Speaking to newsmen here on Wednesday, Mr Shylla clarified the two departments had not been auctioned off to private parties but were "leased out" to three agents in order to enhance revenue collection by the KHADC.

"The charges by UDP member Hardinge L Massar are totally baseless," Mr Shylla said adding that only labour license, renewal of trading license and collection of professional tax had been outsourced to private parties.

According to Mr Shylla, in 2006-2007, revenue from issuance of labour license to migrant labourers was Rs 26.38 lakh but during 2007-2008, the collection had drastically come down to Rs 6.06 lakh. The decision to lease out the task of revenue collection from the license was in order to check such decline, he said.

While stating that Trade department was not leased out as alleged, Mr Shylla pointed out only renewal of trading license was outsourced to private parties to enhance the revenue.

The department had difficulty in tracking traders and businessmen who did not possess the license, he said.

In 2007-2008, collection from trading license renewal was Rs 32.31 lakh and the KHADC set a target to the lessee to raise the collection up to Rs 54 lakh in 2008-2009.

Professional tax from non-government sources was also leased out.

The KHADC, meanwhile, is verifying the differences between the figures provided by Planning department and that of the Council, Mr Shylla said.

Mr Shylla said he would decide on whether to contest the March-3 Assembly elections only after the verdict of the Court of East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner on the petition challenging the tribal status of Union Minister PR Kyndiah's son Waibha K Kyndiah.

"I will officially declare my political move only after the verdict of the DC court on the matter," Mr Shylla said. The court will hear the petition on February 5.

Mr Shylla, who lost the Congress ticket from Nongkrem seat to Waibha Kyndiah, said under Sections 10 and 11 of the Khasi Lineage Act 2005, a person taking his father's surname would be considered as non-Khasi and that he would be stripped of his Scheduled Tribe status in view of the matrilineal system followed in Khasi Hills.

"I am confident that the DC will pronounce his judgement on February 5 as any delay might lead to further complications in the scrutiny of nomination papers," Mr Shylla said.

The KHADC chief further said though he had sent copies of his complaint against Mr Kyndiah on his tribal status to the State Congress leadership, party leaders remained silent on the matter "due to fear of the Union Minister".

He further informed that the KHADC would soon issue its own Khasi Tribe certificate to enable the DC to determine genuine persons for availing the Scheduled Tribe certificate.

According to him, rules in this regard had been officially notified in the Meghalaya Gazette on January 10.

SHILLONG: In the fierce battle for the ensuing Assembly elections the spotlight has fallen on Independent candidates, especially in Garo Hills, where not everyone is convinced that candidates who are "Independent," are entirely on their own. Most people believe that Independent candidates "are part of a bigger game plan," of big political parties like the Congress and the NCP who have set them up to wrest power.

While Congress bigwigs in Meghalaya are busy setting up "dummy candidates," to better their chances of retaining power, the NCP too has started out "to get as many candidates as possible," to contest the elections as Independent candidates. NCP chief in Meghalaya Purno A Sangma is said to be busy trying to convince Independent candidates that the party would go all out to ensure that they win provided they support the party in forming the next government.

Incidentally, the use of "dummy candidates," is nothing new in Meghalaya and it has happened in the past. Senior politicians who have been witnesses to the elections in the State for the last three decades believe that, earlier the Congress party under the stewardship of Purno Sangma "was instrumental in getting dummy candidates." "It was all about supremacy and power within a party," is how a group of former politicians react when asked to comment on the issue.

The former Lok Sabha Speaker may not agree but he is said to have been the force behind introducing his now political archrival, Mukul Sangma as a dummy candidate from Ampati. The junior Sangma won his first ever Assembly elections in 1993 as an Independent candidate from Ampati.

Those who understand how "dummy politics," started in Meghalaya feel "this kind of politics is not just about parties but also individual leaders who want to improve their own support base with loyalists and yes men politicians."

According to political scientists a few cases of how dummy candidates who were set up in the past "with a vested interest," includes that of Beckstar Sangma, who was allegedly set up as a dummy candidate by Purno Sangma in Rongchugiri to defeat Congress heavyweight Late Sherjee Sangma in 1993. The same is believed to have been done to Joylance Momin who was defeated by Kulert Momin in 1998 from the Tura Assembly seat.

Interestingly, a group of people who are studying the Meghalaya elections feel "a number of Independent candidates will be put up either by the Congress or the NCP or maybe even regional parties to suit their own gameplan."

The danger however, is that "a few individual leaders," belonging to the Congress and the NCP are said to be going all out to set up dummies against their own candidates "only for the sake of keeping their supremacy in their turf intact."

Informed sources believe that candidates like PD Sangma in Kharkutta, Pijush Marak in Dadenggirri and Lemi Sangma in Tikrikilla (to name a few) are "all dummy candidates," of the Congress party. Former Congressman KC Boro is said to be "a NCP dummy," in Rajabala constituency, but there is no way it can be established.

Not just in Garo Hills, even in Khasi Hills and other districts use of dummy candidates is allegedly a common feature. In Khasi Hills and Ri-Bhoi the only difference maybe that dummy candidates are sent to political parties and not set up as Independent candidates.

Sources close to the Congress allege that Chief Minister DD Lapang has set up his own moles in other parties in Ri-Bhoi, Jirang to be precise.

SHILLONG: Few would have thought that the comfort of basking on a typical sunny January afternoon in Shillong would disappear and in its place cold winds and rain would force Shillongites to remain indoors and cuddle up in front of the chullah or the heater throughout the day.

This is perhaps what Shillong looked like on Wednesday as a cold wind that has been blowing for the past few days brought with it rains and a sudden dip in the temperature that was "almost unbearable." By evening, Shillong almost looked like a ghost town, with very few people daring to venture out in the cold.

"Just when Shillong winters was looking so typical for fun and adventure, the sudden change in weather, has dampened our spirits," said Shubrodeep who returned to his hometown with a group of friends to "experience Shillong's typical winter."

Shubrodeep was perhaps under the impression that those old days, when one could sit in the courtyard peeling oranges with a clear blue sky above, the sun shining down merrily "had returned."

Incidentally, the weather in Shillong has changed drastically over the last few years. Last few winter months have been somewhat cold and chilly, but this year round things seemed to have changed for the better. The first two weeks of January had been nice and warm during the day, with the usual evening cold to go with it.

For many denizens, especially old timers, it was also time to dry condiments and fruits on terraces and rooftops for making wine and different varieties of pickles. For others it was time to either construct, repair and paint their houses. "This time it looked as though winter would be dry and sunny," said Rilanglin a denizen of Shillong.

Well for now it looks like all the wind, chill and the rain have to come to settle over the Shillong skies. The mercury only a few days back read 18 degree Celsius, but today it dipped to as low as 4 degree Celsius. That's perhaps a reason why in Shillong the saying goes that "Weather, is of one of three W's that you cannot trust." The other two are anyone's guess.

In view of rising criminal activities committed by taxi drivers or others using cabs, the government last year announced that all taxis running in city roads would have to use stickers from February 1. The taxi owners were also asked to collect their respective stickers by producing valid vehicle documents before January 31.

Talking to The Shillong Times on Wednesday, Dr Marak said there had so far been "very poor" response to traffic police's instructions on collection of stickers by taxi owners within January 31. He reiterated that strong action would be taken against taxis found plying without the stickers with effect from February 1.

"More than 5000 taxi permits have been issued by the District Transport Office, Shillong for the past few years. Surprisingly, only 81 taxi owners have come forward to collect stickers," Dr Marak said.

He pointed out that the figure of taxi permits could be higher as there were taxis plying in the city with permits issued by DTO offices at Nongpoh, Jowai and Nongstoin.

Dr Marak said, "The low response to stickers indicates that majority of the local taxis plying in the city do not have valid documents. Collection of stickers should not be a huge burden as the taxi owners need to produce only valid documents of their vehicles to get them."

Stating that the stickers would ensure safety of passenger and prevent drivers from misusing or running away with the vehicles, Dr Marak said, "The stickers are meant to reduce crimes committed through taxis as majority of the anti-social elements are using local cabs for criminal activities. There were many cases reported in the past when women and young girls were either raped or molested by local taxi drivers and their accomplices."

New stickers will be issued every six months. For the current year the stickers would be issued free of cost.

Shillong: The Deputy Superintendent of Police (City) Traffic Dr SR Marak on Monday said the installation of the Urban Traffic Control System is expected to be completed by February 10.

Talking to The Shillong Times here on Wednesday, Dr Marak said with the model code conduct being in place, commissioning of the system would be held only after the Assembly elections.

"So far, 13 junctions have been completed and there are three more junctions where some minor works were still pending like electrical connection and cabinet fittings," Dr Marak said adding that the three junctions include Police Bazaar, Jingkieng and Nongthymmai.

"The system is fully computerised with automatic regulatory system and functions with magnetic censor under the surface of the road," Dr Marak

However, Dr Marak said "we cannot take any chances since it is an automatic system. Special back up arrangements have been arranged, if by chance, the electricity goes off."

He said that the traffic personnel would act as a back up and would take over the control of traffic as soon as the electricity goes off.

Admitting that the project was extended beyond the stipulated period of its completion, the DSP said "this is a common problem with big projects as there are a lot of unexpected developments or problems that hamper the work."

He further stated that the State Police Department is only acting as an agent to monitor the project, which is a Centrally sponsored project.

All the important decision in implementing the project is taken by the Centre and even the State Government does not have a say in it.

The DSP said that the work is being carried out by one Webel Mediatronics from Kolkata, which was selected by the Central Government, adding that the company has been awarded contracts to install traffic system in other parts of the country like Bangalore and Delhi.

Dr Marak added that Shillong is the first city in the North East that would have this system.

The project was sanctioned in October 2006 at a total cost of Rs 197 lakhs.

jowai: The Jaintia Hills district administration has issued a show-cause notice to the Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC) over alleged violation of the model code of conduct by certain Congress MDCs.

According to Jaintia Hills Deputy Commissioner Frederick Roy Kharkongor, the show-cause notice was issued following complaints that few Executive Members and MDCs went to the Congress election rally at Ladthadlaboh, Jowai using their official cars.

"We have made it clear to the JHADC that using of official cars by the EMs and MDCs while participating in any political meetings or campaign rallies would attract penalties under the election code of conduct" Mr Kharkongor said.

The DC also while directing the JHADC to refrain from such activities ask for a reply within January 25 without fail.

Further, the DC informed that most of the vehicles belonging to JHADC had been requisitioned by the district administration in order to prevent any misuse of such vehicles by the MDCs for electioneering while strict order had been issued to JHADC authorities to comply with the model code of conduct.

Flagging of party flag on residential buildings within Mulang village, Jaintia Hills District, has been strictly prohibited by the Durbar Shnong of Mulang. In a meeting held on Tuesday, the Dorbar Shnong passed a resolution stating that no household within the village jurisdiction should be allowed to decorate their houses with any political party's flag.

The general secretary, Mulang Durbar Shnong Pdiang Dkhar informed The Shillong Times that the initiative was taken to prevent any political party from influencing directly the electorates and to freedom of the people to exercise their right to vote.

He further informed that the Village Defence Party (VDP) would work hand-in-hand with the police to ensure peaceful elections. A special meeting of the VDP will on Thursday to chalk out patrolling strategies for the elections.

One bus will be plying through Laban, Madan Laban, Nepali School, Bishnupur via Bethesda Hospital, Last Stop to Polo, while for people residing in Jaiaw, another bus will ply through Jaiaw, Mawkhar, Motphran, Police Bazar to Polo. From Mawlai, two buses have been requisitioned - one will ply through Mawlai Petrol Pump, Mawlai Nonglum, Mawlai Phudmuri, Mawlai Mawroh, Golflink to Polo while another one will ply via Mawlai Petrol Pump, Iewrynghep, Mawprem, District Council through Military Hospital to Polo. For those residing in Rynjah, and its adjoining areas, one bus will ply through Rynjah, Nongrim Hills, Laitumkhrah via Dhankheti to Polo and for people residing in Demthring and its adjoining areas, the bus will ply through Demthring, Happy Valley, Nongthymmai, Fire Brigade, Dhankheti to Polo.

The buses will start plying from MTC station at 7 am and drop the public via the same route after the programme is over.

Shillong: The District Rapid Response Team of Ri-Bhoi District has alerted people in the district in the wake of outbreak of bird flu in West Bengal. A meeting held on Monday chaired by District AH & Veterinary Officer Dr QX Rewarnd urged the district level task force and rapid response team to check the possible outbreak of the disease in the district. So far, there were no report of chicken deaths in the State.

The meeting also urged members of the public to inform the concerned department, in case of any unusual death of birds and chicken, at the following numbers - 0364-232294 or 9863022471.

Our Correspondent from Agartala reports: Tripura Government has imposed ban on importing eggs and chicks from Bangladesh, Principal Secretary U Venkateswarlu said here on Wednesday. Even as there no case of avian was reported in the State, the Government has taken all possible preventative measures to avert avian flu, he said.

BSF, Airport Authority of India (AAI) and Customs were asked to maintain strict vigil to prevent importing of eggs and chicks from Bangladesh, he said.

The accused were identified as Arolbok Nongsiej (23) of Lawsiej, Michael Thongni Rangblang and Silin Mawlieh (19) of Upper New Nongstoin.

Police said a huge amount of illicit liquor were seized from the Maruti car (ML06 2370) they were travelling in.

As per the complaint lodged with the police, Mr Kumar said that Mr Paul has taken Rs 50,000 as loan from him on January 21 last.

Police are still investigating on the matter.

According an FIR lodged by his relatives, Syiemlieh made a call from his mobile to the relatives saying that one Richard Warjri and his accomplices were beating him.

"After receiving the call, we rushed to his place, but there was no clue about his whereabouts," the relatives said.

An FIR was lodged with Lumdiengjri police station here.

"Rs 1 lakh car drives 1 billion dreams", "Tata reinvents the wheel", "From no-no to Nano", screamed the headlines as the media rapturously welcomed Tata Motors’ Nano amidst rousing music signifying the coming of an epochal event. The car has been described as "revolutionary", a "historic breakthrough" which makes "every Indian several inches taller" and will trigger technological innovation which "might change the world"!

The Nano is expected to do to India what Ford’s Model T did a century ago to the United States by widely spreading the cult of the automobile. It’s being touted as an achievement not just of one business group or industry, but as the triumph of the nation itself, along with its consumer-citizens—a sign of India’s arrival as an industry leader and innovator.

On a critical view, however, the Nano appears deeply flawed because of inadequate safety features and emission standards. Thanks to its low price, it will greatly expand India’s market for cars (currently, 1.5 million). Automobile proliferation will cause unbearable traffic congestion and enormous pollution and health damage, drain public resources, and set back the all-important fight against global warming.

Even the most attractive feature of the car, which has made it iconic—the Rs 1 lakh price—is probably an illusion. That price hides big subsidies. The Tata Motors plant coming up at Singur in West Bengal, which will produce the Nano, is subsidised to the extent of Rs 850 crore by the Left Front government, according to economist and former Finance Minister Ashok Mitra. This works out to one-fourth of the project’s capital cost.

The government has spent about Rs 150 crore to buy 997 acres of land, but given it to the Tatas on a 99-year lease at throwaway rates, with no down-payment and with instalments as low as Rs 1 crore for the first five years. It’s also advancing them a Rs 200-crore loan at 1 per cent interest and granting an exemption from the value-added tax for 10 years, amounting to Rs 500 crore.

This may be an underestimate. To further "sweeten" the deal, the government, reports The Statesman, has gifted to the Tatas 50 acres of prime land in Rajarhat New Town just outside Kolkata and another 200 acres in the Bhangar-Rajarhat area to build IT and residential townships. The Tata plant will have a built-up area equalling only 4 per cent of the acquired land. Much of the rest will be profitably rented to ancillary units and other suppliers.

The total subsidy may thus turn out considerably higher, making the one-lakh claim even more dubious. Besides, that superlatively attractive price is only applicable to the bare-bones model as an introductory offer. Mr Ratan Tata said: "We may not be able to hold the price emotionally. We have to understand that steel and tyre prices … are rising." He recalled that in 1983, the Maruti 800 too was offered at Rs 45,000, but the price almost doubled within a year.

Coupled with Mr Tata’s refusal to discuss the Nano's profitability, this suggests that the introductory price is unlikely to last long. The National Stock Exchange didn’t respond well to the vehicle’s launch. The Tata Motors share fell 2.7 per cent—23 per cent below its 12-month high. So the whipped-up euphoria about "the world’s cheapest car" may soon turn out to be empty. But the hype will help the Nano establish a grip over the low-cost market—before new regulations are put in place.

Nevertheless, it’s incontrovertible that the Nano will remain the world’s cheapest car for some time because its cost has been ruthlessly pared down. The upside of this is unconventional thinking focused on frugality and minimalism, which may trigger cost-cutting within the lower end of the automobile industry.

More ambivalently, this may also encourage excessive electronic sourcing, which uses Internet auctions to force suppliers to compete. This would be a departure from the carmakers’ tradition of cultivating a long-term relationship with suppliers, which makes for reliability. The world's most efficient carmakers source no more than 10 to 15 per cent of components electronically. But Tata Motors is buying 30 to 40 per cent through Internet auctions. This may have safety and reliability implications.

The real downside is the cutting of corners to produce an ultra-cheap car with low longevity and high maintenance, which fails the current Western emission and safety standards, and will soon do so in India too as we adopt Euro-IV norms by 2010. This approach differs from dispensing with luxuries or add-ons, as in having a trunk with space for only a briefcase.

For instance, the Nano's designers used a hollow shaft instead of a solid beam to connect the steering-wheel to the axle, and plastics and adhesives in place of many studs and bolts. The car’s wheel bearings will wear out rapidly beyond 70 kmph. It has only one windshield wiper instead of two. It uses belt-driven continuous variable transmission, which slows down acceleration. To save merely Rs 400, the suspension was redesigned to eliminate devices called actuators, which adjust the angle of the car’s lights to the way it’s loaded.

Such measures are likely to have an impact on the car’s safety, sturdiness and durability/longevity. Some of it will only become apparent once the car has been on the road for a few years. It’s premature today to certify that the Nano is safe and reliable. Mr Tata says that it has passed the crash test and meets the prevalent national emission standards.

However, these claims haven’t been verified by an independent and competent agency. Besides, Mr Tata himself admits that the Nano falls short of the Euro-IV standards, which India should have adopted, but delayed adopting under the automobile lobby’s pressure. These will come into force in major cities in April 2010 and are considerably stricter than the prevalent Bharat-II or III. For instance, under Euro-IV, sulphur emissions must be reduced 35-fold in relation to Bharat-II.

Similarly, key safety standards are long overdue in India with its high road accident and casualty rates. These include full-body crash tests—which determine how cars will crumple in a collision, minimising the impact on passengers—, airbags to protect riders, and anti-lock braking systems. The standards will raise costs by as much as Rs 40,000-50,000.

Michael Walsh, a pollution consultant and former United States Environmental Protection Agency regulator, has been quoted as saying that a car as cheap as the Nano is likely to lack the complex technology needed to maintain its initial level of emissions, and that without such technology, cars could soon produce four to five times their initial pollution. "It strikes me as impossible that such a vehicle will be a very clean vehicle" over its lifetime.

It’s specious to argue that safety standards should be diluted for the Nano because it comes at a particular moment in India’s development, when it’s affluent enough to support a strong demand for automobiles but still under-regulated for safety and pollution in relation to developed countries. That entails putting a low value on Indian life.

The Tata car will set a new trend: industry taking advantage of existing poor emission norms. Bajaj Auto, Volkswagen, Nissan and General Motors are all planning to make stripped-down cars priced between the Nano and the Maruti-800. All this will further slow down traffic—and increase pollution, which has reached a critical point in 57 per cent of our cities.

Yet, India is following a policy under which a car can legally occupy the same space as a slum-dwelling family considered fit for eviction. This must radically change so that public transport is given top priority and people can move in safe, efficient and environmentally sound ways and have equitable, affordable access to transport.

Automobilisation of transport spells high social costs, resource waste through maintenance and repair charges, serious pollution, and iniquitous use of road-space. In most Indian cities, cars and two-wheelers hog 60 to 80 per cent of space, but deliver 15 to 20 per cent of passenger trips. By contrast, buses occupy under 20 per cent of road-space, and account for up to 60 per cent of trips. We must stop subsidising cars through free road and parking space.

Cars occupy prime space—even when unused. Studies show that if car-owners were made to pay the economic rent for parking, many would stop using them. In many city centres, the true annual price of parking-space per car would exceed its nominal cost by 10 times! Cars slow down public transport, causing further congestion and waste of social time. India’s car market is set to expand at an average of 14.5 per cent a year. By 2020, some forecasts say, 150 million Indians and 140 million Chinese will have cars. If this happens, the world can bid goodbye to making major reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. China and India account for 70 per cent of the recent worldwide increase in energy demand. If India is to show responsibility in climate change matters, it must rethink its automobile policy. (IPA Service)

Let me not jolt or surprise anyone: Nano was born in the dreams of the great scientist Homi Bhabha, father of India’s nuclear programme. Barely a year before his demise in a plane crash in 1967, Dr Bhabha outlined the path that would lead to India’s emergence as an industrial nation, parallel to the Western industrial powers. Nano is one of the glittering prizes from this path outlined by Bhabha.

In an elaborate lecture, "Science And the Problems of Industrial Development", Homi Bhabha advocated creating a strong base of modern science and indigenous technology in India. "The question (is) as to whether a self-generating industry can be established without establishing a powerful scientific base," he posed. The answer was in the negative. Indian industries development has so far proceeded on the basis of setting up plants and industries almost exclusively with foreign collaboration, he said. And added: "(Nuclear industry’s) experience, however, makes it quite plain that this method can never lead to a self-generating industry without establishing a powerful scientific research and development effort to support it."

Bhabha’s successors have carried forward his mantle and played a worthy role in bringing high-end technology to the aid of Indian industry by their scientific research and development. The three premier nuclear R&D centres – BARC, Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR) and Centre for Advanced Technology (CAT) – have brought into the process of Indian industrial development an elevation through the products of their scientific R&D. In fact, close interaction between industry and the nuclear R&D centres is now part of the mandate for the Atomic Energy Commission and Department of Atomic Energy.

Such advanced technologies as non-destructive materials’ testing and evaluation, lasers for industry and surgery, radioisotope-based tools and techniques, seamless welding, developing special material and alloys – light but strong – and robotic electronic devices, are among the boons from nuclear R&D centers. Further, nuclear technology’s impact on industry has the distinction of imparting precision, stringent quality checks, and standards assurance to Indian industry.

Now, a new chapter has opened in science-backed technology elevation for industry by workings of the office of Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, Dr R. Chidamabaram, former chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission, together with the Scientific Advisory Committee to the Cabinet (SAC-C). Their first commendable plank is to bridge the gap between industry and public sector R&D, such as those belonging to Atomic Energy, Space, Defence and Agriculture. Among the first to benefit from this industry-public sector R&D interaction is the automobile sector.

A Core Advisory Group on Automative R&D (appropriately called CAR) was constituted in April 2003, with leading automobile industry representatives (including the chief designers of Tata Motor’s Indica/Indigo and Mahindra’s Scorpio) and eminent scientists. Included in CAR is Dr S.M, Shahed, an NRI (ex-President of Society for Automative Engineers), and Prof. S. Mohan of the Indian Institute of Science, is the Chairman.

CAR has set very high goals in technology enhancement for the automobile sector – from two-wheelers through cars to heavy vehicles. One of its first action has been to draw up a charter, creating a list of technologies that are critical to the development of world class automobile sector, and alongside, listing out top experts with an eye on building an automobile "Technology Board". The charter also seeks to draw up a ‘prioritized list of R&D programmes’ that need to be taken up. The concept is to identify emerging frontier technologies in the automobile sector on which R&D has to be focused. The strength of the software industry in India is to be availed for the needs of the automobile industry so as to use this synergy to develop international expertise in the emerging area of automative electronics and controls.

Tomorrow’s car, with 40 per cent of its functions performed by microprocessors and sensors, is going to be a virtual computer on wheels. So, work has to be done on advanced materials, telematics, low-cost safety, new fuels like hydrogen, and allied areas.

While there is little doubt that the entire automobile industry in India is immensely benefiting from the working of CAR, those constituents capable of integrating the new pool of high-end technology of global standards with their own R&D, such as Ratan Tata’s dispensation, will gain most. Science and technology will here generate the right mix for the automobile sector, spreading out to all segments of Indian industry. That has been Homi Bhabha’s dream of India’s industrial advancement.

Nano is one of the fruits of this new industrial enhancement, thanks to Ratan Tata’s capability. Ratan Tata has many a surprise to unveil when Nano takes to the street, bustling through busy urban traffic. The name ‘Nano’ is no fluke, and one surprise that the car project will unveil is of its advanced technology component springing from science-based technology. India – perhaps the world at large – is keenly waiting for this story to unfold: the industrial story that incorporates Dr Bhabha’s dream. (IPA Service)

Sir,

It is nauseating to see that many in Shillong lack civic sense. One can see them urinating in public places particularly near taxi stands and other market places totally unmindful of the passersby. Overpowering stench of urine subjects the pedestrians to lot of discomfort and it is also embarrassing for the women walking on the footpaths.

The municipal administration should construct 'pay and use' toilets as done in Karnataka under the 'Nirmala Nagara' scheme under which construction of public toilets is one of the projects. Software giant like Infosys has funded for construction of the toilets.

Even in Meghalaya particularly Shillong the government can find a suitable sponsor to build the toilets. The cost of construction of toilets is nominal due to the simplicity of the design. The user is required to pay only a nominal amount of one rupee.

This could inculcate some civic sense amongst the public. Fines should be imposed on the persons found urinating in the public places so that this obnoxious practice is curbed.

Yours etc.,
Ananth Nipani (via e-mail)

Sir,

Kudos to all those who arranged to clean up the dirt and filth at Mot Phran and Iewduh --- can we now then think of cleaning up the 'dirt and filth' (read corruption) in government and politics?

Yours etc.,
DM Pariat
Shillong (via e-mail)

The post of CMD is also falling vacant with the present incumbent V Thulasidas retiring on March 31 this year. Incidentally, Thulasidas, former Chief Secretary of Tripura, belonged to North East cadre of IAS officers.

The contenders for the hot seat at the post-AI merger, the National Aviation Company of India Limited (NACIL), offer quite a variety ranging from advocates to senior officials from the Civil Aviation Ministry itself besides a bunch of prominent civil servants, according to reports here.

The aspirants include besides Chattarjee, IAS official K Jairaj, Arvind Mayaram, Joint Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs; Prabhat Chander Chaturvedi, DG, Employees State Insurance Corporation, formerly Uttar Pradesh Joint Secretary, Civil and SN Mohanty, Principal Secretary in the Andhra Pradesh Government. Additional Director General of Border Security Force (BSF) Amar Pratap Singh, who has earlier done a stint as Vigilance Director in the pre-merger Indian Airlines and T Radha Krishnan, Principal Secretary, Tourism & Culture, Chhattisgarh are also among applicants.

In the race will be a couple of the Ministry's own men with it sponsoring applications of Additional Secretary Raghu Menon; Vishwapati Trivedi, Joint MD and currently second in command at NACIL; and functional directors - Anup Srivastava (Personnel), S Chandrashekhar (Finance) and Amod Sharma, Strategic Business Unit (SBU). A surprise candidate is Capt NK Beri, Resident Director NACIL.

While eligibility conditions for the post require officials of the level of Additional Secretary in the Government of India or its equivalent including Lieutenant General in the Army, equivalent posts in the Navy and the Air Force could be considered on deputation provided there was cadre clearance. The post is also open to applicants with technical/MBA qualifications and familiarity with commercial and financial operations in the air transport sector.

Chatterjee, who also served as former Joint Secretary in the Civil Aviation Ministry, has an edge over others because of his past experience in the ministry itself. As Meghalay Chief Secretary, he was also regularly in touch with the ministry for expansion of Umroi Airport and taking up Baljek Airport.

The present Governor of Meghalaya Mr Sidhu was former Civil Aviation Secretary and heading a panel on civil aviation in the region.

She will be camping for two days each in Meghalaya and Nagaland while the star campaigner will be available in Left Front-ruled Tripura only for one day, according to AICC general secretary in-charge of Meghalaya and Nagaland, Margarat Alva.

Speaking to reporters at a function here on Wednesday, Ms Alva said Congress was hopeful of retaining Meghalaya and wresting back Nagaland from NDA coalition. However, Congress is not too optimistic about Tripura where the party is in a weak position.

Besides Ms Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, MP, will also campaign in the three states.

NEW DELHI: In total, 42 proposals for Thai-North East Trade Cooperation in investment and trade sector mostly in tourism are being actively pursued under the overall aegis and coordination of the Indian Chamber of Commerce, according to official sources here on Wednesday.

Following high level visits and business summit in Bangkok few months ago several encouraging proposals involving close cooperation between Thailand and India's North East have come, the sources said. The Bank of Bangkok has also expressed interest in funding Indo-Thai ventures in the region.

The Thai delegation consisted of representatives from the Thailand Board of Investment, the Royal Thai Embassy in New Delhi, the Thai Office of Commercial Affairs in New Delhi and Thai companies in the food, construction, banking and steel industry.

Meanwhile, several business seminars were conducted in Guwahati, Itanagar and Gangtok, which were "very successful" and many sub-group discussions on industries of common interest to the two parties. Both sides recognised that food processing, agriculture, tourism and infrastructure improvement in roads, hydro-electricity, dams, water control in rivers, etc. are areas with the greater potential to be further pursued.

There will be further cooperation through exchange of information and further visits of organised trade, investment and tourism delegations to advise and assist each other to further promote Thailand-India trade and investment, the sources said. Soon there could be exchange of tour operators delegations between the North-East and Thailand.

Tourists could be sent from Thailand to visit North-Eastern States specially the Buddhist circuits. The very idea is to have a mix of beach tourism with hill tourism, the sources said.

Ministry of DoNER, Ministry of Industry, Thailand and the Indian Chamber of Commerce would organise a tourism convention either in Bangkok or North-East India in 2008.

ICC would initiate the process of setting up a North-East Investment Desk at the Indian Embassy in Bangkok. The India Desk at Board of Investment, Thailand would facilitate development of economic ties between North-Eastern India and Thailand.

The Bank of Bangkok offered assistance in finding suitable Thai partners for the North-East India based companies. The Bank of Bangkok also offered financial assistance for viable projects based on provision of security from the State Governments, the sources said.