IMPHAL, March 2: Manipur health and family welfare minister Nimaichand Luwang has warned of a crackdown on private hospitals and medical institutions which do not conform to official specifications in terms of infrastructure and quality of service. Luwang, a doctor by profession, said at a function here yesterday that a medical college could be established only in accordance with the rules framed by the Medical Council of India. He expressed displeasure over the fact that some medical institutions in the state were violating these rules. Sources said a few medical and nursing colleges had been...

GUWAHATI, March 2: Every body in the Government, right from a bureaucrat to the Union Finance Minister, cannot but mention the T&D (transmission and distribution) loss incurred by our State Electricity Boards (SEBs) while making observations on the deplorable state of affairs in the power sector of the country. But, they remain blissfully silent over the issue of the losses caused by power theft. The reason for that is best known to them. Perhaps, the following incidents will help in throwing some light on this aspect of feigning ignorance by these people in the helm of affairs. Two years back...

ITANAGAR, March 2: The ruling Congress Government led by Mukut Mithi in this Himalayan State has hiked the royalty on all categories of timber and other forest products by 15 per cent with immediate effect. "This decision was taken as per the country's apex court ruling at the Cabinet meeting held under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Mukut Mithi here yesterday," Takam Sanjoy told the newsmen here today. He said that the Cabinet has also approved the enhancement of stipend of all categories of tribal students by Rupees 100 from the existing one. "This will cost the State exchequer by...

SHILLONG, Mach 2: The North Eastern Council (NEC) has accorded administrative approval to schemes worth Rs 31.34 crore besides releasing Rs 25.16 crore during February this year. Council sources said the schemes cleared included the expansion programme of the Regional Dental College at Guwahati at an estimated cost Rs 4 crore. A grant of Rs 1 crore has been sanctioned to the Government of Assam to implement the scheme. The Assam Government has been given another grant of Rs 54 lakh for development of an integrated muga project and muga silk industry. The scheme has a loan component of another...

IMPHAL, March 2: External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh today informed the Rajya Sabha that the Centre has already sanctioned an amount of Rs 19.68 crore for the construction of a national highway connecting Tamu with the country. He was replying to a question raised by Rajya Sabha MP, W Angou Singh. The minister further informed the House that the project was taken up to foster cross border trade, tourism and to improve the economic condition of the Border States. To another question raised by W Angou, Union minister of State for Road Transport and Highway, BS Khundu said that construction...