News

KOHIMA, May 19?The Centre has created an ?Export Development Fund (EPF)? with an aim to boost trade from the north-eastern region under the prime minister?s package of new initiative for the north-east, reports PTI. An official release received here said the development of trade and exports in the region, which borders countries such as Bangladesh, Bhutan, China and Myanmar, has been given priority by the Centre after the announcement of the specific set of measures under the ?PM?s action plan for the north-east? in January 2000.

The Centre has so far sanctioned Rs 7.95 crore for 21 projects...

NEW DELHI, May 28 ? Naga problem is a ?complex issue? but progress is being made in the right direction, Centre?s interlocutor K Padmanabhaiah said today, reports PTI. After briefing Deputy Prime Minister LK Advani here on his recent ?informal? parleys with NSCN (I-M) leadership in Bangkok late last week, Padmanabhaiah told reporters that the talks, aimed at furthering the peace process in Nagaland, would continue.

?It is a complex issue and we are inching forward,? he said adding more rounds of parleys were necessary for the peace process to take a final shape. Asked to comment on a recent...

GUWAHATI, May 28 ? Financial constrain has seriously affected the functioning of the North Eastern Council (NEC) set up for the development of the region, admitted the Governor Lt Gen (Retd) SK Sinha. In an interview with The Assam Tribune, Lt Gen Sinha, who also served as the chairman of the NEC, said, ?we tried to activate the Council as much as we could within the limited financial allocations. I also ensured equitable allocation to all the States, particularly Assam.? He said that the NEC had been doing commendable job but it is difficult to achieve results overnight. He expressed the view...

Guwahati, May 27: The holiest shrine in the Northeast and the pride of Assam, Kamakhya temple, is all set for greater glory.

The Centre has set into motion the process for designating the temple ? revered as the seat of tantric cult in the country ? as a ?monument of national heritage? and bring it under the supervision of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

ASI sources said the Haigrib-Madhav temple in Hajo would also be brought under the agency?s protection. The presiding deity of the temple is Lord Vishnu with the head of a horse.

The Kamakhya temple atop the Nilachal hills was built...

SHILLONG, May 27 ? A merger between the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and People's Democratic Movement (PDM) is in the offing in Meghalaya, party General Secretary P A Sangma said Tuesday, reports PTI.

''A talk of merger between the NCP and PDM is going on. Perhaps by the end of the month, this process will be over'', he told reporters here. While NCP has 14 seats in the assembly, the PDM has no representative in the 60-member state assembly. Stating that the NCP was presently busy in strengthening its organisation, he said ''we are satisfied with the role of a constructive Opposition. We...