OIL to display Assamese sign boards

OIL to display Assamese sign boards

Staff Reporter

DIBRUGARH, June 30: Sign boards and name plates in different offices, OCS and GCS of OIL at Duliajan will now see the use of the Assamese language along with English and Hindi. The assurance was made by the authorities of the oil major at a meeting with representatives of AASU in presence of administrative officials at Duliajan on June 29. The announcement comes quick on the heels of a recent confrontation between CISF personnel and members of the Duliajan unit of AASU after the latter were stopped while trying to blacken the sign boards. OIL authorities said that names in Assamese will be displayed within a month and assured the students’ organization that applications written in the language will be accepted. They also revealed that the guilty CISF jawan has been punished.

Sahitya Sabha research centre at Kolkata

Staff reporter

GUWAHATI, June 29 – Breaking new grounds in promoting Assamese language and literature, the Asam Sahitya Sabha is all set to establish a new research centre at Kolkata. The facility named Jonaki Language-Literature-Culture Centre, would bring into focus the literary and cultural rejuvenation that was brought about by the journal Jonaki way back in the 19th century.

At a press meet held at the Bhagawati Prasad Baruah Bhawan, here, Sabha president Rongbong Terang revealed that a scheme detailing the centre has been handed over to West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadev Bhattacharya, who has appreciated the initiative and assured the Sabha of his support.

The centre would serve the interest of researchers who would like to study various aspects of the Jonaki period, including the works of noted litterateurs who were intrinsic to the movement that gave Assamese literature a new dimension.

According to Sabha secretary Paramananda Rajbongshi, the West Bengal Chief Minister was further requested to name an important road after Sahityarathi Lakshminath Bezbaruah and to erect a bronze statue of Lokapriya Gopinath Bardoloi. Bhattacharya gave a positive response in this regard and also asked the Sabha to promote cultural exchanges between Assam and West Bengal in a platform called Ganga-Brahmaputra.

The Sabha delegation was led by its president Rongbong Terang and included, Kanak Chandra Sarma, Dr Paramananda Rajbongshi, Gokulmohan Hazarika, among others.

According to the Sabha president, the launch of the new centre is part of the Sabha’s overall effort to build links with neighbouring cultures, and contribute to mutual understanding. The Sabha has already developed cultural ties with Tripura, and after West Bengal the literary body will seek to establish its presence in Orissa with which Assam had vibrant ties in the past.

Meanwhile, the Sabha successfully organised a lecture session on the life and works of Bishnu Prasad Rava in collaboration with Sahitya Akademi at Kolkata on June 20. Eminent litterateur Arun Sarma delivered the first lecture, which was followed by lectures by Prof Manabendra Bandopadhay and Gautam Prasad Baruah.

The event also witnessed felicitation of classical dancer Devayani Chaliha, and Ranu Biswas, the wife of late Hemanga Biswas and Hemendra Prasad Baruah. A number of noted personalities representing the intellectual and cultural milieu of Kolkata were present on the occasion.

For the first time the Sabha centrally organised Bishnu Rava Divas at Kolkata. Several songs of the Kalaguru, dance performances, and speeches marked the event held at Kolkata’s Assam Bhawan.

Call for one-time Central grant to NEDFi

GUWAHATI, June 29 – Since its inception, the North Eastern Development Finance Corporation Limited (NEDFi) has been playing a key role in entrepreneurship development in the region, but under the present circumstances, the Central Government can play a major role in the growth of the organization by increasing its corpus fund with a one-time grant, said the Chairman and Managing Director of the NEDFi, KN Hazarika.

Talking to The Assam Tribune today, Hazarika said that with the investment scenario in the region improving considerably and because of the incentives offered in the North East Industrial and Investment Promotion Policy of 2007, there is an urgent need for increasing the corpus capital of the NEDFi and in this regard the Centre can play a major role by providing a one-time grant. He revealed that the NEDFi has already approached the Department for Development of theNorth Eastern Region (DoNER) and the Planning Commission in this regard.

A study carried out by the Indian Institute of Bank Management has shown that the demand for micro credit in the region is around Rs 2600 crore. In the period from April, 2007 to March, 2009, expression of interest and industrial entrepreneurs’ memoranda indicated proposed investment in the region to the tune of Rs 16,798 crore. Even if 20 per cent of the requirement of proposed investment is to be tapped, the NEDFi’s fund requirement in the next five years would be around Rs 2,000 crore and the Centre can help the organization grow to the desired extent by providing a one-time grant of at least Rs 2,000 crore, said Hazarika.

The NEDFi CMD said that the second option for the organization to increase its corpus is to float shares for the public. But for doing that, the organization would have to receive clearance from the Government and the Reserve Bank of India. He said that the capacity of the NEDFi to handle such investments would also have to be increased considerably and a separate department with persons having experience in handling public investments would have to be created. The NPA level would also have to be reduced further.

Giving an account of the performance of the NEDFi, Hazarika revealed that the performance of the organization improved considerably in the last five years and the NPA level has been brought down from around 16 per cent to 3.73 percent. He said that in the last financial year, the NEDFi sanctioned loans amounting to around Rs 300 crore and the net profit after payment of taxes was around Rs 33.25 crore. The NEDFi also managed to pay a dividend of Rs 3 crore to the shareholders, he added.

Over the years, the NEDFi also conducted more than 60 studies, which benefited the region in different ways. For example, the NEDFi study on limestone deposits in Assam and Meghalaya led to a boost in cement industries, said Hazarika.

The NEDFi CMD further said that the NE is poised for major growth in the next few years with the improvement in law-and-order situation and the incentives given under the NEIIPP, which generated lots of interest among investors in the sectors like cement, power, steel, roads, tea, health care, higher and technical education, tourism, etc., while rapid urbanization resulted in large scale investments in real estate. The future is bright for the NEDFi if judicious policies are adopted in lending and the Centre comes forward to increase the corpus capital, Hazarika added.

Chakka bandh hits life in State

Staff reporter

GUWAHATI, June 29 – The 24-hour chakka bandh, called in protest against the increase in the prices of petroleum products, today upset normal life of the commuters, who are dependent on the public transport system. Most of them either stayed indoors, abstaining from going to work, or were badly hit by the exorbitant fares charged by the auto-rickshaw operators. Even the rickshaw-pullers were found exploiting these people. The school-going children and the office-goers were among the worst hit sectionsof the people.

The bandh was called by the All India Road Transport Workers’ Federation and the All Assam Motor Transport Association (AAMTA) and was supported by many of the associations connected with the business of operating commercial vehicles.

The AAMTA, through a memorandum to the State Government’s Transport Department, has demanded steps to increase the fares of the commercial vehicles in Assam, including the city buses, to cope with the rise in the fuel prices.

With no city buses plying on any route and limited number of auto-rickshaws and rickshaws on the road, thousands of the commuters stranded in various city areas since this morning. Frustrated, many of them had to return home and some others had to cover the distance between their workplace and home on foot.

“We did not place any demand for hike in the city bus fares for past six years despite the fact that prices of petroleum products have increased several times besides a steep rise in the prices of rubber products like tyres, tubes, iron parts, glass, lights etc. Considering the above circumstances, we request steps to hike the city bus fares by at least 80 per cent over the prevailing fare,” the letter from the AAMTA members to the Government said.

“The auto-rickshaws charged unbelievable fares in the name of the bandh. With water logging still persisting in many areas due to yesterday’s rainfall, the situation worsened beyond control,” said Nidhi Sarma, a resident of Birubari area.

“Our daughters could not attend their classes due to the bandh. Considering the possible hazards during the bandh period we asked them to abstain from classes today,” Noori Rahman, a resident of Gandhibasti area said. Many of the schools having their own school-bus services, also did not record full attendance. Private vehicles, however, plied normally on the roads.

http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=jun3010/at06

Nagaland minister detained at Kathmandu airport

KOHIMA, June 30 (PTI) - Nagaland Home Minister Imkong Inchen was detained at the Kathmandu airport today for carrying Indian currency notes in the denomination of Rs 1000 and Rs 500, which is banned in Nepal.

Official sources here said the minister was not aware of the ban.

The sources said that after receiving the information, the government immediately informed Union Home Minister P Chidambaram about the detention.

Abu Metha, Press Secretary to the State Chief Minister, told PTI that Indians frequently face the problem in Nepal as most of them are not aware of the ban.

While it was not known how much amount the minister was carrying, unconfirmed reports said he had Rs 9 lakh with him.

Assam Forest dept upbeat over rhino translocation

GUWAHATI, June 30 (PTI) - After the initial jitters and bureaucratic delays, the Assam Forest department is now upbeat over the prospect of more translocation of the highly endangered one-horned rhinos among its forests once important tranquilisers are obtained.

"Yes the drugs have finally arrived in New Delhi and our zoo divisional forest officer Narayan Mahanta will soon leave to get hold of it,"Assam's Chief Wildlife Warden Suresh Chand told PTI here.

Confirming that after the initial launch of the project in 2008, there was a delay due to unavailability of the drugs, Chand said finally the wait is over.

"There are lot of bureaucratic rules and regulation to get the drug from South Africa which is the only country in the world where it gets manufactured," he says.

Only 10 pc Meghalaya families have bank account

Raju Das

SHILLONG, June 18 – Less than 10 per cent households in Meghalaya have bank accounts, thereby severely affecting implementation of several flagship programmes of the UPA Government, which are credit-linked.

Many of the flagship programmes, like Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, Indira Awas Yojna and others are credit-linked. Therefore, in the absence of banking transaction in the rural sector, implementation of these schemes have been affected, Chief Minister Mukul Sangma said yesterday.

“About 95.90 per cent households do not indulge in banking transactions. Moreover, the credit-deposit (CD) ratio is very low,” he said after returning last evening from New Delhi. Sangma, who also holds the Finance portfolio, attended the Eastern region’s Finance Ministers’ meet held in Patna, in which senior bank officials were also present.

He said some of the constraints relating to poor implementation of the UPA Government’s flagship programmes were highlighted to the Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee.

Meghalaya, which has 49 per cent of its population living below the poverty line, naturally was trying its best to make its population “financially literate” and also “coordinating with banks” to increase the CD ratio.

Meghalaya being a Sixth Schedule State, has a unique land tenure system with many people not having land patta (land deed.)

Sangma said, this position was made clear to the bank officials and they were requested to extend credit taking into consideration this unique system. The government, he added, was exploring whether it could issue land certificates to do away with this bottleneck.

Moreover, the banks were requested to open their branches in “unbanked blocks” in the State.

Source:http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=jun1910/oth05

State tea industry heading for disaster

Suryya Kumar Chetia

JORHAT, June 18 – “The tea industry in Assam will face serious consequences for ignoring the precautions prescribed by the scientists more than half a century ago,” said Dr Dina Nath Boruah, retired tea scientist of Tocklai Experimental Station.

Boruah, talking to The Assam Tribune, added that the owners of the huge tea estates in the State were advised to replant in their gardens in 1949. But most of them ignored the warning made by the noted plant-physiologist. The most crucial aspectof the blunder is that lakhs of the tea garden workers would, as a result, turn jobless. This would break the social equilibrium in the State, Baruah added.

Normally a tea plant remains economically profitable till 50 years. After crossing this age it loses its productivity.

As one of the major tea producing regions in the world, more than 3 lakh and 30 thousand hactares of land in the northeast India are covered by the green carpet of tea plantation. More than 360 million kg of tea from organized sector have been produced annually in Assam.

“We advised tea estate owners to replant two per cent of the estate annually. But they did not pay heed”, said Baruah, the 94-year-old scientist. He also opined that the decreasing rate of production in the tea estates had discouragedthe owners to maintain them properly. Therefore, the companies like Tata and Hindustan Uniliver are reducing the number of their gardens, he added.

When contacted, Dr Mridul Hazarika, Director of Tea Research Association (TRA) told this Correspondent that the rate of re-plantation in the old tea gardens is very slow. The rate should be increased to avoid unwanted situation the teaindustry is sure to face.

He also said that the Tea Board has set up a ‘Special Purpose Tea Fund Scheme’ for financing tea industry for undertaking re-plantation and rejuvenation of old tea plantation. The size of the fund is around Rs 4700 crore over a period of 15 years. The scheme would save the situation leading the production to a positive direction, he said.

When contacted, a tea planter, seeking anonymity, told to this Correspondent that three factors hinder the process of replantation. Firstly, the loss of production from the replanted area, secondly, this re-plantation is a costly affair and thirdly this process consumes a long time.

He further said that the uprooting of the old tea trees takes a lot of toil and cash on the part of the owners. And the period to rejuvenate the cleared land takes about two years. The new plantation in the area also needs minimum three years to become productive. Thus this process needs at least five years andthe owners do not want to lose the little production they had been receiving from the old plantation when the market of tea is not conducive.

Another tea planter said that the Special Purpose Tea Fund Scheme provided only 25 per cent of the cost of replantation. And this too was provided only after the replantation work completes with the money from the pockets of the owners.

Source:http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=jun1910/at07

AGP moves Centre for fair CBI probe

Spl correspondent

NEW DELHI, June 18 – Alleging gross cover up, former Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta today sought Central intervention to ensure free-and-fair probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the multi-crore rupee North Cachar Hill scam.

A day after Chief Minister, Tarun Gogoi took on Mahanta, reminding AGP about the LoC scam, on Friday, it was the turn of the former Chief Minister to respond.

Mahanta called on Union Home Minister, P Chidambaram alleging that the CBI investigation in the Rs 1000 crore scam was being politically influenced. The CBI probe is handicapped, as the State Government has handed over a limited number of five-six cases.

Mahanta’s case was based on news report that appeared in The Assam Tribune’s on the issue. He attached copies of the stories and had it faxed to the Prime Minister, as well.

“We have come to learn that the CBI is entrusted to inquire into the misappropriation of Rs 36 crore, out of which Rs 13.45 crore has been recovered from a private house by the CBI.

Mahanta further alleged that during the raid on the relative of the prime accused, a list containing names of seven Ministers of Gogoi’s council of ministry besides top officials has been seized by the CBI. This proves that high ups in Gogoi Government was involved in the scam, he charged.

Mahanata said he is demanding proper investigation in the scam that is believed to have crossed Rs 1000 crore. The CBI should be allowed to investigate without any political interference,” he said.

He said that he feared that a scam of the same magnitude may have taken place in Karbi Anglong District Autonomous Council.

When asked about the future course of action, he said they would like to first approach the Central Government.

Mahanta further alleged that a massive misappropriation of Central funds granted under PMGRY is going on. In the name of building of roads in rural areas, massive corruption is taking place. Interestingly, Gogoi during his recent meeting with the Prime mInister had sought allocation of Rs 800 crore from the Centre for implementation of the PMRGY.

Responding to the Chief Minister’s charge of his alleged involvement in the LoC scam, Mahanta replied that these were all settled cases and as a practicing lawyer Gogoi should know.

Mahanta said the ruling Congress was enjoying the fruits of the seeds that AGP had sown.

He cited the instances of change of funding pattern to 90:10 during the reign of AGP, the extension of Broad Gauge to Tinsukia, grant of loan waiver of Rs 10,000 given to poor and marginal farmers, self sufficiency in rice production, among others.

“Gogoi has mastered the art of misleading the people and he is doing just that,” he charged.

Soruce:http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=jun1910

Naga students suspend NH blockade

KOHIMA, June 18 – The over 60-day economic blockade of two highways in Manipur was temporarily suspended by Naga students today, giving a breather to the people who faced an acute crisis of essentials, reports PTI.

The agitators, however, decided to ‘sever’ all ties with the Manipur government and sought an ‘alternative arrangement’ for Nagas in Manipur from the Centre.

The decision to lift the blockade from 4 pm today was taken here at a meeting of Naga Students’ Federation (NSF), Naga Hoho (council), All Naga Students Association Manipur (ANSAM), United Naga Council, Naga People’s Movement for Human Rights-South (NPMHR) and Naga Women Union Manipur (NWUM), a joint statement said.

The declaration said the blockade was being temporarily lifted in view of the request by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Home Minister P Chidambaram, student bodies of the neighbouring states and civil societies.

The suspension came ahead of the Centre’s decision to escort goods vehicles from tomorrow on the NH-39 with the help of central paramilitary forces. Three CRPF companies from Delhi landed in Imphal yesterday to clear theblockade.

The ANSAM had continued with the blockade since April 12 in Manipur even after the NSF, after a meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in Delhi, had withdrawn it at the Nagaland side on June 15.

The blockade by ANSAM was to protest holding of elections to the autonomous district councils in the hills.

In a joint declaration, ANSAM, UNC and other Naga civil society bodies demanded that the elections to the autonomous district councils be declared null and void.

The meeting also endorsed the UNC’s decision to ‘sever’ all ties with the Manipur government and demanded that the Centre immediately make ‘alternative arrangements’ for Nagas in Manipur.

It said that the Centre had earlier given assurances for removal of Manipur Armed Police and Section 144 CrPC from Naga areas in Manipur which had not taken place till date and should be immediately implemented.

The meeting also condemned the declaration of presidents of UNC and ANSAM as offenders and ‘fixing price tags’ on them by the Manipur government.

Soruce:http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=jun1910

Arunachal seeks Centre’s nod on upsizing ministry

Correspondent

ITANAGAR, June 17 – Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu has pleaded the Centre for giving dispensation to the State in regards to upsizing of his 12-member ministry to facilitate his government accommodate more ministers to satisfy the various ethnic groups of the State.

The Chief Minister, leading a 17-member high level team comprising ministers and legislators, besides MP Takam Sanjoy, has yesterday called on Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh in New Delhi and apprised him of various problems facing the State.

Justifying his plea for upsizing the State ministry, Khandu said the State has 28 major tribes and 110 sub-tribes and many of them are not represented in his ministry. He appealed thePrime Minister to consider moving of an appropriate Bill to amend the Constitution for relaxation of Article 170 in regards to Arunachal Pradesh.

The CM and his team also urged the Prime Minister to issue directive to the FCI to release fund for regulating the payment of pending Hill Transport Subsidy (HTS) bills in order to strengthen the Public Distribution System in the State.

“Due to non-payment of the pending HTS bills, the PDS has been adversely affected in the State,” Khandu pointed out and added, “The Stategovernment has been put to tremendous pressure in the implementation of various Central government schemes related to food security.” He said if the FCI is allowed to delay the payment for so long, the food security will remain a distant dream in the State.

Khandu also urged Singh to issue necessary directive to the Ministry of Food & Public Distribution as well as FCI to release an advance of Rs 600 crore to pay the HTS bills, lying pending from 2004 to 2010.

Soruce:http://www.assamtribune.com

Flood fury hits Jorhat

GUWAHATI, June 17 – Jorhat has become the latest district in Assam to face the flood fury with nearly one lakh people being affected in the last two days, officials said today.

Lakhimpur in Brahmaputra valley and Cachar and Karimganj in Barak valley have been already hit by floods.

In Jorhat district, Bhogdoi river breached the dyke at Maloupathar area submerging over 35 villages with 1000 families and inundating more than 1000 hectares of farm land with standing crops and vegetables, the officials said.

Several schools, five colleges, 20 temples of historical importance were also inundated forcing closure of educational institutions for the next three days.

The affected people were taking shelter on the Bar Ali ‘bundh’ (dyke)-cum-road, they said.

In Titabor subdivision, in Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi’s constituency, Choraipani river had caused breaches in two places between Dangdhora and Bhekuriagaon inundating around 45 villages housing nearly 10,000 people, 20 schools and agricultural fields.

With the Brahmputra rising at Neamatighat, its tributary Choraipani, was flowing above the danger level near Kakodanga overtopping the Dhudar Ali inter state – road connecting Jorhat and Nagaland, they said.

Another road, Nagabat to Nagaland was also under water affecting the collection of crude oil from the Sarupathar and Borhula gas gathering stations (GGS) of the ONGC to be transported by oil tankers to the refineries by road.

River island Majuli in Jorhat district was also affected by the rising Brahmaputra submerging its outer adjoining low-lying areas, they said.

Water-borne diseases like dysentery and viral fever had broken out in Majuli, besides other diseases affecting cattle following the floods, official sources said.

The district administration was providing relief and rehabilitation to the affected, the sources said, adding medical camps have been set up to provide healthcare facilities.

In worst-hit Lakhimpur district, a heavy downpour inundated Lakhimpur, Naoboicha and Bihpuria revenue circles, while the Kakoio dyke was washed away by the swirling water of Brahmaputra’s tributaries – Ranganadi, Singora, Kakoi, Boginade, Gavaru, Bogolee, Subansiri and Dikmong.

The floodwaters of Dikmong river have submerged a part of National Highway 52 near Harmoti, disrupting road communication, the sources said.

More than 30,000 people have been marooned and the district’s deputy commissioner Jayant Narlikar visited the flood-hit areas.

In the twin districts of Karimganj and Cachar in Barak valley, normal life was hit as hundreds of families were forced to leave their homes with rivers Barak, Longai and Kushiara in spate having submerged their homes.

In Karimganj, a 100 metre long barbed wire fencing along neighbouring Bangladesh was swept away by the Kushiara as Patharkandi and Neelambazaar areas in the district were the worst affected. – PTI

SC/ST quota hike in Central colleges in NE

Spl correspondent

NEW DELHI, June 17 – In a major policy shift, universities and central educational institutions in North-east will now be able to give reservation to more ST and SC students than what is stipulated under law.

With the Union Cabinet, at a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday, clearing a proposal to amend the CentralEducational Institutions (Reservation in Admission) Act, these universities could get exemption from implementing 27 per cent quota for OBCs in admission as required under the Act.

Most of the Universities located in the North-east, will be able to continue with 15 per cent reservation for STs even though the CEI (Reservation in Admission) Act stipulates 7.5 per cent reservation for them.

The Cabinet approved certain amendments to Sections 2,3,4 and 5 of the 2006 Act.

The Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Admission) (Amendment ) Bill 2010 will be introduced in the coming session of Parliament, Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni told newsmen.

The amendments are being brought to safeguard interests of the tribal population in far-flung and remote areas of the North-eastern States, said Soni.

The amendment says that a CEI in the tribal areas will be governed by the reservation policy of the concerned State government in the matter of admissions of scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and other backward classes.

“The amendment will provide a balance between the local policy at State level and the national policy on reservation. The amendments would ensure equity and inclusiveness and meet the regional aspirations,” Soni said.

These institutions are facing certain practical difficulties in implementing the Act as their statutes already provide for reservation of higher percentage than 15 per cent of the seats for SCs or 7.5 per cent of the seats for STs.

The amendment also says that the period for implementing the CEI Act shall be enhanced to six years from three years, as some of the CEIs are finding it difficult to adhere to the said time limit for creation of the requisite physical and academic infrastructure.

Difficulties were experienced by some of the CEIs, particularly those situated in the North-Eastern States inhabited significantly by tribal population, and Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Lucknow, which has been reserving 50per cent seats for the scheduled castes and the scheduled tribes.

Source:http://www.assamtribune.com/

CBI getting limited mandate in probe

R Dutta Choudhury

GUWAHATI, June 17 – Though the people of Assam are expecting the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to go into the root of corruption in the North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council, the Bureau has been given only a limited mandate and it will be difficult for the agency to unearth all the financial irregularities that took place in the Council over the years.

According to information available with The Assam Tribune, the State Government did not entrust the CBI with the responsibility of investigating into all the financial irregularities that took place in the Council and there is very limited scope for the Bureau to find out all the irregular dealings and misuse of public funds. The scope of the CBI’s probe is limited only to the cases handed over tothe Bureau and under the circumstances, it is unlikely that the Central agency would be able to unearth all the financial irregularities.

Highly placed official sources in Dispur admitted that while handing over the cases to the CBI, the State Government only handed over five specific cases relating to financial irregularities in five departments on the basis of the report of the NationalInvestigating Agency (NIA), while, the Assam Police is investigating into one case.

Sources admitted that it would have been better if the CBI was given the task of investigating into all the financial irregularities that took place in the Autonomous Council as under such circumstances, the Bureau would have been able to scan the relevant documents and decide on the cases to be registered. But in this particular case, it was the other way round and only a few specific cases were handed over to the CBI and the officialsinvestigating into the cases do not have the mandate to examine the papers and irregular financial dealings, which are not related to those particular cases.

Sources revealed that during the course of investigation of a case of use of Council funds for procurement of weapons by the militants belonging to the DHD(J), the NIA came across a few isolated incidents of irregular financial dealings in six departments of the Council and asinvestigating into such dealings was not under the purview of the NIA, it recommended a probe by the CBI.

But instead of asking the CBI to probe into the financial dealings of the departments concerned, the State Government only handed over the cases relating to the irregular dealings identified by the NIA in five departments and the case of irregular dealing in the DRDA is being investigated by theAssam Police.

The CBI registered the FIRs relating only to the five cases handed over to it and started the process of scanning the documents relating to those particular dealings. Sources pointed out that as it was not the mandate of the NIA to examinethe financial irregularities in the Council, it concentrated only on the issue of politician-militant nexus and during the process of investigation it came across only a few instances of financial irregularities and the Agency was not expected to closely examine all the dealings.

The CBI has achieved a major breakthrough as it managed to recover an amount of Rs 13.45 crore from the residence of a relative of RH Khan, one of the accused in the case, butthe Bureau does not have the mandate to examine the documents relating to the irregular financial transactions, which are not linked to the cases handed over to it.

ULFA heading for a split, says Gogoi

Spl correspondent

NEW DELHI, June 17 – Confirming that outlawed ULFA is heading for a split, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today said Paresh Barua should see the writing on the wall, even as he ruled out the possibility of releasing the jailed leaders and also declaring an unilateral ceasefire.

Addressing a press conference on Thursday, the Chief Minister dealt with a host of issues and gave a brief account of his meetings with Central leaders inclu-ding Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, Union Home Minister P Chidambaram, Union Minister for Water Resources Paban Kumar Bansal and Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Murli Deora, among others.

On the ULFA issue, the Chief Minister said that the militant outfit was heading for a split and sharp cracks have surfaced. He said half of the central committee members are in jail and the rest are outside the soil of Assam. “Yes, there is a division within the outfit,” he observed.

Paresh Barua is not keen for talks. But even then we are trying, though we are prepared to go ahead even without him,” he said, adding that Government is prepared to grant him safe passage, in case he turns up for talks.

“If he is willing to come, definitely we will consider,” Gogoi said.

The Chief Minister, though candidly admitted that it was not numbers but the ULFA military chief’s firepower and the potential to create trouble that is bothering the government.

The Chief Minister also ruled out the possibility of declaring a unilateral cease-fire, asserting that the government has information that Paresh Barua’s group is still trying to foment problem in the State. “We know the areas where they are operating. There is no question of slowing down operations,” he asserted.

Gogoi disclosed that Barua’s is not opposed to dialogue but he wants to discuss about sovereignty, which Government does not want to discuss. “Sovereignty is non-negotiable and we have made it clear,” he said.

Paresh Barua should see the writing on the wall and gauge the mood of the people of the State, said, pointing out that the support base of insurgency has shrunk inAssam.

About the peace process, Gogoi said that government is not talking about releasing the jailed leaders now. “We have not discussed this but we have conveyed to them that we will give all facilities to the jailed leaders,” he said.

“The State Government cannot release them. They have to apply for bail before the court. The law is very clear and it depends on the courts. But all these issues will come later,” he added.

Clarifying Government’s thinking, he said Government wanted to move step by step and first interlocutor would be appointed. Former IB chief PC Haldar is tipped to take over. The interlocutor would talk to them and then we will decide on the modalities. After that the question of demands would come, he stated.

Declining to a give a specific time-frame, the Chief Minister said he first wanted the process to start. He also clarified that there was no pre-condition from ULFA’s side. “Whereas we have made it clear that we do not have the authority to disintegrate the country and they are also not insisting,” he said, referring to the demand for sovereignty.

About the role of the State Government in the peace process, Gogoi said it would be limited to facilitating the negotiations. “They would like to talk to the Government of India and we will facilitate that,” he said.

The Chief Minister again reiterated that he was not prepared to reveal in what form the government has received the signal for talks from the pro-talk group. “We have to go step by step and we expect 60-70 per cent of the cadres to join the peace process. Why wait for 100 per cent of the cadres to join the process,” he said.

The Chief Minister also gave out figures to butress his claim that the internal security situation in the State has improved considerably during the past few years and insurgency is on the wane.

Soruce:http://www.assamtribune.com

Prithvi-II successfully test-fired

BALASORE, June 18 (PTI) - India today successfully test-fired its indigenously developed, nuclear-capable, ballistic missile Prithvi-II from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur, about 15 km from here off the Orissa coast.

The missile mounted on a mobile launcher was blasted off from the launch complex-3 in the ITR at around 6:50 am, defence sources said.

"The trial of Prithvi-II, conducted by the Army, has gone through nicely," ITR Director SP Dash said.

With a maximum striking range of 350 km, Prithvi-II is capable of carrying a pay-load of 500 kg.

The test-firing of the surface-to-surface missile, which has already been inducted into Indian armed forces, was a users trial by the Army's specialised group "strategic force command" (SFC), the sources said.

Prithvi, the first ballistic missile developed under the country's prestigious Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP), is propelled by liquid propulsion twin engine.

NRL refutes ONGC allegation

Staff reporter
GUWAHATI, June 15 – The Numaligarh Refinery Ltd (NRL) today refuted the allegations levelled against it by the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Ltd (ONGCL) that its shutdown had caused the latter huge losses, as unfounded.

During its Diesel Quality Upgradation Project (DQUP) period, that is, Mar’10 onwards, NRL continued to receive crude in line with its allocation. In fact crude allocation of 40 TMT for the month of May last was received in full and allocation of 120 TMT for the current month would be received. Of this amount, 33 TMT has already been received, said an official press release of the NRL here.

NRL Director, Technical, Dipak Chakravorty told this newspaper that the DQUP is a planned and approved project with a project duration of 24 months. Of the period, the last two months require (60 days) shutdown of the refinery for carrying out the final execution jobs.

The NRL had to undertake this revamp process about three years back at a cost of Rs 435 crore with a view to producing Euro –III and IV diesel, in accordance with the Government of India’s auto fuel policy.

The project is aimed at modification of crude distillation unit and expansion of hydrocracker unit by 30 per cent and hydrogen unit by 25 per cent so as to enable NRL to produce Euro-III and IV diesel.

This revamp route was taken considering the high investment of around Rs 1,600 crore required to set up a new diesel-hydrotreater unit. The shutdown that is demanded at the end part of the revamp process, was initially scheduled from March 1 to end April last.

But due to requests from the oil producers, shutdown was postponed to March 15 and accordingly it was scheduled to be completed by May 15. However, unprecedented rainfall in Assam this time made the project schedule suffer by a month.

Despite the adverse condition, crude distillation was commissioned on May 22 itself with a delay of only seven days. And the unit is operating since then at 50 per cent capacity.

The hydrogen unit which has also been commissioned and the hydrocracker unit which was mechanically completed on June 9 and is presently under commissioning, will be fully commissioned shortly.

In fact, these units, because of their complex nature, take about six to seven days for full commissioning. “Once the entire project is fully commissioned, we expect to absorb more crude. We are putting all efforts to expedite the activities,” said Chakravorty.

He also complained that NRL, which has an installed capacity of 3 million tonnes, is operating at around 2.5 million tonnes, on an average, because of crude constraints.

NRL refutes ONGC allegation

Staff reporter
GUWAHATI, June 15 – The Numaligarh Refinery Ltd (NRL) today refuted the allegations levelled against it by the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Ltd (ONGCL) that its shutdown had caused the latter huge losses, as unfounded.

During its Diesel Quality Upgradation Project (DQUP) period, that is, Mar’10 onwards, NRL continued to receive crude in line with its allocation. In fact crude allocation of 40 TMT for the month of May last was received in full and allocation of 120 TMT for the current month would be received. Of this amount, 33 TMT has already been received, said an official press release of the NRL here.

NRL Director, Technical, Dipak Chakravorty told this newspaper that the DQUP is a planned and approved project with a project duration of 24 months. Of the period, the last two months require (60 days) shutdown of the refinery for carrying out the final execution jobs.

The NRL had to undertake this revamp process about three years back at a cost of Rs 435 crore with a view to producing Euro –III and IV diesel, in accordance with the Government of India’s auto fuel policy.

The project is aimed at modification of crude distillation unit and expansion of hydrocracker unit by 30 per cent and hydrogen unit by 25 per cent so as to enable NRL to produce Euro-III and IV diesel.

This revamp route was taken considering the high investment of around Rs 1,600 crore required to set up a new diesel-hydrotreater unit. The shutdown that is demanded at the end part of the revamp process, was initially scheduled from March 1 to end April last.

But due to requests from the oil producers, shutdown was postponed to March 15 and accordingly it was scheduled to be completed by May 15. However, unprecedented rainfall in Assam this time made the project schedule suffer by a month.

Despite the adverse condition, crude distillation was commissioned on May 22 itself with a delay of only seven days. And the unit is operating since then at 50 per cent capacity.

The hydrogen unit which has also been commissioned and the hydrocracker unit which was mechanically completed on June 9 and is presently under commissioning, will be fully commissioned shortly.

In fact, these units, because of their complex nature, take about six to seven days for full commissioning. “Once the entire project is fully commissioned, we expect to absorb more crude. We are putting all efforts to expedite the activities,” said Chakravorty.

He also complained that NRL, which has an installed capacity of 3 million tonnes, is operating at around 2.5 million tonnes, on an average, because of crude constraints.

NRL refutes ONGC allegation

Staff reporter
GUWAHATI, June 15 – The Numaligarh Refinery Ltd (NRL) today refuted the allegations levelled against it by the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Ltd (ONGCL) that its shutdown had caused the latter huge losses, as unfounded.

During its Diesel Quality Upgradation Project (DQUP) period, that is, Mar’10 onwards, NRL continued to receive crude in line with its allocation. In fact crude allocation of 40 TMT for the month of May last was received in full and allocation of 120 TMT for the current month would be received. Of this amount, 33 TMT has already been received, said an official press release of the NRL here.

NRL Director, Technical, Dipak Chakravorty told this newspaper that the DQUP is a planned and approved project with a project duration of 24 months. Of the period, the last two months require (60 days) shutdown of the refinery for carrying out the final execution jobs.

The NRL had to undertake this revamp process about three years back at a cost of Rs 435 crore with a view to producing Euro –III and IV diesel, in accordance with the Government of India’s auto fuel policy.

The project is aimed at modification of crude distillation unit and expansion of hydrocracker unit by 30 per cent and hydrogen unit by 25 per cent so as to enable NRL to produce Euro-III and IV diesel.

This revamp route was taken considering the high investment of around Rs 1,600 crore required to set up a new diesel-hydrotreater unit. The shutdown that is demanded at the end part of the revamp process, was initially scheduled from March 1 to end April last.

But due to requests from the oil producers, shutdown was postponed to March 15 and accordingly it was scheduled to be completed by May 15. However, unprecedented rainfall in Assam this time made the project schedule suffer by a month.

Despite the adverse condition, crude distillation was commissioned on May 22 itself with a delay of only seven days. And the unit is operating since then at 50 per cent capacity.

The hydrogen unit which has also been commissioned and the hydrocracker unit which was mechanically completed on June 9 and is presently under commissioning, will be fully commissioned shortly.

In fact, these units, because of their complex nature, take about six to seven days for full commissioning. “Once the entire project is fully commissioned, we expect to absorb more crude. We are putting all efforts to expedite the activities,” said Chakravorty.

He also complained that NRL, which has an installed capacity of 3 million tonnes, is operating at around 2.5 million tonnes, on an average, because of crude constraints.

PM to meet SJA leaders on ULFA talks

Spl correspondent
NEW DELHI, June 15 – The ULFA peace process is likely to gather momentum in the coming days, with Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh expected to meet the leaders of the Sanmilita Jatiya Abhibartan (SJA) shortly.

The Prime Minister expressed his willingness to meet the delegation when Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi called on him here this afternoon, ostensibly to discuss a host of issues including the ULFA peace process.

The Chief Minister today gave enough indications to suggest that the State Government was ready to move on to the next level of the peace process. He spoke about the need to draft the modalities for the peace process and possible involvement of former Director of Intelligence Bureau (DIB) PC Haldar, who is already working as a government interlocutor.

He is likely to be appointed as an interlocutor for the ULFA peace process as well.

On working out of the modalities, the Chief Minister said he discussed this with the Prime Minister. “First the modalities would have to be discussed before the actual talks get under way,” he stressed.

Talking to newsmen after his meeting with the Prime Minister, Gogoi said that he raised the issue of ULFA peace process and briefed him about the recent developments and also about the desire of the group led by Dr Hiren Gohain to meet him.

“The Prime Minister said he would be too happy to meet SJA. He clarified that he was not even aware that they wanted to meet him,” the Chief Minister explained.

It is learnt that SJA had faxed a letter to the Prime Minister’s Office seeking an appointment to meet him. However, lack of any response from the PMO led to resentment prompting the Chief Minister to intervene.

When asked whether the government proposed to involve SJA with the ULFA peace process, the Chief Minister said anybody who is willing to help would be involved. “If they help, definitely we will involve. Whosoever takes initiative would be involved,” he added.

The Chief Minister, however, declined to draw a time-line on holding the first round of negotiations with ULFA. He said they are yet to get any response from those who are outside the country. But he categorically ruled out the possibility of the Government waiting for a nod from ULFA military chief Paresh Barua.

“So far there is no positive signal from Paresh Barua,” he said replying to a question.

“We are trying to rope in as many people (ULFA cadres) as possible,” he said.

There are indications that apart from the top jailed leaders, ULFA cadres in several of the battalions based within and outside North-east have also sent signals to join the peace process. The Government is now trying to ascertain the ground realities before making the final move.

The Government is also in the process of discussing the issue of granting amnesty to the jailed leaders to enable them to come out and join the dialogue process. Though a few leaders like the vice-chairman Pradip Gogoi, Mithinga Daimary and others have been released, the State Government is treading on the issue cautiously.

The Chief Minister is also meeting Union Law Minister M Verappa Moily to consult about the legal position.

Union Home Minister P Chidambaram had recently authorised the Chief Minister to go ahead and take the initiative to start the peace process.

However, sources said the Centre and the State government have to weigh all options cautiously because releasing all the leaders of ULFA may send wrong diplomatic signals to Bangladesh, which facilitated the detention of the top leaders.

Though officially it has been stated that the ULFA and NDFB leaders surrendered before the BSF, the credit in fact goes to Bangladesh, which mounted a crackdown and detained the ULFA leaders.

Releasing all the leaders at one go might put off Dhaka, sources pointed out.

Nagaland, Manipur Chief Secys to meet

Spl correspondent
NEW DELHI, June 15 – Notwithstanding the announcement by the Naga agitators to suspend the road blockade, the Union Home Ministry has convened an emergent meeting of the Chief Secretaries of Nagaland and Manipur here tomorrow to work out the measures to be taken by the two States to keep NH-39 open.
The Centre is planning to permanently deploy additional battalions of Central para military Forces on National Highway 39 to prevent similar situation from developing in the future, sources said.

Official sources here said that Union Secretary G.K.Pillai has invited the two Chief Secretaries to review the measures to be adopted to re-open the highway. The current blockade on NH-39 is a matter of serious concern, sources said.

Union Home Minister, P. Chidambaram has already spoken to the Chief Ministers of Nagaland and Manipur to take necessary steps to have the blockade withdrawn, sources said.

At the request of the Government of Manipur, the Ministry of Home Affairs has decided to shortly deploy additional battalions of para-military forces on NH-39 to keep the highway open for unhindered movement of traffic and goods, sources added.

The Home Ministry also furnished details of the measures taken to ensure flow of supplies to Manipur.

Meanwhile, there may be more than it meets the eye to the current blockade in Nagaland, if sources in the government is to be believed.

It has been learnt that the Ministry of Home Affairs is currently compiling supply figures of a particular three months period, last year in a bid to compare it with supply figures of this year preceding the announcement of the road blockade agitation in Nagaland.

Sources confided that the move was taken following reports that a section of traders in Manipur had resorted to massive hoarding of essential commodities prior to the announcement of the blockade programme in Nagaland. The MHA got wind of the racket and is now probing the matter and is closely monitoring the situation in Manipur.

It is suspected that a section of the traders of Manipur were in league with the agitators and had prior information about the blockade. They imported huge supplies of commodities ahead of the agitation before making a kill by hiking prices during the blockade programme, sources said.

Rs 13.45 cr seized from RH Khan kin’s house

Staff reporter

GUWAHATI, June 15 – The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) today recovered an amount of Rs 13.45 crore from the residence of a relative of RH Khan, one of the accused in the financial scam in NC Hills Autonomous Council.
CBI sources told The Assam Tribune that acting on a tip off, officials of the Bureau raided the residence of one Amjad Hussain, the brother-in-law of RH Khan in the Six Mile area of the city and recovered the amount concealed in the garage.

Sources revealed that during questioning, the owners of the house told the CBI officials that during the past one month, while he was on bail, RH Khan made secret chambers on the walls of the garage and kept the money. The money was kept in the plastic water container and four cardboard boxes covered with polythene.

Hussain is a junior engineer of the DRDA and presently he is posted in Dhubri district. He is likely to be arrested as the money was recovered in his residence.

It may be mentioned here that the CBI is investigating into the financial scam in NC Hills Autonomous Council. Khan, one of the accused in the case, was earlier arrested by the National Investigating Agency (NIA) in connection with a case relating to militant-politician nexus.

Existing forest area to remain intact: Gogoi

Staff reporter

GUWAHATI, June 13 – The State Government will retain the existing forest area of the State intact at any cost.

The Government will also involve those forest dwellers, who have been allowed to stay inside the forest by the legislation on the right of the forest dwellers, in the process of forest management, said Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi here today. He was replying to a question at a press conference.

It has gone for numbering the forest dwellers with an aim at preventing fresh encroachment. Besides, it is planning to impart better training to the forest guards and to provide them better arms and equipment as well, he said.

It has asked the Forest Department to deal firmly the culprits involved in the killing of forest guard Hassan Ali of Orang National Park. The forest guard was resisting a gang of poachers and encroachers and was reportedly abducted by his assassins before being killed.

NSF leaders meet Chidambaram

KOHIMA, June 13 – A delegation of Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) met Union Home Minister P Chidambaram in New Delhi and requested him to direct Manipur to withdraw forces from Naga-inhabited areas.

The NSF delegation, led by its president Mutsikhoyo Yhobu, on Friday urged Chidambaram to issue necessary directives to the Manipur Government to immediately withdraw the Manipur Armed Police personnel from the Naga-inhabited areas of the neighbouring State and revoke the arrest warrants issued against some Naga leaders.

While apprising the Union Minister about the prevailing situation, the student leaders put the onus on the Government of Manipur and the Centre to solve the problem.

Chidambaram asked them to lift the restriction of movement of Manipur registration vehicles as early as possible, Federation leaders said, adding theUnion Home Minister assured the delegation that he was personally monitoring the situation and would do whatever was necessary to resolve the present crisis.

NSF imposed an indefinite blockade of Manipur-bound vehicles in Naga-inhabited areas on May 4 after Manipur police personnel denied entry to a group of student leaders the previous day at the inter-State Mao Gate.

It demanded an apology from Manipur Chief Minister Ibobi Singh and revoking of Section 144 of CrPC and armed police forces from Naga areas of Manipur.

The student leaders also called on BJP leader Sushma Swaraj, who also appealed to the Federation to consider calling off the ongoing agitation, sources said.

After receiving ‘a letter of regret’ from Manipur Chief Secretary, the NSF had recently hinted that it might consider relaxing the blockade in a short period since many organisations have appealed to call off the agitation.

The Manipur Government had issued arrest warrants against the presidents of the All Naga Students’ Association Manipur and United Naga Council, Manipur for imposing indefinite economic blockade on two National Highways connecting the State for past two months, resulting in an acute shortage of essentials. – PTI

Govt ready for free passage to ULFA men

Staff reporter

GUWAHATI, June 13 – The State Government is trying to rope in more cadres of United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) in the process of negotiation with the militant outfit.

Informing this at a press conference here today, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said that those who are available in the State, including the ones inside jail, have expressed their willingness to settle the issues through negotiation.

“We will need the commandants of the ULFA battalions too. Some of them are for a negotiated settlement,” he said.

When asked as to whether the Government would provide free passage to those underground leaders of the outfit willing to take part in the negotiation, he said, “We will provide all facilities to those interested in talks.”

On the issue of extortion, he said that extortion cases have come down.

Govt to work for permanent solution

Staff reporter

GUWAHATI, June 13 – The State Government is for a permanent solution to the problems of flood and erosion in the State, instead of the ad-hoc measures to tackle the twin problems. With such an approach, the State Government has moved the Central Government and the Planning Commission as well.

Disclosing this at a press conference here, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today said that it is the considered opinion of the StateGovernment that the Brahmaputra needs to be channelised and the land eroded by it needed to be reclaimed.

The river is as wide as 22 km at places and it has so far eroded around 4 lakh hectares of land, including farmland and residential areas.

The State Government has decided to prepare a concept paper for a permanent solution to the problems caused by the Brahmaputra. For the purpose, it has been in touch with the international, national and local experts.

A group of experts that comprise the European Commission expert Prof Wolfgang Slugel and the IIT, Roorkee expert Prof Nayan Sarma of Assam origin, besides the experts of other European universities etc, is sought to be made a nodal group in this regard, he said.

Flood and erosion have proved to be the two major problems of the State since 1950. It is the ardent endeavour of the State Government to seek a solution that will take the State back to its pre-1950 days so far as flood and erosion are concerned.

The State has 51 breaches caused by the rivers in their embankments last year to be repaired fully at the time of advent of flood this year. Around 5.62 lakh people of the seven districts of Lakhimpur, Dhemaji, Jorhat (Majuli Sub-division), Darrang, Morigaon, Cachar and Karimganj have already experienced flood. The worst hit among these districts is Karimganj. TheGovernment has set up 300 relief camps, said the Chief Minister.

Congress MLA suspended in Tripura House

AGARTALA, June 11 – Tripura Assembly on Friday witnessed uproarious scenes after rejection of an adjournment motion moved by the Opposition prompting Speaker Ramendra Chandar Debnath to suspend Congress MLA Sudip Roy Barman.

Leader of Opposition Ratan Lal Nath tried to bring an adjournment motion against RD Minister Jitendra Chowdhury for his alleged involvement in three scams – ginger, pineapple and corrugated sheets.

But Speaker Ramendra Chandra Debnath rejected the move of the opposition leader saying this was Budget session and there would be ample scope for the discussion on the issue. The opposition legislators got furious and started slogans accusing the RD Minister.

At one point of time, angry opposition MLAs rushed to the well and staged agitation in front of the Speaker. As the situation was going out of control, the Speaker adjourned the House just five minutes before lunch break.

When the House assembled again, the Speaker requested Finance Minister Badal Chowdhury to place the Budget for 2010-11 financial year and accordingly the Minister started his Budget speech amidst chaotic situation.

But opposition members were in no mood to hear the Budget speech and demanded either resignation of the Minister or CBI probe into the alleged scams. Suddenly, theSpeaker suspended Congress MLA Roy Barman from the House for the day, which angered the opposition members.

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21,597 families hit in Karimganj floods

KARIMGANJ, June 11 – Altogether 21,597 families engaged in farming activities were affected by the first wave of floods during April. According to the Karimganj district agriculture department, 82 villages were affected by the last wave of floods in North Karimganj where the number of affected families stood at 4,282 and 366 hectares of Boro paddy and 176 hectares of vegetables were submerged by the flood waters.

In areas falling under the Nilambazar revenue circle, 277 hectares of Boro paddy and 106 hectares of vegetables were inundated and 2,557families of 63 villages were affected.

In areas falling under the Patherkandi revenue circle, 3,665 families of 77 villages have been affected where Boro paddy in 96 hectares and 195 hectares of vegetables were damaged by the last floods.

The worst affected areas were those falling under the Ramkrishnanagar revenue circle. A total of 9,598 families of 59 villages were affected and 3,496 hectares of Boro paddy and 570 hectares of vegetables were completely damaged by floods.

As many as 1,555 farming families in different areas falling in 57 villages under the Badarpur revenue circle were affected and 311 hectares of Boro paddy and 30 hectares of vegetables were damaged.

The agriculture department distributes agricultural implements almost every year at subsidised rates under various schemes. Under the Assam Bikash Yojana eleven tractors and seventeen power tillers were distributed in 2007-08 and forty tractors were provided for the period 2008-09.

Under the RKVY, twenty-six power tillers were distributed for the period 2008-09. Under the Stall Priority Sector Scheme, six tractors and seventy power tillers were given away in 2006-07 while eight tractors and 101 power tillers were distributed in the period 2007-08.

During the period 2009-10 seeds were distributed among the farmers under CRF programme as compensatrion against drought.

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Preparatory talks on Green India begins

GUWAHATI, June 11 – Assam and other States of the Northeast would gain special focus in the National Mission for a Green India or the Green India Mission that seeks to improve the quality and extent of tree cover in India. This was emphatically spelled out by Union Minister of Environment and Forests, Jairam Ramesh who launched the first of a series of national consultations in Guwahati today.

Reasoning that the region and the Eastern Himalayas were among mega biodiversity hotspots in the world, Ramesh mentioned that the information gaps about the areas have to be filled, and special interest was required not just to protectthe green cover, but to improve the quality.

He revealed that while Assam did have around 38 per cent of forest cover, a considerable part of that was ‘degraded’ and there was definite scope for improvement. “I urge all forest personnel and other stakeholders to consider the issue of quality of green cover,” he remarked.

Significantly, the Minister said a shift was required to monitor and intervene in protecting and improving the forest cover of the Northeast and other parts of the country. Although assessments have been done every two years, such efforts were not adequate. The present requirement was real-time information about the stateof the forests, a task that could be performed better when India has its first dedicated satellite to map its forests by 2013.

Acknowledging that there was significant ground to be covered in the area of climate change, he said that a new centre will come up in the North Eastern Hill University in Shillong that would have satellite links with all the NE States. The Centre would aid studyof the climate change issue from a local perspective and would help build strategies related to monitoring and mitigation efforts.

Appreciating the Centre for Environment Education for organizing the first national consultation on the Green India Mission, he hoped that all groups of civil society would participate in shaping the final document that would be adopted in the future.

In the consultation, participants highlighted several issues, which they believed have to be addressed for the mission to be successful.

There was embarrassment in store for the Union Minister when he disclosed that he was unaware of Assam having a Ramsar site. Responding to comments made by Prof A Goswami, he expressed his surprise that Deepor Beel, a Ramsar site, was facing threats to its existence. It was quite evident that the State Government had never bothered to enlighten the Minister about the conditionof the wetland that is decreasing in size over the years.

Environmental activist Soumyadeep Datta said that there was a need to have probity in the manner in which rhino horns were sought to be disposed off by the Forest Department. He warned that in the present system there were loopholes that could be used by unscrupulous people.

Others who attended underlined the need to conserve the wetlands, grasslands and hill ranges of Northeast India, all of which created the unique biodiversity of the region. Ramesh on his part said that his office is prepared to listen to the people, and they could also communicate their views and recommendations with his officers.

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13 paise hike in ASEB tariff rate

GUWAHATI, June 11 – Power consumers will have to pay an additional amount, in the form of 13 paise per unit, to the Assam Power Distribution Company Ltd (APDCL) with effect from July 1 next.

Assam Electricity Regulatory Commission (AERC) has granted this 13 paise flat hike in tariff against per unit of power used by the consumers to help the APDCL withstand the burden of fuel surcharge. APDCL is a successor company of the public sectorAssam State Electricity Board (ASEB).

Announcing this at a press conference here today, AERC chairman Jayanta Bhattacharyya told newspersons that the APDCL had pleaded for a hike of 17.86 paise to meet its fuel surcharge burden for 2008-09 and 2009-10 fiscals. It argued that it needed to meet a burden of Rs 55.39 crore against the fuel surcharges it was made to pay by the power generating companies for the gas-based thermal power and the gas suppliers Oil India Ltd (OIL) and the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Ltd (ONGCL).

The OIL charges the APDCL Rs 4495.91 for per 1,000 standard cubic metres of gas it supplies to the power distribution company and the ONGCL char-ges the APDCL at the rate of Rs 2166.91 for the per 1,000 standard cubic metres of gas it supplies. With these amounts, the amounts paid in the form of cess, royalty and transportation costs are also added, the AERC chairman said..

However, the AERC had granted the APDCL a total amount of Rs 40.37 crore as fuel price adjustment cost. This hike will remain in force until the amount paid by the APDCL as fuel surcharge is recovered or the next tariff order is issued, whichever is earlier, said Bhattacharyya.

Reasoning, he said that the Electricity Act, 2003 has made it clear that uncontrollable costs be recovered speedily to ensure that future consumers are not burdened with past costs. The uncontrollable costs include fuel cost, including variation of power purchase cost etc, he said.

The State has to purchase 53 per cent of its required power from the Central sector power stations, while its own generation can meet around 33 per cent of its power demand and for the rest 14 per cent power, it has to depend on others, said the AERC chairman.

The gas-based thermal power stations provide around 50 per cent of the State’s required power of 4976 Million Units (MUs) in a year. Of these, NEEPCO’s Assam Gas-based Power Station at Kathalguri supplies around 20 per cent, while the Agartala Gas-based Power Station’s share in it is around 6 per cent. State’s own gas-basedthermal power stations at Namrup and Lakwa supply around 11 per cent and around 13 per cent of power respectively.

The State receives around 27 per cent of its required power from the Central sector hydel power stations, while the State receives around 9 per cent of its required power from its own Karbi Langpi hydel power station, said the AERC chairman.

The Central sector thermal power stations and the State’s own thermal power stations have been raising the bills on account of fuel charges to the APDCL. The tariff order issued by the AERC in July, 2009 did not have the provision for such additional fuel adjustment. As a result the APDCL has been facing acute financial hardship on timely payment of dues to their suppliers on account of the energy procured, he said.

Further, in the tariff order issued by the AERC in July, 2009, for the year 2008-09 and 2009-10, the tariff for 2008-09 was kept same with that of the 2007-08 and until July, 2009, it continued to be same for which the APDCL could not realize the additionalfuel cost incurred by it for 2008-09, from the consumers.

Earlier, there was no hike in power tariff for 22 months even though the prices of gas were shooting up. This additional burden is currently managed by thedistribution company either by taking loan with interest or diverting internal resources which has ultimately affected the fiscal viability of the company, said the AERC chairman.

On the issue of cutting down the size of the amount claimed by the distribution company, he said that it was done by deducting the cost hydel power generation which was included by the distribution company in its petition.

Such increase in fuel and power purchase cost is not new in the country and various regulatory commissions like the West Bengal ERC, Kerala ERC, Gujarat ERC, etc., have been practising this, he said.

Assamtribune

2 militant groups active in NC Hills

2 militant groups active in NC Hills
Staff reporter

GUWAHATI, June 9 – Though the overall law and order situation in North Cachar Hills improved considerably after two major active militant groups — DHD and DHD (J) signed ceasefire agreements to find solution of their problems through talks. However, of late, two other militant groups increased their activities, which has became a cause of concern. Meanwhile, efforts are on to strengthen vigil along the NC Hills — Nagaland border to prevent free movement of militants.

Police sources told The Assam Tribune that most members of both factions of the DHD are staying in the designated camps and there have been no reports of clashes between them. But the area of concern now is that the outfits like the Hmar People’s Democratic Convention (HPDC) and the Kuki National Front (KNF) have become active in recent times and the outfits are believed to be involved in three blasts in the hill district within the last one month. Sources said that the two outfits have joined hands to form the Hills Tiger Force with the objective of opposing the renaming of the district as Dima Hasao. The Hills Tiger Force has already sent letters to the Government offices opposing the renaming of the district and the possibility of the outfits indulging in more acts of violence in the days to come cannot be ruled out.

Sources said that the HPDC was formed with the help of the NSCN (I-M) and now the cadre strength of the outfit would be around a hundred. The members of the outfit do not stay in any camp, but they mostly stay in the villages inhabited by the Hmar people. The total Hmar population in the district would be around 10 per cent of the total population. On the other hand, the KNF’s strength in the Hill district would not be more than 40, said the sources. However, if the two outfits join hands to launch coordinated operations, the situation in NC Hills may deteriorate. The Police and security forces are keeping a close watch on the situation.

On the activities of the NSCN (I-M), sources said that the members of the outfit are still making efforts to extort money from the hill district in violation of the ground rules of the ceasefire agreement. Sources, however, said that with the district council squeezed of funds, the NSCN members have not been able to collect large sums of money in recent times.

Meanwhile, efforts are on to improve vigil along the NC Hills-Nagaland border and the Government of Assam recently sanctioned creation of three more border outposts of the Assam police.

Source:http://www.assamtribune.com

Cell phones a craze in Mizoram

Cell phones a craze in Mizoram

AIZAWL, June 10 (PTI) - Though introduced only in 2003, cell phones have become a craze in the small hill state of Mizoram, with more than half the population using the device.

Middle-aged ladies carrying baskets-full of firewood and packets of vegetables talking animatedly into the device or daily wage-earners sending text messages between shifts are a common sight on the winding hilly roads.

The latest economic survey reveals that out of a population of around 10 lakh, 5,61,917 people carry mobile phones - a fact which, officials think, is remarkable since the economy is heavily dependent on the service sector for sustenance.

Agriculture and industry contribute less than 40 per cent to the economy, the survey states.

Naga student body likely to relax NH blockade

Naga student body likely to relax NH blockade

KOHIMA, June 10 (PTI) - The Naga Students' Federation today hinted at relaxing economic blockade imposed on all Manipur-bound vehicles after receiving a letter from the neighbouring State's chief secretary expressing "regret" over May 3 police action against its leaders.

NSF leaders travelling to Oinam village in Manipur's Senapati district for the organisation's federal assembly were refused entry by the Manipur police at Mao Gate.

The incident led to an indefinite economic blockade on National Highways - 39 and 53.

The NSF demanded an apology from Manipur Chief Minister and lifting of Section 144 CrPC and armed police from the Naga-inhabited areas of Manipur.

It had yesterday written to Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh stating it would consider relaxing the blockade imposed on all Manipur-bound vehicles "within a short period", but demanded lifting of the prohibitory orders under Section 144 CrPC from the Naga-inhabited areas in that State.

Govt to computerise State treasuries

Govt to computerise State treasuries

NEW DELHI, June 10 (PTI) - In a major initiative aimed at ensuring financial efficiency, the Government today approved a Rs 626-crore project to computerise the State treasuries enabling them to share data among themselves as well as with RBI and other concerned agencies.

The project under National E-governance Plan was cleared by the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

"The scheme, at an overall cost of Rs 626 crore aims at supporting the State governments to computerise their treasury functions," Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni said.

She said implementation of the project will provide the required interface for data sharing among treasuries, State Finance departments, Accountant General Offices, RBI and Central Plan Schemes Monitoring System of Controller General of Accounts.

"The focus of the project is to improve the efficiency and transparency of the financial administration of the State governments," Soni said.

GOC-in-C reviews NE security situation

GOC-in-C reviews NE security situation

GUWAHATI, June 10 (PTI) - GOC-in-C Eastern Command Lt Gen Bikram Singh today reviewed the security situation of the North-East region in Assam.

Lt Gen Singh took stock of the prevailing situation and security arrangements with his formation commanders at the Gajraj Corps (4 Corps headquarters), defence sources said.

The GOC-in-C (General Officer Commanding-in-Chief) was received by Gajraj Corps GOC Lt Gen Gyan Bhushan on his arrival at the 4 Corps headquarters at Tezpur in Sonitpur district.

Naga activists damage trucks in Assam Rifles convoy

STAFF WRITER 12:45 HRS IST

Kohima, June 5 (PTI) A group of youths pelted stones at four trucks, which were part of a convoy of security forces coming from Manipur, as the indefinite economic blockade continued at Mao by a Naga students' body.

Police said the incident took place in 5th Mile area on national highway 39 near Dimapur town last evening.

The attackers also set fire one of the vehicles but quick action by policemen prevented any damage.

Police said the trucks were engaged by Assam Rifles and were returning from Manipur after offloading goods.

No arrest has been made so far.

The Naga Students? Federation (NSF), which imposed the indefinite blockade since May 4 protesting the police action at Mao inter-state gate, claimed it was behind the incident and vowed to continue the agitation till their demands were met by the Manipur government.