Arunachal To Go Ahead With Subansiri Project, Ignore Protests

Guwahati, Sep 19 : The 2,000 MW Lower Subansiri Hydro Power Project in Arunachal Pradesh will be commissioned by 2012 despite strident protests in Assam with environmental concerns over construction of mega dams, project builders said Saturday.

'The construction work of the Lower Subansiri Hydro Power Project is at a very advanced stage and we hope to commission three units in March 2012 and the remaining five units by December 2012,' National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) chairman-cum-managing director S.K. Garg told IANS.

The nearly Rs.9,000 crore project that began in 2003 is mired in a blazing row with several environmental and pressure groups in Assam, including the state government, making vociferous protests and demanding scrapping of the construction work citing adverse ecological and environmental impact in downstream areas in Assam.

'We are open to mending ourselves wherever it is required. Safety of the people is of paramount importance to us and we are not going to compromise on safety norms,' Garg said.

Such was the intensity of the protests that union Environment and Forests Minister Jairam Ramesh last week took part in a daylong consultation with various civil society and environmental groups on the issue of dams in the northeast.

'I would let the prime minister know about the apprehensions of the people of Assam regarding building of dams in Arunachal Pradesh. This is not just the issue for Assam, this has been an issue for the entire nation,' Ramesh said.

'Big dams would lead to catastrophic environmental hazards in downstream areas in Assam,' Samujjal Bhattacharyya, advisor of the All Assam Students' Union (AASU), said.

The NHPC chief said all prior environmental clearances were taken before starting construction of the project.

'We had taken clearances from the Central Water Commission, Central Electricity Authority, and the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs for the Subansiri project,' Garg said.

The Arunachal Pradesh government has signed MoUs with several private firms for 10 major hydropower projects to generate an estimated 30,000 MW power in 10 years' time.

The state, bordering Myanmar and the Tibet region, has the potential to generate an estimated 50,000 MW of hydropower.

Among the major projects currently being executed in the state are the Ranganadi project, the Subansari project and the Taloh power project.

Despite stiff opposition, the Arunachal Pradesh government is adamant on continuing with the construction of dams.

'We are happy and welcome the NHPC's announcement that the Subansiri project would be commissioned in 2012,' parliamentarian from Arunachal Pradesh Takam Sanjay told IANS.

Read full history - Arunachal To Go Ahead With Subansiri Project, Ignore Protests

Arunachal To Go Ahead With Subansiri Project, Ignore Protests

Guwahati, Sep 19 : The 2,000 MW Lower Subansiri Hydro Power Project in Arunachal Pradesh will be commissioned by 2012 despite strident protests in Assam with environmental concerns over construction of mega dams, project builders said Saturday.

'The construction work of the Lower Subansiri Hydro Power Project is at a very advanced stage and we hope to commission three units in March 2012 and the remaining five units by December 2012,' National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) chairman-cum-managing director S.K. Garg told IANS.

The nearly Rs.9,000 crore project that began in 2003 is mired in a blazing row with several environmental and pressure groups in Assam, including the state government, making vociferous protests and demanding scrapping of the construction work citing adverse ecological and environmental impact in downstream areas in Assam.

'We are open to mending ourselves wherever it is required. Safety of the people is of paramount importance to us and we are not going to compromise on safety norms,' Garg said.

Such was the intensity of the protests that union Environment and Forests Minister Jairam Ramesh last week took part in a daylong consultation with various civil society and environmental groups on the issue of dams in the northeast.

'I would let the prime minister know about the apprehensions of the people of Assam regarding building of dams in Arunachal Pradesh. This is not just the issue for Assam, this has been an issue for the entire nation,' Ramesh said.

'Big dams would lead to catastrophic environmental hazards in downstream areas in Assam,' Samujjal Bhattacharyya, advisor of the All Assam Students' Union (AASU), said.

The NHPC chief said all prior environmental clearances were taken before starting construction of the project.

'We had taken clearances from the Central Water Commission, Central Electricity Authority, and the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs for the Subansiri project,' Garg said.

The Arunachal Pradesh government has signed MoUs with several private firms for 10 major hydropower projects to generate an estimated 30,000 MW power in 10 years' time.

The state, bordering Myanmar and the Tibet region, has the potential to generate an estimated 50,000 MW of hydropower.

Among the major projects currently being executed in the state are the Ranganadi project, the Subansari project and the Taloh power project.

Despite stiff opposition, the Arunachal Pradesh government is adamant on continuing with the construction of dams.

'We are happy and welcome the NHPC's announcement that the Subansiri project would be commissioned in 2012,' parliamentarian from Arunachal Pradesh Takam Sanjay told IANS.

Read full history - Arunachal To Go Ahead With Subansiri Project, Ignore Protests

Gegong Apang's Bail Plea Rejected

Guwahati, Sep 10 : The bail application of former Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Gegong Apang, who was arrested for alleged involvement in a Rs 1000 crore Public Distribution System (PDS) scam, was rejected by a local court and he was sent to judicial custody in Assam's Lakhimpur district on Thursday, officials said.

Lakhimpur district special sessions judge Pradip Khataniar remanded Apang to judicial custody till September 23.

The court also directed Apang to be provided with proper medical facilities and be produced on that date.

On August 24, former Arunachal Pradesh chief minister Gegong Apang was arrested by Special Investigation Cell (SIC) in alleged connection with the multi-crore PDS scam in Itanagar and produced before the court in Lakhimpur.

He was remanded seven days police custody by court and booked under section 120(B), 420, 488 and 409 of IPC.

Read full history - Gegong Apang's Bail Plea Rejected

Gegong Apang's Bail Plea Rejected

Guwahati, Sep 10 : The bail application of former Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Gegong Apang, who was arrested for alleged involvement in a Rs 1000 crore Public Distribution System (PDS) scam, was rejected by a local court and he was sent to judicial custody in Assam's Lakhimpur district on Thursday, officials said.

Lakhimpur district special sessions judge Pradip Khataniar remanded Apang to judicial custody till September 23.

The court also directed Apang to be provided with proper medical facilities and be produced on that date.

On August 24, former Arunachal Pradesh chief minister Gegong Apang was arrested by Special Investigation Cell (SIC) in alleged connection with the multi-crore PDS scam in Itanagar and produced before the court in Lakhimpur.

He was remanded seven days police custody by court and booked under section 120(B), 420, 488 and 409 of IPC.

Read full history - Gegong Apang's Bail Plea Rejected

Flood Red Alert in Arunachal Pradesh

Itanagar, Sep 9 : A red alert was sounded in Arunachal Pradesh's East Siang district today as the Siang river was flowing above the danger level following heavy rains.

The river was flowing one meter above the danger level and could breach embankments, deputy commissioner Onit Panayang told PTI.

"The level of the water was rising since yesterday following downpour for the last couple of days in the higher reaches," he said.

The road connecting Mebo from Pasighat was completely washed away cutting off surface communication, the DC said.

People residing in low-lying areas of Pasighat town were shifted to safer places and D Ering higher secondary school earmarked as a relief camp if needed," he said.

Panyang said he had informed his counterpart in Assam's Dhemaji district about the situation.

The district administration was also constructing embankments as an alternate measure, the DC said.

The Siang river, which originated in China as Tsangpho culminated in Assam as the mighty Brahmaputra.

Read full history - Flood Red Alert in Arunachal Pradesh

Flood Red Alert in Arunachal Pradesh

Itanagar, Sep 9 : A red alert was sounded in Arunachal Pradesh's East Siang district today as the Siang river was flowing above the danger level following heavy rains.

The river was flowing one meter above the danger level and could breach embankments, deputy commissioner Onit Panayang told PTI.

"The level of the water was rising since yesterday following downpour for the last couple of days in the higher reaches," he said.

The road connecting Mebo from Pasighat was completely washed away cutting off surface communication, the DC said.

People residing in low-lying areas of Pasighat town were shifted to safer places and D Ering higher secondary school earmarked as a relief camp if needed," he said.

Panyang said he had informed his counterpart in Assam's Dhemaji district about the situation.

The district administration was also constructing embankments as an alternate measure, the DC said.

The Siang river, which originated in China as Tsangpho culminated in Assam as the mighty Brahmaputra.

Read full history - Flood Red Alert in Arunachal Pradesh

Differently-Abled at Arunachal Orphanage Try to Make a Mark

By Utpal Boruah

Itanagar, Sept 9 : They are physically handicapped, but Mani Rapgyal, Thupten Tsering and others like them at the orphanage run by Padmashree awardee Lama Thupten Phuntsok in Arunachal Pradesh''s Tawang district are not deterred from doing something in life.

Mani Rapgyal, who had to set aside his dream of pursuing business after an electric shock forced doctors to amputate his hands, is now a teacher by profession.

Thupten Tsering (19) and Tenzing Dorjee (20), the other inmates of the orphanage ''Manjushree Vidyapith'', are also handicapped but both of them are determined to shine in the world of art.

"For these children of a lesser god, being without their hands is not a hindrance as long as toes are in place," a beaming Phuntsok said.

There are 173 inmates in his orphanage 23 of whom, all physically handicapped, are very gifted.

Thupten Tsering, presently studying in Class XI, has mastered the art of playing a modern keyboard with the stumps of his amputated hands.

Similarly, Tenzing Dorjee has learnt to draw colourful paintings with his toes. .

Read full history - Differently-Abled at Arunachal Orphanage Try to Make a Mark

Differently-Abled at Arunachal Orphanage Try to Make a Mark

By Utpal Boruah

Itanagar, Sept 9 : They are physically handicapped, but Mani Rapgyal, Thupten Tsering and others like them at the orphanage run by Padmashree awardee Lama Thupten Phuntsok in Arunachal Pradesh''s Tawang district are not deterred from doing something in life.

Mani Rapgyal, who had to set aside his dream of pursuing business after an electric shock forced doctors to amputate his hands, is now a teacher by profession.

Thupten Tsering (19) and Tenzing Dorjee (20), the other inmates of the orphanage ''Manjushree Vidyapith'', are also handicapped but both of them are determined to shine in the world of art.

"For these children of a lesser god, being without their hands is not a hindrance as long as toes are in place," a beaming Phuntsok said.

There are 173 inmates in his orphanage 23 of whom, all physically handicapped, are very gifted.

Thupten Tsering, presently studying in Class XI, has mastered the art of playing a modern keyboard with the stumps of his amputated hands.

Similarly, Tenzing Dorjee has learnt to draw colourful paintings with his toes. .

Read full history - Differently-Abled at Arunachal Orphanage Try to Make a Mark

Arunachal Dam Protests: Jairam Plans Public Hearing on Sept 10

By Samudra Gupta Kashyap

Itanagar, Sep 7 : Protests against setting up a series of mega dams on the Siang, Subansiri and several other tributaries of the Brahmaputra in Arunachal Pradesh have become louder by the day even as Union Minister for Forest and Environment Jairam Ramesh fixed September 10 as the date for a public hearing here on the issue.

The minister will also visit Pasighat in Arunachal Pradesh the next day to take stock of the situation arising out of the protests.

The protests have been particularly more surrounding the Subansiri Lower hydel project, a 2,000 MW project that is being implemented by the public sector National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC), with the Assam government also joining to row.

Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi had in July asked the Centre to intervene and ensure that such dam projects did not lead to denial of the riparian rights of the people of Assam.

Gogoi had particularly referred to the ongoing Subansiri Lower hydro-electric project, and said flood moderation and flood cushioning should be considered critical components of the project.

“The various multipurpose projects proposed in the Master Plan prepared by Brahmaputra Board, like Tipaimukh, Pagladiya, Kameng and Siang etc should be taken up as storage projects so that the riparian rights of the state of Assam is not denied and flood moderation is taken due care,” Gogoi said.

While an umbrella body of the All Assam Students’ Union and 25 other student and youth bodies have launched a vigorous campaign against the Subansiri Lower and other projects, opposition parties of the state have also taken up the issue.

The Asom Gana Parishad last week staged a massive dharna at the NHPC project site at Gerukamukh and demanded immediate stalling of the project.

Meanwhile, an expert committee constituted by the NHPC and the Assam government has identified 968 villages in the lower reaches of the Subansiri and categorised them into three groups in the basis of their vulnerability.

The expert panel had a couple of months back recommended against construction of mega hydel dams in the region including the Subansiri Lower project, given the high seismicity of the eastern Himalayas.

Read full history - Arunachal Dam Protests: Jairam Plans Public Hearing on Sept 10

Arunachal Dam Protests: Jairam Plans Public Hearing on Sept 10

By Samudra Gupta Kashyap

Itanagar, Sep 7 : Protests against setting up a series of mega dams on the Siang, Subansiri and several other tributaries of the Brahmaputra in Arunachal Pradesh have become louder by the day even as Union Minister for Forest and Environment Jairam Ramesh fixed September 10 as the date for a public hearing here on the issue.

The minister will also visit Pasighat in Arunachal Pradesh the next day to take stock of the situation arising out of the protests.

The protests have been particularly more surrounding the Subansiri Lower hydel project, a 2,000 MW project that is being implemented by the public sector National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC), with the Assam government also joining to row.

Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi had in July asked the Centre to intervene and ensure that such dam projects did not lead to denial of the riparian rights of the people of Assam.

Gogoi had particularly referred to the ongoing Subansiri Lower hydro-electric project, and said flood moderation and flood cushioning should be considered critical components of the project.

“The various multipurpose projects proposed in the Master Plan prepared by Brahmaputra Board, like Tipaimukh, Pagladiya, Kameng and Siang etc should be taken up as storage projects so that the riparian rights of the state of Assam is not denied and flood moderation is taken due care,” Gogoi said.

While an umbrella body of the All Assam Students’ Union and 25 other student and youth bodies have launched a vigorous campaign against the Subansiri Lower and other projects, opposition parties of the state have also taken up the issue.

The Asom Gana Parishad last week staged a massive dharna at the NHPC project site at Gerukamukh and demanded immediate stalling of the project.

Meanwhile, an expert committee constituted by the NHPC and the Assam government has identified 968 villages in the lower reaches of the Subansiri and categorised them into three groups in the basis of their vulnerability.

The expert panel had a couple of months back recommended against construction of mega hydel dams in the region including the Subansiri Lower project, given the high seismicity of the eastern Himalayas.

Read full history - Arunachal Dam Protests: Jairam Plans Public Hearing on Sept 10

Arunachal MLAs Want Solution of Border Row with Assam

Itanagar, Sep 5 : Several legislators in Arunachal Pradesh have urged the state government to resolve the decades-old boundary dispute with Assam.

In the Assembly yesterday, Trinamool Congress MLA Kamthok Lowang pressed for expediting the findings of the one-man Boundary Commission, besides urging the state government to take up the issue seriously with its Assam counterparts.

Referring to the recent boundary flare-up at Kamkuh Rusa under Kanubari sub-division in Tirap district, Lowang said that Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, both ruled by the same party, can easily settle the dispute through discussions.

He further demanded construction of an inter-district road without touching Assam in order to avoid incidents like that of the recent economic blockade.

Participating in the discussion, Home Minister Tako Dabi said when the status quo was in place, peace needed to be maintained along the disputed boundary areas.

He emphasised on the urgent need to show restraint by both sides till the Boundary Commission comes up with a solution.

Avowing that a strong political will was needed for an early solution to the boundary imbroglio, Dabi suggested a road map for development of the disputed areas along the inter-state border.

Finance Minister Setong Sena, who had led a delegation to hold parleys with the Assam government recently at Dispur, told the House that both the governments have decided to maintain peace and normalcy in the disputed areas.

He further informed that both Assam and Arunachal have decided to maintain status quo till the commission submits its report.

Sharing his sentiment on the vexed issue, Laeta Umbrey of the Trinamool Congress felt that the Centre should intervene into the boundary dispute between the two neigbours.

Kanubari MLA Newlai Tingkhatra also sought government's patronage for road connectivity from Kanubari to Bogapani, and urged early establishment of various departments.

Read full history - Arunachal MLAs Want Solution of Border Row with Assam

Arunachal MLAs Want Solution of Border Row with Assam

Itanagar, Sep 5 : Several legislators in Arunachal Pradesh have urged the state government to resolve the decades-old boundary dispute with Assam.

In the Assembly yesterday, Trinamool Congress MLA Kamthok Lowang pressed for expediting the findings of the one-man Boundary Commission, besides urging the state government to take up the issue seriously with its Assam counterparts.

Referring to the recent boundary flare-up at Kamkuh Rusa under Kanubari sub-division in Tirap district, Lowang said that Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, both ruled by the same party, can easily settle the dispute through discussions.

He further demanded construction of an inter-district road without touching Assam in order to avoid incidents like that of the recent economic blockade.

Participating in the discussion, Home Minister Tako Dabi said when the status quo was in place, peace needed to be maintained along the disputed boundary areas.

He emphasised on the urgent need to show restraint by both sides till the Boundary Commission comes up with a solution.

Avowing that a strong political will was needed for an early solution to the boundary imbroglio, Dabi suggested a road map for development of the disputed areas along the inter-state border.

Finance Minister Setong Sena, who had led a delegation to hold parleys with the Assam government recently at Dispur, told the House that both the governments have decided to maintain peace and normalcy in the disputed areas.

He further informed that both Assam and Arunachal have decided to maintain status quo till the commission submits its report.

Sharing his sentiment on the vexed issue, Laeta Umbrey of the Trinamool Congress felt that the Centre should intervene into the boundary dispute between the two neigbours.

Kanubari MLA Newlai Tingkhatra also sought government's patronage for road connectivity from Kanubari to Bogapani, and urged early establishment of various departments.

Read full history - Arunachal MLAs Want Solution of Border Row with Assam

Assam-Arunachal Blockade Temporarily Withdrawn

By Priyanka Kakodkar

Sibsagar (Assam), Aug 29 : The indefinite economic blockade by 12 organisations on roads in upper Assam connecting Arunachal Pradesh was temporarily withdrawn from 5 pm on Saturday.

The blockade at Charaipung, launched to prevent essential goods from reaching Arunachal Pradesh via Assam, was withdrawn in the interest of the general public of both the states, the sponsors said.

A joint appeal to withdraw the blockade had been made by the governments of the two states at a meeting in Guwahati on Friday.

Students body Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuba Chatra Parishad (AJYCP), however, threatened to reimpose the blockade if there were attacks in Assam by Arunachali miscreants aided by NSCN-IM militants.

With the withdrawal of the blockade, trucks carrying essential goods began to move towards Arunachal Pradesh. Other vehicles were also seen travelling between the two states.

Sibsagar deputy commissioner N N Hussain said that no fresh incident of violence or arson was reported in the Charaipung area and efforts were on by both states to normalise the situation at the border.

Arunachal Pradesh home and finance ministers visited the border areas in Assam and initiated the process for demolishing the bunkers erected by Arunachal police there.

Assam would launch a similar process, he said. Plucking of leaves in the tea gardens at Charaipung restarted from today, he added.

Read full history - Assam-Arunachal Blockade Temporarily Withdrawn

Assam-Arunachal Blockade Temporarily Withdrawn

By Priyanka Kakodkar

Sibsagar (Assam), Aug 29 : The indefinite economic blockade by 12 organisations on roads in upper Assam connecting Arunachal Pradesh was temporarily withdrawn from 5 pm on Saturday.

The blockade at Charaipung, launched to prevent essential goods from reaching Arunachal Pradesh via Assam, was withdrawn in the interest of the general public of both the states, the sponsors said.

A joint appeal to withdraw the blockade had been made by the governments of the two states at a meeting in Guwahati on Friday.

Students body Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuba Chatra Parishad (AJYCP), however, threatened to reimpose the blockade if there were attacks in Assam by Arunachali miscreants aided by NSCN-IM militants.

With the withdrawal of the blockade, trucks carrying essential goods began to move towards Arunachal Pradesh. Other vehicles were also seen travelling between the two states.

Sibsagar deputy commissioner N N Hussain said that no fresh incident of violence or arson was reported in the Charaipung area and efforts were on by both states to normalise the situation at the border.

Arunachal Pradesh home and finance ministers visited the border areas in Assam and initiated the process for demolishing the bunkers erected by Arunachal police there.

Assam would launch a similar process, he said. Plucking of leaves in the tea gardens at Charaipung restarted from today, he added.

Read full history - Assam-Arunachal Blockade Temporarily Withdrawn

The Great Indian PDS Scam

Former Arunachal Pradesh chief minister Gegong Apang, prime accused in the Rs 1,000-crore public distribution system (PDS) scandal that came to light in 2004, was arrested and remanded in a week's police custody today.

Apang, 61, was arrested in Itanagar by the Special Investigation Cell (SIC) constituted by the Gauhati High Court, and charged under IPC Sections 120B (criminal conspiracy), 420 (cheating), 468 (forgery) and 409 (criminal breach of trust), read with sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.

"We have registered eight cases in connection with the scam. So far 50 persons have been chargesheeted, of which 30 have been arrested. Today we arrested former chief minister Gegong Apang on the basis of material evidences and oral depositions made by a number of witnesses including several of the co-accused," M S Chauhan, SP, SIC, told The Indian Express over the phone from Itanagar.

Chauhan said Apang was the kingpin of the scam. "You cannot expect clerks and transportation contractors to misappropriate a huge sum like Rs 1,000 crore without the involvement of big and influential people," he said.

The cases pertain to huge anomalies including forgery and fraud that took place in the PDS in Arunachal between 1995 and 2004.
The case was brought to national attention by a four-part investigation published in The Indian Express in May 2005.

The forgery and fraud took place at two levels: (i) payment of huge sums as reimbursement of Hill Transport Subsidy and Road Transport Charges from the Government of India for transporting PDS items to the state, and (ii) showing delivery of PDS items without actually reaching them to the people.

How they looted in Arunachal Pradesh

WAY back in October 2004 when Bamang Anthony, president of Arunachal Citizens' Rights (ACR) decided to file a PIL in the Gauhati High Court regarding certain anomalies that he had smelt in the public distribution system (PDS) in Arunachal Pradesh, little did he realise that he was actually digging one of the biggest food scams in the entire subcontinent.

Six years later, he is glad his efforts have paid dividends. Former chief minister Gegong Apang has been arrested in connection with that scam, which is now believed to be of the magnitude of about Rs 1,000 crore.

Arunachal Pradesh and five other hill states of the Northeast get two types of reimbursements from the government of India for transportation of food grains under the PDS. While the first is reimbursement of Road Transport Charges (RTC) for lifting of food grains from the nearest railhead of FCI depots to the base depots, the second is called Hill Transport Subsidy (HTS) for moving the stock from the base depots to the approved principal distribution centres.

Interestingly, even as Bamang Anthony and The Indian Express were only looking at suspected large-scale irregularities in the distribution of food grains in the state, the FCI itself found out, through a special audit, an "excess payment" of Rs 193.53 crore in just one year (2003-04).

The HTS alone for three particular years in which misappropriation was suspected was as follows: Rs 24.27 crore in 2001-02, Rs 75.03 crore in 2002-03, and Rs 279.64 crore in 2003-04.

But what was more interesting is that while on one hand the quantity of food grains "supplied" to the people of Arunachal Pradesh under PDS increased (from 54,765 MT in 2001-02 to 85,272 MT) and the reimbursement of HTS also increased, several instances also came to light where the supply records were grossly fraud and fictitious.

One such instance, which The Indian Express highlighted as an illustration of the scam, was the supply of salt under PDS in Damin, a revenue circle in Kurung Kumey district. While the circle had a population of 2,784 (according to 2001 census), records showed that every individual consumed at least 24 kg of iodised salt per month in 2004. Another instance: In Koloriang circle in the same district, roughly 4,800 persons were shown as having consumed 3,080 quintals of rice every month in 2004, which comes to 64 kg per person per month.

It is, however, not Gegong Apang alone who is suspected to be responsible for the multi-crore scam. Transporters, suppliers, government officials, political leaders including MLAs - a large number of people actually benefited from it.

In July 2004 for instance, 5,000 quintals of rice kept in some private godowns in Nagaon (in Assam) for onward dispatch to Arunachal Pradesh disappeared. Submission of false bills for carrying foodgrains by smaller vehicles (where trucks can't ply) and by headloads (to villages which have no road links) was another means of siphoning off huge sums. In some instances, registration numbers of mini-trucks shown in bills were later found out to be of scooters and motorbikes.

What was most interesting is the story of a government officer, N N Osik, then director of civil supplies, who opened a separate account in the SBI at Itanagar just to receive "commissions" from the contractors engaged for transportation.

Between October 4, 2002 and July 16, 2003, Osik's balance in this account rose to Rs 2.85 crore. On one single day, February 14, 2003, numerous people deposited a total sum of Rs 97 lakh. What Osik immediately did was change his name, by an affidavit, to N Lego.

His name figures along with Apang's in a list of 40 accused persons, which the Special Investigation Cell probing the scam submitted to the the Gauhati High Court in October 2008.

Source: Indian Express

Read full history - The Great Indian PDS Scam

The Great Indian PDS Scam

Former Arunachal Pradesh chief minister Gegong Apang, prime accused in the Rs 1,000-crore public distribution system (PDS) scandal that came to light in 2004, was arrested and remanded in a week's police custody today.

Apang, 61, was arrested in Itanagar by the Special Investigation Cell (SIC) constituted by the Gauhati High Court, and charged under IPC Sections 120B (criminal conspiracy), 420 (cheating), 468 (forgery) and 409 (criminal breach of trust), read with sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.

"We have registered eight cases in connection with the scam. So far 50 persons have been chargesheeted, of which 30 have been arrested. Today we arrested former chief minister Gegong Apang on the basis of material evidences and oral depositions made by a number of witnesses including several of the co-accused," M S Chauhan, SP, SIC, told The Indian Express over the phone from Itanagar.

Chauhan said Apang was the kingpin of the scam. "You cannot expect clerks and transportation contractors to misappropriate a huge sum like Rs 1,000 crore without the involvement of big and influential people," he said.

The cases pertain to huge anomalies including forgery and fraud that took place in the PDS in Arunachal between 1995 and 2004.
The case was brought to national attention by a four-part investigation published in The Indian Express in May 2005.

The forgery and fraud took place at two levels: (i) payment of huge sums as reimbursement of Hill Transport Subsidy and Road Transport Charges from the Government of India for transporting PDS items to the state, and (ii) showing delivery of PDS items without actually reaching them to the people.

How they looted in Arunachal Pradesh

WAY back in October 2004 when Bamang Anthony, president of Arunachal Citizens' Rights (ACR) decided to file a PIL in the Gauhati High Court regarding certain anomalies that he had smelt in the public distribution system (PDS) in Arunachal Pradesh, little did he realise that he was actually digging one of the biggest food scams in the entire subcontinent.

Six years later, he is glad his efforts have paid dividends. Former chief minister Gegong Apang has been arrested in connection with that scam, which is now believed to be of the magnitude of about Rs 1,000 crore.

Arunachal Pradesh and five other hill states of the Northeast get two types of reimbursements from the government of India for transportation of food grains under the PDS. While the first is reimbursement of Road Transport Charges (RTC) for lifting of food grains from the nearest railhead of FCI depots to the base depots, the second is called Hill Transport Subsidy (HTS) for moving the stock from the base depots to the approved principal distribution centres.

Interestingly, even as Bamang Anthony and The Indian Express were only looking at suspected large-scale irregularities in the distribution of food grains in the state, the FCI itself found out, through a special audit, an "excess payment" of Rs 193.53 crore in just one year (2003-04).

The HTS alone for three particular years in which misappropriation was suspected was as follows: Rs 24.27 crore in 2001-02, Rs 75.03 crore in 2002-03, and Rs 279.64 crore in 2003-04.

But what was more interesting is that while on one hand the quantity of food grains "supplied" to the people of Arunachal Pradesh under PDS increased (from 54,765 MT in 2001-02 to 85,272 MT) and the reimbursement of HTS also increased, several instances also came to light where the supply records were grossly fraud and fictitious.

One such instance, which The Indian Express highlighted as an illustration of the scam, was the supply of salt under PDS in Damin, a revenue circle in Kurung Kumey district. While the circle had a population of 2,784 (according to 2001 census), records showed that every individual consumed at least 24 kg of iodised salt per month in 2004. Another instance: In Koloriang circle in the same district, roughly 4,800 persons were shown as having consumed 3,080 quintals of rice every month in 2004, which comes to 64 kg per person per month.

It is, however, not Gegong Apang alone who is suspected to be responsible for the multi-crore scam. Transporters, suppliers, government officials, political leaders including MLAs - a large number of people actually benefited from it.

In July 2004 for instance, 5,000 quintals of rice kept in some private godowns in Nagaon (in Assam) for onward dispatch to Arunachal Pradesh disappeared. Submission of false bills for carrying foodgrains by smaller vehicles (where trucks can't ply) and by headloads (to villages which have no road links) was another means of siphoning off huge sums. In some instances, registration numbers of mini-trucks shown in bills were later found out to be of scooters and motorbikes.

What was most interesting is the story of a government officer, N N Osik, then director of civil supplies, who opened a separate account in the SBI at Itanagar just to receive "commissions" from the contractors engaged for transportation.

Between October 4, 2002 and July 16, 2003, Osik's balance in this account rose to Rs 2.85 crore. On one single day, February 14, 2003, numerous people deposited a total sum of Rs 97 lakh. What Osik immediately did was change his name, by an affidavit, to N Lego.

His name figures along with Apang's in a list of 40 accused persons, which the Special Investigation Cell probing the scam submitted to the the Gauhati High Court in October 2008.

Source: Indian Express

Read full history - The Great Indian PDS Scam

Gegong Apang Arrested in PDS Scam Case

Former Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Gegong Apang was arrested by the Special Investigation Cell on Tuesday for his alleged involvement in the multi-crore public distribution system scam.

"Apang was arrested based on material evidence and statement given by the other accused," the cell's investigating officer M S Chauhan told.

Apang, who was summoned to the cell on Tuesday morning, was arrested under non-bailable sections.

He was booked under section 120b (criminal conspiracy), 420 (cheating), 468 (forgery), 409 (criminal breach of trust) of IPC read with B-2 Prevention of Prevention of Corruption Act.

"We provided Apang with a set of questionnaires and despite three earlier summons he appeared before the SIC only today. He denied knowledge of facts or persons involved in the scam," Chauhan said on Tueday.

The case was forwarded to special session judge at North Lakhimpur in Assam for trial.

The Special Investigation Cell was constituted by the state government on the directive of the Gauhati High Court after a PIL was filed by the Arunachal Citizens Right Chairperson Bamang Anthony and Domin Loya on 13^th June, 2004 against the alleged over 1000 crore PDS scam in the state.

The scam relates to loss suffered by the public exchequer because of false and fraudulent hill transport subsidy bills, which were cleared without financial concurrence. Apang had been at the helm of affairs at the time.

Read full history - Gegong Apang Arrested in PDS Scam Case

Gegong Apang Arrested in PDS Scam Case

Former Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Gegong Apang was arrested by the Special Investigation Cell on Tuesday for his alleged involvement in the multi-crore public distribution system scam.

"Apang was arrested based on material evidence and statement given by the other accused," the cell's investigating officer M S Chauhan told.

Apang, who was summoned to the cell on Tuesday morning, was arrested under non-bailable sections.

He was booked under section 120b (criminal conspiracy), 420 (cheating), 468 (forgery), 409 (criminal breach of trust) of IPC read with B-2 Prevention of Prevention of Corruption Act.

"We provided Apang with a set of questionnaires and despite three earlier summons he appeared before the SIC only today. He denied knowledge of facts or persons involved in the scam," Chauhan said on Tueday.

The case was forwarded to special session judge at North Lakhimpur in Assam for trial.

The Special Investigation Cell was constituted by the state government on the directive of the Gauhati High Court after a PIL was filed by the Arunachal Citizens Right Chairperson Bamang Anthony and Domin Loya on 13^th June, 2004 against the alleged over 1000 crore PDS scam in the state.

The scam relates to loss suffered by the public exchequer because of false and fraudulent hill transport subsidy bills, which were cleared without financial concurrence. Apang had been at the helm of affairs at the time.

Read full history - Gegong Apang Arrested in PDS Scam Case

Fence Border With Myanmar: Arunachal Home Minister

Itanagar, Aug 10 : Arunachal Pradesh has asked the central government to fence the India-Myanmar border to check the movement of separatist rebels from India's northeast who have set up base in the dense jungles of the state.

'Different militant groups from northeast India are using the Arunachal Pradesh jungles as their corridor to go to Myanmar and China and vice versa,' Arunachal Home Minister Tako Dabi told IANS here.

'It is extremely difficult to deal with the trans-border movement of the separatist outfits of other northeastern states as the state has a vast geographical area (83,743 sq km area),' he said.

'The state has a long international border with Bhutan in the west (160 km), China in the north (1,080 km) and Myanmar in the east (440 km),' he said.

Four of India's northeastern states -- Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram -- share a 1,640-km-long border with Myanmar. It is manned by Assam Rifles and dense forests in most parts make the border porous and vulnerable to trans-border movement.

According to the minister, the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) and the Isak-Muivah and Khaplang factions of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN) have set up their base camps in the jungles of Arunachal Pradesh.

The separatists occasionally kidnap people and extort money, said Dabi who was here in connection with the celebration of the 103rd birth anniversary of Tripura's first chief minister Sachindra Lal Singh.

He said 37 Naga militants surrendered before the Arunachal Pradesh government earlier this month.

Regarding the demand of greater Nagaland by the Isak-Muivah faction of the NSCN, Dabi said: 'On three occasions we have strongly told the centre and passed a unanimous resolution in the state assembly unambiguously proclaiming that not an inch of land of Arunachal Pradesh would be spared for the so-called greater Nagaland.'

'There is also no area in Arunachal Pradesh where a reasonable number of Naga people reside,' he added.

The Isak-Muivah faction has been struggling for nearly six decades to create a 'Greater Nagaland' by slicing off parts of three neighbouring states to unite 1.2 million Nagas. The demand is also opposed by Assam and Manipur.

Asked about Chakma and Hajong tribal refugess from Bangladesh, the Arunachal Pradesh minister said the state government has asked the central government to resolve issues related to their demand seeking Indian citizenship.

Over 80,000 Chakma and Hajong tribal refugees have been living in Arunachal Pradesh's Lohit and Changlang districts for 46 years. These Buddhists fled from their ancestral lands in the Chittagong Hill Tracts of southeastern Bangladesh following religious persecution.

The minister stressed the need for joint efforts of all the northeastern states to remove economic backwardness. 'All the chief ministers, MPs and leaders of the eight northeastern states must jointly approach the centre to resolve the problems of the region,' Dabi added.

'There are many common problems of northeastern states relating to security, economy, health, education, unemployment and infrastructure,' he said.

**(Sujit Chakraborty can be contacted at sujit.c@ians.in)

Read full history - Fence Border With Myanmar: Arunachal Home Minister

Fence Border With Myanmar: Arunachal Home Minister

Itanagar, Aug 10 : Arunachal Pradesh has asked the central government to fence the India-Myanmar border to check the movement of separatist rebels from India's northeast who have set up base in the dense jungles of the state.

'Different militant groups from northeast India are using the Arunachal Pradesh jungles as their corridor to go to Myanmar and China and vice versa,' Arunachal Home Minister Tako Dabi told IANS here.

'It is extremely difficult to deal with the trans-border movement of the separatist outfits of other northeastern states as the state has a vast geographical area (83,743 sq km area),' he said.

'The state has a long international border with Bhutan in the west (160 km), China in the north (1,080 km) and Myanmar in the east (440 km),' he said.

Four of India's northeastern states -- Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram -- share a 1,640-km-long border with Myanmar. It is manned by Assam Rifles and dense forests in most parts make the border porous and vulnerable to trans-border movement.

According to the minister, the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) and the Isak-Muivah and Khaplang factions of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN) have set up their base camps in the jungles of Arunachal Pradesh.

The separatists occasionally kidnap people and extort money, said Dabi who was here in connection with the celebration of the 103rd birth anniversary of Tripura's first chief minister Sachindra Lal Singh.

He said 37 Naga militants surrendered before the Arunachal Pradesh government earlier this month.

Regarding the demand of greater Nagaland by the Isak-Muivah faction of the NSCN, Dabi said: 'On three occasions we have strongly told the centre and passed a unanimous resolution in the state assembly unambiguously proclaiming that not an inch of land of Arunachal Pradesh would be spared for the so-called greater Nagaland.'

'There is also no area in Arunachal Pradesh where a reasonable number of Naga people reside,' he added.

The Isak-Muivah faction has been struggling for nearly six decades to create a 'Greater Nagaland' by slicing off parts of three neighbouring states to unite 1.2 million Nagas. The demand is also opposed by Assam and Manipur.

Asked about Chakma and Hajong tribal refugess from Bangladesh, the Arunachal Pradesh minister said the state government has asked the central government to resolve issues related to their demand seeking Indian citizenship.

Over 80,000 Chakma and Hajong tribal refugees have been living in Arunachal Pradesh's Lohit and Changlang districts for 46 years. These Buddhists fled from their ancestral lands in the Chittagong Hill Tracts of southeastern Bangladesh following religious persecution.

The minister stressed the need for joint efforts of all the northeastern states to remove economic backwardness. 'All the chief ministers, MPs and leaders of the eight northeastern states must jointly approach the centre to resolve the problems of the region,' Dabi added.

'There are many common problems of northeastern states relating to security, economy, health, education, unemployment and infrastructure,' he said.

**(Sujit Chakraborty can be contacted at sujit.c@ians.in)

Read full history - Fence Border With Myanmar: Arunachal Home Minister