Development

IMPHAL, Dec 23 ? Manipur Assembly unanimously passed the Kangla Fort Bill 2004 to replace the Kangla Fort Ordinance, which was passed last month for the maintenance and control of the historic Kangla fort, the sheath of the Manipur culture which was handed over by the Prime Minister to the people of the state on November 20.

The Kangla Fort Bill 2004 has the same provisions as the Kangla Fort Ordinance 2004, which provided for establishment of a Kangla Fort Board to administer and control the Kangla fort. The provision prohibiting the alienation of any land or structure within the area of the...

GUWAHATI, Dec 23? Lynette Niangty (19) from Shillong and a graduate student was crowned ?Aastha Miss Luit 2004? yesterday evening at the beauty pageant held in the ITA Centre for Performing Arts ? Pragjyoti ? Machkhowa here, stated a press release.

The first runner-up was Payel Tarafdar (21) from Guwahati, an LLB student while Angelica Pearl Nampui from Shillong, also a graduate student, was adjudged second runner-up

The sub-title winners were : Oriflame Miss Lustrous Hair- Dolly Roy from Tezpur; Oriflame Miss Healthy Skin- Angelica Pearl Nampai from Shillong; Oriflame Miss Captivating Eyes-...

GUWAHATI, Dec 23?Altogether 149 Bishnupriya Manipuri language teachers of the Barak valley districts will be regularised with immediate effect. This was assured by the executive director of Sarba Siksha Abhijan (SSA), Assam, P K Tiwari to a delegation of the Bishnupriya Manipuris who met him recently, stated a release. The delegation was constituted of various organisations like the BMLESDC, BMSS, NBMSU, BMGSP and the BMLTA.

As regards the development of textbooks in Bishnupriya Manipuri language, training of teachers and release of TLM grant to these teachers, the Executive Director, SSA...

MANAS, Dec 23 ? The picturesque Manas National Park that had been a favourite destination for both domestic and foreign tourists before it was hit by a prolonged social disturbance in the late 80s and the 90s, is witnessing a reasonable flow of tourists this season. In fact, the response from tourists has been such that almost all the accommodations in the Park are booked till February. The Park normally remains open for visitors from November to March/April.

?The response from tourists, including those from abroad, has been extremely encouraging. Everyday we are getting inquiries regarding...

SHILLONG, Dec 23? Despite increasing financial assistance from the Centre, financial condition of most States in the north eastern region has deteriorated over the years. The observation is based on impact-cum-evaluation studies made by professional bodies on as many as 18 major NEC projects implemented in the region involving the investment of several thousand crores of rupees.

A major area of concern, as pointed out by the studies, is that the major chunk of the resources of the States are being used for non-plan expenditures which are mostly unproductive.

Making the findings public at a...

NEW DELHI, Dec 23 ? Outlawed ULFA?s flip flop on the peace initiatives coupled with the recent spate of blasts have forced Assam Government to firm up plans to intensify anti-insurgency operations, Chief Minister, Tarun Gogoi said here today.

The State Government?s strategy to further isolate ULFA is also partly because of the positive signals on two fronts. One is that Central Government has agreed to take lead in the talks with NDFB and the other is that the anti-talk faction of the UPDS has send signals to sit for talks with the Government.

Confirming this the Chief Minister said that anti...

NEW DELHI, Dec 22 ? Under attack of the Opposition for turmoil in Manipur over the contentious Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), Union Home Minister, Shivraj Patil today said that there was no consensus on withdrawal of the Act. Defending Centre?s handling of the situation in Manipur in the Rajya Sabha today, Sri Patil said that there were differences over the Act among the people of the state.

?About 40 different groups came and talked to us. Some said that the Act should be withdrawn, some opposed it?s withdrawal, while some spoke about amending the Act,? the Union Home Minister said...

GUWAHATI, Dec 22 ? Peeved at the failure of the State and Central Governments to keep the commitment of holding tripartite talks on implementation of the Assam Accord at the level of the Prime Minister within December 21, the All Assam Students? Union (AASU) has threatened to launch a fresh movement for implementation of the Accord and scrapping of the Illegal Migrants (Determination by Tribunals) Act from January.

When the AASU threatened to disrupt the visit of the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh to the State on November 22 to flag off the India-ASEAN car rally in protest against the...

KOHIMA, Dec 21 ? The Angamis of Kohima village have strongly come out against the factional clashes in and around the State capital here that led to not only killing of cadres but also injuring and killing civilians.

Reading out an open letter addressed to NSCN-IM leaders, Isak Chishi Swu and Th Muivah and NSCN-K leader, SS Khaplang during a protest rally held here on Monday at Kohima Local Ground, Kohima Village Council (KVC) secretary Medoselhou Keretsu said they had organized the protest rally to serve as a ?wake up call? to the leaders of the NSCN factions of the sufferings that the...

IMPHAL, Dec 21? The first Japanese Government funding multi-crore-rupee 100-bed maternity and children hospital along with casualty and emergency wards is being constructed in the heart of the city. The state government has finally selected the construction site at the present Tombisana High School, Imphal which is opposite to the state Assembly building complex.

This was stated by the Manipur Health and Family Welfare Minister Laishram Nandakumar in reply to a supplementary question by M Nabadwip MLA of the CPI, a coalition partner of the ruling Secular Progressive Front government in the...