NEW DELHI, March 20: Planning Commission has put on brake sin flood control works in the Brahmaputra Valley by holding back sanction of schemes worth Rs 85.50 crore drawn up last year. The rionchalant attitude of the Planning Commission has spelt trouble for the Union Minister of State for Water Resources, Bijoya Chakravorty, as three ambitious projects sanctioned last year by the Ministry were shown the light leaving the State's lone minister in the NDA high and dry. The impasse forced the Parliamentary Standing Committee attached to the Water Resources Ministry to remark that it was...

ITANAGAR, March 20: Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Mukut Mithi today said he has asked the Centre to reopen the border trade routes with neighbouring countries like China, Myanmar and Bhutan, reports UNI. Replying to a private member resolution in the assembly on the reopening of the border trade with its neighbouring countries, Mithi said the Centre had evinced keen interests on the matter. He said the Centre was of the opinion that the existing routes to Moreh in Manipur should be made operational before opening up any new routes through Pangsu pass in the State. The private member...

HAFLONG, March 20: The eight NC Hills Autonomous Council has passed its Budget for the year 2001-2002 under the chairmanship of Kalijoy Sengyung in its session held on March 14 and 15 in the Council's session hall depicting a deficit of Rs 16.07 crore in its revenue sector, a press release said. The total estimated receipt is Rs 8,03,29,800 revenue + Rs 20,37,80,700 Govt Grant + Rs 138,57,50,000 deposit fund = Grand Total Rs 166,98,60,500. Presenting the Budget, the Chief Executive Member and i/c of the finance of the Council Prakanta Warisa who is also Member of Parliament stated that the...

GUWAHATI, March 20: Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) MS Gill, on the second day of his three-day visit to Assam to review preparations for the forthcoming Assembly elections, had discussions with various organisations and individuals at the Circuit House here today. The CEC met representatives and received memoranda from organisations like All Assam Students' Union (AASU), All Assam Minority Students' Union (AAMSU), Sadou Asam Karmachari Parishad (SAKP), All Assam Lawyers' Association (AALA), Assam Sikshak Karmachari Samannaya Samity (ASKSS), Cotton College Centenary Celebration Committee...

AIZAWL, March 20: The State government claims to have completed the process of identifying the "legal" Reang residents of Mizoram and have placed the figure at a little over 10,000, reports UNI. With this, the Mizoram administration has literally rubbished the claims made by Tripura that over 31,000 Reangs living in the northern refugee camps belonged to the State. The announcement could have far reaching effects on the demographic profile of the region as Mizoram can now refuse entry to over 20,000 Reangs/Brus who were claiming to be residents of the State. Placing the Reangs under two...