Economy / Northeast

NEW DELHI, April 24 ? Although the highest allocation from the Non-Lapsable Central Pool of Fund went to Assam, the State has slipped in utilisation, even as Tripura emerged at the top in terms of utilisation of funds sanctioned out of the pool. For the fund starved north-eastern States, there is encouraging news in store as with the activation of the Central Pool of Resources the allocation is expected to go up. Allocation for the last four years has recorded a quantum jump to Rs 1,346.72 crore. Among the north eastern States, the highest allocation of Rs 293.16 crore has flowed to Assam...

DIBRUGARH, April 21? Union Minister for Disinvestment and Department of North-east Region Arun Shourie today said that all schemes and projects submitted by the north-eastern States are cleared within 15 days, reports PTI. Addressing a gathering at the inauguration of commencement of work of the rail-road Bogibeel bridge here, Shourie said that allocation of funds by each ministry for the North-east has been increased by three times. ?What this government has done for the North-east under the leadership of Vajpayee, has not been done in the last 50 years,? Shourie said. Increasing air...

GUWAHATI, April 6? Noted USA-based bio-technologist Dr C S Prakash today stated that economic development of the region was a must for preservation of bio-diversity hotspots in North East India. The professor from Tuskegee University of the USA who is on a visit to the State under the aegis of United States Information Services (USIS), said bio-diversity preservation was directly related to economic development as it was observed that in economically underdeveloped areas human beings became extremely dependent on forest resources for their livelihood, leading to wanton destruction of forest...

AIZAWL, April 6 ? Five member delegation of the Syhlet Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), Bangladesh led by its president Mohammad Mohiuddin Friday said that Bangladesh was keen to kick-start trade with India through Mizoram which would be beneficial to both the countries, reports PTI. Mohiuddin told reporters here that the delegation came to Mizoram to discuss bilateral issues on trade, find out new sectors and invite foreign direct investment. He said that both the SCCI and the Mizoram Chamber of Industries and Commerce (MCIC) had earlier signed a memorandum of understanding on the...

NEW DELHI, March 29 ? Huge funds earmarked for combating militancy were found to have been diverted by the Eastern Army Command authorities to purchase vehicles, television sets, VCR?s, computers and generators, according to the Comptroller and Auditor General, reports PTI. Making a close scrutiny of the allocations for the first time, the CAG said the Eastern Army Command purchased consumer goods worth Rs 6.79 crore over a period of three years from 1998 to 2001 from the Rs ten crore annual fund given to Army Commanders by way of special financial powers. ?These funds are allocated to meet...

NEW DELHI, March 22 ? The Commerce Ministry has ruled out the possibility of reopening the Stillwell Road even as two additional points for border trade with Myanmar in Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh have been identified for opening. The disclosure was made by the Minister of State for Commerce, Rajiv Pratap Rudy, at the Lok Sabha, here this morning, in response to a question by Paban Singh Ghatowar. The MP seeking an assurance from the Minister, underlined the importance of the Stillwell Road for the economy of the North East. He pointed out to the Minister that importance of the road lay in...

NEW DELHI, March 14 ? A proposal is under consideration to declare the North-east as a free trade zone, highly-placed official sources disclosed today. The sources further said that the move has been initiated in order to give a boost to the industrial sector and to encourage the young entrepreneurs to set up industries in the region. Despite immense potential for industries, no pragmatic steps has yet been initiated and hence several organisations have been demanding declaration of the region as a free trade zone, they added. In this context, the sources expressed the view that if the...

GUWAHATI, March 15 ? Tourism in Assam in particular and the North-East in general is set to get a fresh lease of life following the operation of Air India flights to Bangkok beginning from April 4. This is the view shared by tour operators, travel agents, government departments and other agencies connected with tourism in the State. The mood in the tour operators? circle in the city is upbeat and they are working overtime to cash in on the business prospects that the new development is offering.

Jungle Travels India Pvt Ltd, a leading tour operator of the North-East which is also a member...

GUWAHATI, March 13 ? The North-east with its unparalleled scenic beauty, rich cultural heritage and abundant wildlife can emerge as a major tourist destination provided infrastructural bottlenecks are removed and opportunities given to the private sector for investment in tourism. Making above observation, Sri BK Goswami, former Secretary of Tourism, Government of India, today said that participation of the private sector can give the much-needed thrust to the tourism industry in the State while the Government should take the role of a pro-active facilitator. Sri Goswami is now acting as...

NEW DELHI, March 10 ? Even as ongoing projects are gasping for funds, the North Eastern Electrical Power Corporation (NEEPCO) has surrendered foreign direct investments (FDI) worth Rs 83.26 crore because it failed to utilise the funds owing to adverse law-and-order situation in the region. While the North Eastern State Chief Ministers are crying hoarse over lack of foreign investments in that part of the country, NEEPCO failed to award work for various packages connected with project work on 60 MW Tuirial hydroelectric project (HEP) in Mizoram due to ?various reasons? including impact of the...