Development / Assam

Shillong March 30: The North Eastern Electric Power Corporation (Neepco) has accused the Assam State Electricity Board (ASEB) of violating a power project agreement. Neepco said it would now sell power from the 291-MW Kathalguri gas-based project to West Bengal and other western states.

According to the agreement signed between the Assam government and Neepco, 49 per cent of the power generated by the Kathalguri project in Upper Assam was to be bought by the Assam government at Rs 2.25 paise per unit. However, the Assam government has fallen out with Neepco over the tariff and is now buying...

HAFLONG, March 30 – Jatinga village of NC Hills, 9 km from Haflong, the district headquarters with a population of only 2000 souls has failed to be blessed by the seeds of development. The story of Jatinga village goes back to the year 1902, when the founder father of Jatinga village U Lakhon Bang Suchiang of Gunapara village near Borkhola came in contact with some Khasi labourers working on the construction of new railway line in between Badarpur and Lumding. They used to visit Borkhola market, then a prosperous foothill market where the tribals like Nagas, Kacharis, Kukis etc frequently came...

GUWAHATI, March 29—Forests in 41,000 hectares of land in Assam were destroyed during the period from 1996 to 1999. This was disclosed by the Minister of State for Forest, Sri Pradyut Bordoloi while replying to the debate on the cut motions on the demand for grant of Rs 1,33,41,62,000 for the Forest Department for the year 2003-2004.

Sri Bordoloi, quoting a report of the Forest Survey of India, said that forests in about 20,000 hectares of land were destroyed in Sonitpur district alone. Sri Bordoloi informed the House that the State Government would formulate a pragmatic forest policy on the...

KHASIAPUNJI (Hailakandi), March 28 – The Khasi people of Khasiapunji in Hailakandi district have been practising the age-old traditional jhum cultivation keeping environment clean. They are producing betel, banana and pine-apples in the hills through jhum cultivation without burning the forests before starting the process. It could be a very good lesson for the other tribal communities of the region practising jhum cultivation. Jhum or shifting cultivation is one of the most ancient systems of farming and the method marked the transition from hunting and food gathering to food production. The...

SHILLONG, March 28— Unscientific mining claimed the lives of atleast seven coal mine labourers in the Nangalbibra coalfields in South Garo Hills on Tuesday, according to delayed reports received here.

The miners accidentally dug into an abandoned mining hole at Dothichiring area following which water gushed out engulfing them. This also led to the collapse of the cave entrance, sources said adding that the toll is likely to go up as all the bodies are yet to be extricated.

Death of miners in cave-ins is common in the coal fields of South Garo Hills, where 40 workers were killed under similar...

Guwahati, March 27: Ignoring vociferous opposition by business groups and individuals, the Assam Electricity Regulatory Commission (AERC) has approved a 13.46 per cent increase in power tariff to help the sick Assam State Electricity Board (ASEB) mop up additional revenue to the tune of Rs 893 crore annually.

However, the hike is considerably less than the 50 per cent increase in revenue income sought by the ASEB to meet the gap between its estimated revenue requirement and revenue generated through the tariff structure that is in force at present. The board is likely to announce the new...

GUWAHATI, March 27 – With Government of India showing increasing interest in development of tourism in the State and the region, it is time for the State Government to entrust management of this sector to professionals with proven track record and having capability to involve the masses and private entrepreneurs in developing tourism facilities. There is no denying the fact that vested nexus of politicians, contractors and bureaucrats has been the bane for the tourism sector in the State taking advantage of the inconsistent efforts of the State Government in respect of this potent sector.

How...

GUWAHATI, March 27 — The Bangladesh Government has proposed to open up trade with Assam through Sylhet district in that country through a joint endeavour of the chambers of commerce of Sylhet and Assam. Bangladesh Secretary of Ministry of Commerce Suhel Ahmed who had a meeting with Assam Chief Minister and top State Government officials yesterday, called for more interaction between Bangladesh authority and Assam to increase the volume of trade and commerce in the interest of economic development on both sides of the border.

During the discussion, Ahmed pointed out that banks in the Northeast...

NEW DELHI, March 26 — Tired of having inferior quality tea? The Bureau of Indian Standard (BIS) has decided to come to the rescue by ensuring that the cup really cheers you, as a move has been initiated to get the tea industry under the product certification scheme for improving the quality of tea being manufactured in the north eastern region.

Lack of quality control on tea manufactured in the region often being held as one of the factors responsible for the present plight of the industry is likely to be a thing of the past if the Union Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public...

Guwahati, March 17: The Gauhati High Court has passed a significant order declaring the checkgates at Khanapara, Khanamukh and Saraighat in the city illegal and held that the Assam government does not have any power to frame legislation for imposing a toll on vehicles plying on the national highway. The judgment was delivered today by Justice I.A. Ansari of the high court in response to a writ petition filed by Mohammed Zakir Hussain.

The court also held that the Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) has acted beyond its competence in enacting the 1997 bylaws and applying them to the vehicles...