Doklam standoff in its almost three months tuzzle has finally withdrawn the troops from the disputed site. Of the 3,488-km-long India-China border from Jammu and Kashmir to Arunachal Pradesh, a 220-km section falls in Sikkim.
For the past few months, The Chinese media has been accusing India in its attempt to transform the territory in Doklam. In a single month around 125 articles have been written on the Indian “trespass”, “hijacking a small neighbour”, and that Doklam actually belongs to China.
There is an existing mechanism named India-China Expert-Level mechanism which was started in 2006 to share hydrological data during the flood season for Brahmaputra and Satluj rivers. Under the MoUs (Memorandum of Understanding) signed in 2013 and 2015, the hydrological data is to be shared between May 15 to October 15 every year, but from May 15 till now no data has been received from China. The last meeting of the mechanism was held in April 2016 but held that linking the sharing of hydrological data with heavy floods in the northeast would be overdue.
They say there is only one male river (rivers are considered female in India) and that is in Tibetan highland. Of course, the name itself identifies it as the son of Lord Brahmā, the creator of the Universe according to the Hindu mythology. Brahma’s son (Putra) is known as Brahmaputra, the sacred river that emerges as a unique identity for the people of Assam. Even though Brahmaputra is an international river connecting Tibet (now under China), India and Bangladesh, it is omnipresent in the great Assamese literarycultural pieces. Often the mighty river is termed as Luit in Assamese literature, which Assam’s greatest son in recent time Dr Bhupen Hazarika described as Burha (literary meaning old) Luit also. Many of the immortal creations of Dr Hazarika are related to Brahmaputra (pronounced in Assamese as Brôhmôputrô). In different songs, the legendary singer terms the river as a symbol of greatness, harmony and assimilation. Sometime, the celebrated music composer also questioned Mohabahu Brahmaputra ‘why does it flow in spite of the endless sufferings of dwellers on both of its banks’.
The powerful river originates in Jima Yangzong glacier of the Himalayan State of Tibet (at an elevation of about 5150 meter), flows across southern Tibet and enters into Arunachal Pradesh and then flows southwest through the Assam valley to penetrate into Bangladesh. Finally the gigantic river culminates in the Bay of Bengal after merging with Padma (also known as Podda) and Meghna river. Identified as one of the major rivers of Asia (world’s fourth largest), Brahmaputra is known as Tsangpo in Tibet (Yarlung Zangbo in Chinese), Siang or Dihang in Arunachal, Jomuna (not Yamuna of north India) in northern Bangladesh. It covers nearly 2,900 kilometer and embraces the basin area of around 651,300 square km. The river, occasionally adored as a sea, discharges average 19,300 cubicmeter volume of water per second.
Anjaw, one of the Eastern districts of Arunachal Pradesh is divided into three valleys with Dalai Valley being one of them. Dav and Lohit are the two other valleys. Dalai Valley is famous for the production of large cardamom. One of the remotest and closest administrative circle headquarter in the valley, Chaglagam reflects the turn around it has given to the economy of the Mishmis, the tribe inhabiting the valley in recent years. Chaglagam is close to the Indo-China border and is about 60 km distance from Hayuliang.
The valley is refreshingly serene with panaromic view of the hills that dot the landscape. It is a part of the young Himalayas. Now and then on the way, one can find waterfalls and streams cascading the hillsides adding to the wellendowed natural canvas of the valley.
Minister of the State of Mizoram, for Fisheries and Sericulture, Buddha Dhan Chakma the lone legislator and minister from the Chakma community of Tuichawng (ST) constituency of Congress Government submitted his resignation to Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla. The protest was against the denial of medical college seats to a number of four qualified Chakma Students in a case of alleged racial discrimination.
Buddha Dhan Chakma an MBBS under state quota of 1994 from Gaya Bihar said “Remaining in the council of ministers might create uneasiness to maintain the glory of democracy in our state where all of us should feel at home irrespective of caste, creed and religion” and termed it to be as gross injustice. According to him it was a “systematic conspiracy” to deny various facilities to the Chakma who belong to the state for the last few years. They tried to do it even in 2016. But the selected candidates went to the High Court and got justice. This time round, it is a clear case of contempt of court and asked the candidates to go back to the High Court.
The Indian Chambers of commerce (ICC) organised a conference on “energizing North East” in Shillong to share an ideas of producing its own energy. The conference which was held at the State Convention Centre, Shillong was attended by both Minister of Power from Meghalaya and Nagaland Mr. Comingone Ymbon and Mr. Kipili Sanngtam in the presence of Mr.Pankaj Kumar the Secretary Bureau of Energy Efficiency of the Government of India.
With the theme ‘Power for all’: Availability, Accesssibility and Affordability in the NE Region, the conference was graced by other eminent person from the energy department like Mr.Sougata Sen GM ONGC Tripura Asset, Mr. D. S. Yadav Executive Director, Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd., Mr. W. Synrem Economic Advisor, NEC and many other more.
Speaking at the conference Mr.Pankaj Kumar said that “there is sufficient of energy in our country produced by all sources but the main problem is providing the energy to each and every home.” The reason is because there is weak mechanism in transporting the energy. While many of the delegates mat not agree with him as one unanimous clearly said that “I think the central government have a fix policy by giving northeast step-motherly treatment”, perhaps they want us to only buy energy from them.
The second half session begin with a theme “Renewable Energy; Hydro power Energy Efficiency and Associated Infrastructure in which experts from various Energy department shared out their ideas on sustaining the above theme. Those resource people were Mr. Yeptho DGM, Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Ltd, Dr. Atanu Banerjee Assistant professor NIIT, Meghalaya, Mr Tapan Mishra VP Suzlon Energy Ltd. Mr. Dilip Sarma Sr. Consultant NETC and Ms. Arneet Kaur Originator, Statkraft Market Private Ltd.
There is a massive thrust to expedite projects in the North East to overcome power shortages and increase prosperity. Investment of £980 million has been earmarked for upgrading power systems in the North Eastern States. The panellist during the conference has urged both Government of India and NEC to provide more funds to Northeast region in order to make more micro power project in the region. Tripura and Sikkim are the only states that are self sufficient and are capable in energizing them self while the rest need to buy energy from outside northeast.
The difficulties on land acquisition and skill man power were the main topic discussed during the Question and answers session. The panellist also urged the government officials to encourage both the public and government to implement solar energy in their rooftop as to be self sufficient. Meanwhile around 1700 plus 150 youth will be trained by the energy department. The conference also emphasizes on using renewable resources for clean and sustainable environment such as solar, wind and hydro power. Northeast states being blessed with abundant and tropical environment are capable of producing their own energy sources.
