Development

NEW DELHI, Nov 24 ? Reports of NSCN (I-M) leaders postponing their visit has jolted the UPA Government, even as efforts were on to sort out the latest tangle. A visibly upset chief interlocutor K Padmanabhaiah today called on Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil in the wake of reports that Issac Chisi Swu and Th Muivah have postponed their visit to Delhi until a proper clarification was issued by the Government of India.

Although Padmanabhaiah was tightlipped about what transpired at the meeting with the Union Home Minister, he told newsmen that they have no confirmation about the visit of the...

SHILLONG, Nov 23 ? Attired in traditional regalia, Khasi youths, men and women took part in the annual Seng Kut Snem procession in Shillong on Tuesday proclaiming the dignity and solemnity of the indigenous Khasi faith and culture.

The colourful procession highlighted the diverse and rich Khasi tradition through folk music and tableaux depicting various facets of the rich and colourful indigenous lifestyle. The procession culminated at the Weiking Ground, where traditional dances were held and special prayers offered.

The annual Seng Kut Snem festival is celebrated to commemorate the Seng...

SHILLONG, Nov 23 ? Admitting that the Border Security Force is ?handicapped? by shortage of manpower, the Director General of BSF, Ajay Raj Sharma, pleaded for strengthening of border management so as to enable the Force to become more effective.

Unfolding a three-pronged strategy to strengthen border management on the Indo-Bangla border in the north-eastern States, he said: ?The border fencing should be completed as early as possible.?

Addressing a press conference at the headquarters of the Shillong Frontier, BSF, here this afternoon, Sharma said: ?We also need adequate number of troops to...

SHILLONG, Nov 23 ? Nine floating border outposts (BOPs), meant for strengthening anti-infiltration measures on the India-Bangladesh border in the North-east, are stranded in the Bay of Bengal as Bangladesh has declined to allow passage to the ships.

Disclosing this to newsmen here this afternoon, BSF Director General Ajay Raj Sharma, said that the nine floating BOPs came from the Mazgaon Docks in Mumbai by sea but are now stuck as Bangladesh denied passage through its waters to the North-east.

?These ships are not meant for fighting (against Bangladesh), but apparently they (Bangladesh) have...

NEW DELHI, Nov 23 ? Inordinate delay in implementation of political clauses of the Assam Accord continued to haunt the Congress-ruled State Government, with All Assam Students Union (AASU) circulating a document detailing the failure of both the Centre and the State Government.

?History of Failure of Central and State Government to Implement the Assam Accord? drafted by AASU has found faults on over 25 counts in implementation of the Accord signed in 1985. The ?status report? has shown the Centre and the State Government in poor light and put a question mark on their commitment to implement...

IMPHAL, Nov 22 ? C Upendra Singh Judge (Retd), Chairman of the Commission of Inquiry into the Death of Miss Thangjam Manorama Devi has submitted his report to the Chief Secretary, Manipur govt Jarnail Singh on Monday, an official press release said. As per orders of the Gauhati High court the Inquiry Report or the findings will not be punlished without the approval of the Court, the release said.

The Action is being taken under Section 3 of the Commission of inquiry Act 1952 to obtain approval of the Gauhati high Court for processing the report, the release added. The panel has also informed...

AGARTALA, Nov 22? A two -member team of German government on Saturday visited some development projects in Kamalpur, Ambassa and Salama of Dhalai district to have a first hand knowledge about the development activities. The team headed by Dr Behrens, German Embassy to India arrived here yesterday to explore feasibility of the investment in the State?s development programme especially Joint Forest Management.

Sources claimed that the German delegation was impressed over the progress of the developmental activities carrying out by the NGOs and self-help groups (SHGs) in the rural areas. After...

DHING, Nov 22 ? A group of correspondents of the Dhing area recently visited the eroded areas by the Brahmaputra at Moamari, under Dhing constituency, which has posed a serious threat to the entire Dhing and Batadraba areas. Barely two kilometres from Dhing town is located the central point of the worst erosion affected Moamari area spread along the south bank of the Brahmaputra from Lathiamari to Moamari.

In the first week of October this year, erosion at Moamari on the southern bank of the Brahmaputra recurred. The entire area is a cluster of about 20 villages with a population of about 15...

GUWAHATI, Nov 22 ? The following development programmes and projects have been taken in Assam coinciding with the visit of the Prime Minister to the State: ? Special Plan assistance of Rs 240 crore for flood damage repair and infrastructure development during the current financial year; ? Rs 45 crore is being sanctioned for flood relief and drinking water supply; ? For protection of Majuli island from floods and erosion, Rs 41 crore has been sanctioned in the first phase, to be followed by additional funds for subsequent works; ? Conversion to broad gauge of the Lumding-Silchar-Jiribam railway...

GUWAHATI, Nov 22 ? The North East Chamber of Commerce and Industry has condemned the Centre?s move to include North Bengal in NEC. It stated that the leadership of West Bengal during the last couple of years has been advocating extension of benefit of North Eastern Council (NEC) for the development of North Bengal particularly Siliguri. A move was initiated in September last year when the NER chief ministers? meeting organised by NEC was held at Gangtok.

It is said that the Confederation of India Industry (CII) persuaded West Bengal Government to take up the issue of extending NEC benefit to...