SHILLONG, Nov 12 ? The North Eastern Council (NEC) has sanctioned Rs 375 lakh to the north eastern States for the development of bamboo sector which has been identified as a key area of development in the region. A spokesman of the Council said today that the sanctions have been made during October to Assam, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Mizoram and Manipur under the scheme for ?Development of bamboo related activity.?

A sanction of Rs 50 lakh have been made to Assam Government for implementation of the scheme under which bamboo plantations would be raised. The scheme would also...

GUWAHATI, Nov 12 ? The eastern districts of Meghalaya are fast becoming a major base of the secessionist United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) to launch operations against the security forces and civilian targets in Assam. This development has forced the security agencies to put on their thinking caps to try and nip trouble in the bud.

Security sources here disclosed that the accounts given some the recently apprehended ULFA militants indicates that the outfit has decided to take advantage of the lax security cover in the northern fringes of Meghalaya in the Khasi Hills districts to set up...

IMPHAL, Nov 11 ? An International Business Information Centre (South Asia) is being opened by the Indo-Myanmar Friendship Chambers of Commerce and Indo-Myanmar Friendship Tourist Centre (IMFTC) from November 24 at Moreh, India?s gateway to the South East Asian countries.

The opening of the new centre is being coincided with the Indo- Asean car rally that will also be stopover at this border town and will be started at this international trade centre, a statement signed by Moreh-based IMFTC managing director M Indrasen Singh said.

The rally which will be flagged off by the Prime Minister Dr...

SHILLONG, Nov 11 ? Is the Meghalaya Chief Minister DD Lapang being provided ?Z? category security cover ? A section of the media has gone to town with the story quoting senior State intelligence officials as their source but the authorities are noncommittal. When asked, Lapang said yesterday he had not got any formal communication from the Centre. ?But if they give it (the Z category) I will take it.?

Speculations over Lapang?s security cover became rife in the media in view of his threat perception following bomb blasts in Assam and other untoward incidents. The outburst of protest from a...

CHAPAR, Nov 11 ? The river Manas is creating havoc in the southern part of North Salmara subdivision in Bongaigaon district. Since the last few years, the river has been changing its course frequently and swallowing in the process nearby villages along with vast paddy fields.

This year the river has badly affected Dubachuri, Kushbari, Sikatari, Hafachara, Madhufal and the adjacent areas. The people of this area have shifted to the safer places, though a large number of people, especially from the poorer section, are still living on the river banks as they have to depend on the paddy fields for...