GUWAHATI, Nov 22 ? The North East Chamber of Commerce and Industry has condemned the Centre?s move to include North Bengal in NEC. It stated that the leadership of West Bengal during the last couple of years has been advocating extension of benefit of North Eastern Council (NEC) for the development of North Bengal particularly Siliguri. A move was initiated in September last year when the NER chief ministers? meeting organised by NEC was held at Gangtok.

It is said that the Confederation of India Industry (CII) persuaded West Bengal Government to take up the issue of extending NEC benefit to...

NEW DELHI, Nov 22 ? Coinciding with Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh's North-east tour, the Human Resources Ministry here announced constitution of a 25-member high level group to address specific issues relating to education, women and child development in the north eastern region (NER) including Sikkim.

The high-powered committee to be headed by Minister for Human Resource Development (HRD) Arjun Singh would also address issues regarding funding of projects relating to education, women and child development from the Non-lapsable Central Pool of Resources (NLCPR) for the North-east and to...

GUWAHATI, Nov 22 - The Union Environment and Forest Ministry has approved the 2,000 MW Lower Subansiri Hydroelectric Power project under Section 2 of the Forest (Conservation) Act. The project is being implemented by the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) Limited in Arunachal Pradesh and Assam.

The Arunachal Pradesh Forest Department and the Assam Forest Department had earlier sought prior approval of the Central Government under Section-2 of the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 for diversion of 3999.30 hectares of forest land (3183.00 hectares in Arunachal Pradesh and 816.30...

GUWAHATI, Nov 22 ? Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh today said that the India-ASEAN car rally would give an opportunity to Assam and other parts of North-east India in their journey into the future because of the improvement of the country's ties with the ASEAN countries.

Ceremonially flagging off the first India-ASEAN car rally at a colourful function at the Nehru Stadium here this afternoon in presence of External Affiars Minister Natwar Singh, Minister in charge of DoNER PR Kyndiah, Secretary General of the ASEAN and a host of other dignitaries, the Prime Minister said that the rally would...

IMPHAL, Nov 21? Despite the Centre releasing Rs 3 crore for welfare of ethnic tribals, the state government is in a fix over construction of a multi-storey tribal market complex in their (tribals?) area in the heart of the city.

While a section of the tribals pressed the government for constructing the market at the selected site, others have opposed the site selected by the government at New Lambulane, in the heart of the city predominantly inhabited by the Kukis. The huge amount of money was released in July last year but the government is unable to take a concrete decision to this effect...