INTERNATIONAL

Sea level rise may send Bangladeshis in lakhs to NE
Global Warming

From CK Nayak

New Delhi: Greenpeace has painted a grim picture of massive displacement of population in India and Bangladesh due to climate change which would put the already illegal immigrants-swamped North-East into demographic catastrophe and related socio-economic upheavals.

A staggering 125 million people could be displaced in India and Bangladesh by a rise in the sea level triggered by a projected four-five degrees Celsius increase in global temperature this century.

The independent environment watchdog Greenpeace said that India, Bangladesh and Pakistan have almost 130 million people living in the Low Elevation Coastal Zone who will be the most vulnerable to sea-level rise and coastal erosion as well as drought.

Earlier reports had suggested that due to global warming glaciers in the Himalayas would melt and also cause massive floods in downstream North-East and Bangladesh.

This would cause further rise in the sea level since most of the major rivers in the sub-continent like the Brahmaptura and the Ganges originate from the Himalayas.

"We need to keep in mind as well that the bulk of the 75 million people from Bangladesh are very likely to seek refuge in India," the report, authored by S Chella Rajan, professor of humanities and social sciences at IIT, Chennai, said.

"Looking at India and Bangladesh alone, approximately 125 million migrants, comprising about 75 million from Bangladesh and remaining 50 million from densely-populated coastal regions and other vulnerable parts of India, could be rendered homeless by the end of this century," the report said.

As is the current trend India’s North East would most certainly face the waves of displaced people pushing into the vulnerable region. The migrants, who would first throng the bordering region of Assam and Meghalaya, would slowly move into the hill states, other reports said.

To minimise the impact, the report suggested, "India should seek policy options that are proactive in terms of developing international strategies to reduce the risk of destructive climate change." In the event of such a climate change, large coastal cities such as Mumbai and Kolkata will witness an average elevation sea level of 2-10 metres.

"Major population is likely to move from these cities as well as other coastal mega cities like Chennai to other large urban settlement," the report said. This will mean that already burdened cities which will have serious resource constraints by the middle of the century will have to be prepared to accommodate an enormous number of migrants.

The study estimates that eight million of the rural population is likely to migrate to urban areas specifically because of their double exposure to climate change and their inability to adapt to global trade impacts by the end of this century. This is besides the illegal migrants who would like to enter India since the economic condition of the Bangladesh is already in shambles.

Though the Greenpeace report reminds of the grim picture, earlier reports have indicated that the eco-sensitive North East region and its bordering areas are already witnessing impacts of climate change. The NE known for heavy rainfall and massive floods recently experienced bouts of dry spell.

Rainfall have become less and less and also erratic in the region, reports have said. In countries like Bhutan known as land of thunder bolts, there were prolonged dry spell causing even draught once unheard in the Himalayan kingdom.

Bangladesh too experienced a dry spell which not only affected its population but also its wild life. Herds of wild deer were seen moving to the populated areas and many of them even died without water, reports have said.

But wild life apart the drastic climate change would seriously affect the human population, reports said. This could cause unprecedented demographic changes affecting lakhs of people causing socio-economic upheavals.

SC orders fresh Godhra probe

New Delhi: The post-Godhra violence in Gujarat continued to haunt the Narendra Modi Government with the Supreme Court on Tuesday deciding to set up a five-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) to re-investigate the cases.

Apart from three IPS officers from Gujarat -- Geeta Johri, Shivanand Jha and Ashish Bhatia -- the team would include two retired IPS officers from outside the state -- ex-CBI chief R K Raghavan and former UP cadre IPS officer C V Satpathy.

The formal order constituting the team would be passed by the apex court on Wednesday when it would take up other connected issues related to the 2002 communal riots.

A bench of Justices Arijit Pasayat, P Sathasivam and Aftab Alam announced its intention to constitute the SIT after hearing amicus curiae Harish Salve and senior counsel for the Gujarat Government Mukul Rohtagi for over one hour on the petition filed by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) for transferring to the probe and trial outside Gujarat.

In 2003 the NHRC had filed the petition for transfer of the case and trial expressing fears that it would not be conducted in a fair and transparent manner due to the hostile environment encountered by the witnesses, most of whom had turned hostile due to alleged threats and inducements.

These cases mainly related to the gruesome killings of minorities in places like Godhra, Gulmerg Society, Naroda Gaon, Naroda Patya, Sardarpura, ODH and Deepla Darwaza.

Modi had faced a nation-wide flak after hundreds of Muslims were killed in the post-Godhra violence allegedly incited by his partymen.

The apex court had earlier transferred a riot case to Mumbai after witnesses turned hostile due to alleged threats.

Amicus curiae, Salve suggested that a probe can be conducted either by the CBI or a SIT comprising " officers of unimpeachable integrity", Gujarat Government counsel Mukul Rohtagi opposed the setting up of any outside agency to conduct the investigation.

He pleaded that since there were several officers of impeccable integrity the court or the amicus curiae can pick the officers for constituting the SIT.

Brushing aside Rohtagi's plea the apex court observed, "We want at least two officers who are from outside Gujarat."

At the bench's suggestion Rohtagi suggested a panel of three Gujarat IPS officers--Geeta Johri, Shivanand Jha and Ashish Bhatia. The apex court then said it was adding the names of R K Raghavan and C V Satpathy to constitute the five-member SIT.

Earlier during the hearing the Bench referring to complaints that police did not record statements of witnesses, asked Salve to suggest if there was any alternative remedy to a "witness" if his/her statement is refused to be recorded by the investigating officer.

Though Salve referred to Section 190 CrPC wherein, a person can approach a magistrate directly for recording a complaint, the apex court appeared not convinced with the suggestion.

The bench pointed out that it would be too preposterous to expect a witness to go to a magistrate himself and record his evidence after a police officer had refused to record the same.

The bench said it wanted to know whether there was any duties imposed on a police officer to record the statements of a witness when he/she comes forward voluntarily for deposition. (PTI)

Congress, rights activists welcome SC order

Ahmedabad: Opposition Congress and social activits on Tuesday welcomed the setting up of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) by the Supreme Court to re-investigate post-Godhra riot cases of 2002.

"We welcome the initiative of the Supreme Court to give justice to riot-affected people," Leader of the Opposition in the state assembly Shaktisinh Gohil said.

"The Supreme Court has given clear indication by ordering setting up of SITs that investigations carried out so far were not upto the mark", he said alleging "the state government has been discriminating in taking action against the accused of the 2002 riots based on their religion".

"We would not like to make political comments but the apex court had earlier criticised the state government for its handling of riots and even then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had told the state government to follow Rajdharma", he added.

Activist and advocate Mukul Sinha, who is representing riots victims in the Nanavati-Shah Commission, said "investigations in most of the riots cases was done in a manner to save main accused."

"But with this independent team further inquiring those cases, riot victims are hopeful that action will be taken against real culprits," Sinha, who runs a NGO Jan Sangarsh Manch, said. (PTI)

Bhajan Lal disqualified from assembly

Chandigarh: Two-time Haryana Chief Minister Bhajan Lal, who rebelled against the Congress, was on Tuesday disqualified from the State Assembly under the anti-defection law and his Adampur seat declared vacant.

The order of Speaker Raghubir Singh Kadian came on a petition filed against Lal seeking that he be disqualified as an MLA since he had voluntarily given up the membership of the Congress on whose ticket he was elected and had formed a new party along with his son and MP Kuldip Bishnoi.

The development came barely days after Lal's loyalist MLAs Dharam Pal Malik (Gohana) and Rakesh Kamboj (Indri) were disqualified from the membership of the House by the Speaker under the same law.

Delivering the order Kadian, who had reserved his judgment on the petition yesterday, said the 77-year-old legislator has been disqualified from the membership of Vidhan Sabha with immediate effect.

The petition was filed by Congress MLA Shadi Lal Batra on January 2 after Bishnoi announced floating of Haryana Janhit Congress at a rally in Rohtak on December 2. (PTI

Delhi Police’s ‘encounter’ specialist shot dead

New Delhi: Rajbir Singh, a controversial Delhi Police 'encounter' specialist with over 50 kills to his credit, was shot dead last night in neighbouring Gurgaon allegedly by a property dealer over a dispute on "investments" he had made with the realtor.

The 48-year-old Assistant Commissioner, whose career had its share of both glory and controversy, was gunned down at the office of the real estate agent, Vijay Bhardwaj after an altercation over payment of profit money in a property deal.

Singh was killed by his own gun given to Bhardwaj three days ago, Gurgaon Police Commissioner Mohinder Lal told a press conference. The controversial police officer, who was involved in the investigations in the terrorist attack on Parliament House and the Red Fort, would have taken precautions had he known that Bharadwaj had enmity with him and had "something in his mind", he said.

"He would not have given his revolver to a person had he known he would kill him," Lal said. Haryana Director General of Police Ranjiv Dalal said Singh, who enjoyed 'Z' category security, knew Bharadwaj well and was doing "all these shady things". (PTI)

Shahnaz seeks CBI probe into son’s death

Patna: Beautician Shahnaz Hussain on Tuesday met Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to seek a CBI probe into the death of her only son earlier this year after a fall from his in-law's apartment flat in "mysterious" circumstances. "My son was not suffering from depression and nor was he an alcoholic. He was a deeply religious person. I have requested the Chief Minister to entrust the case to the CBI," she told reporters after meeting Kumar. Sameer (34), the only son Of Shahnaz hussain, proprietor of a chain of beauty clinics across India and several countries, had died on January six this year after falling from the balcony of a third floor flat owned by his father-in-law Mahfooz Ahmed at Maqbool apartments on Exhibition Road. (PTI)

Kolkata-Dhaka train hits poll road-block

From Our Spl Correspondent

NEW DELHI: The much delayed Kolkata-Dhaka first passenger train service known as ‘Moitree Express’ symbolising improved relationship between India and Bangladesh has hit the election road block in West Bengal and could be delayed further.

Indian and Bangladesh authorities to tried to launch the Kolkata-Dhaka train service from April 14, that is the Baisakhi Day celebrated in both sides of the border. But the inaugural run may be deferred if a request by the West Bengal Government to postpone the much talked about train service is considered, reports said.

With the Panchayat elections in the State scheduled in May, the West Bengal government has requested that the train service not to be launched between seven April to 21st May, fearing that going ahead with the programme may violate the election code of conduct. The matter was discussed during an official meeting Railway Minister Lalu Prasad has already announced in Parliament that the ‘Moitree Express’ would run from 14th April, coinciding with ‘Pahela Baisakh’ the first day of the Bengali New Year. Bangladeshi Communication ministry officials, however, said the date would be announced officially after a supplementary deal between the railway officials of the two countries, expected to be signed during three-day bilateral talks in Dhaka from April one.

SHILLONG: The election to the lone Rajya Sabha seat from the State will be held on Wednesday. The term of the present Rajya Sabha MP Robert Kharshiing will end on April 12.

SHILLONG: The State Assembly on Tuesday passed 24 supplementary demands for grants to the tune of Rs 147.44 crore for various government departments.

House witnesses uproar over parliamentary secretaries
Ampareen not allowed to take part in discussion

SHILLONG: The third day of the Assembly session witnessed an uproar on Tuesday with both ruling and Opposition members debating whether parliamentary secretaries should take part in discussion in the House.

SHILLONG: Manager of a business enterprise at Rojgjeng market in East Garo Hills, who was kidnapped by LAEF militants recently, was released on Tuesday. Earlier, the militants kidnapped the manager, Devender Prajapati, as they could not find the owner of the establishment and left a demand note of Rs 1 crore.

SHILLONG: Bowing to public criticism, NEIGRIHMS has decided to scrap the contract given to a city-based agency for providing nurses to work in the health institute.

SHILLONG: Power Minister Conrad K Sangma on Tuesday said the report of the special committee, headed by Chief Secretary Ranjan Chatterjee, on the controversial power deals would go to the State Cabinet within one month and that only then could any decision be taken on the matter.

Shillong: The State Government has appointed eight parliamentary secretaries to assist Chief Minister Donkupar Roy and his Council of Ministers.

Shillong: Forty soldiers of the Assam Rifles were conferred with President's Police Medals and Governor's Police Medals for gallantry by Governor SS Sidhu at a glittering investiture ceremony at the Raj Bhavan here on Tuesday.

Shillong: The GSU Khasi Hills Zone has expressed concern over irregular attendance of school teachers in Government-aided Lower Primary Schools in rural areas, especially in the border villages, while threatening to file a PIL against the Education Department if the concerned authorities fail to take action within 15 days period against the absentee teachers.

JOWAI: With a view to create awareness among the people, the District Disaster Management Cells headed by the District administration organised a mock drill at Ialong village, near Jowai on Tuesday in which different stakeholders participated.

Shillong: Along with rest of the world, World TB Day was observed throughout the State on Wednesday on the theme 'Fighting tuberculosis is the responsibility of every citizen'.

We are so used to having politicians who have served three or more tenures that first timers are nearly always considered inexperienced, sassy greenhorns who have occupied the political space by default. The Congress camp can claim to have age and experience on its side. But during the past five years neither political sagacity nor experience was visible. Political experience should translate into governance but the latter does not happen in a vacuum. It requires people's participation. The problem with Meghalaya is that people have always been treated as beneficiaries and the governments as a dispenser of patronage.

The question is whether the MP A can move away from this beaten track. This coalition comprises young, energetic legislators, many of them first timers. That age alone is no good indicator of a person's capabilities has been amply proved by the parliamentary secretaries who have dared to break new grounds. They do not merely want to be seen but also to be heard in the House. Predictably the senior legislators objected. Whether a parliamentary secretary can take part in a cut motion has now become the sine qua non of this Assembly session. A precedence has been created which will redefine the role of parliamentary secretaries in Meghalaya.

After a very long time there was mention of collective responsibility in the Government. This came from an experienced legislator and former parliamentarian PA Sangma while defending the parliamentary secretary who took part in the cut motion. Collective responsibility had almost vanished from the government vocabulary. Ministers are known to act as individuals and later pushing their cabinet colleagues to endorse their actions. That was how the power deals in Meghalaya went through.

Younger legislators are quick on the uptake. Quite a few are senior professionals in their chosen fields. They have had national and international exposure and have been schooled in a better more diversified educational system. They would, one suspect, have no patience for filibustering and dilly dally. They might also perhaps have a longer attention span than many of their elderly colleagues. But that is not to say that experience is old hat that can be discarded. There is much that the younger legislators can imbibe and learn o from their senior colleagues in the opposition and treasury benches.

All political parties promise good governance. This phrase can have several interpretations. It now depends on the ruling coalition to come to a definite understanding of what constitutes good governance. The MP A has a fresh young Finance Minister who would have to craft out a meaningful budget for the next two years. This is where the real test of youth energy versus age and experience will play out. The people of Meghalaya are in for exciting times at least in the political domain.

Guwahati: Three persons including two Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) employees were killed when suspected militants belonging to Dima Halam Daogah (Jewel Garlosa) or Black Widow hurled grenade at Harangajao railway station in insurgency-hit North Cachar Hills district of Assam late on Monday night.

Guwahati: The Joint Adivasi Action Committee (JAAC) has decided to intensify its stir to demand protection of Adivasis residing in the eastern and north eastern states.

Kokrajhar: An NDFB militant was beaten to death by a mob while another managed to escape on Tuesday near Manas National Park in Assam's Chirang district, official sources said here. The two militants had gone to Bansbari on Barpeta Road to extort money from contractors who were engaged for construction of a PWD road. As they fired in the air, local people grabbed them and beat them up critically injuring a militant. (PTI)

Guwahati: Congress MLA Bolin Chetia on Tuesday alleged in the Assam Assembly that Army personnel residing in areas bordering Nagaland had illegally occupied land creating problems for local villagers.

Mangaldoi: One 2.5 kg Programmable Time Devise (PTD), planted by ULFA in a market area here, was recovered on Tuesday. Police said the bomb was concealed in a bag which was detected near the Koirabari bus stand at 6.45 pm. (PTI)