Development

TURA, July 21 ? Interim relief has already started from the West Garo Hills district administration side for the nearly one lakh people severely affected by the floods which have devastated most areas of the plain belt in the district. Rice and dal along with edible salt for three days sustainance have been distributed free of cost for inhabitants of 15 villages under Tikrikilla development block, 13 villages under Zikzak development block, and 93 villages under Selsella development block, even as the number of flood affected people rose close to 90,000 with 11 GramSevak Circles under Selsella...

IMPHAL, July 21 ? Union Minister of State for Home Sriprakash Jaiswal said here today that the proceedings in the court of inquiry by Assam Rifles into the alleged custodial killing of 30-year-old Manorama Devi in Manipur would be completed by July 27. Expressing concern about the sentiments of the people of the State, Jaiswal, who arrived here yesterday to make an on-the-spot study of the situation, told mediapersons here that exemplary punishment would be awarded to those who were found guilty after submission of the report of the court of inquiry.

He said 3 Corps Commander Lt Gen Daljeet...

HAILAKANDI, July 21 ? Border Security Force (BSF) has unearthed a major plan of Bangladeshi militant groups to impart arms training to NE youths in Bangladesh. BSF got the information while interrogating the arrested leader of the students?s unit of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam of Bangladesh, Farooque Ahmed Talukdar. It may be mentioned here that Farooque was arrested in Hailakandi town last week by the police and later handed over to the BSF. Police said that he is a resident of Surikandi village of Maulavibazar in Bangladesh and came to Hailakandi in December last year for studying a graduate course...

NALBARI, July 21 ? For Zarina Khatun (32), life?s daily grind, including cooking meals for her family, looking after her three children and searching for potable water, goes on. Her home is a sheet of tarpaulin hung up on bamboo poles on the roadside. This is what protects her family and their cattle from the elements. Her husband, Farid, when not fishing in the vast waters, lies in a folding cot thinking of ways to procure the next meal. The National Highway 31, connecting this town to the State capital, is now home to thousands of people like Zarina who have built temporary shelters on it...

BADARPUR, July 21 ? The flood situation in the three Barak Valley districts of Cachar, Karimganj and Hailakandi has turned critical with many areas including Badarpur town submerged by the floodwaters, owing to a breach in a dam in the area. All government, non-government offices, schools and colleges, banks, business establishments, ASEB and ASTC offices, Railway colonies, etc have been severely affected. Besides, several villages and paddy fields within Badarpur circle have also been hit by the floodwaters. The floods have rendered over fifty thousand people homeless, official sources said...

GUWAHATI, July 21 ? The Assam Electricity Regulatory Commission (AERC) today announced the new tariff rates for all categories of consumers for the year 2004-05, effecting a hike of 2.57 per cent. The new rates will be applicable from August 1, and will include the additional tariff for four months since April because the approved retail tariff for the year was from April 2004. Briefing newsman, AERC Chairman MC Baruah said the AERC has approved the annual revenue requirement (ARR) and the tariff petition for the financial years (FYs) 2003-04 and 2004-05, with modifications as required, after...

GUWAHATI, July 21 ? The flood situation in Assam turned worse today with the entire State virtually becoming a cluster of islands and the death toll in the current wave of floods shooting up to 97. The Brahmaputra breached the ring bundh on its embankment at Futuri-Semina under Palasbari revenue circle at 3.30 pm today, which has threatened the entire Palasbari, Chaygaon areas, Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi Airport and the National Highway-37. Floodwaters of the river have already entered the adjacent areas of the breach. The Brahmaputra has also threatened Guwahati city with the river...

GUWAHATI, July 21 ? The Assam Government is in favour of preparing a National Register of Citizens by taking March 25,1971 as the cut-off date. This was disclosed by Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, while speaking on the admissibility of an Adjournment Motion moved by members of the AGP and BJP on the statement of the Union Minister of State for Home about presence of 50 lakh foreigners in Assam. The Chief Minister said that identity cards should be issued to all Indian citizens to settle the problem. He said that influx is a continuous process and ?we never said that there is no influx of...

GUWAHATI, July 21 ? With the surging waters of the Brahmaputra recording the highest ever mark in the city at 51.46 metres (6 pm) today, the citizens experienced floods in a number of localities. The previous highest mark in the city that was 51.37 metres way back in 1988, was eclipsed by 9 cms today. The busy MG Road at Fancy Bazar was inundated by the floodwater of the Brahmaputra for the first time since 1988. Many other adjoining areas including the AT Road, Bharalumukh, Santipur, Machkhowa, etc., were lying submerged in water. The backwaters of the Brahmaputra have even touched the rail...

ITANAGAR, July 20 ? The flood situation in Arunachal Pradesh further worsened today with inundation of many fresh areas, mostly in six districts, four of which ? Lohit, East Siang, Lower Dibang and Anjaw ? remained cut off for more than two weeks following heavy landslides and washing away of bridges, reports PTI. Pasighat, the district headquarters of East Siang, remained submerged without power supply for the last fortnight following breakdown of Yambung and Pasighat hydel projects.

The people of the area are facing acute shortage of drinking water, with the administration advising them to...