Sikkim: Government ban on sale of inorganic vegetables leads to shortage, price rise and opposition uproar
The Sikkim government imposed a ban on the sale of all inorganic vegetables in the state on April 1, leading to a shortage of vegetables.
The ban has also led to a surge in the prices. Compared to inorganic vegetables, the organic ones have a price difference of Rs 10 to 60 approximately per kg, forcing consumers to spend more on their weekly stock.
Chief minister Pawan Kumar Chamling told reporters that the ban had been brought in not only in accordance with the state turning 100% organic in 2016 but also to make Sikkim self-sufficient in vegetable production.
In 2017, in response to a question in the assembly, the government said while the state, with a population of roughly about eight lakhs, required 1.2 lakh metric tonnes of vegetables annually, it produced only 80,000 metric tonnes. The shortfall has been met from neighbouring Siliguri area of West Bengal. However, supply from outside Sikkim has been barred since the ban, leading to a huge shortage of vegetables in the state, which is largely dependent on tourism.
Local news reports said the government gave time till April 3 to the wholesalers and vendors to clear their existing stock of inorganic vegetables and thereafter began strict checking through its horticulture department, particularly in the Lalbazar area of the state capital Gangtok. Reports about throwing away tonnes of vegetables for not meeting the standards have been coming from the city, triggering anger among local traders. Though the state government has been procuring organic vegetables from various villages into the urban areas, it has not been able to meet the gamut of shortfall.
The acute shortage led the state government to rethink its order a week later and lift the ban on inorganic carrots, tomatoes and green chillies.
Representative image. Credit: Reuters/Danish Siddiqui
In 2016, when the state was declared fully organic, about 75,000 hectares of cultivable land was certified as organic. However, not all of the certified land produces vegetables. Another factor hampering optimum production of the crops sown on the certified land has been the inadequate supply of organic manure to the farmers. As per a survey conducted by Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment in four districts of the state in 2017, though some crops had developed fungal diseases affecting production, the government didn’t offer any solution to the growers.
In 2003, when the state took the first step towards turning organic, it decided to cut government subsidy on chemical pesticides by 10% every year and in 2014 it not only banned pesticides but also made its use punishable by law.
The present ban has come at a time when Sikkim is experiencing the annual dry season.
Accusing the state government of shoddy execution of the ban – without taking into account the state’s ability to meet the consumer demand and also the ongoing dry season – the opposition parties have sought a rollback of the order.
However, in a press statement issued on April 7, the ruling Sikkim Democratic Front refused to budge from the decision, stating: “Sikkim must be made self-reliant in vegetable sector. Our farmers must be able to fulfil the vegetable demand of the markets in the state. Money flowing outside the state must go to our farmers. The opposition parties are making needless clamour over this progressive and revolutionary decision of the state government.”
Chamling said, “Sikkim is an organic state, not found elsewhere. Our prime minister tours the world and speaks about Organic Sikkim. He is giving us huge support. Here, just two-three people oppose it. Irresponsible politicians also oppose it.”
Mizoram: Construction of road to complete the Kaladan project begins
The 484-million-dollar Kaladan Multimodal project, which will give India access to Myanmar’s Sittwe Port in the Rakhine State, is likely to become operational finally, with the road project to link Paletwa river terminal in Chin State to Mizoram taking off after two years of delay.
Work has reportedly begun from the Paletwa end after the Myanmar government gave the Delhi-based C&C Constructions the required clearances. The construction firm had won the Rs 1600-crore contract in June 2017 to build a 109-km long road linking the Paletwa terminal with Zorinpui, the last village of Mizoram bordering Myanmar. The project also included construction of a 90-km stretch between Zorinoui and the Aizawl-Saiha national highway and also widening of the 300-km long highway from Zorinpui to Aizawl from two to four lanes.
However, the road project got delayed for two years due to various reasons both on the Indian and Myanmar side. While the Myanmar government took time in giving the clearances due to the armed conflict in the Chin areas between the separatist forces and its army (it led many Chin refugees to seek refuge in Mizoram recently), the Mizoram stretch hit a roadblock due to opposition from the landowners’ association overcompensation in lieu of the land acquired for it.
Workers at the Sittwe Port. Credit: Reuters/Damir Sagolj
While the issue is yet to be resolved in Mizoram, the Myanmar government has reportedly given the construction firm the go-ahead to begin work.
India has already finished construction of the project on the Myanmar side, including building the Sittwe Port on River Lakadan and a river terminal at Paletwa besides dredging the Kaladan River for easy navigation of vessels. Once the road link is completed, the Northeast would be linked to Paletwa, which is also less than 20 km from Bangladesh. With the Kaladan project operational, Aizawl is hoped to become a trade hub between India and ASEAN countries.
According to a report in The Mizoram Post on April 19 quoting government sources, the road project is likely to be completed by 2019. However, meeting the deadline seemed highly unlikely, given the tough terrain and weather conditions of the region. The news report said, “The Union Ministry of Highways in a recent media release said that the highway project between Lawngtlai and the last Mizoram village of Zorinpui was the most ambitious and difficult road project undertaken in North East India in decades.”
Meghalaya: House of Shillong Times editor attacked; state government provides security
The house of the editor of Meghalaya’s oldest English daily, The Shillong Times, was attacked with a petrol bomb on April 17. According to local news reports, around 8:35 pm, the bomb was hurled by two unidentified motorcycle-borne persons towards the first-floor bedroom of the editor Patricia Mukhim.
Though Mukhim was present in the room, she escaped unhurt.
Calling for the arrest of those involved in the incident at her house in Shillong’s Umpling area, Mukhim wrote on Facebook, “I heard the explosion and saw the flames rising. It’s a terrible feeling.” The fire was doused with the help of sand lying in her yard.
East Khasi Hills district SP Davis Marak, who visited the house soon after the attack, told reporters that a case had been filed and an investigation was on. No arrest has been made so far.
The damage caused by the bomb. Credit: Patricia Mukhim/Facebook
On April 19, the state government provided two armed guards to Mukhim for her security. State home minister James K. Sangma told reporters that police patrolling near the area had been ordered in the Umpling area to ensure a sense of better security to the residents.
Soon after the attack, the Shillong Press Club issued a statement condemning the attack. On April 19, journalists took out a silent march from the club premises to the Raj Bhavan Secretariat in Shillong to protest the incident and other acts of aggression against the press. In a statement, the National Alliance of Journalists issued a statement condemning a number of incidents against women journalists including the attack on Mukhim’s house.
Man united with family after 40 years
A 66-year-old man from Imphal, estranged from his family 40 years ago, returned home from Mumbai after a neighbour spotted him in a YouTube video and alerted his family.
Khomdram Gambhir Singh from Khumbang Mamang Leikai in Imphal West district left home in a huff after an altercation with his brothers just three months after his marriage at the age of 26. He thereafter reached Mumbai and began living on the streets as a beggar.
Recently, Gambhir Singh was spotted on YouTube doing what he always loved to do – singing old Bollywood songs – in a video shot on a Mumbai street by photographer Firoze Shakir. In the video, posted in October 2017, he identified himself as Gambhir Singh from Imphal.
According to media reports, Gambhir was a rifleman in the army but left his job to till the family land following his father’s death. He left home without informing his family after a misunderstanding among the brothers. “All that led Gambhir to become a hardcore alcoholic,” Shakir told reporters.
After a neighbour showed his family the video, one of his brothers went to the Patsoi police station seeking help to bring him home. Meanwhile, a political activist from the state, Angellica Aribam, posted a photo of Gambhir Singh on Twitter and sought the help of Mumbai Police to trace him. The video soon went viral on social media.
On being traced, a police team travelled to Mumbai to bring him to Imphal this past week. A large number of people besides his immediate family and media persons received him with garlands and placards at the Imphal airport. Some of the placards thanked YouTube, WhatsApp for helping him reunite with his family.