Imphal, March 12: Even though the Congress led Secular Progressive Front cruised through the confidence vote by a voice vote during the first sitting of the Assembly today, internal revolt is threatening to rock the boat of the fledgling Government. Late developments in the evening today suggested that not everything is alright within the fledgling coalition Government as 7 Congress men and two MSCP men have deserted their camps and are camping at the official residence of Congress MLA N Loken. However a late evening report put the number of disgruntled Congress MLAs at nine. Unofficial...

GUWAHATI, March 11?The Finance Minister, Devanand Konwar, today presented a Rs 2600.06 crore deficit Budget for Assam for the year 2002-2003 in the State Assembly with proposals to impose additional tax on component parts and accessories of motor vehicles, motor cycles, three-wheelers, tractors, power tillers etc., and entry tax on eggS, fish, natural flowers among others. He also proposed to exclude hand-made eri, muga, pat and silk fabrics from the purview of the luxury tax. According to the Budget, only 18 per cent of the total expenditure will be on development. According to the Budget...

GUWAHATI, March 11? The Chief Minister, Tarun Gogoi, today informed the State Assembly that Rs 18,78,310 were spent from the State exchequer during the period from May 17,2001 to February 28,2002 as travel allowance of members of the State Ministry.

The House was informed that an amount of Rs 4,86,374 was spent as TA for the Chief Minister during the period, while Rs 84,657 was spent for Health and Rural Development Minister, Dr Bhumidhar Barman, Rs 65,801 for Handloom and Fishery Minister Dr Hemo Prova Saikia Rs 95,696 for Forest and Hill Areas Development Minister G C Langthasa, Rs 95,085...

Imphal, March 11: Governor Ved Marwah has stated that the Union Ministry of Power is holding back its decision on the proposed Tipaimukh High Dam for a temporary period as the Ministry if facing funding problems. The Governor gave the assurance when environmentalist Salam Rajesh called on him and submitted a representation signed by 26 environmentalists of the NE region today. Marwah also informed that NEEPCO is presently not willing to sign the memorandum of understanding on the dam due to lack of funding support. The representation was prepared during the 6th Consultation on Wild Life...

NEW DELHI, March 10 ? Even as ongoing projects are gasping for funds, the North Eastern Electrical Power Corporation (NEEPCO) has surrendered foreign direct investments (FDI) worth Rs 83.26 crore because it failed to utilise the funds owing to adverse law-and-order situation in the region. While the North Eastern State Chief Ministers are crying hoarse over lack of foreign investments in that part of the country, NEEPCO failed to award work for various packages connected with project work on 60 MW Tuirial hydroelectric project (HEP) in Mizoram due to ?various reasons? including impact of the...