Imphal, July 7: Loktak lake has always been the biggest fish bowl of Manipur. Now the state government has taken up an ambitious project to make it a rich source of biofertilisers and compost. The aim is not only to clean up the lake but also help farmers. Launched by the Loktak Development Authority (LDA) with active assistance from scientists of the Central Agricultural University, Imphal, the project for production of biofertilisers from floating biomass has become a success.

The LDA started sale of the product on Friday. The compost is being sold at Rs 37.50 for 50 kg. J.S. Laishram of...

Shillong, July 7: Taxi drivers, brush up your manners, big brother is watching. Wary of Shillong?s tradition of warmth and hospitality towards visitors being sullied by ill-mannered cabbies, Meghalaya chief minister D.D. Lapang has asked those operating here to be on their best behaviour while ferrying passengers. ?I have been told that taxi drivers do not behave properly with passengers. This will not be tolerated. They have to learn manners or face punishment,? he said.

Lapang?s interest in beautifying Shillong and its suburbs to attract more tourists is not new. He has specifically asked...

Kohima, July 7: A day after the downsizing of the Nagaland council of ministers, the Democratic Alliance of Nagaland seems to be in trouble. The Janata Dal (United) has been entirely left out of the ministry. The BJP, too, is not pleased. Huska Sumi of the JD (U) said George Fernandes had felt ?insulted and humiliated? and that Sharad Yadav had told the party to withdraw support.

With party workers apprehensive of sitting in the Opposition, the JD (U) leaders have called a meeting this evening. Former power minister and Ao tribe leader Tiameren Aier has also been dropped.

Silchar, July 7: The Union home ministry has asked the militant Dima Halam Daoga (DHD) to prepare an agenda for the resumption of its dialogue with representatives of the Centre and the Assam government. DHD chief Dilip Nunisa confirmed receiving ?feelers? from Delhi about its willingness to resume the dialogue. The last round of talks ended inconclusively in December.

Nunisa told The Telegraph over phone from Halflong, the headquarters of North Cachar Hills, that he was expecting a formal invitation soon.

?We hope to discuss substantive issues, especially our demand for Dimaraji, this time...

Dibrugarh, July 7: Residents of eight villages under Assam?s oil-rich Dibrugarh district have announced an indefinite ?oil blockade? from Friday, accusing Oil India Ltd (OIL) of not taking steps to stop crude spillage from its drilling sites to their croplands. Over 5,000 villagers from Chabua revenue circle of the district will be involved in the agitation. These villagers say the oil spills not only damage their standing crops and reduce the potency of the soil, but also pose a danger to livestock and poultry.

There are two drilling sites in the vicinity of the village that has been affected...