Replying to the call attention motion moved by Congress MLA Martin M Danggo in the Assembly on Thursday, Power Minister Conrad K Sangma said the Special Committee would meet on Friday to discuss the power deal and added that the MPA Government would try to settle the issue as early as possible.

"Since power is important for development of the State, our government wants to sort out the issue of power deal at the earliest. A final decision on the matter would be taken by the Cabinet as soon as the Special Committee submits its report to the State Government," Mr Sangma said.

The Power Minister also told the House that the Special Committee had sought the views of Central Electricity Authority (CEA) on the matter.

According to Mr Sangma, as per instructions of CEA, a legal consultancy firm - Abacus Legal Consultancy - has been engaged at a cost of Rs 8.49 lakh for providing legal assistance on the issue.

The Special Committee, headed by Chief Secretary Ranjan Chatterjee, has met four times since it was constituted by the MDA Government on January 18 last. The other members of the committee are Additional Chief Secretary, Principal Secretary (Power), Planning Secretary and Law Secretary. The Commissioner Secretary (Power) is the Member Secretary of the committee.

Mr Basaiawmoit told the Assembly that a huge property located in front of the Secretariat and owned by a local businessman had been converted to an apartment building where flats were sold to several non-tribals in violation of the Land Transfer Act.

"Once a flat is sold to a buyer, the ownership of the flat is also transferred to the buyer. In this case most of the buyers are non-tribal people. Now, the question arises as to whether the provisions of the Land Transfer Act are not applicable in this case," Mr Basaiawmoit said.

While saying the framers of the Act had "foreseen the danger to the microscopic local tribal communities of the State," the MLA urged the government to look into the matter and declare all agreements signed between the seller and the buyers of the flats as null and void.

In his reply, Chief Minister Dr Donkupar Roy said the government had instructed the Revenue Department to frame rules and regulations on flats and apartments located in scheduled areas so that a legislation could be made to prevent use of flats in violation of the Land Transfer Act.

Meanwhile, responding to another motion brought by Congress legislator Lahkmen Rymbui for strengthening of Amlarem Civil Sub-Division, the Chief Minister said steps were being taken to see that all offices and important establishments were made functional in the sub-divisional headquarters.

SHILLONG: The unemployment problem has assumed alarming proportion in Meghalaya, with 31,249 unemployed youth registered till 2007. The figure could be the tip of the iceberg if those who have not registered their names with State Employment Exchange are taken into account.

The State Assembly on Thursday took serious note of the issue of unemployment and its accompanying effects and stressed steps to ensure that the problem being faced by both educated and uneducated youth did not go out of control.

Moving a motion on the issue during the Budget session of the Assembly, UDP legislator Ardent M Basaiawmoit termed unemployment an alarming issue which needed special attention of the State Government.

Mr Basaiawmoit pointed out that State Employment Exchange had registered 31,249 unemployed youth till December 2007.

"We have seen how several local youth have fallen to police bullets after being compelled to join militant outfits due to unemployment," the UDP MLA said.

Stating that migration of people from rural areas to urban centres in search of jobs was a matter of concern, he said rural people coming to urban areas were often made to go astray and indulge in immoral activities for their survival.

"Successive governments have failed to give importance to agriculture and this is a major reason for migration of people (from rural areas to urban centres)," Mr Basaiawmoit said.

He also said farmers were not getting adequate assistance, both technical and financial, to market their produce and as a result they were exploited by middlemen.

Calling the education system obsolete, the legislator said students were unable to stand on their own feet after completing their studies. He also said the education system should be made job-oriented.

The former FKJGP leader further said local youth should be given first preference during appointment of staff of Central Government offices located in the State and that the Meghalaya Government needed to take up the matter with the Centre.

The motion was supported by Opposition members Dr Roytre C Laloo, Abu Taher Mandal, Dr Phlour W Khongji, Prestone Tynsong, H Donkupar Roy Lyngdoh and Ronnie V Lyngdoh who urged upon the government to take necessary steps to address the unemployment problem.

Replying to the motion, Chief Minister Dr Donkupar Roy admitted that unemployment problem had brought bad consequences to the State as unemployed youth were getting misled, indulging in crimes and militancy.

According to Dr Roy, the number of vacancies notified in 2007 was 782, while placement was only 43. "This indicates an acute problem of unemployment in the State," Dr Roy said.

The Chief Minister also said most of the private industrial units set up in the State had failed to follow the policy of 60-per cent job reservation for local youth as provided in the State Industrial Policy. He also said the State Government would find out the reasons why local youth were not interested to work in industries.

"The government is in the process of revising the State Industrial Policy. While doing so, care has to be taken to see that local youth are absorbed in any industrial units set up in the State," Dr Roy added.

"We have the expertise for them", Czech Ambassador Hynek Kmonicek told a gathering Thursday evening. The Ambassador and his colleagues certainly know how to market their country's USP. Kmonicek was accompanied by Vladimir Jenista the Commercial Counsellor and Third Secretary (Commercial) Ms Jitka Znamenackova. They met with officials from the Power, Mining and Geology Department, NEEPCO and the Airports Authority of India. Also present at the inter-active session at Hotel Pinewood was Power Minister Conrad Sangma. Several entrepreneurs interested in the power, mining and aviation sectors also attended.

Addressing the meet, Mr Kmonicek said, "We are interested in the region because the Czechs are all over India but drew a blank in the North East". The diplomat said he was keen in promoting business for his country because the Czech Republic relies heavily on exports. "We are here to respond to issues in terms of our own competence", Kmonicek said. He informed that this visit would culminate in an action plan to be followed by a a team of Czech business people to the State in October this year.

Czech expertise in micro hydel projects, mining technology and machinery, airport equipment and food processing were highlighted at the meeting. "We have been in the aviation sector since the beginning of the 20th century. Our skills in portable heliports and mobile airports are recognised the world over. The Republic provides integrated airport control and monitoring system and mobile airports that can be carried in trucks and set up within 20 minutes" the Ambassador claimed. These portable airports it is learnt can take aircraft loads of 26-40 tonnes. Czech aviation companies are providing their services in as many as 27 countries.

Czechoslovakia used to be a major supplier of heavy weaponry, notably the T-7 tanks and guns. In 1991 the Czech republic was separated from Slovakia. The weaponry trade also went with Slovakia. The Czechs now supply military trucks and super-sensitive military radars which can detect even invisible planes. They have also developed technology for ecological disposal of ammunition, a problem that India is facing today. This was informed by the Czech delegates.

"Czech Republic is only the size of Assam and has a population of 10.3 million, Dr Kmonicek said, adding, "In a bad year we get about 6 million tourists. But sometimes we we have as many as 40 million. And this is not even our primary activity. It is just a side show". The urbane and business savvy Ambassador further added that while India's exports total up to US $ 124 billion annually, the tiny Czech Republic comes very close with US $ 121 billion.

On a lighter note, the Ambassador said, " Czechs produce the best and strongest beer in the world and each adult consumes around 300 litres of beer in a year". The Republic, he informed, produces 62 brands of beer. Kmonicek offered Czech technology for small breweries in the North East.

Responding to the Czech overtures, Mr Conrad Sangma said Meghalaya is interested in small hydel projects because they would reduce transmission costs and hence be more cost effective. Referring to the Czech offer of expertise in food processing and export Mr Sangma said, "We hope that Meghalaya which has enormous potential for food and fruit processing would become a major exporter and we would look to the Czechs to help us in marketing our products. It should be a two-way process", the Minister added.

Earlier the Czech delegation met Chief Minister Don Kupar Roy and his ministerial colleagues and officials of the Government.

Ri-Bhoi SP M Dkhar said trucks would be stopped from 9.30 am to 12.30 am and again from 2.30 pm to 6 pm at one of the junctions in Nongpoh to properly regulate traffic on GS Road.

"We have taken this decision in view of police personnel facing difficulty in manning traffic on this particular stretch of NH-40," Mr Dkhar said.

SHILLONG: One Arundhoti Datta of Lummawrie, Laitumkhrah filed a suit for damages at District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, Shillong against Down Town Diagnostic Centre, Laitumkhrah and Down Town Hospital Limited, Guwahati on Thursday.

As per the content of the suit, Mrs Dutta has claimed Rs 20 lakh as compensation from the hospital for "malpractices, negligence and act of irresponsibility in delivering services that she had paid for."

Official sources on Thursday said alcohol had taken a heavy toll on youth of the State with 104 alcohol-related deaths reported in 2007-08 alone. Interestingly, majority of the people taking to alcohol are government servants engaged in "white-collar jobs," sources said.

According to the Health Department, of the 104 alcohol victims 89 died in Shillong Civil Hospital, 14 in Tura Civil Hospital and 1 in Jowai Civil Hospital. Figures of such deaths in other government hospitals are not available yet.

"As per data collected from January last year till date, 89 people, including 11 females and 79 males, died due to alcohol consumption in Shillong Civil Hospital. Most of the victims were young people," Joint Director of Shillong Civil Hospital Dr B Garod told The Shillong Times on Thursday.

Dr Garod said the number of people consuming alcohol in the State was increasing by the day, adding alcohol-related deaths could go up in such a situation.

Expressing concern over the matter, Dr Garod said the State Government should set up rehabilitation centres for those affected by alcohol and create awareness among public about the danger of alcohol consumption.

SHILLONG: KSU has expressed dissatisfaction with the results of the exams for recruitment of staff nurses announced by NEIGRIHMS on Wednesday.

KSU general secretary Hamlet Dohling said out of the total 206 vacancies, only 56 were for candidates from the State and the rest for those coming from other states.

"Preference should be given to candidates from the State. In the recruitment of the staff nurses at NEIGRHIMS, many of our local youth were have been denied this opportunity," Mr Dohling alleged.

Mr Dohling said, "We demand the authorities concerned to cancel the results of the exams as this is a clear case of humiliation of the local indigenous people of the State. KSU will not allow this to happen".

It may be noted here that KSU leaders on Wednesday met acting director of NEIGRIHMS Dr SK Ralhan to discuss the matter.

According to sources, there was a heated debate between the KSU leaders and Dr Ralhan on this issue.

Sources said Dr Ralhan refused to accept the demand of KSU to cancel the results.

However, sources added that KSU also told the director that if he failed to comply with the demand of the students’ body, the Union would be forced to adopt "other means" to fulfill its demands.

The APL quota of rice is being issued at Rs 8.80 to Rs 9 per Kg, while the BPL quota is priced at Rs 6.15 per Kg. The AAY quota of rice is being issued at Rs 3 per Kg.

The levy sugar against April 2008 has also been released for distribution through the FPS at the nominal rate of Rs 13.50 per Kg.

SHILLONG: Concerned over the health problems being faced by people living in rural areas, Federation of Khasi Jaintia and Garo People (FKJGP) West Khasi Hills has decided to approach the Government seeking steps to improve healthcare.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the Federation said during inspection of Community Health Centre, Mawkyrwat on Thursday, it found absence of several facilities, including manpower, in the hospital

The Federation also alleged that in the 30-bed CHC, there was no Senior Medical Officer who should look after the hospital, besides lack of medicines and others facilities. "In fact, Mawkyrwat CHC should be well-equipped as it also looks after thre

e other Primary Health Centres including Ranikor, Rangthong and Mawthawpdah PHCs," the Federation said.

The Federation further said it would take up the matter with the minister concerned to apprise him of the situation at the earliest.

SHILLONG: Deputy Chief Minister Hoping Stone Lyngdoh on Thursday said the State Government had proposed construction of 88 roads, under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), to connect 112 villages in West Khasi Hills district.

Replying to a question posed by Congress MLA Martin M Danggo in the State Assembly, Mr Lyngdoh said the PWD (Roads) had taken up construction of 28 of the 88 roads with a total length of 338.80 kilometres.

"The 28 roads covering 105.45 kilometres are being constructed under Phase-II, III and IV of PMGSY. Eight new roads have also been proposed for construction under Phase V in the district," he said.

The Deputy Chief Minister also said the PWD (Roads) was yet to clear pending bills of contractors amounting to Rs 173. 65 crore.

He said all efforts were being made by the department to clear the pending bills of contractors through Plan and Non-Plan budgets.

To another question from Mr Danggo, Food and Civil Supplies Minister John Anthony Lyngdoh said the State required 4,75,436 metric tones of rice annually.

He said the State Government had done away with the practice of having stockists for rice distribution under Public Distribution System (PDS) and that nominees had been appointed to do the job.

He said sugar and flour were distributed through PDS, besides rice.

The minister also informed that there were 129 wholesalers in East Khasi Hills, 55 in West Khasi Hills, 30 in Ri-Bhoi, 62 in Jaintia Hills, 17 in East Garo Hills, 145 in West Garo Hills and 22 in South Garo Hills.

SHILLONG: Rotary Club of Shillong gave away Vocational Awards to four entrepreneurs at a function at Hotel Pinewood here recently.

The recipients were Teiborlang Pathaw, Eugene Niangti, Johanan Nongrum and Pradip Kurbah. They got the award for making a mark in various fields of work. The awards were handed over by State Chief Secretary Ranjan Chatterjee.

Teiborlang Pathaw, who was associated with NCC for a long time, is chairman of Rangers Security & Services Organisation.

Eugene Niangti is establishing an entertainment park, besides organising annual motor bike racing in the State. He has participated in Motor Sports Racing at National, North East and State levels.

Johanan Nongrum has taken life as a challenge, started a small poultry, shifted his career to a restaurateur and is now running a heavy motor vehicle business, while Pradip Kurbah has directed and produced many Khasi films and composed many music albums in different languages.

The GSU outlined that out of the total number of 12 vacancies for the said post, 8 candidates belonged to the Khasi and Jaintia community while the number of Garo candidates stood at 4 only.

Besides, all the 9 Khasi/Jaintia candidates initially shortlisted for the said posts have been accomodated while 3 Garo candidates were yet to be appointed.

001 002 004 006 007(Geo) 008 009 012 013 014 015 016 017 018 019 024 027(Hin) 029 030 032 035 037 038(Evn)

039 041 043 044 046 048 049 054 055 058 063 081 087 125 128 141 142 145 148(Maths) 154 155 156 162 163 167 172 173 177 179 181 182 183 185 186(Maths) 187 188 191 194 195 196 199 200 205 206 208 210 212 213 238 239 244 252 254 262 263 265 276 282 284 289 295 296 298(Secd.Edn)306 307(Secd.Edn) 308 311

322 324 372 373 374 375 376 377 378 379 380 386 387 388 390 391 392 393 394 395 400 401 402 403 405 406 410 413 414 418 420 423 424 425 426 427 428 432.

2nd Division (In order of Roll Nos.)

003 005 010 011 020 021 022 023 025 026 028 031 033 034 036 040 042 045 047 850 051 052 053 056 057 060 062 064 066 067 068 069 071 072 074 076 077 084 085 086

088 091 092 093 095 096 097 102 121 122 123 124 127 129 132 133 134 135 137 138 139(Kh) 144 146 147 149 150 151 157 158 159 161 164 165 166 168 169 170 171 174 175 176 178 189 190 192 193 198 201 202 203 204 207 209 211 214 215 231 232 233 234 235 236 237 241 242 248 255 256 257 259 260 264 267 270 271 277 279 283 285 287 290 291 292 293 294 299 302 303 304 312 315 317 318 319 320 349 371 381 383 384 389 396 398 408 409 411 419 421 429 433

089 101 197 247 266 275 286 305 314 323 343

108 109 217 218 326 327 328 330 331 336 337 339 340 342

344 345 346 434 435

070 397 407 431

Driving at the hours when trucks are off limits on the city roads is tolerable. But once the trucks begin their processions, driving is not only hazardous but traumatic as well. Many people have died without seeing the Shillong by-pass fructify. Like Martin Luther King, Junior, they too had a dream. Their dream was to see a less congested city thoroughfare, safe enough for their children and grandchildren to be walking on and crossing over. Unfortunately their dreams remain unfulfilled.

Now we have the Deputy Commissioner, East Khasi Hills, Mr B Dhar saying that the 47 km by-pass will take another three years to complete! How long do we take to pay compensation to land owners? Haven't we heard of land owners being compensated right from the time that Mr DP Wahlang was DC? Or did we change the alignment more than once? If so what happens to those who were compensated earlier and whose lands are no longer required? Will they have to refund the money? Or what? Can someone please explain in simple, understandable English?

For the benefit of the people of Meghalaya one would suggest that a research be carried out on the dynamics of the Shillong by-pass, by a scholar of repute. The terms of reference will be something like this: (1) When was the project conceived? (2) What was the length of the original route? (3) Why was the original route abandoned? (4) Who are the land owners along that 47 km stretch? (5) What was the compensation amount received by each of the land owners? Their names and addresses need to be given (6) Which is the authority overseeing the construction of the by-pass since the time of its inception? (7) What length of the by-pass is complete and how much remains incomplete and where? (8) What are the reasons for the delay in completion? (9) What is the total amount of compensation paid so far? (10) Finally, who is to be held accountable for the delay which in turn has resulted in so many deaths and disabilities through accidents along the highway?

Ten questions should suffice to give the citizens of Meghalaya a fair idea of the messy, whirlpool called the Shillong by-pass. Since the Congress legislators who are now in the opposition benches are people with loads of legislative experience we would expect them to raise the issue on the floor of the House on thereby floor this government. Instead of wasting time and public money on useless debates like price rise, which in any case, is the handiwork of their own party in Delhi, Congressmen would be serving public interest by munching on more topical issues like the Shillong by-pass which has become for many a matter of life and death.

I recall the ecstasy of some senior citizens when they heard Mr JD Pohrmen announcing in 1993-1998 when he was PWD Minister that the by-pass would be completed in a year. Fast forward to 2008, ten years or more after the statement was made and the by-pass is still a pipe dream. This project could actually go down as one of the longest pending projects in the history of the country. Any wonder then why Meghalaya is in the pits so far as its development index goes.

The Congress party which has held the reins of power for the longest period rightly deserves all-round condemnation for failing to complete the by-pass. Lets not even talk about the Umroi airport and the Crowborough hotel. If the Congress had come back to power I doubt if we would have a by-pass even within the next three years. For that reason alone the Congress must be confined to the barracks. As a strong opposition they can keep the government on its feet. They can also do a sparring match with the MPA Government on the by-pass. Perhaps that pressure would speed up the project. This time the opposition is over-bearingly abrasive. So abrasive in fact that the leader of the opposition, DD Lapang threatened to take up a privilege motion against the senior-most legislator for filibustering instead of sticking to the point. I can understand why the Congress is sore with this septuagenarian. After all he spurned the Congress gestures and made them look like little boys.

Now coming back to traffic congestion, many of us blame the cops, the traffic lights (which are a cause of more confusion and jams) and everything under the sun for this seemingly unsolvable mess. But how much can the poor cops in the present circumstance? The new Deputy Superintendent of Police (Traffic), a doctor in his first avatar has diagnosed the traffic problem inside-out and even suggested measures. However, even he admits that trucks cannot be off-limits the whole day because they carry essential commodities.

But is coal an essential commodity? Do people eat coal? There is a way to divert coal-laden trucks via Laitkor. But this possibility seems like a dead end with the Air Force having appropriated the entire stretch of road from 5th Mile Upper Shillong through to Laitkor. As a temporary measure this would help relieve the congestion of Shillong city. But the military being what they are and Shillong being what it is - hemmed in from all sides by cantonment lands- it is doubtful if we can get some breathing space for civilian convenience. Efforts to make the Air Force see reason often meet with a narrative about rules and security. One wonders why there cannot be a common solution to a common problem. Why should roads be sealed off and become out of bounds for people who are the actual land owners of this State? Is it not useless talking about freedom and autonomy here then? Once the military cites national security as a reason for anything at all, politicians just wilt. The military always has the last word!

While on the topic of the by-pass one must draw the attention of the Government and the general public to the news item about the dry port at Dawki possibly being shifted to Ghasuapara in Garo Hills simply because one person has gone to Court on the issue of land acquisition. If Dawki loses its status as a dry port, Meghalaya will lose precious revenue. But what is curious is the Government's tendency to succumb to blackmailing tactics. Why cannot the State invoke sections of the law which says that land can be acquired by the Government in public interest? We are informed that one Min Gayang owns the land there are has gone to court on the issue? Who is actually the vested interest behind this person? Is it not the coal mafia? So can we allow the mafia to rule this State? Should such mafia not be smashed? What are the police here for if not to uphold the rule of law?

The coal mafia have, for a long time, controlled Meghalaya's politics and government. They have broken all the rules by carrying twenty five to thirty tones of coal and paid the Directorate of Mining and Geology (DMR) revenue for 15 tonnes only. Government has lost several hundreds of crores of rupees in this unequal transaction. But this fraud has thrived under the patronage of whoever held the portfolio of Mining and Geology. The nexus between the coal mafia, the Minister and the DMR officials is deeply entrenched. Will the MPA Government have the courage to streamline this mess?

The more important question is whether the Government can fight and win the case against Min Gayang who is blackmailing the state. This is the one call that the MPA Government should have courage to take. Individuals and vested interests who are against the progress of Meghalaya but who do not care about milking the State dry have to be defeated. The civil society of this State and all right-minded citizens should stand to a man to ensure that the plan for operationalising Dawki as a dry port is not jettisoned.

We also need to push our agenda with more rigour if we want to see the by-pass coming up during our lifetime.

Madam,

Lets take a walk down memory lane: In the heart of the city, Khyndai Lad, Shillong, stands the 125 years old structure built by the British before the country got its independence. This building also had the privilege of hosting the historic SAARC meeting and above all it housed the Legislative Assembly of the then government of Assam and later of our state, Meghalaya. After nearly three decades of service, on 9, January 2001, the Meghalaya State Legislative Assembly was gutted down and reduced to ashes. What is tragic is that till date a new Assembly building has not come up. Legislators have no permanent structure within which to sit and legislate on affairs crucial to this State. Has anyone heard of such a predicament?

The Lapang-led government had proposed several sites but they were dropped due to lack of consensus. Then the Lapang Government diverted its attention to the beautification of Khyndai Lad. This resulted in massive felling of old pine trees. No doubt the Khyndai Lad rotary added some beauty and utility to the place and has to a certain extent eased traffic congestion, if only at that point.

But the major part of the beautification funds undoubtedly went to the coffers of those involved in project. Can anyone deny that? The Mait Shaphrang Movement had sought a detailed report on the expenditure incurred in this beautification, through the Right to Information Act. Their queries are yet to be answered.

In 2006 the JD Rymbai-led government made a very imperfect decision of constructing the Assembly building at the Agriculture Research Station in Upper Shillong. The site was an encroachment into the experimental farms. This decision invited criticism and loud protestations from not only the farmers and the NGOs but also practical and concerned citizens of the state. It took years to decide on an imperfect, impractical location. Since then nothing has moved forward in this matter because the instability in the Government occupied prime time. Our legislators too were more concerned about safeguarding their chairs than the responsibilities that the chair carries.

If pre-election promises have been conveniently sidelined, ignored and never fulfilled, why should a mere Assembly building worry them! But the people of Meghalaya are concerned and they want to see the new building come up at the earliest.

My views and the views of many others is that the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly building should be reconstructed at its original site because of several practical reasons but most importantly because of the proximity to the Secretariat Building. Usually the Grade IV staff have to carry/deposit important files and documents required during the proceedings. They usually commute by taxi. If the Assembly is too far out and with the traffic jam in Shillong being what it is, important files would not reach the Assembly. I agree with the Hon'ble Speaker that if the Assembly building is to be located too far away from the Secretariat then the Grade IV staff would suffer the most.

As a humble citizen I feel there is need to be practical. One question that has always come to my mind is, would we have decided to shift the Assembly premises if it was not gutted down? So why not reconstruct the Assembly building in its original location using modern architectural skills and state-of-the-art interiors. Besides, the MLA hostel is adjacent hence there would be no need to construct another one. This would save the exchequer crores of rupees which can be utilized for various development works.

When our Speaker, Bindo Lanong mentioned the urgency of reconstructing the Legislative Assembly building on its original site, I expected the new government to concur with this wonderful idea. But Mr Lanong's idea of swapping the nearby church with the Shillong bench of Gauhati High Court is preposterous. The church is built on an age-old site so it should remain there. It would be better if the Speaker focused his attention on reconstruction of the Assembly building and not allow the issue to go into hibernation mode because people are watching and waiting.

Yours etc.,
Jenniefer Dkhar
Shillong .
Via e-mail

Addressing a press conference here, Union Minister of State for Industries Aswani Kumar said capital subsidy had been increased from 15 per cent to 30 per cent, while entire backlog of transport subsidy amounting to Rs 770 crore had been released.

He further announced that excise duty exemption would be offered if any existing industry expanded by 25 per cent, reducing it from the previous 30 per cent.

''We will ensure that the industries will get all these sops provided they do real value addition in the Northeast, generating employment, '' he said.

The industries flocked in to take advantage of these huge transport, power and capital subsidies in the past few years but all of them circumnavigated the policy clauses and used the Northeast as a packaging point to claim huge subsidies.

'' This is not going to happen. Although we have left to the individual industries to decide how much they will produce in the region but packaging and labelling will not be part of value addition. That means more jobs, '' he said.

He also announced that there would be no upper limit of size of industries for claiming the capital subsidy. '' Only those industries, which are beyond Rs 30 crore, are to be cleared by the Union Cabinet, '' he said.

Dr Kumar announced that in this year alone Rs 596 crore of transport subsidy had been released, of which Assam got Rs 297 crore.

'' Irony is that since 1971 to 2004 only Rs 1200 crore have been released as transport subsidy but in the past four years of the UPA regime, Rs 770 crore has been released, '' he said.

He announced that by 2012 the Gas Cracker project of Upper Assam would be operational and by then 100,000 jobs would be available in the ancillary industries.

Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said a bio-technological park was being opened near the Guwahati airport and land had been identified. (UNI)

Agartala: Tripura Food and Supplies minister and CPI(M) leader Sahid Chowdhury resigned on Thursday in the wake of an inquiry into his alleged link with a Bangladeshi militant belonging to militant outfit Harkat-ul-Jihadi Islami suspected to be behind several terror attacks in India. 

''The Opposition parties have joined hands in the state and it is very important development,'' former chief minister and AGP(P) president Prafulla Kumar Mahanta told UNI a few days back.

BJP National Secretary and MP from Arunachal Pradesh Kiren Rijiju have also said they were trying to have some sort of understanding and talks are on, adding that he was hopeful of both the parties to come out with some positive conclusion.

The BJP and AGP have reached on an understanding to share five each of the 14 Lok Sabha seats leaving the others to the smaller parties.

Meanwhile, Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi has accused the AGP of being opportunist as the party changes sides quite often.

He also said the Congress was a stable party and has been winning each and every election in the state since the past one decade.

''They (Opposition) are scared of us (Congress) because people of Assam love us and have realised their actual intention,'' Mr Gogoi. said here recently.

He further said the Opposition has realised that they could not compete with the Congress and hence has decided to join hands though no official statement been made so far.

Opposition leader in Assembly Chandra Mohan Patowary of AGP said, ''The way Congress is reacting seems that they are really worried about our coming together.''

With the Assam United Democratic Front (AUDF) determined to divide the minority votes, the AGP found BJP much warmer than the Left Front and other parties. (UNI)

A release issued here today said the PAC will be headed by former state Health and Family Welfare Minister in the last DAN government Dr T M Lotha, who failed to win the elections to the 11th Nagaland Legislative Assembly.

A meeting in this regard was held here yesterday at the residential office of Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, who, as the Chairman of the DAN Coordination Committee, constituted the PAC.

While Dr Lotha will be the chairman of the PAC, former Speaker A Lohe would be the member secretary. Other members included Imchalemba, Dr Kanito, C M Chang, Powang, Sulangthung, Lima Temjen, Zaaku Tsukru and Advocate Timikha.

The objective of the committee's formation was to pursue its declared policy to continue to strive for peace, unity and integration among different sections of the Naga society.

''Our priority is to continue to pursue and strive for political solutions to the Naga political issues,'' NPF president and Urban Development Minister Dr Shurhozelie said, adding that there should be unity amongst the different sections of the Naga society and the PAC will strive to bring all the sections together.

''The PAC will meet from time to time to frame strategies and programmes to carry forward activities and initiatives towards bringing peace, unity and reconciliation among the different sections of the Naga society,'' the statement added. (UNI)

Agartala: Tripura Food and Supplies minister and CPI(M) leader Sahid Chowdhury resigned on Thursday in the wake of an inquiry into his alleged link with a Bangladeshi militant belonging to militant outfit Harkat-ul-Jihadi Islami suspected to be behind several terror attacks in India.

A press statement by the state commitee of ruling CPI(M), quoting Chowdhury, said that following the arrest of a Bangladeshi Mamun Mia in a joint operation by CID and West Bengal police on March 28 from here there were media reports regarding his nexus with him.

"So, I have decided to resign from the ministry to uphold high moral values and for the sake of an independent investigation," Chowdhury was quoted as saying.

An inquiry was ordered by Director General of Police K T D Singh recently into how a Bangladeshi national, now under arrest, could procure a certificate of permanent residence in Tripura and whether he was helped by an influential person like Chowdhury.

The inquiry was instituted after the Leader of the Opposition, Ratan Lal Nath, levelled an allegation in a letter to Chief Minister Manik Sarkar on April seven that a minister had aided and abetted Mia who was reportedly a member of HuJI. He demanded the minister's removal.

Nath also demanded an inquiry by a sitting high court judge.

Mia alias Suman Majumdar was arrested by a joint team of Tripura Police and West Bengal CID during a raid on a house on at Ramnagar here March 28 on charges of anti-India activities and arms trafficking.

Mia had identified himself as a garment trader from West Bengal. The West Bengal police traced the whereabouts of Mia after a pen drive was seized from two Bangladeshis on January 15 in Shibpur police station area in Howrah district near Kolkata.

The police had also seized high explosives and maps of army camps in the Northeast and north Bengal from the two. The DGP had earlier said Mia did not commit any crime in Tripura. (PTI)