GUWAHATI, Oct 15 ? ?The entire ecology of Assam and the rest of the North East remains in a delicate balance, and to maintain that, we have to stop the degradation and destruction of forests. Their depletion has contributed to floods, landslides and erosion. Therefore, afforestation is the need of the hour,? said Sunderlal Bahuguna, one of the father figures of the country?s environment movement.

Talking exclusively to The Assam Tribune today, the elderly activist said, ?For a region like the North East, hope lies in protecting its natural resources, and promoting tree plantation. In fact, the...

GUWAHATI, Oct 15 ? Oil India Limited (OIL) has paid final dividend of Rs 168 crore to the Government of India for the year 2003-04, a press release stated. R K Dutta, Chairman and Managing Director of OIL handed over a cheque of the said amount to Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Mani Shankar Aiyar, in the presence of senior government officials and directors of the company.

The board of directors had declared final dividend of 80 per cent on the paid up capital of OIL for 2003-04. The total dividend paid by OIL for 2003-04 is 140 per cent as against 130 per cent dividend paid...

NEW DELHI, Aug 25 ? Union Finance Ministry has accorded clearance to six road projects estimated to cost Rs 447.51 crore in the North Eastern Region, directing the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) to ensure proper implementation and monitoring of the projects, official sources here said. The road projects include the 64.29 km Hajo-Nalbari-Saethebari Road estimated to cost Rs. 69.84 crores, Bhanga-Anipur-Kanai Bazar Road (86.91 crore), Silchar Dwarband Phaisen Road in Assam-Mizoram (Rs 97.10 crore), Mahadev Tolloi Road in Manipur (Rs. 74.12 crore). Nari Talem Road in...

GUWAHATI, Aug 25 ? The Kopili, which has become infamous for its fury this time, was not that infamous as an incensed one till past mid-July this year. It was a serene, quiet river unlike the ones frequently shifting courses and hurtling through the north bank of the Brahmaputra in this geologically nascent part of the earth. Then what made the Kopili so furious this time that it has detached itself from its tradition? The State Government has explained this in the following manner.

On July 17, 2004 the water level of the Kopili dam of the NEEPCO rose to a height of 8.40 metres above the Full...

NEW DELHI, Aug 25 ? India was forced to construct fencing beyond 150 yards from the international border along the Indo-Bangladesh border following objections raised by the Government of Bangladesh. Divulging this Minister of State for Home Affairs, S Reghupathy said that according to joint India-Bangladesh Guidelines for border authorities, no construction of defensive structure could be allowed within 150 yards from the Zero Line. Fencing along the border is being constructed at a distance of 150 yards or beyond from the international border as the Bangladesh Government has been objecting to...