Development

NEW DELHI, July 9 ? The threat of illegal infiltration from Bangladesh has sent alarm bells ringing in Meghalaya, with Chief Minister DD Lapang seeking urgent assistance from the Government of India in curbing infiltration. The State Government has sought issue of national identity cards and setting up of three Border Security HQs in East and West Khasi and Jayantia Hills.

"Ours is an influx-prone State,? Lapang said demanding expediting of the border-fencing project. With no end in sight to the vexed inter-State border dispute with Assam, Chief Minister Lapang has sought the intervention of...

NEW DELHI, July 9 ? The threat of the Centre clamping President?s rule in Arunachal Pradesh continued to haunt the BJP, as the Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil today declined to spell out the Union Government?s stand on the political crisis in the north-eastern State. The turmoil in Arunachal Pradesh that is fast taking the shape of a major constitutional crisis rocked both the Houses of Parliament here today, with a belligerent BJP seeking an assurance from the Union Government that President?s rule under Article 356 of the Constitution would not be imposed in the State allowing Gegong Apang...

GUWAHATI, July 9 ? The State is experiencing the second wave of floods, as incessant rains have made the shallow rivers in the State inundate many areas, particularly in the lower part of the State. According to reports, situation in many areas is grave. Army have to be deployed to rescue the marooned people at some places, while at some other places they have been alerted. The rivers in spate have already breached their embankments at places while at some other places the floodwaters of the rivers have been surging through the already breached portions of the embankments.

At Charan Jungle...

Shillong, July 8: The Meghalaya PCC has given its unstinted support to the downsized ministry, making it clear that dissidence will not be tolerated. The Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) secretary, Charles Pyngrope, outgoing co-operation minister and Congress MLA, said protests would not be entertained. ?It is too late. Why are they protesting now when all elected representatives have taken a conscious decision to give the chief minister a free hand?? he asked, terming the recent developments ?unfortunate?.

Congress legislators like outgoing home minister R.G. Lyngdoh, K.K. Dkhar, Irene...

Guwahati, July 8: A deer died in the flash flood which hit the Kaziranga National Park as thewater level of the Brahmaputra continued to rise following heavy rainfall at Pasighat in Arunachal Pradesh. As floodwaters began inundating vast areas of the park, animals started escaping to the adjacent Karbi Anglong hills. A forest guard camp, Debashree, was evacuated. Several other camps were also readied for evacuation in case the situation worsened.

The Brahmaputra is flowing one metre above the danger level in Dibrugarh and about 75 cm above at Neemati here. Major tributaries of the river are...

Imphal, July 8: The tremors caused by the downsizing exercise in Manipur are being felt the most in the two Naga-dominated districts of Chandel and Ukhrul, both of which have not been represented in the new-look Okram Ibobi Singh-led Secular Progressive Front (SPF) government. Before Ibobi Singh trimmed his ministry, Ukhrul had a representative in A. Aza, who was the minister for youth affairs and sports. Chandel, adjoining Myanmar, had D.K. Korungthang, who was the minister of state (with independent charge) for social welfare.

Neither was retained, much to the annoyance of residents of the...

New Delhi/Itanagar, July 8: In an unprecedented step, Arunachal Pradesh governor V.C. Pande complained to A.P.J. Abdul Kalam last night that he recommended President?s rule in the state under duress. ?Not only I, but all my staff, including the secretary and deputy secretary, were put under tremendous mental and physical pressure by all ex-MLAs and their political workers, who stormed into my chamber and remained there, gheraoing me for more than five hours,? the governor wrote to the President.

Pande first dissolved the 60-member Assembly at the recommendation of chief minister Gegong Apang...

SHILLONG, July 8 ? To pacify discontended MLAs after the downsizing exercise, Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee would urge Chief Minister to consider introducing ?rotation? system among ministers for the remaining term of the present government. MPCC executive committee which met under the chairmanship of party president SC Marak here on Tuesday, discussed the political situation in the State in the wake of trimming of the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance Government led by Congress, party sources said here on Wednesday.

The size of the ministry was reduced from 39 to 12 yesterday in...

ITANAGAR, July 8 ? In an interesting development, Arunachal Pradesh Governor VC Pande, who had recommended Central rule in the State after dissolution of the Assembly yesterday, has told President APJ Abdul Kalam that he had signed his recommendation ?under duress? and sought its withdrawal, reports PTI.

?I regret to say that the signature in the said report was obtained under duress. Not only myself but also all my staff including the secretary were put under tremendous mental and physical pressure by all ex-MLAs and their political workers who stormed into my chamber and remained there...

JORHAT, July 8 ? A comprehensive drainage masterplan worth Rs 15.19 crore and prepared by the Jorhat Development Authority (JDA) has been approved recently by the Centre, a press release issued by the district administration here said. Besides clearing of natural drains criss-crossing the city, construction of culverts and footpaths have also been included in the masterplan. To be implemented in a phasewise manner as soon as funds earmarked for the project is released, widening and clearance of the Tocklai rivulet, Mohuajan, Tarajan, Duborijan and Khorasorajan streams with also be undertaken...