Silchar, Dec. 18: The spectre of starvation is looming large over the 2,000-strong labour force of Hatticherra and Subong tea estates in south Assam?s Cachar district.

The Calcutta-based Hindusthan Tea Company, which owns both estates, declared a lockout on July 18 following a dispute with the labour union over wages.

The woes of the workers have been compounded by the lack of medical facilities.

Amar Mahali, secretary of the Hatticherra Subong Cha Bagan Sangram Samity, told newspersons here last night that at least 57 tea workers had died of various diseases since the lockout was declared.

H...

AIZAWL, Dec 17 — Lal Thanzauva, the son of former Mizoram Chief Minister, Lal Thanhawla, died due to drug abuse at his residence at Zarkawt here Monday morning. Lal Thannzauva was 32 and is survived by his wife Rosie Chalrotluangi and two sons. He was laid to rest after a funeral attended by Chief Minister Zoramthanga, his cabinet, colleagues, legislators, top politicians from all parties and officials. PTI

TEZPUR, Dec 18 — The much publicised Tezpur Festival, 2002 which concluded on Sunday last failed to evoke expected response from the people as well as from the tourist. Rather it now appears that there is an echo of criticism about the Festival. While talking to some of the leading personalities of Tezpur who, on condition of anonymity, expressed deep discontenment over the fashion show organised by the district administration, as according to them the said fashion show has spoiled the entire image of the Festival as well as the cultural heritage of Tezpur. Many of the organisations including...

NEW DELHI, Dec 18 – In what could land Assam Government in an embarassing position, Central Water Commission (CWC) has scrapped 15 flood control projects of Assam because of non-response of the State Government for over a year. The 15 proposals deleted by the CWC were part of the 109 flood control proposals submitted by Assam Government since 1999. Out of these, 47 projects have been techno-economically cleared, while 31 others have been accorded investments clearance by the Planning Commission.

Another 27 projects after being examined by the CWC have been returned to the State Government by...

NEW DELHI, Dec 18 — Amidst strong opposition by tribal MPs of Assam over the move to accord schedule tribe status to Koch-Rajbongshi community, Union Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram clarified that the proposal was pending clearance by the Union Cabinet. The discussion on the Schedule Caste and Schedule Tribes Order (Second Amendment) Bill 2002 in the Lok Sabha, this afternoon, witnessed heated exchanges between Congress MP Madhab Rajbongshi and CPI(ML) MP Dr Jayanta Rongpi, and SK Bwismutiary, both of whom protested the move to accord ST status to the Koch-Rajbongshi community. The two...