Emerging from the Cabinet meeting on Friday, Chief Minister DD Lapang said the government decided to keep the power deal in abeyance in view of announcement of State Assembly elections.

"The Cabinet has decided that the memoranda of agreement (MoAs) signed by the State Government and private developers will not be made operational pending submission of report by a special committee constituted for the purpose and final decision by the Cabinet," Mr Lapang said.

According to Mr Lapang, the special committee, headed by Chief Secretary Ranjan Chatterjee, will examine in details the pros and cons of the MoAs, credentials of the private companies concerned and legal aspects of the matter. No timetable has been given to the committee to submit its report.

The members of the committee comprise Additional Chief Secretary, Principal Secretary (Power), Commissioner and Secretary (Planning), Secretary (Law) and Commissioner Secretary (Power).

Besides the Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Ministers Mukul Sangma and Dr Donkupar Roy and other ministers like Paul Lyngdoh, Prestone Tynsong, Martle Mukhim and Nehlang Lyngdoh attended the Cabinet meeting. Conspicuous by their absence were -- Deborah C Marak, Robert G Lyngdoh, Charles Pyngrope, Zenith Sangma and Manirul Islam Sarkar.

Mukul Sangma, who was allegedly instrumental in the December-7 Cabinet decision on the power projects, said the Cabinet decision to keep the deal in abeyance was taken collectively.

KSU and other organisations, including FKJGP and Federation for Achik Freedom, had launched agitations since the second week of January, demanding scrapping of the deal. The deal was also criticised by six Cabinet ministers and a major MDA partner UDP.

Meanwhile, senior NCP leader Purno Sangma has termed the Cabinet decision to put the power deal on hold as a "victory of the people."

"This is a victory of the people of Meghalaya. The MDA Government signed the deal with private companies without letting the people know the terms and conditions contained in the MoAs," Mr Sangma said at a function held for releasing NCP's poll manifesto on Friday. Mr Sangma showered praise on KSU, FKJGP and others for their strong stand against the "shady deal." He reiterated that if his party came to power, the deal would be scrapped.

Talking to reporters after releasing NCP's election manifesto on Friday, Mr Sangma said Indian nationals should be identified and citizenship cards distributed to them, besides introduction of work permit, to address the issue of influx.

"Instead of identifying foreigners, the State Government should identify Indian nationals and give them citizenship cards. Every birth, death and marriage should be registered," Mr Sangma said.

He said if NCP came to power in the Assembly polls, it would formulate proper policies to deal with infiltration of foreign nationals.

The former Lok Sabha Speaker also said Rangbah Shnongs, Sirdars, Syiems, Dollois and Nokmas should be involved in tracing out illegal migrants in the State.

SHILLONG: Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) N Gopalaswami on Friday asked the State Government to ensure that error-free electronic photo identity cards (EPICs) were issued to all genuine voters. He, however, ruled out any security threat to the March-3 polling, saying "elections in Meghalaya are always peaceful."

Mr Gopalaswami, who visited Shillong to review preparations for the Assembly elections, told newsmen that he had instructed deputy commissioners and district magistrates to study and rectify anomalies, if there were any, in EPICs.

He pointed out that people were still applying for EPICs as their names had been deleted from the electoral rolls.

"We want to ensure that all genuine voters should get their names included in the voters' list," Mr Gopalaswami said, adding, "We would also not hesitate to reject those cases which are not genuine."

Referring to a letter published in Friday's edition of The Shillong Times on alleged poor quality photographs found on EPICs, the CEC said he had instructed the authorities concerned to specifically look into the matter.

He, however, said "I am satisfied with the quality of the EPIC photographs, and I did not see any problem there."

If there are more complaints about bad quality EPIC photographs, the Election Commission would strictly look into the matter, he added.

On security measures in polling stations, Mr Gopalaswami said there were only a few pockets, especially in border areas, where "some kind of security threat may be there." "(However,) This is not a major one. Elections in Meghalaya are always peaceful and I am satisfied with the preparations for Assembly polls in the State," the top election panel official said.

Earlier, Mr Gopalaswami, who was also accompanied by election commissioners Navin Chawla and SY Qureshi, took stock of poll preparations and security scenario ahead of the March-3 elections in the State.

They discussed various issues related to elections and security with Chief Secretary, Chief Electoral Officer, top police officials, deputy commissioners and other election officials.

The EC team also met representatives of different political parties to get their feedback on poll-related matters.

Meanwhile, Chief Secretary Ranjan Chatterjee said the State Government had sought 40 additional companies of CRPF for the elections.

SHILLONG: BJP on Friday announced its candidates for the coming Assembly elections for 20 constituencies.

No female contestant has figured on the list released on Friday after its approval by the party's Central Election Committee (CEC) headed by LK Advani.

The list includes sitting BJP legislator from Pynthorumkhrah, AL Hek. Another sitting MLA from Laban Jopsimon Phanbuh withdrew from the fray. She has been replaced by retired government employee Edward Kharwanlang. Former Non-Tribal Youth Union (NTYU) leader Vijay Raj will fight the polls on BJP ticket from Mawprem constituency.

The names of BJP candidates are: Junior Lamin (War Jaintia - ST), Duruth Majaw (Umroi - ST), Oral Syngkli (Jirang - ST), Dondor Singh Rumnong (Mylliem - ST), Basil Lamin (Malki-Nongthymmai - ST), John Soanes (Laitumkhrah - ST), AL Hek (Pynthorumkhrah), WL Lyngdoh (Mawkhar - ST), Vijay Raj (Mawprem), Edward Kharwanlang (Laban), Rockfeller Rangdkhew (Mawsynram - ST), LR Marak (Nongstoin - ST), James Kumar Pam (Mendipathar - ST), Bidur A Sangma (Tikrikilla - ST), Parimal Rava (Phulbari - ST), Samarendra Sangma (Rajabala - ST), Arjun Kumar Hajong (Selsella - ST), Albert Sangma (Tura - ST), Godwin D Shira (Dalu - ST) and Utpal Koch (Mahendraganj).

Talking to The Shillong Times ot the sidelines of a conference on rural development programmes here, Mr Singh said Meghalaya and some other states have lagged behind in rural development programmes. "My ministry has sought action taken report from such states," he said.

When specifically asked about the abysmal performance of Meghalaya on NREGS, the Minister said late starting of the vital programme might be one of the reasons for such poor performance.

Releasing the manifesto, NCP general secretary Purno Agitok Sangma, who is projected as the Chief Ministerial candidate of the party, promised to create a separate ministry for the traditional institutions and introduce a law in the Legislative Assembly to create a mechanism in lieu of the Panchayati Raj and Nagar Paliki institutions, to enable direct funding to the traditional institutions in the State.

Stressing on development in all spheres, the NCP is committed to set up a vigilance commission to monitor the implementation of Government and Government-funded projects and to revitalise the State Planning Board where technocrats, academicians and experts will be members including full time members and stop the practice of appointing only party men to the board, Sangma said.

Keeping in mind various industrial projects pending in the State due to lack of appropriate policies, the NCP would review the existing industrial policy and encourage agro-based and local resources-based industries if it comes to power in the Assembly elections.

The NCP manifesto also contained assurances on betterment of education, 10 per cent job reservation in Central government and other service sector such as tourism, etc., for the people of the North East, assured road connectivity between Shillong-Nongstoin-Williamnagar-Tura on the level of national highway, upgrade the Umroi airport to an all-weather airport, provide adequate health for all and promote herbal medicines amongst others.

On power sector, setting up of micro hydel projects to explore the potentials in the thermal and hydro sector was one of the areas the NCP assured to take up.

The party also promised to ensure minimum support price for major agricultural products of the State and encourage entrepreneurship in horticulture, plantation and floriculture, besides ensuring self- sufficiency in the State's requirements of dairy products, meat and meat products.

Acting on a tip off, the police team rushed to the spot but they were fired upon by the militants. The gunfight lasted for a few minutes.

A cadre identified as Dorang G Momin (40) was later arrested while ten others including two Nagas, escaped taking advantage of the jungle.

An AK 47, M-16, other arms and ammunition were seized from the hideout.

Shillong: Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) candidate from Laban constituency and former president of Civil Society Women Organisation, Irin Hujon elucidated her desire to work and understand the problems the people from the grass-root level are facing provided that the same people elect her as their representative to the next Assembly.

Speaking to The Shillong Times, Mrs Hujon ruled out wooing voters with false claims of bringing about changes in their lives, but assured to concentrate on the overall development of the constituency and accentuate job incentives for local unemployed youth of the constituency, besides making special efforts to solve the day to day problems that are affecting the people.

In addition, Mrs Hujon, who had earlier contested the last bye-election from the MDP ticket, said she would try to win the love, support and confidence of the people.

On being asked about her election campaign strategy, Mrs Hujon said face-to-face interactions with the voters, door-to-door visits and organising public meetings are few of the options that would be adopted.

She feels confident that she could bring about changes in the constituency, if elected, as people need a representative who would work for their benefit.

"I do feel I am that kind of individual who would do just that," Mrs Hujon said.

To a query, she said her decision to join the LJP was because the party is national party, which has evaded controversies so far and public response.

According to the police, the accused had assured Mr Lalhuia that he would get a job for his daughter if he pays him Rs 2.5 lakh. Police said, Mr Lalhuia, convinced with the assurance, asked Raja to meet him at Hotel Elgin in Khyndai Lad to collect the money on January 15 last. The culprit absconded after he took the money. The victim lodged an FIR with the police the following day after which the culprit was arrested on Thursday.

Police also recovered Rs two lakh from his possession.

Another political farce is keeping us entertained-the frenetic lobbying for the Bharat Ratna award. This honour too has been reduced to an unpalatable level-where it is probably better to go without it than to have one's name bandied about in an unsavoury manner. The name of the former Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee, has been proposed by the leader of Opposition, Mr. L.K. Advani, which has put the home ministry in an awkward position, because it coordinates the administrative process behind the decision. Besides, the leader of Opposition plays a crucial role in choosing the person finally anointed the country's jewel. It is in the Padma awards that the ministry exercised its real clout.

It's traditionally been the Prime Minister, leader of the Opposition and the Vice-President who together decide who will get the country's top civilian honour. However, with Advani having written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh-and making it public-about his choice, it makes things somewhat uncomfortable for the UPA government.

Lobbying for Bharat Ratna had always been there, though the Prime Minister had the final word before the name was forwarded to the President for approval, which is a mere formality. It (lobbying) always happened but behind the scenes, away from the public eye. Now, with Mr. Advani making a public request, all political parties have thrown their hat into the ring, trying to make noises louder than the others. It has made things all the more difficult for the government to recommend any single name for the highest civilian honour.

Among the names suggested through the much-publicised requests are those of Kanshi Ram, Charan Singh, Chandra Shekhar, Jagjivan Ram and N.T. Rama Rao.

Right now the home ministry was in the middle of sifting through over a thousand applications for the Padma awards from across the country.

The home ministry gets applications and recommendations from all over-from central ministries, state governments, various departments, institutions, NGOs and from the public. Sometimes, people who want the award send their own applications, accompanied by pages and pages of good work they have done. It is a tedious task going through them all, processing them and short-listing the names for the Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri awards.

The screening is done at three levels. The basic sifting is done by an awards committee made up of senior home ministry officials. The selected names are discussed by a committee headed by the cabinet secretary. It also includes the home secretary and the principal secretaries to the Prime Minister and the President.

The list is then sent to the home minister for his opinion before it is forwarded to the Prime Minister and, finally, to the President for approval before the names are announced on Republic Day-eve. To avoid embarrassment to the government later, departments and ministries that recommend a name are expected to take that person's consent that he or she would be willing to accept the award. There have been instances where the awarded person has refused to accept the honour.

If the leader of Opposition has proposed the name of his party colleague, there is confusion among the CPM cadre about the possibility of the Centre conferring the Bharat Ratna on Jyoti Basu. The party's objection to its leaders accepting honours from the state defies both logic and its own record.

So much has changed for a party that once took the official line that India's independence was "false" and hence it wanted to achieve "real" freedom for the people through armed struggle. Long after that line was dumped and the CPM accepted the parliamentary path, it harboured illusions about "half-partisan warfare" to stage a "people' democratic revolution".

Of more recent vintage is its volte face on foreign capital. If it is still resistant to foreign capital in areas such as retail, it only shows the party's failure to come to terms with its own change. Even the Left's opposition to India's proposed nuclear deal with the United States of America has more to do with old, ideological hang-ups than with today's reality.

In every other sphere of public life, communists today compete with "bourgeois" parties to do things that were once anathema to them. Pretensions to ideology, therefore, show not just their confusions but their duplicity too. Even in states like West Bengal and Kerala, where communists have been in power, they seem to have no problem in accepting the rituals of state power. Yet the party would not quite lay the ghosts from an ideological past to rest.

Prakash Karat, the CPM general secretary, cannot cite any party policy in order to justify his objection to the Bharat Ratna for Mr. Basu. The argument that the party has always been opposed to such awards for its leaders flies in the face of its own transformation over the years.

There was a time when Indian communists needed the approval of their parties even to choose their partners in marriage. No such preposterous code applies to today's comrades. There is thus no rational justification for the party deciding for its leaders whether they should accept state honours. Such restrictions would amount to questioning the leaders' personal wisdom and integrity. Mr. Basu is not only among the oldest living leaders of the CPM, but also has an illustrious public record. To suggest that he cannot decide for himself whether to accept the honour is to insult him.

If, after 23-years as West Bengal's chief minister, he still cannot make up his mind about the character of the Indian state and its honours, it should be his own affair. He may not act against the party's wish. But the important thing is that it should be his-rather than the party's-wish.

First of all, to name a politician for this prestigious award is a contradiction in terms, since the personal and professional attributes necessary to ensure that he is the right choice, who will set a benchmark for integrity, are not found in contemporary Indian politicians.

Atal Bihari Vajpayee was a good prime minister, with many positive attributes as well as many negative ones, with successes and failures, all of which are expected on the job. However, there was nothing truly extraordinary in his tenure-such as the cleansing the administration of corruption, or compelling governance to be inclusive, or even the damning of the demolition of the Babri Masjid and the Gujarat riots-to make him truly stand apart.

Then, quick on the heels of L.K. Advani's suggestion of Vajpayee's name, came Mayavati's demand of the Bharat Ratna for Kanshi Ram. Perhaps the next name will be that of A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.

Why then, does the government not deliver some posthumous Ratnas to MGR, NTR, Bahadur Shah Zafar, Tantia Topi, Laxmi Bai, Tipu Sultan and others as well? It is all becoming a bit of a joke from a bunch of amateur jokers, and we, the citizens of India, are observing this charade in wide-eyed disbelief.

This is the right time to formulate an unconventional list of criteria for state honours, one of which would disqualify politicians and administrators from being eligible.

It is the 'easy-option syndrome' that has overwhelmed Indians in positions of power. Nobody feels the need to exercise the mind. There is no reaching out, no attempt to generate and pool new and creative ideas, no desire to step beyond the obvious. Actually, those who propose the names of probable recipients lack the intellectual agility needed to correctly assess the merits of candidates who do step beyond their personal domains to break barriers and change the course of history.

Politicians who have done their jobs well-something they are mandated to do-do not merit the Bharat Ratna. And if there is no suitable candidate this year, so be it. It is better to hold the Bharat Ratna in abeyance than to dishonour it. Politicians must cease to usurp all that comes their way in order to celebrate themselves and their populist leaders. Honours are not meant for those who have failed to govern this country and to alleviate its poverty and degradation.

The government must learn to look beyond its political, administrative and public-sector portals. It must begin to give, and not just keep taking. It must shed its arrogance, which has muddied the atmosphere in the public domain. It should begin to acknowledge and reward real achievement by identifying the best and brightest across all disciplines. Such actions would set a new standard for the Bharat Ratna.

These small changes could become essential elements in the conscious patterning of a contemporary fabric, with clean motifs and symbols. India could easily change its course and enter a dynamic period where dishonesty, corruption, intellectual lethargy, exclusive and insular politics would become things of the past.

A government that allows itself to be buffeted about because its partners are jockeying for bits of largesse or because its adversaries are desperate to embarrass it, is seen as weak and, therefore, not fit to govern one billion people of such diversity. Did Advani suggest the name of Vajpayee, his old rival, only to ensure a rejection? (INAV)

When Congress leader Veerappa Moily made a statement on the creation of a second State Reorganisation Commission (SRC) in Hyderabad last week, the Congress strategists did not expect much reaction from elsewhere.

UP Chief Minister Mayawati, however, set the ball rolling. While celebrating her birthday on January 15, Mayawati demanded trifurcation of the state into Harit Pradesh, Poorvanchal and Bundelkhand, with the objective of upstaging the Congress. Mayawati's reaction gives an indication of what to expect from other States like Maharashtra, Karnataka and Gujarat where demands for smaller states are long pending.

Moily's statement came in the backdrop of the demand for a separate Telengana state for which a movement has been going on for more than 60 years. There are arguments for and against small states. Votaries of small states feel that they would have focussed development citing Haryana and Himachal Pradesh. There are others who think that this may open up a Pandora's box. They fear that the regional passions may be incited in states like Maharashtra, U.P, Karnataka and Gujarat. Also, they argue that not all small states are doing well and cite the example of Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Uttarakhand.

The SRC idea is not new as it crops up whenever the demand for small states comes up. The Congress seems to be clutching at every straw hoping to make electoral gains in the coming Lok Sabha and Assembly polls. After the humiliation in UP and the Gujarat defeat, the leadership is being persuaded to trifurcate U.P in the hope that such a step may improve Congress prospects. The party leadership has been told that a second SRC may pacify sentiments in states like Maharashtra, Gujarat and Karnataka.

The immediate provocation is the unrest in Andhra Pradesh where the Congress is in power since 2004 with the support of the Telengana Rashtra Samithi, which was born on the overwhelming regional sentiment in favour of a separate Telengana state. With 14 months left for the next elections, Moily's statement was meant to test the waters before announcing a second SRC. After seeing the violent reaction, he quickly withdrew.

The issue of creating smaller states has been a matter of debate within the Congress. While the Common Minimum Programme of the UPA had skirted a direct commitment, a sub-committee headed by Pranab Mukherjee was set up to look into the Telengana issue. Even after three and a half years, there is no consensus. So the Congress is now toying with the idea of a second SRC. The Telengana demand has been surfacing on and off for 60 years. Before 1947, Telengana was part of the Hyderabad state of Nizam. After its integration with the Indian Union in 1948, it became part of Madras Presidency. When Andhra Pradesh came into being, it became part of the state but continued to remain backward. In 1969-70, there was a violent agitation for a separate Telengana in which at least 300 people lost their lives. Since then, the separate Telengana demand has been surfacing on and off with no strong leader to carry on the movement. Even Dr. Chenna Reddy, who led the agitation earlier, did not touch the issue later when he became the Chief Minister twice. Before the 2004 Assembly and Lok Sabha elections, K. Chandrashekhar Rao, an expelled Telugu Desam leader, successfully floated his Telengana Rashtra Samithi.

The new regional party joined hands with the Congress and won some seats in Lok Sabha as well as Assembly polls. Rao and his colleague, A. Narendra, became ministers in the UPA government. However, within two years, they left the Cabinet because their demand was not conceded. Now, with just 15 months to go for the next Assembly elections, the TRS is queering the pitch despite problems in the regional outfit.

When Moily made his remark, local Congress leaders led by G. Venkataswamy had no other option but to speak the TRS language. Their problem has been compounded because the Naxalites, who are running a parallel government in Andhra Pradesh, are fully supporting the separate Telengana demand.

There is also the political angle to the issue. The BJP, which is for small states, was coy about supporting the separate Telengana before 2004 when Telugu Desam was an outside supporter of the NDA but changed its stand after the TDP withdrew support to the NDA. Telugu Desam opposes the move. The local Congress is divided on the issue with Chief Minister Rajashekhara Reddy leading the dissention. The CPI-M is opposed to a separate state while the CPI has become soft.

At the central level, the Left parties are opposing smaller states. RJD Minister Raghuvansh Prasad Singh has said it will open the Pandora's box. The NCP is not keen. In such a situation, the Prime Minister has beat a retreat, saying there is no decision on setting up a second SRC even thought he Congress Working Committee had recommended it.

The UPA government should be careful before setting up a second SRC. No doubt, governance has become a big issue, and the big states are not able to meet the aspirations of the people. However, will creating small states resolve the issue or create more problems? Are the demands for small states justified? What is the progress in the recently-created small states like Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Uttarakhand? Will the political parties use this emotive issue to further their own interests? These are questions that need to be gone into carefully before setting up the second SRC. While there may be a case for Telengana, the real question is governance and not the size of the state. Telengana should be treated as a stand-alone issue and tackled. Now the Congress has to deal with not only the TRS but also its own local leaders. (IPA)

Sir,

Everywhere one hears the voices of agitated consumers vehemently opposing the MeSEB's proposed hike in power tariff. It is being hung over our heads like the 'sword of Damocles'. The Board has been moaning and groaning about its (incurred) losses for which, in their sight, there is no other solution except to impose a 100 per cent increase in the existing tariff being paid by us, the "non-MeSEB employees". Will any MeSEB top brass explain as to why they get free electricity which, I must add, is being grossly misused by both the department in general and the individual employee in particular. Most of them do not even bother to switch off their porch lights during the day. Are they not paid adequate salaries?

As far as I am aware, employees of other departments are not provided with such lavish facilities. For example, employees of the Water Supply department - are they provided with free water connections, or those in the Education department - do they get free educational facilities for their children?

Since those holding the 'reins of power' very conveniently overlook this fact, may I place before them a solution which will surely solve two of the most pressing problems of the MeSEB and ease our burden - 1) Reduce wastage of electricity - MeSEB guest houses and bungalows need not be lit up like Christmas trees 365 nights in a year, and 2) generate more income by making MeSEB employees foot their electricity bills.

Yours etc.,
A concerned citizen of Shillong

Sir,

The public might have observed the "economy drive" by the Shillong GPO to withdraw the provisions of adhesive (gum) used for affixing postage stamps and closing of envelopes etc. Now the public have been directed to purchase the gum, which was earlier available with the stamp vendor, from a small shop located at the entrance of the GPO. A small tube of gum costs Rs 5, an example of sheer harassment!

Secondly, if an analysis is made regarding the present standard of working of the Postal department compared to the bygone days, it would appear that the department has lost much of its credibility in offering services to the people allowing private courier services to thrive and prosper.

There is inordinate delay in delivering letters, MO's etc. Usually, a letter posted at Shillong for any station in the North-East (e.g. Guwahati, Silchar, Karimganj etc.) does not reach the address before 10/12 days, if at all it reaches the destination.

As regards MOs, less said is better. I have bitter experience of it. I sent one MO on November 2, 2007 from Laban Post Office to Dehkiajuli in Assam, which was not delivered at the address before 22 days. Such is the work culture prevalent in the Postal department.

I have pointed out my experience about the working pattern of the Postal department although I know it will not serve any purpose to improve the service, but I hope the conscious readers will endorse my views.

Yours etc.,
Sitangshu S Das
Lumparing, Shillong-4

Mr Gandhi's visit will be separate from that of Congress president Sonia Gandhi, who will be the other star campaigner for the elections in Meghalaya, Tripura and Nagaland, according to an NECCC release issued here on Friday. However, the exact dates of his visit to the region are yet to be finalised.

Mr Gandhi evinced keen interest in the state of affairs of the party in the region, the release issued by NECCC said. During the discussion with NECCC general secretary Shariff Laskar, he discussed the strategy to retain power in Meghalaya and bring back the party from opposition ruled Tripura and Meghalaya.

He is likely to meet other youth leaders of the region soon, party sources said.

"Mr Gandhi will actively campaign during the elections in Meghalaya, Nagaland and Tripura," the release said.

Emphasizing the role of Youth Congress and National Students Union of India in the region, Mr Gandhi wanted a coordinated effort in all the three poll-bound states.

Despite all odds Congress is trying to retain power in Meghalaya and stage a comeback in Nagaland. But in case of Tripura, still riddled with dissidence, the party is not much hopeful.

The festival has a special bonanza for films from the NE. At least 228 films were received from 37 countries for international competition, while another 543 films have entered in the Indian competition section.

In the international section, 44 films have been selected for competition section and nine films for special screening. The Indian section, 54 films would be screened in the competition section and 13 films in the special screening section, Director MIFF Kuldeep Sinha said.

Films from all the eight states of the entire North East, reflecting the lives and socio-cultural and political milieu of the people will be screened. 'No Body's Man' by journalist Mrinal Talukdar and Abhijeet Das has been selected for special screening in the non-competition section.

The film on the plight of the people living along the no man's land on Indo-Bangladesh border makes its maiden entry in the MIFF.

GUWAHATI: The seismic micro-zonation must start from the densely populated cities first then move to other areas of the country, Union Minister of Earth Science and Science and Technology Kapil Sibal said on Friday while unveiling the report on 'Seismic Micro-zonation of Guwahati Region'.

Demographic micro-zonisation should be carried out in the city on a scale of one to ten thousand to know the highly earthquake prone areas, he said.

Stressing on public awareness on the topic, he said the information collected by scientific studies must reach the community, which will help them to take corrective measures. "The data should be put into public domain."

Kapil Sibal informed that at the first stage the project will include 36 cities of the country and will be extended to all populated areas. Indian cities are not safe from earthquake, as the seismic microzonation has not been done to the required extent, said Sibal.

He stressed on public-private partnership to make the project a success.

Assam Science and Technology Minister Himanta Biswa Sharma informed that after Sikkim, Jabalpur and Delhi, Guwahati, which falls in the Zone V, the highest hazard zone, has become the fourth city where such a project has been implemented.

Sarma informed that the new project would give a new perspective to the master plan for Guwahati, which will be finalised within two to three months.

"The development plan will be implemented keeping in mind the scientific information available."

Sharma requested the Ministry of Earth Science and Science and Technology to organise a two-day long seminar on seismic microzonation to create awareness among the stakeholders.

A website and an atlas on 'Seismic Microzonation of Guwahati Region' were also released on Friday along with the Seismic Vulnerability Report of Guwahati.

Five Crores rupees have been spent for the whole project which took five years to be completed.

The Department of Science and Technology of India constituted a national level expert group in August 2002 for seismic modernization of Guwahati. (EP)

The Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN) had won the controversial no-confidence motion on December 13 last after Speaker Kiyanilie Peseyie barred three independents from taking part in voting and held that the votes of nine dissident NPF members were invalid.

The Nagaland People's Front (NPF) was part of the DAN government.

Senior advocate Abhishekh Singhvi and Saurav Aggarwal, who mentioned the petitions for the 12 MLAs before a Bench headed by the Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan, alleged that the decision of the speaker was illegal, arbitrary and unconstitutional and it should be quashed.

Following this, the Bench posted the matter for hearing on February 1.

Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio had survived the no-confidence motion with a tally of 23-19 votes in the 60-member House.

However, after the floor test, the Centre on January 3 had imposed President's rule in the State. Nagaland goes to assembly election next month.

The imposition of President's Rule in the state has been challenged in the Gauhati High Court which had issued a notice to the Centre on January 9.

Some NPF legislator and outgoing Parliamentary Secretary Yitachu had filed a petition on behalf of Democratic Alliance of Nagaland. (PTI)

Dibrugarh Deputy Commissioner Ashutosh Agnihotri told reporters here that four persons have been suspended as they were found to have been negligent during poll duty.

The suspended government employees are a junior engineer of Water Resources Department B C Bhattacharya, a clerk of Assam Medical College Hospital Bireswar Devroi, office assistants Manik Gogoi and Nirmal Gogoi.

The order to suspend the employees was taken under the Assam Panchayat Election Act. (PTI)

Assam Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Department has sounded alert in Kokrajhar, Bongaigaon, Dhubri and Goalpara districts of Assam, which have borders with West Bengal in the wake of the outbreak of bird flu in that State.

Estimated 14,000 kgs of poultry products from West Bengal reach various North East destinations via Guwahati every day. This doesn’t include poultry products procured by the armed forces stationed in the State. Assam Veterinary Department has claimed to have mounted the vigil against entry of poultry products from West Bengal. The Deputy Secretary of the Department RK Sarma said that there was no need for panic since the State was fully prepared to tackle any eventuality.

Meanwhile, All Assam Poultry Farmers’ Association has demanded ‘total ban’ on import of poultry and poultry products from West Bengal in view of outbreak of avian flu in several districts of the neighbouring State.

Assam Veterinary Department has constituted Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) in all those bordering districts where alert has already been sounded. Masks and other equipment to face possible outbreak of the deadly avian flu have also been supplied to the RRTs.

Aizawl: A public meeting for restoration of democracy and human rights in Myanmar here on Friday appealed to the Centre to snap all ties with the military rulers of the country as economic cooperation with it would never benefit the people unless democracy was restored.

"The Indian Government should work with the UN to find amicable solution to the Myanmar imbroglio," said the resolution passed at the meeting organised jointly by Mizoram Committee for Democracy in Burma and Campaign for Democratic Movement in Burma.

Mizoram is the worst sufferer of political instability and turmoil in the neighbouring country, participants of the meeting said and asked the people of Mizoram to take active role in supporting the pro-democratic groups to ensure restoration of democracy and human rights in Myanmar.

The participants also urged the State Government to take up the issue with the Centre as ethnic Mizos in Myanmar were being persecuted in that country and also that Mizo people faced serious problems due to refugees flooding the State due to persecution by the military junta.

Dr Tint Swe, member of Parliament of Burma and leader of the National League for Democracy (NLD) led by Aung San Suu Kyi, who spoke at the meeting on the need for new strategy in dealing with Myanmar by India said that even the Look East Policy would only have a meaning after restoration of democracy.

Other speakers included Rozathang and Hla Htun who stressed the need for increasing pressure on the political mandarins in New Delhi to change the country's policy towards the military regime in Myanmar. (PTI)