Development

GUWAHATI, Nov 25 ? The State Government has decided to form a task force to suggest ways and means to preserve elephant habitats with the objectives of reducing the ever-increasing man-elephant conflict besides protecting endangered species and promoting conservation.

This was decided at the first meeting of the Advisory Committee on Wildlife held under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today, an official release said.

The meeting, attended by wildlife experts, officials from both the State and the Central Governments, and leading NGO representatives, was unanimous in its opinion...

NEW DELHI, Nov 25 ? Super speciality North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (NEIGRIMS) is likely to be commissioned by May, Meghalaya State Health and Family Welfare Minister, Sayeedullah Nongram said here.

A second cancer hospital in the North-east, meanwhile, is coming up in Shillong, with the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry endorsing a proposal for a super speciality cancer hospital. The 100-beded proposed hospital would be Government of India funded project.

The proposal for the hospital was claimed to have been cleared by the Union Health...

GUWAHATI, Nov 25 ? Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today assured active consideration of the demand of the All Deuri Students? Union (ADSU) for creation of a Deuri Autonomous Council.

In a meeting with a six member delegation of the ADSU led by its president Rana Deuri at the Janata Bhawan here this evening, the Chief Minister also apprised of his directive to the Department of Welfare of Plains Tribes and Backward Classes for submitting a final report on the issue within a month. The final report should cover the population pattern in the Deuri dominated areas, the list of the villages and a map...

NEW DELHI, Nov 25 ? The UPA Government is contemplating amendment of the Indian Forest Act 1927 to exclude bamboo from the list of forest product, Minister of State for Science and Technology, Kapil Sibal said this here today.

Formally launching the National Mission on Bamboo Applications (NMBA), Sri Sibal said that in order to ensure the difference between a tree and bamboo, his Ministry was seeking to amend the Indian Forest Act. However, the Minister declined to specify a time frame for bringing the amendment.

The inclusion of bamboo in the list of forest product is proving to be a hurdle...

GUWAHATI, Nov 25?The North East Students? Organisa-tion (NESO) has initiated a move to highlight the problem created in the North Eastern region by unabated infiltration of foreign nationals at the international forum and as the first step in this direction, a delegation of the organisation participated in a seminar organised recently at Bangkok by Forum Asia and SUARAM, a Malaysia based human rights organisation, where representatives of human rights organisations from 22 countries as well as a representative of the office of UN High Commissioner for Human Rights took part.

Addressing a...

MOREH, (Manipur-Myanmar border) Nov 24 ? Under the ?Look East Policy? and ?Border Area Development Prog-ramme?, a tourist centre was inaugurated at Moreh, India?s gateway to the South-east Asian countries with Manipur Tourism Minister Govindas Konthoujam as chief guest. This was the first major step taken up by the Indian Government to boost tourism industries after signing bilateral agreements with Myanmar on October 25 in New Delhi.

The centre was constructed at the cost of Rs. 45 lakh at Moreh Ward No. 9 which is a stone?s throw away from Namphalong Market complex, the main business centre...

KOHIMA, Nov 24 ? The survey for linking this state capital town with Dimapur through rail lines has been completed and the ambitous project is awaiting review and approval, official sources said quoting the Chief Secretary, P Talitemjen.

Reviewing the progress of work undertaken by various departments at the monthly review meeting of heads of departments and secretaries here recently, the chief secretary said the government had projected the state?s annual plan outlay for 2005-06 at Rs. 591 crore.

On implementation of the Prime Minister?s package for Nagaland, Talitemjen expressed...

NEW DELHI, Nov 24 ? The Expert Panel appointed to review the contentious Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act today met for the first time and began preliminary discussions. The meeting was chaired by Justice (Rtd.) BP Jeevan Reddy and members who attended the meeting included Dr. S.B. Nakade, PP Shrivastav and Sanjoy Hazarika. Lt Gen VR Raghavan was unable to attend as he was out of station.

The Committee in its first meeting decided to finalise the tour programme to the northeastern States where the Act is in force including Manipur, Assam, Nagaland and Tripura.

?Keeping in view the legitimate...

GUWAHATI, Nov 24 ? The rhythmic sound of the looms along with the intricate weaves and textiles they create could help Sualkuchi emerge as a major tourist spot in the country. According to experts in the field of tourism, Sualkuchi could be transformed into an ideal venue where a traditional economic activity blends with locational advantage to attract visitors from within the country and abroad.

?It is a place where textiles of exquisite quality are created by people in a traditional manner. That is enough to make it an ideal tourist destination. All that is required is that the basic...

NEW DELHI, Nov 24 ? Within 48 hours of Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh?s return from Assam, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) today sanctioned Rs 150 crore, which is Centre?s share to the State for critical flood control and anti-erosion projects in Brahma-putra and Barak valleys.

?The CCEA today sanctioned Rs 150 crore as share of the Central Government (90 per cent grant and 10 per cent loan) for taking up critical flood control and anti-erosion schemes in Brahma-putra and Barak valley by the concerned State governments of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura, Sikkim, Mizoram...