Seminar pleads for separate time zone for NE
AIZAWL: a seminar on ‘Separate Time Zone for North East’ organised by Mizo Zirlai Pawl (MZP) at Vanapa Hall here yesterday has pleaded for a separate time zone for the region.
The seminar was attended by a group of social thinkers, academicians, journalists and eminent personalities.
Speaking at the seminar, State Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla said that the issue of separate time zone for the North East had been discussed even in 1980, 2001 and 2004. “The issue of dividing Indian Standard Time (IST) into two and form a new ‘Eastern Time’ has been discussed at various levels since the 1980’s but the Government of India is not ready to accept the demands and the decade-long demand has borne no fruit,” said Lal Thanhawla.
He informed the participants that the issue rests with the Science & Technology Department of the Union Government. “In the developed countries, there are even five time zones for the convenience of the people but here in India we have only IST which sometimes bring major problems. It is also necessary to point out the various problems and inconvenience we face by following IST among the Northeastern States besides West Bengal.” he pointed out.
The Chief Minister was skeptical about the Centre’s decision and said that if India truly acknowledges and accept North East as their own, then there is no difficulty in approving the demand ofseparate time zone for North East.
Benjamina, Registrar, Mizoram University was also of the opinion to have separate time zone for North East. Padma-shree awardee Jahnu Barua, a well-known filmmaker was the resource person at the seminar. The seminar was also attended by Prof Lianzela, Department of Economics and Prof P Rinawma, Department of Geography, Mizoram University.
Besides, leaders of students bodies from Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura and Manipur participated in the seminar. Mentionably, leaders of influential students’ body in the region, the North East Students Organisation (NESO) also graced the seminar.
Meanwhile, delegates at the seminar today said that the North East, which is situated in the far east, wastes two to three hours of daylight every day having to function on Indian Standard Time and thereby ends up being the least productive. The time difference between the eastern-most and western-most borders of the country is more than two hours. The NE region gets daylight much before the rest of the country, they said.
Source: The Assam Tribune