NEW DELHI, February 19: The Northeastern States were slammed by the President, KR Narayanan for leakage of development funds, even as he hinted at against any truce offer for the underground outfits by calling for firm action against the militants. The President's address may come as a major embarrassment to the Northeastern States as question marks were put on their track record of utilisation of public funds. The President's critical remarks were in fact a reflection of the Centre's hardboiled attitude towards the erring states on this score. "Substantial developmental resources flow into...

GUWAHATI, February 19: The total debt burden of Assam as on March 31, 2000 was Rs 8441.33 crore, said the Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta in the State Assembly today. Replying to a question by Ardhendu Kumar Dey (Cong), the Chief Minister said that the debt of the State as on March 31, 1996 was Rs 5329.13 crore. Mahanta revealed that the total revenue collection from April, 1996 to March 31, 2000 was Rs 17524.94 crore against the target of Rs 19966.57 crore. He said that Rs 2317.79 was collected from sales tax, while Rs 297.75 was collected as agriculture income tax. During the period...

SUTERKANDI (Karimganj), February 19: The opening of Rs 8.16 crore International Trade Centre at Suterkandi on the Indo-Bangladesh border in Karimganj district, is likely to change the socio-economic condition of entire Barak Valley as well as its neighbouring areas. This has been expressed by the people of Karimganj district while disclosing their views regarding the trade centre. The construction of the centre has already been started at the site. Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta has laid its foundation stone ceremonially last week. It may be recalled that the Government of Assam sent a...

DIPHU, February 19: The mega-size Amtereng hydro-electric project which is under construction at Hamren in Karbi Anglong district, is now fraught with security hurdles what with ultras threatening the labourers from outside the State working at the site to leave the area and are reportedly serving demand notes to the companies working at the project. The only big size hydro-electricity project (under construction) is located in the Amtereng site of Hamren sub-division of Karbi Anglong district. When completed this project is likely to generate and meet the entire requirement of electricity of...

IMPHAL, February 19: The working president of Manipur State Congress Party (MSCP) and Union Minister of State for Food Processing, Thounaojam Chaoba has called upon the MSCP factions for re-union with a view to strengthen the party. Sources told The Assam Tribune that the MSCP Chaoba group had even sent a proposal to the Nipamacha group to merge the two factions. However, the Nipamacha faction rejected the proposal. Announcing this at a press conference, Union Minister Chaoba said a decision to try and bring about a reunion of the MSCP factions was taken in an exhaustive meeting of the 23...