From: Takhe Tayo
Date: 

FACT AND FAILURE AT TALLEY VALLEY.

By Nani Ribia

Friends, we all know that Talley Valley is a beautiful place which we all are proud of and it is our duty bound to preserved it through our individual effort and contribution for developing the area for the welfare of the community of the concern clans and families of the area and all Tanii brethren in general. Through this fb, I would like to present and inform the fb user to know about the Talley Valley and its planning initiated for the development of the valley after general election, 2004.

As you all know,Talley Valley is a reserved forest. Notification was issued in the year, 1976 by Shri F.S. Thangam,CCF & Secretary Forest. Its area coverage is approx 178.875 Sq.km. The wild life sanctuary was declared in the year, 1995. The notification was issued by Shri G.P. Sukla,CCF & secretary Forest. Its area coverage is approx 337 sq.km.

Talley Valley is located at 30 km away from Ziro, the district HQ of Lower Subansiri District, Arunachal Pradesh. It is connected by jeep able road and remained blocked at several points due to lack of maintenance works. The altitude of the valley is 2700 mtrs from the MSL. Valley falls under snow fall zone. The climatic condition of the Talley Valley is temperate. The Talley Valley is literally named after variety of wild onions found in the area unsurpassed of natural beauty. The Talley Valley was originally selected for settlement by our forefather but latter it was shifted to present Ziro valley, may be due to extreme climatic condition for human habitations. It is bounded by Assam and Dulumukh on the north east and hills of Boa-Simla and Gensi area at the North West direction.

The government of Arunachal Pradesh has tried to resettle the following villagers at Talley Valley during the year, 1975 at the initiative of Lt. JM Syiem, the then DC, Ziro and Er. T Norbu, the then AE (RWD) and present HMLA and Hon'ble Parliamentary Secretary, PWD. At beginning they were provided incentives like Rs.500/- to each family and 2 kg of rice every day per family members. Prior to 1984, 33 family members tried to settle at Talley Valley with the govt. assistance. The members were:

1. Sri Dimper Jarbo Hija village 5 family members

2. Shri Koj Taker Dutta village 4 -do-

3. Shri Tadu Tallang M/Tage vill 4 -do-

4. Shri Buru Ambo -do- 5 -do-

5. Shri Narang Tago Hari vill 3 -do-

6. Shri Gyati Tabin -do- 4 -do-

7. Shri Nada Tallang Hija vill 4 -do-

8. Shri Hage Chobin Hari vill 4 -do-

The settlers constructed eight numbers of dwelling houses and developed garden cultivation with Govt. assistance. Their performances were good. But the settlers had to leave Talley Valley during the year 1984 after completion of ten years due to lack of proper communication, medical facilities and other reasons. The Govt. of Arunachal Pradesh also deputed from the Department of Agriculture to assist the settlers. Those officials were:

1. Shri Hage Hailyang, VLW Sr.

2. Shri D. Debnath, VLW Sr.

3. Shri N. K. Boroi, VLW Sr.

4. Shri M.P. Deori, VLW Jr.

5. Shri B.B Tamang, Gardener

6. Shri Biren Gurung, Gardener

7. Shri Bamin Taw, Gardener

8. Shri Dimper Tago, Labour

9. Shri Bullo Elyu, Labour

10. Shri Mudang Tayo, Labour

11. Shri Nada Hinda, Labour

12. Shri Hage Akha Kago, Gardener

13. Shri Hage Kojee, Gardener

Earlier, agriculture department had constructed 5(Five) numbers of OBT buildings and posted above officials for supervision and technical support and carry out research and trial cultivation on crops that could be grown at Talley Valley. As such 18 acres (Approx) of land was developed by the settlers through agricultural department. Vegetables like potato, cabbage, turnip, knolkhol, radish, Chinese cabbage and pulses like pea, beans, were successfully tried and grown. Trial on different varieties of cereals like Maize, Paddy and Millet were also being conducted but could not bring any desired results. That could be due to low temperature and other imbalance nutrient composition of soil and lack of optimum requirement of photoperiod etc. Fruit cultivation was not successful either.

These failures of cultivation should have been avoided by administration through encouragement and mobilization of the villagers to settle at Talley Valley. Road communication between Talley Valley and Ziro should have been improved. For the settlers medical and school facility should have been arranged. Further Research Officer along with sufficient staff and equipments should have been posted at Talley Valley for research work on agricultural crops. Summer potato seeds farms should have been established at Talley Valley.

Talley Valley being the identified area with a potential for eco-tourism and many development activity related to biodiversity and economy based on forest as well an ideal location for a hill station, the stake holders felt it an immediate need for creation of a Board called talley Valley development Board (TVDB) and the suggested modalities for early development of the Valley.

In this direction a meeting was convened on 5th August 1991 under the Chairmanship of Hon'ble Chief Minister, Shri Gegong Apang to discuss the development of Talley Valley. The compositions of member were:

1. Minister in-charge of Planning and Finance

2. Chief Secretary

3. Development Commissioner

4. Commissioner PWD

5. Principal CCF (represented by Shri G.P Shukla, CCF (P&D)

6. Chief Engineer Zone I

7. Chief Engineer Zone II

8. Chief Engineer RWD

Er. C. Rama Rao, former, Director General of Works, CPWD was the advisor to the Board. In the meeting Hon'ble Chief Minister informed the members that he surveyed the area on the ground and was fully acquainted with the potential of the place and affirmed that Talley Valley was ideal and topographically suited for development as a hill station and tourist spot. Er. C. Rama Rao, advisor explained that the development of Talley Valley could be done as in the case of Katmandu and Gulmarg. Others Members also explained that attempts were made to re settle the families who left and cultivation could be restarted. On the suggestion of Hon'ble Minister, Finance and Planning it was decided that Talley Valley Development Authority will be formed which shall be the executing agency for Talley Valley Development Board. Shri A.H.K. Gauri, Special Secretary, Finance was entrusted with the responsibility of preparing the Memorandum of Association and related documents for setting up of the Talley Valley Development Authority. Thus, Talley Valley Development Board (TVDB) came in to being.

Second Meeting of theTVDB

With this objective in mind the Board met for the second time on 22nd October 1992 under the Chairmanship of Hon'ble Chief Minister Shri Gegong Apang which was attented by following:

1. Shri Neelam Taram, Hon'ble Minister (Home)

2 Shri Takap Ringu, Chief Secretary.

3. Shri T. Dai, Development Commissioner.

4. Shri S. Ragunatha, Commissioner (Home/Tourism)

5. Shri C. Rama Rao, Former DG, Works, CPWD and Advisor to TVDB.

6. Shri Tabam Bam, Secretary (Planning)

7. Shri Anila Khrime, Secretary (Agriculture)

8. Shri J.K Mehta, PCCF

9. Shri T. Norbu, CE Zone-II

10. Shri B. Megu, CE Zone-I

11. Shri Naresh Kumar, DC, Ziro

12. Shri T. Bagra, SE (RWD)

Each members of the Board suggested the following points:

a) Road should be developed and constructed for easy access.

b) Ground work for obtaining the forest clearance from the Govt. of India should be started. Master plan if any should be given to Forest Department as large numbers of rare species of medicinal plants were found growing in wild. Felling and disposal of mature trees and give clearance up to 25 hectare by the Forest department should also be examined by the TVDB.

c) Residence of the people should be regulated so as not to disturb the ongoing Talley Valley project.

d) Perennial water source should be located, preserved, protected and stored to form a lake for fishing and boating.

e) Installation of small hydro project in the proximity be investigated along with the cost inclusive of the overhead transmission and distribution.

f) Development/maintenance of the existing road to Talley Valley can be entrusted to the Forest Department.

g) The project could be also in the nature of tourism complex. Hence fund could be obtained from the multinational agency working in this field through good offices of the Ministry of Tourism. In this aspect it was suggested that Shri Madhav Rao Scindia, Union Minister for Tourism could be invited for an aerial visit of the Valley and actually understand the potentiality of the proposed project.

h) As the project is sought to be developed as Tourist attraction, the Tourism Department may act as nodal department for the same and Secretary in-charge of Tourism should appropriately be in over all charge of the project.

Shri Rama Rao informed the house that preliminary plan of the project has already been prepared. The project area is about 40 sq km at an altitude of about 8000 ft. It was 30 km from Ziro. Creation of Storage Lake of 2 km exists in the project plan. Bamboo available in abundance could be used as reinforcement. Further he informed that the project report for 1.5 MW Hydel installation has been prepared but without transmission and distribution part. The cost estimated was 3.5 crores. After suggestion threadbare discussion were made and finally following recommendation were made.

1. The project would be developed as Forest-based Tourism Complex where supporting activity from other department like Horticulture, Agriculture, Fishery, Power, etc can also be integrated.

2. Tourism Department will be the Nodal Agency for the project.

3. Shri Rama Rao, Advisor, TVDB in association with Commissioner (Home/Tourism) will prepare the project report and other required papers/documents for presentation to the Ministry of Tourism to tie up funding arrangement for the Project with the Ministry or any International Agency.

4. The Forest Department will immediately start marking matured trees in the project site.

5. The Board will meet quarterly to monitor and review of the project implementation.

After the formation of TVDB and its successful first and second meeting it was expected that a follow up action by the incumbent leaders from Ziro to keep apprise of the development at the Govt. level and impress upon for early action on the development of the project at Talley Valley. Since 1992 more than a decade passed no initiative was done. It is unfortunate on the part of those incumbent leaders from Ziro who were responsible has not done anything to keep the wheel on development of Talley Valley rolling. I, on my own capacity appealed all leaders and Govt. agency to take up the matter at the earliest.

Since the second meeting of the Board on 22nd October 1992 it was long that any progress or activities that had taken place. Therefore, as a concern citizen for the development of the Valley for the interest of people of Arunachal in general and Tanii in particular, I initiated for revival of TVDB. I had raised a question in the first session of the fourth Legislative Assembly for revival of the TVDB in the floor of the house. While doing this on 6th August 2005 I submitted an UO note to Hon'ble Chief Minister for the same & he immediately responded to my plea and instructed the concerned department for early action. Thus through my initiative the board was revived.

In consequent to my plea a notification to this effect was issued vide No. PD(P)-12/2005, dated 25/09/05 by Chief Secretary regarding reconstitution of the Talley Valley Development Board with the following members:

a) Hon'ble Chief Minister – Chairman

b) Hon'ble Minister (Planning)- Vice Chairman

c) Hon'ble MLA, 17-Ziro- Hapoli A/C- Member

d) Chief Secretay- Member

e) Principal Secretary (Planning & Finance)- Member

f) Commissioner (PWD)- Member

g) Commissioner (Health & UD etc)- Member

h) Commissioner (State Transport etc)- Member

i) PCCF & Secretary (Forest)- Member

j) Secretary (Agriculture)- Member

k) Secretary (Horticulture)- Member

l) Secretary (Fisheries)- Member

m) Secretary (Power)- Member

n) Secretary (Tourism)- Member Secretary

Objectives of the Board:

1.Evolvement of long term development programme with a multipronged approach and strategy to develop Talley Valley in to a forest based hill station with special emphasis on infrastructure development and integrated development of agricultural, horticultural, fisheries,power and medicinal plants, etc compatible ecologicaland social specilities of the valley.

2. Ecological preservation and conservation of rich genetic bio-diversity and eco development of the valley.

3. Oversee and supervise the implementation of development programme in the valley periodically.

4. The tourism deparment shall be nodald deparment and draw up action plane in consultation with forest department.The tourism department also maintain both vertical and horizontal with the concern departments for implementation of the plan/programme under the aegis of the Talley Valley Development Board. Further, the Member Secretary of the Board shall be responsible for conveying the meeting on half yearly basis and maintain the records of the proceedings.

Third Meeting of TVDB:

In consequent with the notification, and after a gap of more than a decade, third meeting of TVDB was convened on 3rd October 2005 at the residence of Hon'ble Chief Minister. At the outset HCM Shri Gegong Apang narrated few lines about Talley Valley and also informed how the idea of formation of TVDB came into existence which he had conceived himself. He also spoke of how Agricultural Department had taken up cultivation of cash crops such as potato and maize on a trial basis. He said that once valley developed into a satellite township it would be as beautiful as any other hill station in the world. Further, he recalled his experience about the community participation in the scientific management of forest and its resources at West Virginia, USA and opined that Talley Valley can be developed in the same line. A good landing airstrip can be developed in the Valley and the site can be become a model for eco-tourism, bird watching, rock climbing and aero sports. He surmised that few decision should be taken in this regard and added that to begin with a corpus fund shall have to be created to which Principal Secretary (Planning) informed that upon the availability of soft term loans an amount of Rs. 5 Crore can be earmarked for the purpose.

In the meeting i informed the members that while accompanying HCM to Talley Valley in 1991 . I informed that one tourist hut had existed and which was constructed by Forest Department. The local boys utilized it while trekking expeditions. I also informed that in yesteryears a foot track existed known as Haring Pudu connecting Talley Valley with the plains of Assam used basically for trading. I informed the members the brief background of early settlement at Talley Valley. I stressed that helipad that was constructed needs immediate repair along with the existing road. I further stressed that another field visit was required to assess the actual situation..

Taking this meeting as an opportunity to present my case for early development of Talley Valley for the larger interest of the Apatani brethrens i vehemently impress upon the esteemed members to take things seriously and deliver quick action without any further delays. My appeal was seriously taken. Taking suggestion from all the members and my humble submission for early action following decision were taken:

1. Creation of corpus fund with a capital of Rs. 5.00 crores. The Planning Department to earmark the required funds (Action by Planning Department)

2. Constitution of Expert Commitee.

a.PCCF & Secretary (Forest & Environment)- Convenor

b.Commissioner (PWD) - Member

c.Secretary (Tourism) - Member

The Committee shall examine the whole gamut of the functioning of the Board and suggest measures for resource mobilization, creation of corpus fund and management of funds for the activities of the Board.

3. The existing road from Hapoli to Talley Valley shall be repaird by the PWD and the required funds to be provided the department.

ARUNACHAL PRADESH (TALLEY VALLEY DEVELOPMENT CORPUS FUND) RULES, 2006

Notification vide No. TOU(TVDB) 528/2006, dated 17th May 2006 was notified regarding the details of the Rules enacted on TVDB Corpus fund. This kept the provision and a window for development of the Valley with fund allocated. Unfortunately,the earmarked fund has been diverted by the planning department for some other purpose and it is not yet received by the TVDB account.

Construction of PMGSY Road to Talley Valley Eco- Tourism Spot

In consequent to the recommendation of third meeting of the Board and to boost eco-tourism in Arunachal Pradesh by attracting eco-friendly tourist, the Govt. of Arunachal Pradesh had already recognized Talley Valley as Eco-Tourism Spot under the recognized circuit of Itanagar-Daporijo- Along-Pasighat. Considering the problem of road communication Secretary, tourism, Govt. of Arunachal Pradesh issued a letter to the Chief Engineer, RWD for construction of road from Ziro to Talley Valley under Prime Minister's Gramin Sadak Yojna (PMGSY).

Fourth Board Meeting

For maintaining regular activity of the Board a meeting of TVDB was circulated by Secretary, department of Tourism to be held on 17th December 2006 at Ziro which was to be chaired by Hon'ble Chief Minister. All members were requested to attend the same. I personally requested the Chairman of the Board to host the meeting at Pange a beautiful place which is 30 km away from Ziro and which the Hon'ble Chairman had agreed. On preparation for the proposed meeting an advance site inspection was done by me accompanied by Shri KD Singh the then Additional PCCF (Wildlife) & all HODs of the district along with all senior pulic leaders of Ziro. But, unfortunately due to bad climatic condition at Ziro the meeting was cancelled.

My Personal Appeal and Vision for the future

1. Considering the limited settlement area of the Tanii's and for greater development of the area for all beneficial purposes for every individual, here, I sincerely appeal Tanii brethrens to forgo and give up their individual/clan wise claim over the Talley Valley land at the larger interest of the society. The settlement and the development activity in Talley Valley that may be taken up in future should be seen through the prism of unified sense of greater development rather than selfish acquisition. We should free ourselves from the shackles of under utilization of land on the plea of community forest bondage.

2. The members of Apatani Cultural and Literary Society (ACSLS) should take the lead role as decided in the general body meeting on 17th Feb'08. The members are requested to take out the topographical sheet and make future plan for our settlement at Talley Valley and expansion of tourist activities without further delay

3. The ACLS members should take the confidence of all the NGO's, GBs and people of Tanii brethrens before taking any major and final decision.

4. The Apatani Youth Association (AYA) and Apatani Student Union (ASU) also should take key role in activities relating to development of Talley Valley for the larger interest of the state in general and people of Ziro in particular.

5. The Local MLA is to be instrumental in over all activities either in local or government level.

While concluding, I would like to express my heartfelt gratefulness and appreciation to one and all Tanii brethrens for giving me an opportunity to serve my beloved people of Ziro and State as a whole. It is because of your tireless support and cooperation that I could get an opportunity to revive the Talley Valley Development Board (TVDB) with a clear objective of welfare of our people of and Tanii in my mind.

Last but not the least I sincerely appeal to every Tanii atu to continue to support the right cause and welcome any advice/suggestion through any form to do more active and effective in coming days.

Can't find what you're looking for?

 

1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3