IMPHAL, March 31: Uncertainty prevails over the extension of unilateral ceasefire with militant outfits in Manipur for another month as Union home minister L.K. Advani has expressed his reservations on the issue. A final decision is likely only after Chief Minister Radhabinod Koijam returns from New Delhi. The state Cabinet had endorsed the decision to extend the unilateral ceasefire for another month taken by an all political parties meeting chaired by Koijam on March 28. It had decided to extend the ceasefire after consulting the Centre. Sources said Advani told Koijam yesterday that he was...

IMPHAL, March 31: The Chief Minister, Radhabinod Koijam expressed his desire for the work on the Rs 578.62 crore, Loktak Downstream Hydro Project to begin as soon as possible, during a meeting with the chairman-cum-managing director of the National Hydro Electric Power Corporation, NHPC, Yogendra Prasad at the Manipur Bhawan this morning. The project is designed to produce 90 MW of power and would be a boon for the state now reeling under an acute power shortage, the Chief Minister told Prashad. Koijam also told Prasad that he has requested the Union home minister, LK Advani, in a meeting...

IMPHAL, March 31: With the financial year 2000-2001 ending today, the state will be carrying over liabilities of around Rs 800 crore into the next financial year. The state PWD alone is burdened with liabilities of over Rs 120 crore, according to a reliable source in the state finance department. According to the sources, the re-imposition of the RBI's encasements ban four days ago, leading to suspension of government payments, was a major factor resulting in increase of the government's liabilities. The RBI ban was after the state's overdraft with the central bank crossed Rs 400 crore. It may...

AGARTALA, March 31:The sharp increase in municipal taxes on all heads in the budget for the coming financial year has created serious resentment. The Opposition parties have decided to launch an agitation against the tax hike. Agartala municipal council chairman Shankar Das placed a budget of Rs 21.49 crore for the council for the coming financial year. For the first time, the municipal budget showed a rise in taxes and service charges from 50 to 100 per cent in almost all sectors, including maintenance of pet animals, the charge for which has been doubled. Das justified the hike in taxes and...

GUWAHATI, March 31: The three-day 32nd general conference of the All Assam Tribal Sangh (AATS) which concluded at Tamulpur, in Nalbari district, today, reiterated its demand for the repeal of the controversial IMDT Act. It also demanded that the gas cracker project be shifted from Lapetkata to another site. It further called for immediate steps to ensure proper utilisation of the funds earmarked for the welfare of tribals in the state. The conference also formed a new committee. Bipul Deuri and Aditya Khaklari retained their positions as the Sangh president and general secretary respectively...