Development

NALBARI, Nov 10 ? The Royal Government of Bhutan has lifted the restriction imposed on the entry of Indian people to its territory through the Samdrup Zongkhar main gate on the Indo-Bhutan border. This was decided at a recent meeting of the Deputy Commissioner and the Superintendent of Police of the newly-formed Baska district with Bhutanese officials in Samdrup Zongkhar town.

The Bhutan Government had closed down and restricted all its entrances for free movement of Indian people following ?Operation All-clear? carried out by its army against the Indian militants camping in Bhutan?s forests.

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TEZPUR, Nov 9 ? In view of the proposed peace talk with the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB), Lt General Anup S Jamwal, General Officer Commanding, 4 Corps and the operational head of the Unified Command Structure said all factors have to be taken into consideration and by formulating policy of give and take on expected settlement may be brought.

Talking to mediapersons here at the garrison headquarter after inaugurating a two day seminar on management of stress related problems in counter-insurgency operations organised by the 155 Base Hospital here, General Jamwal said he is...

GUWAHATI, Nov 9 ? The Federation of Industries and Commerce of North Eastern Region (FINER) has welcomed the statement of Chief Minster Tarun Gogoi for reviewing the incentives announced to the North Indian States vis-?-vis the North East Industrial Policy (NEIP).

The Chief Minister yesterday at the mid-term review meeting of the 10th Five Year Plan held here, said that the extension of the same incentives as announced in the NEIP, to the North Indian States had slowed down industrial growth in the State.

The growth of the secondary sector in the State was static at 9.7 per cent during the...

GUWAHATI, Nov 9 ? Indian Army has increased its strength in some districts of Manipur bordering Myanmar to prevent infiltration of underground groups into the North East. The two districts of Manipur- Churachandpur and Chandel, bordering Myanmar have been kept under close surveillance by the security forces keeping in view the free movement of ultras and spurt in subversive activities.

The ongoing anti-insurgency operation is based on assurance given by the State Peace Development Council (SPDC) chairman of Myanmar, Than Shawe who along with several senior members of Myanmar recently visited...

GUWAHATI, Nov 9 ? Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today told a delegation of the Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuba Chatra Parishad (AJYCP) that the State Government would consider declaration of a unilateral ceasefire on experimental basis to create a congenial atmosphere for talks with the insurgents only after receiving a positive indication from the militants.

A delegation of the AJYCP today held talks with the Chief Minister on the issue of talks with the militants and formally handed over the resolutions adopted in the Jatiya Mahasabha organised by the organisation on September 20 and 21 to create a...

SHILLONG, Nov 8 ? Malnutrition was ?rather high? in Meghalaya with about 37.9 per cent of the children below three years being moderately underweight and 11.3 per cent severely underweight, a study has said. The study undertaken by the MS Swaminathan Research Foundation of Chennai said infant mortality rate was also high at 39 deaths per 1000 children in Meghalaya compared to 16.3 per 1000 in Kerala.

It said about 64 per cent of the households did not have access to safe drinking water. Toilet facilities were not very good even in urban areas of the state. Due to lack of potable water...

IMPHAL, Nov 8 ? Army today denied conducting a joint operation with Myanmar forces to drive out rebels from Manipur and said the security forces had been carrying out counter-insurgency operation as a ?normal duty?. ?Security forces had been carrying out counter-insurgency operation in several areas of Manipur as a normal duty and at least 13 militants had been killed, 34 ultras apprehended and 20 weapons recovered since September,? Army PRO Maj. SD Goswami said, adding, ?no joint operation with Myanmar is being carried out to eject insurgents.?

He said the Army was not aware whether Myanmar...

GUWAHATI, Nov 8 ? A former militant is showing the way of self-employment and he is also providing direct and indirect employment to more than 200 persons in Kokrajhar district by opening a unit for manufacturing eri garments. He has also proved that one can not only survive without looking for Government jobs but also provide employment opportunities to others by promoting traditional weaving techniques.

Former publicity secretary of militant outfit Bodo Liberation Tiger (BLT), Khampa Borgoyari, who was better known by his organisation name Mainao Daimari, opened a centre for producing eri...

GUWAHATI, Nov 8 ? The Government of India has awarded the Amguri oil and gas field to a consortium comprising the Assam Company Limited and Canoro Resources Limited. As per the Government decision, the field was formally handed over to the consortium on October 29, said a press release of the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited.

The release said that development of small and medium-sized fields by private sector companies was part of the liberalisation programme of the Government of India conceived in the early 1990s to attract private investment in the oil sector.

A number of fields...

GUWAHATI, Nov 8 ? Planning Commission Deputy Chairperson Montek Singh Ahluwalia today urged the North East States to introduce policy correctives and take new initiatives in critical areas to achieve the targeted annual growth rate of 8.1 per cent GDP (gross domestic product) in the 10th Five Year Plan period.

Speaking during a meeting with the Chief Ministers and Chief Secretaries of the eight North East States here today, Ahluwalia said that the Government would give ?very strong emphasis? to the development of the social sector in the country.

He said that it is a sector that has been...