Arunachal Pradesh faces power crisis; Rabha National Liberation Front (RNLF) ultras arrested; Myanmar delegation in Manipur; President to visit North-East states; Diversion of Brahmaputra a common concern for both North-East and Bangladesh; Commission pro
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    • According to reports, Arunachal Pradesh, often described as the future powerhouse of the country with an estimated 58,000 MW hydro power generation potential, has been facing an acute power crisis for the past two and a half months. With the sources of rivers rapidly drying up directly impacting generation in the entire North East, Arunachal Pradesh is also suffering from a supply shortfall. The situation has been compounded by a large number of fires being reported in the State this year, forcing consumers, particularly students, to reach for conventional energy sources like kerosene and candles. 1

    In another development, according to reports, Police on April 3 arrested seven persons from two different parts of the State, which include five cadres of Rabha National Liberation Front (RNLF) and two arms dealers of Meghalaya. According to the Inspector General of Police (Law and Order) LR Bishnoi all the five arrested were cadres of RNLF and were heading towards Assam-Meghalaya border in Byrnihaat to procure arms for the outfit. 2

    According to reports, even as the entire North East continue to reel under power crisis, an 11- member Myanmar delegation led by Saigang division’s Power Minister U Kyaw Win called on Manipur Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh and discussed the proposal of buying electricity from Manipur. The Myanmar delegation was on a five-day visit to Manipur to seek help in purchasing electricity for the power- starved Tamu township innorth-western Myanmar’s Saigang division bordering Manipur’s border town Moreh, 110 km south of Imphal. Besides, the team aims to strenghten the existing bi-lateral relationship between India and Myanmar. 3

    Reports noted that President Pranab Mukherjee will visit the northeastern States in April and May. From April 15 to 17, the president will be visiting Manipur and Sikkim in the first phase of his tour. In the second phase, the President will visit Assam, Nagaland and Tripura from May 13 to 16. 4

    According to reports, Arunachal Pradesh and Bangladesh have discussed several measures for better management of the Brahmaputra river for mutual benefit. Arunachal Pradesh Water Resources Development Minister Newlai Tingkhatra during a meeting at Itanagar on April 5 with visiting Bangladesh High Commissioner to India Tariq A Khan discussed ways to tackle the problem of siltation through river dredging and building embankments so that proper water depth was developed for inland water transportation. Khan advocated an integrated and holistic management of the flood problem in Arunachal Pradesh as well as the Brahmaputra basin. He also said that Bangladesh was equally concerned and apprehensive over diversion of Brahmaputra’s water in China. 5

    In other developments, reports noted that the Supreme Court appointed Commission probing six cases of alleged extra-judicial killings in Manipur has informed the apex court that these cases were not genuine encounters and all the six victims did not have any criminal records. A division bench of the apex court comprising Justices Aftab Alam and Ranjana Prakash Desai examined the panel’s report. The Commission, comprising of former Supreme Court judge Santosh Hegde, ex-Chief Election Commissioner JM Lyngdoh and former Karnataka DGP Ajay Kumar, had its proceedings from March 3- 7 last in Imphal and later continued in New Delhi from March 13-21. 6

    According to reports, the Board of Investment, Government of Thailand, has expressed keen interest on investment in the North East in general and Nagaland in particular. A delegation of high ranking officials of Thailand visited Kohima and had detailed consultations with State Government officials led by Development Commissioner HK Khulu, Commissioner & Secretary Industries & Commerce Thangi Mannen to explore possible areas of investment and cooperation in Nagaland. The broad areas of interest indicated were agro-processing, infrastructure (building) hotels, tourism, etc. The delegation informed that the Government of Thailand has taken a policy decision to make/facilitate investments outside Thailand in various identified countries including India. 7

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