are a lot will do that. But the Election Commission needs to spell out what steps it would take if the number of votes cast in favour of NOTA is more than the votes cast in favour of individual candidates. Re-election? Anna Hazare and his movement has to be credited for this reform and of course the Supreme Court. Hazare is seeking for recall just like the US, but again the local conditions have to be factored in for implementing such a proposal. He has led a historic movement for Lokayukta, that the Ombudsman would look into corruption in public spaces.

Another important aspect of the Progressive Era was the Muckrakers and the advent of new media houses. The Muckrakers were a group of reform-minded journalists who constantly carried out investigative report on the industries and brought to the public notice about the corrupt business practices and also on the issues of labour rights and consumer protection. It was during this era that new guidelines were set to regulate big business houses and industries. The US federal government with the assistance of newly passed legislations, such as Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890 and Clayton Antitrust Act of 1914 sued big business houses for monopolizing businesses and also pressed charges for selling stocks that could lead to monopoly - did we hear something similar in recent times about corruption in big business houses in India?

Moreover, the US federal government under the Federal Reserve Act of 1913, the banking sector was regulated by monitoring the use of deposits and protecting the interest of the depositors. It was during this period that a tax reform regime was introduced through the Sixteenth Amendment to the Constitution. The Amendment, for the first time, made it mandatory for the wealthy to pay Income Tax.

In India tax collection is still a big challenge. Reform in the tax regime is long overdue and a relook is needed on getting the wealth stashed abroad illegally, what is infamously called as black money. An “Industrialised” Nation like the US recently put pressure on the Swiss Government on its notorious banking secrecy law and managed to dig out names of US citizens by threatening to take legal action. Switzerland buckled. Can India take similar steps? Sure it can! At the top of the campaign to bring back black money stashed abroad has been the vocal Yoga Guru, Baba Ramdev.

Moreover, during the Progressive Era the US federal government also carried out sweeping reforms and enacted law for minimum wages for labourers and regulating working hours, fixing minimum wages for women, who were not paid equally as men for the same work performed and abolishing child labour, albeit it happened in some States initially. It was the Muckrakers who provided vital information and evidences for the government to act.

Although in India we don’t’ have the Muckrakers, but in recent years the mushrooming media houses have acted as a commendable watchdog. Some of the major scams such as Adarsh, Commonwealth Games, 2G and Coal mine scam and others were exposed with the help of the media and other agencies.  The advent of the 24X7 media channels – save some of the cacophony and chaos and some not above suspicion at times - have been a blessing for the masses.

When it comes to environment protection, the progressive Era showed the way with US President Theodore Roosevelt passing a landmark decree in which about 200 million acre (roughly the size of France and Britain) was set aside as National Forest. It was during this period that Roosevelt established five National Parks and barred lumber companies and ranchers from using public land illegally.

In India there has been rampant abuse of its environment over the past few decades. The Rivers are being polluted and trees are being felled randomly despite a historic judgment by the Supreme Court to stop timber felling. Moreover, the mining industry has violated environmental norms time and again and has got away due to a strong lobby in the corridors of power. The creation of the National Green Tribunal is a welcome decision of the Supreme Court, which now hears cases exclusively related to the environment, but more needs to be done in terms of legislation and prosecution.

Although the conditions in the two largest democracies are worlds apart, but there are also similarities that India and Indians can draw inspiration from America. Moreover, India has the advantage of its vast Human resource some doing outstanding work. It is an Indian who is working on an invisible cloak, the stuff of a science fiction. It is again an Indian who has invented a paper microscope and there are a million such talents and therefore it gives all the more conviction in quoting US President Roosevelt from the Progressive Era who said “believe you can and you are half way there.” (eom)

INFIGHTING IN MEGHALAYA CONGRESS BEFORE LOK SABHA ELECTIONS

With some Meghalaya Congress leaders readying for hara-kiri during this Lok Sabha election and sabotaging the chances of the Congress candidates, the party High Command has directed State leaders to “employ all might to neutralize the saboteurs.”

An overtly strong worded letter was written by the All India Congress Committee (AICC) General Secretary, Secretary

Luizinho Falerio to the Meghalaya Pradesh Congress president, DD Lapang on the internal strife.

The Congress General Secretary said that it has come to the knowledge that some “Congress leaders are instigating Congress workers” to sabotage the success of Congress candidates which is being viewed seriously by the High Command.

Mincing no words, Falerio directed Lapang: “You are requested to employ all the might at your command to neutralize the saboteurs so that the Party wins every Parliamentary seat.”

The Congress has put up its sitting candidate, Vincent Pala for the Shillong Lok Sabha seat. On the other hand it has given ticket to first-timer Daryl Momin, grandson of Meghalaya’s first Chief Minister Williamson Sangma, for the Tura Lok Sabha seat.

There has been considerable squabbling for tickets in both the constituencies. There was a strong lobby, which was not in favour of giving Pala the ticket, which included senior Congress leaders. For the Tura seat, Chief Minister Mukul Sangma’s brother Zenith Sangma was also in the race.

The Shillong seat is a traditional Congress bastion. The Tura seat has been in the grip of Purno Sangma  and whichever political party he represented for several decades now. So for both the seats the Congress is fighting a tough battle, now with the infighting, the task before the party is cut out.

Meanwhile, Falerio further said to Lapang that he has to inspire the leaders and workers for their “unity and solidarity” so that the party candidates emerge successfully.

“Any complaints against them (Congress leaders or workers) of having indulged in anti-party work during elections and any non-compliance with these instructions, will lead to serious disciplinary action against the saboteurs even when the election process is on,” Faleiro warned.

On the other hand, the AICC has also rushed in its secretary, in-charge Meghalaya, Vijaylakshmi Sadho and has held a series of meeting between party workers and leaders to diffuse the crisis during the past couple of days.

The crisis has deepened to such an extent that the AICC secretary is staying put here and would hold meetings with party workers for another couple of days.

CORRUPTION NEPOTISM EVERYWHERE, BUT NOT EVERYTHING IS LOST

There are two ways: either rue about the growing corruption and grumble that nothing is going to change or be part of the change, like local Taxi driver, C Jyrwa.

It’s not every day a newspaper advertisement appears about a found wallet, stashed with money and the finder eager on returning it. But, Jyrwa did exactly that, not once but twice.

The local Taxi driver, the family bread winner with wife and four children, is trying to return a wallet for days to its rightful owner and he has taken the pains to publish advertisements in the local daily.

Jyrwa, from Mawphlang in the city suburbs, found the dropped wallet in his taxi, some days back while plying in the State Capital. “The wallet was stashed with about Rs. 6000 in it. There were also documents. So my brother wants to return it,” Jyrwa’s sister, Susan, said.

What is ironic, and typical of the corruption around, is that “many people” called up to stake claim to the wallet.  “These weren't the owners of the wallet, but they were claiming it and so we had to put up another advertisement to find the real owner,” Susan continued.

But how would she and her brother track the real owner? It is easy. In fact, together with the documents there are photographs of the person (Mr. Dako Tayum,) so Jyrwa knows exactly who to hand over the wallet and the other found materials.

“My daughter once lost her wallet, without any valuables, and it was returned by the finder. We know that joy of being around with honest people, so we also want Tayum to experience that joy,” Susan said.

Like other States in India, Meghalaya has its fair share of scams and corruption and the local media is replete with such reports of nepotism and corruption having negative bearing on the masses.

However, on a brighter note, a survey by Reader’s Digest last year put Mumbai in India as the second “honest city” of the world after the magazine’s reporters dropped 192 wallets in public places of cities around the world, stashed with $50. 12 wallets were dropped in one city.

The cities included New York, London Moscow Mumbai Amsterdam, Berlin, Bucharest, Budapest, Helsinki, Lisbon, Ljubljana, Madrid, Prague, Rio De Janeiro, Warsaw and Zurich.

Helsinki, capital of Finland, turned to be the most honest city with 11 out of the 12 wallets returned. Mumbaikers were second on the list with 9 out of the 12 wallets returned. The other cities include

Jyrwa’s example is a lesson to many who unashamedly claim what is not theirs, especially those corrupt individuals in the corridors of power. 

The simple advertisement has a profound meaning, outweighing the content in some of the news about corruption and speaks out loud and clear – there are good Samaritans around and not everything is lost. 

WORLD BANK TO GIVE GRANTS TO NE ORGANISATIONS

The World Bank would provide Rs. 94 lakh as grant to any 10 organisations from Assam, Meghalaya and Mizoram, which helps the poor through their innovative services.

In this competitive grant programme, organisations must apply to the World Bankwww.dm-india.com and the selection of the organisations would be done by a jury of development experts drawn from India and abroad, World Bank officials said here today.

Launching the 2014 India Development Marketplace (DM) here, the team leader of the programme, Drew Von Glahn said that proposals are being sought from organisations working for the poor and having at least two years experience in their relevant fields.  “Development Marketplace would award 10 organisations with grant funding up to Rs. 94 each,” Glahn said.

The DM leader said that the World Bank has set certain guidelines before selecting and awarding the grant and added that a thorough background check of the organisations would be undertaken by the team of experts.

Citing the example of Boat clinic on the River Brahmaputra, run by the Centre for North East Studies and Policy Research, he said that one of the criteria of the selection process is the innovation involved in the service delivery. 

“The objective of the programme is to identify solutions that have a clear social impact and show the potential to be scaled, replicated or mainstreamed with support from investors and corporate social responsibility programme, amongst others,” Glahn said.

He further added that the funding would cover a period of two years and the World Bank would constantly monitor and support use of the fund during the period. “This programme is more of an equity investment than a grant and we expect knowledge and social base returns,” Glahn added.

CMJ UNIVERSITY HEARING FOR STUDENTS

The Meghalaya Higher and Technical Education department has asked students from the Chandra Mohan Jha (CMJ) University to appear in person in the State Capital here for a four-day hearing beginning February 25.

The hearing is being held in accordance with a Supreme Court order. The department has asked the students, many believed to be from Assam, to be present for the hearing to be held at the Jawaharlal Nehru Sports Complex, (behind the Tennis Courts).

Students have been advised to bring along with them all relevant supporting documents for the hearing. For more details the Government websitewww.megeducation.gov.in could be checked. 

CONGRESS GOVERNMENT GIVE MEGHALAYA BABUS LAND AT Re 1!

The Congress-led Meghalaya Government's decision, to allot land to Civil servant Babus at a token fee of Re 1 per square feet, has been challenged in the High Court by a social organization   through a Public Interest Litigation (PIL).

The Congress government said the decision to lease the land measuring about 45 acres at Rs. 19.06 lakh was to show its appreciation of the “dedication and hard work” the officials put in towards development of the state.

The land was leased out for 99 years at Mawdiangdiang to Civil Service Officers Housing Society Limited (CSOHSL). The society plans to develop houses that would be leased out to the officials.

The Chief Minister Mukul Sangma justified the allotment saying: “the government officers’ work towards development of the state. So the state government in turn wants to look after their well-being.”

However, the Civil Society Women’s Organization (CSWO) challenging the decision said: “We filed the PIL before the Meghalaya High Court on the unauthorized allotment of land. The matter must be probed by the CBI and charge-sheets must be filed against officials  involved in allotting land to themselves,” Agnes Kharshiing president of CSWO said. She is further seeking the intervention of the Court in cancelling the land agreement.

In Meghalaya, the land tenure system is unique. Except in few pockets, only local indigenous tribals are allowed to purchase and sell land under the State Land Transfer Act. All other individuals and institutions are therefore classified as non-tribal and cannot buy or sell land.

However, the Act also has a provision wherein land can be leased if the institutions help towards development of the state. It’s under this clause, industries, religious, educational institutions, and others can get land transferred in their favour.

Many tourism projects from the year 2002 to 2007 have remained incomplete largely because of non-availability of government land. “There is severe shortage of government land in the state. The State Government is desperately looking to have a land bank, so that projects don’t face unnecessary delay,” the state tourism minister, Ampareen Lyngdoh said recently.

In this context the land leased out to the society has raised eyebrows, especially the price tag of Re 1.

MEGHALAYA GOVT READY FOR FEBRUARY 24 DISTRICT COUNCIL POLLS

The Meghalaya Government today expressed confidence that it can conduct the February 24 District Council elections in Khasi-Jaintia Hills smoothly with the available security force in the state, although 555 polling stations were classified as sensitive and hyper-sensitive.

“We can manage with the available security force in the State and conduct the upcoming district council polls smoothly,” Commissioner Secretary Home, Jopthiaw Lyngdoh said.

In all, there would be 1492 polling stations for the two council elections, out of which 345 have been classified as sensitive and 210 as hyper-sensitive, as on date.

There are 6.68 lakh voters for the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) polls. For the Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC) polls 2.9 lakh voters would exercise their franchise. Female voters (1.7 lakh) outnumber their male counterpart in the JHADC elections.

For the KHADC elections, 198 officials would be on poll duty, which includes 144 officials vested with magisterial powers. For the JHADC, 48 officials would oversee the elections of which again 30 would have magisterial powers.

Altogether, 212 candidates are in the fray for the two council polls. After scrutiny and withdrawal, there are 123 in the fray for the KHADC elections and there are 89 candidates who would contest for the JHADC polls.

For each of the councils, elections are held for 29 seats and one member is nominated by the Governor. For the KHADC the entire district of East Khasi Hills, West Khasi Hills and Ri-Bhoi district is covered. For JHADC only the districts of Jaintia Hills are covered.

EVMs would be used for the polls and a total number of 1925 have been sought, Lyngdoh said. “The Deputy Commissioners would collect the EVMs on 15th of this month and officials are  being trained for the elections,” he added.

MEGHALAYA GOVT MISREPRESENTS BEFORE NATIONAL GREEN TRIBUNAL

The Meghalaya Government has misrepresented before the National Green Tribunal (NGT) about coal mining ban in South Garo Hills and it took the lives of four people to expose the lie.

During a hearing of the Tribunal here on January 24, the State Government has said before the Tribunal that coal mining has been banned in South Garo Hills, through an order of the Deputy Commissioner, and the ban was in force - but that wasn’t the truth.

In fact, coal mining ban in South Garo Hills was revoked on October 25 last year  by the District Administration and mining was on when the Tribunal had its sitting here.

After the January 24 hearing the Tribunal read in its order: “It was also pointed out that as per order dated 20.5.2013, the District Magistrate passed an order under section 133 of the Code of Criminal Procedure directing that coal mines in the whole of South Garo Hills District, should be stopped with immediate effect, until further orders and the order is in force even today.”

The Tribunal held its sitting here to seek answers from the State Government on the fate of 15 coal miners reported missing in the coal mine tragedy in South Garo Hills in 2011. The Tribunal has ordered the State Government to take efforts to find out about the fate of these miners or at least retrieve their bodies or contact their families.

It was true that coal mining was banned under section 133 IPC (public nuisance) in May 2013, but that was largely because of the Monsoon, when mining becomes even more hazardous in the dangerous rat-hole coal mines.

But the South Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner, Chinmay P Gotmare revoked the order on a request from the Joint Action Committee, Nangalbibra – a consortium of local coal miners.

The local coal miners gave a written assurance to the Deputy Commissioner that they would look after the interest and safety of the miners. In the letter the miners claimed that their livelihood was at stake due to closure of the mines. Based on that assurance the mining ban was lifted.

But tragedy struck again  and in early February this year, four miners - Ratna Barman, Debokantho Barman, Bishwanath Barman and Piterson Marak - lost their lives after the walls of the mine in Garegittim, South Garo Hills caved in. The coal mine owner at first fled, but was arrested and is now out on bail.

“We have arrested the coal owner, but he is now out on bail,” South Garo Hills, Superintendent of Police, D R Marak said.

On the overall coal mining scenario in the State, the State Government also presented before the Tribunal the copy of the Meghalaya Mines and Minerals Policy 2012, which came into force on November 5, 2012.

Although rat-hole mining has not been banned, the Government has said that there must be an entry as well as an exit point, which means that there must be two openings in the mine.

The rat-hole mines traditionally have one entry point and the event of wall collapse the miners face a near death situation. However, it is uncertain that even this minor provision of having an entry and exit point is being implemented and that holds true for the recent death of the four miners.

Many miners have lost their lives in the rat-hole coal mines of the State over the years. The highest number of tragedy in a single case was the 2011 mishap in South Garo Hills for which the NGT took up a suo moto case.

 

Meanwhile, the district of South Garo Hills remains problematic from the administration point of view. It is one of the most backward districts of the country.

Militant groups and anti-social elements and vested interest groups have sprung up and are active in this district for years now especially in the mining areas where a reign of killing, extortion and kidnapping has been unleashed.

One of the factors for this violence is poor security cover and remoteness of the district. There are just four police stations in the district having an area of 1187 square kilometre along the porous Indo-Bangla border.

PROSPECTIVE LAWMAKERS TAKE PLEDGE NOT TO DEFECT FROM PARTY

One of the challenges of smaller political parties in India is to keep its members together after being elected to a Constitutional body and if there is no anti-defection law than this challenge transforms into a nightmare.

So a regional political party in Meghalaya,

an Indian State in the northeast, came up with a unique way to keep its members together and not jump fences once elected. The members of the political party were administered an pledge at a public forum to stay within the party and not defect after being elected in the upcoming district council elections.

It was a first of its kind  pledge that the Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Party (KHNAM) administered to about ten of its members who have filed their nominations for the February 24 District Council polls. The event was kept public at the State Central Library and the media was invited.

The prospective candidates first paid their respect to the freedom fighters, laid wreath and sought their blessings for the upcoming elections. Then the candidates were administered their pledge by the party president, Pyndapborthiaw Saiborne.

It was pledge that KHNAM members once elected would continue to work for the welfare of the indigenous tribal population and stay united in the party. In the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council, despite being a Constitutional body, the anti-defection law is not applicable.

Saiborne said because the law is not applicable, members of the council has defected from one political party to another on several occasions. He believes that the one-of-its-kind pledge would compel the members to think twice now before trying to defect.

But skeptics argue that oaths and pledges are just symbolic gestures and hold no meaning for many of the country’s lawmakers, including the members of the district councils. They say, despite vowing to work for the people some indulge in rampant corruption and do just the opposite to what they have pledged.

But a senior local journalist covering district council affairs say that though such a pledge taking event was unheard of, it would have some impact. “The district council elections and affairs are slightly different from those of the Assembly and Lok Sabha. The people would definitely ridicule those who change their parties after being elected and that might discourage defection to an extent,” the journalist was of the view.

BEHIND EVERY MAN HOME GUARD IS A WOMAN

Behind every successful Meghalaya male Home Guard is a woman and the chief of Home Guard today promised that woman helping men from the hearth would be felicitated from next year for their “tremendous contribution” to the force.

Altogether 41 Home Guards and officials were today felicitated for their contribution towards the force on occasion of its Raising Day at its headquarters at Mawdia


ngdiang situated some 10 kilometers away from the state capital.

Director General of Home Guards, WR Marbaniang dwelt extensively on the role played by women in the households, although their contribution is rarely acknowledged in public.

“The contribution of these women who help their sons, husbands, and brothers from home is immense. From next year we would also felicitate these brave women who work silently and tirelessly,” Marbanaing said after handing away the medals and certificates.

He said it would be impossible for anyone to perform to a desired level if work was not appropriately balanced at the personal and professional front. “We haven’t planned how to felicitate such homemakers, but we would definitely find some ways to honour them,” the Home Guard chief said.



He said everyone’s role would be given equal importance to make the force a professional body. “We want the Home Guards to be one of the finest professional bodies in the state and we would give equal importance to everyone for their contribution,” he added.


The former Director General of Police said that official quarters were being constructed for the past three years near the headquarters and within the next few months these would be completed for the Home Guards and their families to move in.


Moreover, Marbaniang lauded the role of volunteers in shaping the department, terming such volunteers as the “bedrock” of the organisation. “We are planning to have more volunteers and are conducting civil defence programmes for teachers, school children to make the organisation a better professional unit,” he told the gathering.

MEGHALAYA AQUACULTURE MISSION LAUNCHED, BUT RIVERS DYING

Meghalaya state in India's north-east  launched the State Aquaculture Mission with great fanfare to develop fishery as an alternate industry, amidst growing concern about Rivers in the state turning acidic due to years of unscientific mining and nothing much is done about it.

Chief Minister, Mukul Sangma launched the project at the function at Polo grounds and said it would target one lakh farmers during the next five years. The basic objective of the project is to expand the area covered under fisheries and increase productivity.

Other aspects of the mission are to conserve indigenous fish varieties, train farmers on modern technological know-how and developing other ancillary industries related to Pisciculture.

“We need the help and support of everyone in the state to transform this aquaculture mission into a people’s movement,” he told the gathering of farmers who came from all corners of the state.

However, there is great concern about the quality of the water deteriorating in many of the Rivers of the state due to years of unscientific mining. Aquatic lives have vanished in these Rivers, especially in Jaintia Hills district, of this north-eastern state of India, where coal and limestone mining is a major industry.

Some of the Rivers like Lukha in the Khliehriat sub-division have turned blue due to high acidic content and aquatic life have perished. Several other Rivers in the district like the Myntdu, Lunar and others have a low Ph value and are acidic in nature.

In fact, the acidic nature of the water has corroded costly water in the Kopili Hydel project and there is apprehension about the recently inaugurated Leskha-Myntdu project facing similar consequences.

“The Rivers have been poisoned and this is dwindling fishing areas. We must protect these Rivers and the ecosystem,” Deputy Chief Minister Rowell Lyngdoh said at the function.

Chairman of State planning Board and former Chief Minister Donkupar Roy also expressed similar concern saying the Ranikor and Umgnot Rivers have all been contaminated by the Industries and people.  “We need to protect our Rivers from people and industries,” he told the gathering.

Sangma said alternative source of income like fish farming would ease the pressure from mining non-renewable minerals and would help in conservation programmes.

He said the government was providing 60 per cent grant to farmers who are willing to take up pisciculture. The government would assist the farmers in getting credit and loan facilities for another 30 per cent from different agencies. The rest would be borne by the beneficiaries themselves, Sangma said about the project.