First Uranium Film Festival in city begins today

By Our Reporter

SHILLONG: With an aim to bridge the gap between experts’ views and independent knowledge of people on nuclear energy, a Uranium Film Festival showcasing films based on experiences of people coming in contact with nuclear energy all over the world wi.

The organizers of this travelling film festival-India Chapter chose Shillong to screen their films and documentaries considering the fact that Meghalaya acquires an important place in the uranium map of the country.

The KSU will host the two-day Uranium Film Festival- Travelling India which will kick off at Hotel Majestic here on Thursday. Altogether 14 films will be screened during the Festival.

“Uranium is considered as a green and clear energy yet there is a myth linked with this nuclear energy giving rise to various questions and the answers of which has no clear cut dimension,” festival partner and renowned journalist and filmmaker Shriprakash told reporters here on Wednesday.

Highlighting that individual judgement and understanding on the issue weighs more than expert opinions Prakash said the decision-making on nuclear energy by the citizens should come from independent knowledge sources.

“We should learn from experiences of the communities of the past and also from communities who live sustainable lives to take new decision. We cannot simply leave all these issues to technocrats, corporate houses, bureaucrats and politicians,” Shriprakash said.

A festival director from Brazil, Norbert G Suchanek said the first International Uranium Film Festival started in May 2011 at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil with a motive to make people aware of issues pertaining to nuclear energy and radioactivity.

“Today, films are the best way to pass on information to the people and since uranium is a global issue, we have decided to spread the message on the topic to a large audience,” Suchanek said adding that ‘independent information is the basis for independent decisions’.

Laying emphasis on the risk of taking the ‘nuclear path’, the festival director reiterated that, “Societies and people have the right to choose whether they want to follow the nuclear road or not.” Stating that very less information is being disseminated by the government, Suchanek said good films on uranium and nuclear energy can enhance the understanding of the people on the issue.

Festival co-director, Marcia Gomes de Oliveira from Brazil said while some media outlets in India have been trying to bridge this gap, there is still much scope for improvement.

“By organising this festival as a major event, we will move beyond debates, focusing on the safety issues and major accidents and initiate new thoughts,” she said. Oliveira also called upon the filmmakers of the State to work on such complicated issues. Besides film makers, she also urged the academicians to take part in the festival with the sole purpose of gathering the real deal of uranium mining and thereby impart the same to their students.

By Our Reporter

SHILLONG: The third and final unit of the much-hyped Myntdu Leshka Hydro Electric Project (MLHEP) is likely to be commissioned this month.

Talking to The Shillong Times on the progress of the project on Wednesday, Chief Project Manager Elias Lyngdoh said that, “We are hoping to commission the last unit shortly.”

Presently, the power project is generating 42 mw from its second unit even as the first unit which was commissioned last year is yet to become fully functional after being hit by a technical snag.

“Several tests are being done to make the first unit fully functional,” he said.

It may be mentioned that the first year of any project is considered as ‘defect liability period’ aimed at tracking out faults and other problems that might occur in the project.

The stage I of the Myntdu Leshka Hydro Electric Project (MLHEP) was commissioned in March last year

According to Lyngdoh, scarcity of water is another hurdle being faced by the project.

The project has already been criticized owing to repeated delays in its commissioning which led to a huge cost escalation from the initial Rs 363.08 crore to Rs 1173.13 crore

The entire project is expected to generate 126 mw of power for the State once it fully becomes operational.

By Our Reporter

SHILLONG: The Election Commission of India has refused to delete KHNAM from the list of political parties as it found that there were alleged manipulations on the part of former KHNAM president Paul Lyngdoh regarding the merger of his party with UDP. In a recent letter addressed to Paul Lyngdoh, the Under Secretary of Election Commission of India, PK Sharma said that Lyngdoh had sent tampered documents related to the merger of KHNAM with UDP . According to the EC, from the papers submitted by Lyngdoh dated 16-01-12 and another letter dated 16-12-11, addressed to the Chief Election Commissioner , it was seen that the proceedings or resolution of the Central Executive Committee stated to have been held on October 26,2011 was enclosed with each of these two e letters.

“While the date 15-11-11 was mentioned in the resolution sent with the letter dated 16-01-12, the date was over written to read as 26-10-11 in the resolution sent with the letter dated 16-12-11. This evidently amounts to submission of tampered documents”, Sharma said.

The EC official further said , “Therefore, the Commission has not accepted the application submitted by you (Lyngdoh) for deletion of KHNAM from the list of political parties”.

The EC also informed the new president of KHNAM, Pyndapbor Saibon that his claim as party president will be considered on submission of documents to prove that he was validly elected to the post in accordance with the constitution of the party..

By Our Reporter

SHILLONG: An earthquake of moderate intensity on Wednesday rocked the entire Northeastern region, but there was no report of any injury to people or damage to property.

The quake, measuring 5.9 on the Richter scale, hit the region at around 7.12am with its epicentre being 89 km underneath the earth’s crust along the Indo-Myanmar border, an official with the Upper Shillong Seismological Observatory said.

The tremor created panic among people and even woke up those who were still asleep in the cold winter morning.

Our Guwahati correspondent adds: A senior scientist in the North East Institute of Science and Technology (NEIST), Jorhat, said the intensity of the earthquake was estimated to be strong near the epi-center while it was moderate away from the epicenter in important places like Guwahati, Imphal and other major cities and urban centres in the region.

Earlier, four more earthquakes of magnitude measured in the range of 3.3-4.4 in the Richter Scale rocked Arunachal Pradesh on January 7 last while another earthquake of 3.1 magnitude rocked Manipur area on the same day, according to information provided by the seismological observatory in the NEIST.

By Our Reporter

SHILLONG: In one of the biggest case of seizure of drugs in the recent past, police recovered huge quantities of various types of sedatives from the house of a person hailing from Mawlai Umsohkhrot on Wednesday. Besides arresting the person identified as one Spaimell Marbaniang (43), police also seized a vehicle (AS01P7169) belonging to him. Drugs were kept in all the sides of the doors of vehicle and seats, police added. According to police, the seizure list includes 4896 capsules of Spasmoproxyvon, 370 tablets of Nitrozapam, five cell phones, one full golden tin of heroin, 26 empty golden tins containing traces of heroin , 4 tins of Chinese balm containing traces of heroin, Rs 21,000 in cash, passbook having a balance of Rs 6 lakh and an assortment of keys.

By Our Reporter

SHILLONG: A delegation comprising members from several women’s organizations on Wednesday submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma, DGP Kulbir Krishna and the Principal Secretary (Home) KS Kropha with some suggestions to make Meghalaya a safer place for women and children. The delegation held an extensive discussion with the DGP on the role of police in cases of sexual violence.

The delegation urged the Chief Minister to appoint a new Women’s Commission chairperson.

By Our Reporter

SHILLONG: GAD Minister and Pynthorumkhrah MLA, AL Hek, on Wednesday refuted allegations levelled against him in relation to misappropriation of funds terming the allegations as ‘cheap political gimmick’.

“The allegations are baseless and nothing but cheap political gimmick by the aspirant candidate to tarnish my image in view of the ensuing 2013 Assembly polls,” Hek said.

Reacting to the allegations made by the Pynthorumkhrah People’s Association, (PPA) on Monday relation to financial irregularities in various schemes meant for the welfare of the people in the Pynthorumkhrah constituency which were revealed by documents obtained under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, Hek said the PPA is a propaganda driven organization constituted with the sole aim to malign his image.

“I would like to rechristen Pynthorumkhrah People’s Association as Process Propaganda Association, as it is a piece of cheap political gimmick,” Hek said.

Refusing to recognize the existence of PPA, Hek said, “PPA is not a registered organization and none of the Dorbar within Pynthorumkhrah constituency are aware of it.”

Defending his stand, Hek on Wednesday produced details of the utilized and unutilized funds used and involved in the purchase of CGI sheets, X-ray hall and electrification at Nangkiew Multipurpose Hall, Golf Link college affiliation, developing Golf Link picnic spot and the uplift of women under BPL families.

Daring the members of the PPA to produce proof substantiating their claims, Hek said, “As I clarify the points I would like to make it clear that the PPA should produce documentary proof of their claimed RTI report and if any facts are found to be true then I am ready to be tried as per the law of the land.”

He added that the need of the hour was to chalk out developmental schemes and projects to promote the constituency and not create disharmony within it.

By Our Reporter

SHILLONG: Deputy Chief Minister and in charge of Health and Family Welfare department, Rowell Lyngdoh, has said that the Washington-based Chrysoula Economopoulos, a consultant engaged in advisory services in public-private partnerships (PPP), is conducting a survey of the proposed Shillong Medical College site at Jhalupara currently housing the Reid Chest (TB) Hospital.

Speaking to The Shillong Times, Lyngdoh said, “The consultancy has to place the survey report before the Government for approval.” The College will house over 500 beds and cater to over 200,000 patients every year.

To make way for the proposed hospital, the State Government has decided to shift the Reid Chest (TB) Hospital to Mawdiangdiang for which a plot of land has been allotted by the Urban Affairs department.

“A tender has been floated for the construction of the TB Hospital at Mawdiangdiang,” the Health Minister informed.

The State Government is hopeful of admitting the first batch of medical students by May 2017. Out of the 100 medical seats 40 would be reserved for students from Meghalaya.

From Our Correspondent

NONGSTOIN: Leaders of 21 primary units of the Congress of Rambrai-Jyrngam constituency in West Khasi Hills have appealed JTS Thongni, who was denied the Congress ticket, to either join another party or contest the upcoming Assembly election as an Independent.

The appeal was made during a meeting at Thongni’s residence in Nongstoin on Tuesday attended by the primary unit leaders and by Nastar Kharlyngdoh, who was also an aspirant of the Congress party ticket from the same constituency.

Thongni, however, informed that he has already been approached by the NPP and the NCP to contest on their behalf but had turned them down. He added that he along with Nastar had decided to remain with the party and work unitedly to ensure success for Kingford Kharsyntiew, Congress’ official candidate for the seat.

Later, Thongni told this scribe that he would like to urge the MPCC to follow the guidelines and the working policy of the party.

Pointing out that in the voting by members of the primary units for selection of the candidate he had secured 75 per cent votes while Kimfa Marbaniang had secured 25 per cent, Thongni stated that the MPCC had disrespected the wishes and aspirations of the people.

He, however, urged the MPCC to support Kharsyntiew financially and morally to ensure his win in the election.

Recalling that it was he who had opened the Congress’ account in Rambrai in 2004 by contested and winning the MDC election, Thongni said that he would feel like a traitor to be contesting against his own party.

Thongni also informed that on May 1 last all the four Congress ticket aspirants from Rambrai had signed a pact wherein they had agreed that no matter who gets the ticket they would stay united and support the party. He also said that it was unfortunate that Kimfa Marbaniang had decided to contest as an Independent.

Political observers are of the opinion that both Thongni and Kharlyngdoh are senior Congress leaders in Rambrai and their exit from the party would render the Congress null and void in the constituency.

From Our Correspondent

NONGPOH: Former KSU North Khasi Hills district president Donkupar Sumer is set to contest the forthcoming Assembly election from Umsning Constituency as an Independent.

Informing this to The Shillong Times, Sumer said he has the back up of all supporters of candidates of various political parties who were denied tickets by their respective parties.

Pointing out the reason for contesting as an Independent, Sumer said that he had an inclination towards regional parties but at present there was a lack of a common stand among the regional parties in Ri-Bhoi district.

It may be mentioned that Sumer had sought the UDP ticket for Umsning seat, but the party preferred to award the ticket to former Umroi MDC Field Marshall Mawphniang. Sumer had resigned from the post of the KSU president to seek ticket from the UDP.

The Umsning constituency is now set to witness a three-cornered contest among Congress candidate and Nongpoh MDC Dr Celestine Lyngdoh, Mawphniang from the UDP and Sumer.

Meanwhile, sources have informed that Meghalaya State Public Level Grievance Committee Vice Chairman Donlang Sohkhlet, who was denied the Congress ticket, might also enter the fray as an Independent candidate.