The failure of the local administration either to demarcate the boundary of the archaeological sites or to free the sites from encroachment have made things complicated for the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) in the NE region. Morever, some of the sites and items of the region notified earlier and supposed to be protected by the agency, are now traceless. Disclosing this, sources in the ASI told this newspaper that the Lohit River has also obliterated the remains of a copper temple in Lohit District of Arunachal Pradesh. The location of the copper temple was close to Sadiya in Assam. The British rulers protected the remains of this temple through a notification in 1910 AD.
A similar problem is faced by the ASI in the case of the gun (canon) of Sher Shah that was notified by the British rulers as a protected archaeological item in Tinsukia District of Assam in 1925. But the gun is yet to be located, said the sources.
Citing the example of the failure of the authorities to demarcate the boundaries of the archaeological sites and the problems arising out of that, sources said that in the Suryapahar archaeological site this has kept the boundary dispute of the ASI with a local committee on. The local committee is organising religious functions at the site.
The sites at Natyang near Shillong in Meghalaya, a similar dispute with a local group is there. The site is archaeologically important for its containing a group of megaliths. But the local group is organising weekly haats (fairs) within the limits of protected area.
In Tripura’s Agartala, encroachment in the areas around the monuments, which are regulated and prohibited ones, has also been creating problems for the ASI in matters related to the beautification of the sites. The situation is such that a Shiva temple has been built within the boundary of a protected site, said the sources.
In Nagaland, there are problems in executing the conservation and preservation works due to the lack of support from the local people. The ASI has four nationally protected sites and monuments, including the Dimapur remains of a fort, said the sources.
Distance and poor surface communication facilities is also posing problems for the ASI in preserving the sites. In Arunachal Pradesh, the Central Government agency is facing problems from such factors in respect of two nationally important archaeological sites – Bhismaknagar in Dibang Valley District and Bhalukpung in West Kameng District, the sources said.
Sikkim: Nature's own garden
Nestled in the lap of the mighty Himalayas is Sik-kim, a land blessed by mount Khangchendzonga, the third highest mountain peak in the world (8,595 m). Sikkim is a biodiversity hotspot exhibiting diverse forms of flora and fauna having approximately 4,500 species of flowering plants. The fascinating number of orchids approx., with over 450 species, 36 rhododendrons and more than 360 ferns and allies in addition to large number of other species is a testimony to Sikkim's floral wealth.
The present floriculture area is about 118 ha with total cut flower production of about 6 million and 3.5 million numbers planting materials. Gladiolus is a highly popular flower being under cultivation for more than six decades. The most important flower of this state is cymbidium orchid. The present cut flower figures of cymbidium is just half a million but is predicted to shoot up within a year or two as more and more areas are coming under cymbidium production. Another important flower is lillium which is grown for cut flowers and bulb production. Because of comparatively lesser investment required, this flower is being popularized amongst small and marginal farmers. The current lillium cut flower figures hinges at 1.5 million. In addition to these, the popularity of others like Anthurium, Alosremeria, Zant edeschia, tropical orchids, flowering pot plants and foliage ornamentals is ever soaring. Sikkim is declared as the Agri Export Zone for flowers which has immensely boosted the development of floriculture making it stand on the threshold of export market.
Sikkim is marching towards organic farming. The state envisages becoming an organic state and to achieve this, a number of initiatives have been launched. Prohibiting the use of chemical fertilizers and other chemicals while concurrently promoting usage ofbio-pesticides, adopting of biovillags as pilot areas and organic certification protocols are some of the note worthy initiatives.
Organic alternatives like vermicompost, rural compost, compostr, rock phosphate, dolomite, neem cake, bone meal etc have started to gain popularity. The practice of green manuring, biodynamics system and other traditional practices that were slowly forgotten have begun to resurge with more stress on sustainable alternatives.
Sikkim is indeed a very peaceful state in the country. The hallmark of the state is the harmonious co-existence of multilingual communities. The state hosted the International Flori show from 14 to 16 March'2008. We the M. Sc students of Horticulture, SASRD visited under the guidance of our course incharge, Rokolhou, as part of our course curriculum. It is indeed wonderful and encouraging experience and that even such a small hilly state too could emerge as an important Floriculture hub in the country, then I surely believe that our state too can become one of the most important Floriculture hub for exporting flowers at national and international level. A state gifted naturally with diverse agroclimatic and varied topographic conditions, which cannot deny that our state produces best quality Anthurium and Rose flower in the country.
A similar problem is faced by the ASI in the case of the gun (canon) of Sher Shah that was notified by the British rulers as a protected archaeological item in Tinsukia District of Assam in 1925. But the gun is yet to be located, said the sources.
Citing the example of the failure of the authorities to demarcate the boundaries of the archaeological sites and the problems arising out of that, sources said that in the Suryapahar archaeological site this has kept the boundary dispute of the ASI with a local committee on. The local committee is organising religious functions at the site.
The sites at Natyang near Shillong in Meghalaya, a similar dispute with a local group is there. The site is archaeologically important for its containing a group of megaliths. But the local group is organising weekly haats (fairs) within the limits of protected area.
In Tripura’s Agartala, encroachment in the areas around the monuments, which are regulated and prohibited ones, has also been creating problems for the ASI in matters related to the beautification of the sites. The situation is such that a Shiva temple has been built within the boundary of a protected site, said the sources.
In Nagaland, there are problems in executing the conservation and preservation works due to the lack of support from the local people. The ASI has four nationally protected sites and monuments, including the Dimapur remains of a fort, said the sources.
Distance and poor surface communication facilities is also posing problems for the ASI in preserving the sites. In Arunachal Pradesh, the Central Government agency is facing problems from such factors in respect of two nationally important archaeological sites – Bhismaknagar in Dibang Valley District and Bhalukpung in West Kameng District, the sources said.
Sikkim: Nature's own garden
Nestled in the lap of the mighty Himalayas is Sik-kim, a land blessed by mount Khangchendzonga, the third highest mountain peak in the world (8,595 m). Sikkim is a biodiversity hotspot exhibiting diverse forms of flora and fauna having approximately 4,500 species of flowering plants. The fascinating number of orchids approx., with over 450 species, 36 rhododendrons and more than 360 ferns and allies in addition to large number of other species is a testimony to Sikkim's floral wealth.
The present floriculture area is about 118 ha with total cut flower production of about 6 million and 3.5 million numbers planting materials. Gladiolus is a highly popular flower being under cultivation for more than six decades. The most important flower of this state is cymbidium orchid. The present cut flower figures of cymbidium is just half a million but is predicted to shoot up within a year or two as more and more areas are coming under cymbidium production. Another important flower is lillium which is grown for cut flowers and bulb production. Because of comparatively lesser investment required, this flower is being popularized amongst small and marginal farmers. The current lillium cut flower figures hinges at 1.5 million. In addition to these, the popularity of others like Anthurium, Alosremeria, Zant edeschia, tropical orchids, flowering pot plants and foliage ornamentals is ever soaring. Sikkim is declared as the Agri Export Zone for flowers which has immensely boosted the development of floriculture making it stand on the threshold of export market.
Sikkim is marching towards organic farming. The state envisages becoming an organic state and to achieve this, a number of initiatives have been launched. Prohibiting the use of chemical fertilizers and other chemicals while concurrently promoting usage ofbio-pesticides, adopting of biovillags as pilot areas and organic certification protocols are some of the note worthy initiatives.
Organic alternatives like vermicompost, rural compost, compostr, rock phosphate, dolomite, neem cake, bone meal etc have started to gain popularity. The practice of green manuring, biodynamics system and other traditional practices that were slowly forgotten have begun to resurge with more stress on sustainable alternatives.
Sikkim is indeed a very peaceful state in the country. The hallmark of the state is the harmonious co-existence of multilingual communities. The state hosted the International Flori show from 14 to 16 March'2008. We the M. Sc students of Horticulture, SASRD visited under the guidance of our course incharge, Rokolhou, as part of our course curriculum. It is indeed wonderful and encouraging experience and that even such a small hilly state too could emerge as an important Floriculture hub in the country, then I surely believe that our state too can become one of the most important Floriculture hub for exporting flowers at national and international level. A state gifted naturally with diverse agroclimatic and varied topographic conditions, which cannot deny that our state produces best quality Anthurium and Rose flower in the country.
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