GUWAHATI, March 28: A marked departure from the normal rainfall rate is what has made the weather seemingly warmer during this spring in the Northeastern region which is known for its soothing climate. However, the weatherman here views it as nothing abnormal. "It comes within the range of normal year to year variation," he says. According to Meteorological Office (Met) sources here, till date in the current month, rainfall activity and cloud coverage was found to be much below the normal over the Northeast. The rainfall distribution in different Met sub-divisions are - actual 32.4mm against...

SHILLONG, March 28: Bowing to public pressure, Meghalaya Government yesterday introduced a bill in the State Assembly seeking to ban the manufacture, sale, use and throwing of 'low density' plastic bags in public places. It had been a public concern that plastic bags are littered on public roads, drains, streams, footpaths, rivulets, parks, open spaces and grounds and every nook and corner specially in the Shillong city which was once known for its cleanliness. 'Shillong We Care', a leading NGO in the city had been campaigning for sometime for imposition of a blanket ban on 'non-biodegradable'...

GUWAHATI, March 28: The long pending issue before the Guahati High Court as to whether the existing industrial units which undertook expansion, modernisation and diversification work as per the 1991 industrial policy of the Government of Assam will be entitled to full sales tax exemption for seven years was finally decided in favour of the industries. Chief Justice NC Jain, as a third judge delivered his judgment yesterday holding that the existing industries were to be treated at par with the new industries under the 1991 industrial policy. Earlier there was a difference of opinion among the...

AGARTALA, March 28: The ridiculously low number of child labourers recorded by the labour department of the Tripura government has drawn flak from experts of the V.V. Giri National Labour Institute. According to state government records, there are only 278 child labourers in Tripura. Of them, only 11 work in establishments which pose serious health hazards. These figures came out in the course of a seminar on child labour here jointly sponsored by the V.V. Giri National Labour Institute and the state labour department. The figures of child labour referred to by labour department officials in...

GUWAHATI, March 28: With the State Assembly polls approaching, the major political parties are trying to gather the support of the non-political organisations and both the ruling Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have sought the support of the All Assam Students' Union (AASU). Talking to The Assam Tribune here today, the AASU president Prabin Boro said that the State unit of the BJP sought the help of the AASU for the coming polls and "we had several rounds of discussion with the BJP leaders. We have categorically told the BJP leaders that if the BJP acts on the...