In the right place

Surveyor General of India, Lt Gen Girish Kumar has said that border pillar no 81 is in the right position, according to a report in the Imphal Free Press.

A Central team comprising senior officials of the ministries of home affairs, external affairs and Surveyor General of India conducted verification of the Indo-Myanmar border pillar no 81, which is marred by controversy over its location. The team consisting of Kumar, Sripriya Ranganathan, joint secretary (border management)/external affairs ministry, and, AV Dharma Reddy, joint secretary (North-east)/home ministry, arrived in Imphal last week.

During their visit the Central team interacted with the locals of Kwatha Khunou, representatives of political parties and members of civil voluntary organisations of Manipur. After inspecting the border pillar, the team tried to leave the area. However, they were made to walk beyond the main border (no 81) after stakeholders and locals insisted they visit the sub-pillars, which are beyond the Namjetlok river.

Kumar said that based on the records with the Survey of India, the position of the border pillar is in the right place. The border is where it should be as per the agreement signed between India and Myanmar in 1967, he added. “However, with villagers insisting that as per traditional boundary, the border pillar has been shifted, we will look into it”, said Kumar.

The United Committee Manipur, however, expressed their disappointment over the verification conducted by the central team. “We feel that the verification conducted by the team today is incomplete and not satisfactory. How can one verify whether the location of the border pillar is right or wrong without using any type of equipment”, said president of UCM, Sunil Karam.

Congress spokesperson, Hareshwor Goswami said that as per the 1967 agreement the pillar has to be erected beyond the bank of Namjetlok river.

Still fighting at 50

Government High School Longchem, said to be the oldest in Japukong Range, will be celebrating its golden jubilee but has no proper wall or floor since it was established, says a report in the Dimapur-based Nagland Post. This was disclosed in a press statement by Longchem Ad hoc Town Committee vice-chairman, A Panger Longchar, in an open letter addressed to principal director, school education.

According to LATC, the high school has remained neglected by the department for so long but despite it all, the school has managed to excel in the HSLC examinations. LATC pointed out during the last 50 years there were ups and downs in exam results but the school achieved a pass percentage of 100 in the 2016-17 and 2017-18 HSLC exams with some students securing distinctions in English and social science.

As compared with other schools, LATC said it also lacked adequate teaching staff as the only mathematics teacher was transferred in December 2017 with no replacement yet. The committee has, therefore, appealed to the principal director of school education to look into matters raised and take necessary action.

Road collapse

The road connecting Itanagar and Naharlagun near hotel Sango collapsed completely last Wednesday at around 5.30 am due to heavy rainfall, hampering regular traffic movement, says a report in the Itanagar-based Arunachal Times. Currently, traffic movement has been diverted through the Jullang road till the road is restored.

“Excavators and other heavy machineries have been pressed into action to restore the road at the earliest. A new road has to be cut out at this point and it could take some time. We are also in constant touch with all technical departments, including the PWD”, DDMO Moromi Sonam said.