News 1 April, 2000: Development

NEW DELHI, March 17: The Brahmaputra Board has undertaken a phased programme of survey and investigation of 17 multi-purpose projects and the state governments of the region have been asked to furnish the basin wise development and status of the water resources to enable it to prepare an integrated programme of central and state agencies for effectively harnessing the vast resources of the Northeast. The state government has been requested to provide status of the water resources in the two main basins for which the master plans have been approved by the union government. The board, which was entrusted with the job of preparing master plans of various rivers and tributaries of Brahmaputra and Barak valley river system, had divided their task into three parts. The Master plan-I, deals with main stem of Brahmaputra, the part two concerns the Barak Valley rivers and its eight important tributaries and plan three is for important tributaries of Brahmaputra and eight rivers of Tripura. Besides, the Board is in the process of preparing a master plan for Majuli and Lohit basin, in a bid to find out a long-term solution as well as sustainable short-term measures for protecting the Majuli island from acute erosion problem. The annual report of the board tabled in the Parliament early this week, claimed that 33 drainage congestion areas in Brahmaputra and Barak Valley basins have been identified, with details being submitted to the Central Water Commission (CWC). Eight of these drainage schemes in Assam were granted technical clearance by the CWC. Three of the projects, including the Jengrai, east of Barpeta and Jakaichuk cleared recently were sent to government of Assam for implementation with central assistance, but acceptance of Assam government is awaited. The board, on the other hand, has questioned the measures adopted by state government, in controlling the floods, by stating that the efficacy of these measures especially in the Brahmaputra river system was highly degrading. There is a need to implement the various recommendations in master plans of Brahmaputra sub basin, prepared by the Brahmaputra Board. The acid test for the board will be implementation of the Rs 547.79 crore, Pagladiya multipurpose dam project with all procedural hurdles being cleared and the Assam government conveying its no objection for implementation of the project by it. The project involves construction of an earthen dam of about 26 metres height over river Pagladiya, in Nalbari district. (Staff Correspondent; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; March 18, 2000)

NEW DELHI, March 19:: In a significant development that may embarrass the minister for state for water resources Bijoya Chakraborty, the union government has turned down a proposal of the parliamentary standing committee on agriculture (ministry of water resources), to convert, as a special case, all the central schemes into hundred per cent centrally sponsored schemes. The standing committee recommendation that the government should make all the schemes hundred per cent centrally sponsored, it may be mentioned that all the schemes are centrally funded except the one concerning the command area development scheme and for this the states have to provide matching contribution, the government ruled, turning down the proposal. For the scheme, the ministry in the current year's budgetary allocation has earmarked Rs 5 crore, which is a significant increase over last financial year's allocation of Rs 1.33 crore. However, this is likely to put pressure on the states, as they have to now bring in the matching contribution to get the scheme going. Earlier, in a move aimed at placating the flood-prone states of the Northeast , the committee had recommended that the government should make all the schemes hundred per cent centrally funded schemes in respect of the region, as a special case, so that it is ensured that at least ten per cent of the total funds earmarked for the plan schemes flow to the states and this step would be in conformity with the assurance given by the Prime Minister, in November 1996, to earmark ten per cent of the funds for the region. The recommendations apparently was the fall-out of the decision of the planning commission to enhance the budgetary allocation of the water resources ministry to Rs 396 crore, which would have lead to a proportional decrease in budgetary allocation for the Northeast from 9.52 per cent to 9.17 per cent. (Staff Correspondent; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; March 20, 2000)

IMPHAL, March 19: The Manipur government's decision to freeze the salaries of its nearly 80,000 workforce in view of acute financial crisis has adversely affected the business establishments here, which have recorded poor sales figures on the eve of Yaoshang festival. Yaoshang, the biggest festival of the Meiteis in Manipur, is going to be celebrated this time without a single penny in the hands of the state government employees. The five-day festival begins tomorrow. Despite Chief Minister Wahengbam Nipamacha Singh's direction to disperse the salary and pension to the employees in view of Yaoshang, on March 18, the state authority failed to pay salary in time. Meanwhile, a festive mood has gripped the state for Yaoshang, which heralds the onset of the spring season. But still something seems to be missing. The usual noise and din of children romping around and scenes of noisy women haggling over prices of Yaoshang clothes at the heart of the Imphal city are not to be found this time round. As the government this year failed to pay its employees before the festival unlike the past, helplessness and disbelief can be observed on the face of every state government employees. Unusually the crowded market place of the Imphal city are thronged by few people who do not seem to be affected by the financial fiasco. The two main crowded market places Paona Bazar and Thangal Bazar are witnessing a never-before phenomenon of sale proceeds hitting rock bottom. Despite the protest from various quarters to pay the employees before Id, the government failed to do so. People swallowed their anger when the government said it would pay the employees on March 18. Then again the government failed to deliver, at least till the evening of the day due to absence, of clearance from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Mumbai headquarters. (Correspondent; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; March 20, 2000)

AGARTALA, March 19: The planning commission has approved the Tripura government's Rs 180-crore project for a new capital complex at Khejur Bagan near here. Official sources told newsmen here on Sunday that planning commission deputy chairman KC Pant would lay the foundation stone for the new capital complex on March 27. Tripura Legislative Assembly house, civil secretariat and offices of the all senior officers would be set up in the new capital complex. The erstwhile palace of princely rulers, which housed the Assembly at present, would be a museum following the agreement signed between the state government and the All Tripura Tribal Force in September, 1993. (United News of India; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; March 20, 2000)

IMPHAL, March 19: The Manipur finance minister Henam Lokhon Singh on Saturday informed that the total strength of the state government employees as of today is about 76,280. Replying to a question raised by the ex-Chief Minister and Congress MLA Rishang Keishing in Saturday's question and answer session of the Assembly, the finance minister further informed that an amount of Rs 909.79 crore is incurred per annum on account of the employees' pay and emoluments. The state finance minister also disclosed that a committee had been constituted to propose rationalisation and for identification of surplus staff for either abolition or redeployment. In another reply, the finance minister informed that the total number of state government employees including the public sector undertaking employees is about 82,451. Regarding the failure of government undertaking sector in the state Lokhon Singh also assured to take up certain programmes for the Spinning Mill and other such units by formulating a new government policy. In the meantime, the state government had ordered the nationalised banks operating in and around the Imphal city to work till Saturday afternoon in view of the disbursement of salaries to the state government employees for the biggest festival Yaosha. However, all the nationalised banks were reportedly closed after 12 noon Saturday. (Correspondent; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; March 20, 2000)

KOHIMA, March 19: Gauhati High Court has set aside the judgment of its Kohima Bench on Nagaland Finance commissioner Lalthara. Official sources said that chief justice and justice AK Naik of Gauhati High Court, in their judgment on Tuesday, had quashed the judgment of the Kohima Bench of Gauhati High Court on November 5 last year for one month sentence or a fine of Rs 5,000 to Lalthara in regard to General Provident Fund (GPF) issue of the state government employees. Gauhati High Court further directed the state government that all pending GPF application of the employees shall be dealt with in term of GPF (Central Service Rules) 1960, sources said. Meanwhile, the state government had withdrawn the quantitative restriction imposed on GPF withdrawals with effect from April 1 next, sources quoting Lalthara said and added that the sanctioning and releasing power was given to all head of the departments. The government also informed the heads of the departments of the planning commission of India and set a target of Rs 31 crore of GPF surplus in a year to be made available for plan financing. Therefore, the GPF withdrawals within the year should normally be less than the total GPF subscription in the department during the year. (The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; March 20, 2000)

KOHIMA, March 18: Altogether 52 rural development blocks in Nagaland will have access to Internet, e-mail with the setting up of computer information centres. Ministry of information technology and state department of science and technology have identified the blocks spread over all the districts, minister for higher education T Chuba said on Thursday. He said steps were being taken to provide connectivity to leading educational and research institutions in the state. The minister also asked respective deputy commissioners to identify suitable place to install computers in the blocks under their jurisdiction. (Press Trust of India; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; March 22, 2000)

SUALKUCHI, March 22: Tassar silk is posing serious threat to Assam's golden fabric 'muga silk' due to high cost of muga yarn and time consuming methods of its production. "Weavers are now increasingly mixing tassar with muga to create fabrics which poses threat to the muga silk industry of the state which has flourished since time immemorial," says SN Mishra, the assistant director of the Central Silk Board here. The main reason for this trend of mixing tassar with muga was the prohibitive rise in the price of muga yarn. The cost of the muga yarn has shot up tremendously during the past few years forcing the weavers to take recourse to tassar, says D Choudhury, an executive member of Assam Resham Silpi Samanway Samiti. The price of muga yarn varies from Rs 5,000 to Rs 3,200 per hundred kg while tassar cost rangers from Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,000 kg. "This huge price difference between the two is compelling weavers to stop buying muga yarn and go in for tassar", explains Choudhury. As a result of the high price of the yarn many weavers decided not to purchase muga cocoons last year, so that the prices would fall, he said. The prices have relatively come down this year but is yet to reach the level of tassar and as a consequence the use of tassar might continue. Mishra, however, points out that the trend must be contained to save the traditional silk industry of the state. The Central Silk Board has decided to purchase an overhead projection microscope from the French company Lubant to detect the type of yarn used in the fabric. "The machine will be installed at Sualkuchi, famed internationally for the pat and muga silk, and the buyers can avail of this facility at a nominal cost," he said. This machine will be of particular use to the bulk buyers as they can be hundred per cent certain that the fabric they are buying is entirely muga without any traces of tassar, says the official. The weavers will be asked to put their fabrics under the microscope and those producing only muga silk fabrics will be given certificates to that effect by the board. "The practice of giving certificates will not only enhance the credibility of the weavers but even help the buyers who can directly approach the weavers possessing the certificates without any uncertainty about the quality of the fabric," he said. Muga yarn production is still a household industry over the years and though the demand and value of muga yarn had increased, yet the technology used is traditional. The reelers of muga cocoon are still using the age-old 'bhir' contrivance for yarn production which is not only time consuming but also creates and unhygienic environment. Mishra pointed out that to overcome these difficulties muga production had to be improved involving less investment and scientific methods. With this aim the Central Silk Board's Central Silk Technological Research Institute has made an improved motorised muga yarn producing machine. The production capacity of the motorised muga yarn producing machine is much more than the 'bhir' and an unskilled reeler can reel 500 muga cocoons producing 120 gms to 130 gms yarn in eight hours while an expert reeler can reel a minimum of 1000 muga cocoons producing 220 gms or more yarn, says Mishra. The Central Silk Board is offering this machine to the weavers at a subsidised rate of 50 per cent and there is a great demand among the weavers of Sualkuchi with a long list of orders already placed for it. The CSB has also developed an improved motorised spinning machine which can produce fine twisted spun yarn, with production capacity of 100 gms to 200 gms yarn per day. An expert spinner can spin 200 gms per day approximately. The demonstration cum technical service centre of the CSB at Sualkuchi also provides training and technical assistance to the weavers and tries to help them in enhancing the production of silk, says the official. He also pointed out that the total annual muga production in Assam was 60 tonnes and the total muga cocoons produced in the state was 2950 lakh. There are 2,000 commercial looms with the total muga silk yarn consumption being 50 tonnes, he said. And he hopes to retain the purity of muga. (Press Trust of India; The Northeast Daily; Guwahati; March 24, 2000)

KOHIMA, March 23: Nagaland Chief Minister SC Jamir, who also holds the finance portfolio today presented a tax-free Rs 230.84 crore deficit budget for the financial year 2000-2001. Presenting the annual financial statement Jamir told the house that in view of many new taxation measures as well as enhancement of tax rates introduced in the current year budget, he felt there is no scope to introduce new taxation measures or enhancement of rates during the coming year. Painting a gloomy fiscal scenario of the state, the Chief Minister informed the house that the revised estimate of the deficit for the current fiscal is projected at Rs 342 crore against the anticipated deficit of Rs 271 crore while presenting the budget in July last year. As the planning commission is yet to finalise the state's annual plan size for the next fiscal, he decided to present a full-fledged budget taking into account the current plan outlay of Rs 315 crore, Jamir clarified, adding, he did not resort to vote-on-account for the third consecutive term this time. (The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; March 24, 2000)

AIZAWL, March 23: The Mizoram government has decided against imposing any new taxes in the coming financial year even though fiscal 2000-1 was expected to open with a deficit balance of Rs 245.37 crore, Rs 99.93 crore higher than the present opening, Chief Minister Zoramthanga said while delivering his budget speech here on Tuesday, report agencies. The Chief Minister also commenced before the house the supplementary demands for 1999-2000, vote-on-account for April 2000 and budget for 2000-1 for approval. Due to non-finalisation of the annual plan allocation by the planning commission, the government retained the level of the annual plan size of Rs 364 crore of the present fiscal for the next financial year too. 'But it is expected that the size of the annual plan for 2000-1, when finalised by the planning commission would be bigger than the one presented now and revision of the quantum of funds, if any would be brought before the House', Zoramthanga added. (The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; March 24, 2000)

NEW DELHI, March 24: The flood control and anti-erosion work in Brahmaputra and Barak Valley, besides areas in North Bengal is likely to get an additional boost this season, with the planning commission approving a Rs 150 crore ministry of water resource sponsored proposal. This was revealed by the union water resources minister, CP Thakur, in a letter to Congress MP Paban Singh Ghatowar. Under fire for not coming to the aid of the states hit by floods in the Northeast, the ministry's fresh proposal is seen as a move to placate them. During the 1999-2000, central loan assistance amounting to Rs 15 crore has been released in equal instalments of Rs 7.50 crore during July 1999 and February. In addition to this a proposal of the Ministry to provide Central assistance to the tune of Rs 150 crore for carrying out flood control and anti-erosion works in Brahmaputra - Barak Valleys covering the Northeastern states and West Bengal (North Bengal) has been recently approved by the planning commission and is being processed, the minister assured. Considering the complexity and magnitude of flood management problems in Brahmaputra and Barak Valley, CLA outside the state plan framework has been provided to Assam since 1974-75, the minister asserted. (Staff Correspondent; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; March 25, 2000)

SHILLONG, March 23: The grim financial scenario in Meghalaya came to the fore once again on Thursday with the state finance minister, AH Scott Lyngdoh, admitting the government's inability to reintroduce the leave travel concession (LTC) scheme, which was withdrawn in 1993, for the state government employees. Replying to discussions on a cut motion during the ongoing budget session of the state Assembly here, Scott Lyngdoh said as the financial position of the government continued to be precarious, the ban on LTC would continue. He pointed out that governments both at the Centre and states are reducing expenditure in order to reduce deficits, and stated, "We have no option but to keep on reducing our expenditure as much as we can." Rejecting the possibility of restoring LTC at this juncture, Scott Lyngdoh offered a consolation: "We will consider reintroduction of LTC when the financial situation improves". The ban on LTC was modified in January 1994 allowing LTC to employees posted outside the state. Several opposition members, including PM Syiem (Ind), KC Boro, Tonsing N Marak and TC Lyngdoh, all from Congress, demanded reintroduction of the scheme for all employees or its scrapping altogether to remove the present discrimination. (Special Correspondent; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; March 25, 2000)

NEW DELHI, March 24: The union government is planning to set up 486 community information centres in the Northeast costing about Rs 220 crore. The project would be undertaken by VSAT communication technology. National Informatics Centre (NIC) will be taking up this project and the idea is to go up to the block level, PV Jayakrishnan, secretary, Ministry of Information Technology said at the joint policy round table on IT and telecom. Jayakrishnan said, "The response from the state governments have been very enthusiastic and we hope to see the infrastructure constrains do not come in the way." Things are going to change very fast in the IT sector and there is a need to upgrade all institutions. Regional engineering colleges are going to be upgraded to IIT standards. In the hardware sector, we are looking at an export target of ten billion dollars by 2008." Shyamal Ghosh, chairman, telecom commission and secretary, department of telecommunications, stated that there is going to be a network of more than 25,000 exchanges and 70,000 route km of microwave in the country. However, the teledensity in urban areas in only 2.5 and 0.4 per cent in rural areas. He said the aim is to have telephone on demand by 2002. In this, the aim is to have telephone on demand in villages and around 250 villages will be covered. By 2005, it is proposed to increase the teledensity by seven per cent and 15 per cent by 2010. (Staff Correspondent; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; March 26, 2000)

MANGALDOI, March 25: The Dhansiri irrigation project launched in 1974 on the Indo-Bhutan international border has failed to become operational even after 25 years. Meanwhile, the estimated cost of the project has increased from Rs 18 crore to Rs 115 crore at present. Cultivators in the area have complained that they have not yet received water in their fields. The delay in completion of the project has meant that irrigation waters had not reached the paddy fields of Darrang and Lakhimpur districts. There has also been no revenue from electricity production although this was contemplated years ago by officials. It is alleged that a section of officials are siphoning off government money meant for the Dhansiri project, and that this is the main reason behind the slow progress of the project work. According to a high official connected with the project, a number of office personnel gobbled up money without reporting for duty from 1985-95. Observers say that the Dhansiri project has become another white elephant like the PBSL at Sipajhar. During this correspondent's visits to Bhairavkund an important project area, a high official informed that the ongoing border dispute between Assam and Arunachal Pradesh was responsible for the slow progress of the project. But investigations reveal that government negligence and corruption indulged in by a section of the employees are the true causes behind the sad state of affairs. (Correspondent; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; March 26, 2000)

GUWAHATI, March 26: The Centre has accorded sanction of Rs 258.24 crore for development of roads and bridges in Assam. Reports said that 405 km of roads and 1008 metres of bridges are to be repaired or constructed under this scheme. An official press release said that the scheme includes Rs 30.61 crore Baithalangshu-Kampur-Raha road and Rs 38.09 crore Panchgram-Hailakandi road to be completed by March 2004 next. Moreover, construction of 300 metres of bridges are to be completed by March 2005. The 43 km Margherita-Changlang road is to be improved which would facilitate communication with Arunachal Pradesh. The project is to be completed by March 2004 at a cost of Rs 23.53 crore. Another road between Naharkatia and Khunsa at a cost of Rs 33.22 crore has also been taken for construction under this project. The home ministry has also sanctioned Rs 35.20 crore for the inter-state road between Jottee and Balijan and to be completed by 2004. The Ministry also earmarked Rs 40.72 crore for the 79 km-long Durlabchera-Zanuanthang road linking Assam's Barak valley with Mizoram is scheduled to be commissioned by March 2005. Meanwhile, the government of Assam has also taken up six rural roads under World Bank assistance programme in the Barak Valley districts of Assam. Out of the total lengths of the roads, 90 km are now being constructed by the Assam Rural Infrastructure and Agricultural Service Project (ARIASP). This was discussed in a review meeting held recently under the chairmanship of Prafulla Kumar Mahanta. The World Bank has committed Rs 21 crore for these roads. The Chief Minister has instructed the officials concerned to complete the project within 2002 next. The most important among these ongoing projects are the Rs 3.89 crore Silchar-Jaintapur road and the Rs 4.5 crore Sonai-Didarkosh road covering 12 km and 15.85 km respectively. (The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; March 27, 2000)

GUWAHATI, March 26: There was a time when artisans of Assam had to sell their products at throwaway prices due to lack of markets and initiative by the state government which also forced several artisans to give up their profession for ever. But in spite of the hindrance, two artisans of lower Assam - Apila Rabha and Monmohan Das have been working assiduously and trying to bolster the traditional Endi and Muga industry of the state. Both the artisans participated in the international fair - "India into the New Millennium" held in Hong Kong recently and sold their exquisite Endi and Muga creations to foreign buyers. Not only that, they could attract European designers to work on traditional Muga and Endi cloth-creations of the state. The two artisans were selected by the state panchayat and rural development department with an eye to get them international exposure and to give them an opportunity display their garments. Rabha's loin loom weaving skill was appreciated in the fair by all. Talking to this reporter, the joint director of the state Panchayat and Rural Development Moloy Bora said under the Swarnajayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojna (SGSY), state government has given a thrust to traditional Endi and Muga industry and exploration of the potential of the local artisans. Bora, who led the state team, further said both the artisans were selected under the SGSY to give them a new exposure at the international level and to improve their products. "The two artisans sold clothes amounting to Rs 70,000. However there is an urgent need to strengthen production techniques in order to compete at the international level," he added. In this context, the joint director expressed the view that the quality of the products should be improved keeping in view the current fashion. When asked as to why the Endi and Muga industry of the state was lagging behind in spite of immense potential, Bora revealed that more training is required for artisans so that they could improve the products but at the same time marketing network should also be equally geared up to sell their products. "During the exhibition, RS Shehrawat, a famous designer expressed his willingness to work here to improve the fabric and design", he stated. The joint director also informed that the department is trying to build up an environment among the artisans to improve their products so that they can get proper price. (Surajit Khaund; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; March 27, 2000)

ITANAGAR, March 26: Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Mukut Mithi on Saturday presented in the Assembly the votes-on-account for the first four months of 2000-2001 amounting to Rs 387.68 crore. This includes Rs 178 crore under plan head and Rs 209.68 crore under non-plan sector, Mithi, how also holds the finance portfolio, said. He said the votes-on-account against state plan outlay was estimated at Rs 170 crore. Taking the Central sectors schemes of Rs 8 crore into account, the total plan figure emerged at Rs 178 crore. "The exact quantum of resources to be available for the state's annual plan outlay for 2000-2001 will be known later," he said. Based on the current year's revised plan outlay, the votes-on-account for four months includes Centrally-sponsored schemes which was estimated at Rs 387.68 crore. The Chief Minister also placed a net supplementary demand under non-plan revenue accounts at Rs 35.34 crore. He said the accounts of the state government were estimated to close on a negative balance of Rs 38.34 crore. The government would continue efforts to increase revenue receipts together with suitable measures to halt unproductive expenditure to reduce the negative cash balance at the end of the year. The state's annual plan outlay for 2000-2001 was yet to be finalised with the planning commission. The outlay was passed for Rs 665 crore in the budget estimate, including loan component from financial institutions for the current year, he added. (The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; March 27, 2000)

IMPHAL, March 21: The customs division Manipur has recorded the highest source of revenue among the various government departments thanks to the state sharing the border with one of the infamous Golden Triangle countries- Myanmar. A total 320 gms of heroin worth about Rs 32,000 were seized by the customs officials from various places of the state during the year 1999-2000 till August'99. In 1998-99 it managed to seize 62 gms only. Besides heroin the division combats the flow of cannabis, opium., including precursor chemical like ephedrine hydrochloride. It may be mentioned here that the Imphal customs is the only agency responsible for seizing amphetamine tablets in the whole North East. During the year 1998-99, ephedrine worth Rs 44,15,960 were seized while during 1999-2000 till August 99 ephedrine worth Rs 68,42,036 was seized. Ephedrine is reportedly used as catalyst while manufacturing heroin from poppy plant. According to sources, the collection of customs duties at Moreh forms the major chunk of the division revenue. The bulk seizures such as gold, precious and semi-precious stones, silver, electronic items, currency notes., which bring a lot of revenue to the government are deposited at its headquarters at Shillong. Along with the contraband, the customs department also seize teak which is smuggled in from Myanmar. A total of teak worth Rs 1,30,09,780 was seized by different units of the state during 1999-2000 till August 99. The biggest seizure was reported in 1994-95 when teak worth Rs 9,42,55,008 landed in their hand. However, following the Supreme Court ruling in 1996 the seizure a value of teak has dwindled sharply. The sources further revealed that a total of Rs 8,36,27,372 has been collected as revenue during 1990-2000 (till August '99.) 1997-98 recorded the highest seizure with a total of Rs 36,61,20,60. The division owns five Gypsys, there bikes and one cycle ostensibly to combat smuggling activities. However, no vehicles have been provided to Churachandpur and Palel unit of the state customs. This had made the Indo-Myanmar border village Behiang in Churachandpur porcus with the result that a considerable amount of heroin is smuggled in through this corridor. According to a high-ranking officer of the customs department, the president vehicles allotted to the department are to old and as such hamper their activities. (Correspondent; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; March 27, 2000)

AGARTALA, March 27: The planning commission has formulated a special scheme peace bonus for those Northeast states, which are not getting security related expenditure to tackle militancy. Mizoram was the first beneficiary of the scheme, union home minister Lal Krishna Advani told a gathering after laying the foundation stone for the new capital complex here. Advani, who arrived here today on a two-day visit, said there was no extremist related violence in the four of the eight Northeast states, including Sikkim. Hence they are not getting the security related expenditure from the Centre. The union home ministry had been reimbursing the security related expenditure of four extremist hit Northeast states: Assam, Tripura, Manipur and Nagaland, he pointed out. The union home ministry has asked the planning commission to prepare the scheme, Advani said adding that security and development are the two basic issues for all round development of the region. The union home minister said it was a matter of great regret that kidnapping and the ransom by the militants are maximum in Tripura. Centre is aware of the prevailing situation of the state, he added. Referring to the Prime Minister's meeting with the Chief Ministers and Governors of all the eight Northeast states in Shillong recently, Advani said that union government in association with the Northeast state governments would do everything for the developments of the region. Later Advani visited a border out post of the Border Security Force (BSF) at Khantlung, a remote tri-junction of Tripura-Mizoram and Bangladesh border and insurgency hit Gandachara for an on the spot study of the state's topographical and locational disadvantages to check the militancy. (The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; March 28, 2000)

GUWAHATI, March 28: The industries minister, Gunin Hazarika today informed the state Assembly that the final gas supply agreement between the Oil India Limited (OIL) and the Reliance Industries (RIL) for the setting up of the Gas Cracker Project will be signed on April 14. Replying to a question by Pranati Phukan (Congress), the minister said that the Reliance Industries and the Oil India Limited have already signed a preliminary agreement. He said that the state government would have eleven per cent share in the project. Several Congress legislators including Ardhendu Kumar Dey and Devananda Konwar expressed doubts on whether the Oil India would be able to supply adequate amount of gas for the project. They pointed out that the Assam state Electricity Board (ASEB) and the Namrup Unit of the Hindustan Fertiliser Corporation are facing problem due to shortage of gas. However, Hazarika clarified that the Gas Cracker Project was finalised only after studying the availability of gas. He also pointed out that the OIL and the Reliance Industries are commercial organisations and they agreed to sign the gas supply agreement only after ensuring that adequate gas would be available for the project. The industry minister said as the Indian Air Force has opposed the setting up of the project at Tengakhat, the government has identified, a plot of land at Lepetkata. He said that a team of the Reliance Industries and RRL, Bhopal, is scheduled to visit the area soon for the environmental study for the project. (Staff Reporter; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; March 29, 2000)

SHILLONG, March 28: Faced with a staggering budget deficit of Rs 271.61 crore, Meghalaya finance minister, AH Scott Lyngdoh today announced a substantial hike on sales tax rates on motor vehicles, packaged food products, ready-made garments, paints, furniture, to garner additional resources to the extent of Rs 4 crore during the year 2000-2001. Delivering his budget speech for the year 2000-2001, Scott Lyngdoh explained, the estimates envisage a total receipt under public account of Rs 6203.01 crore against a corresponding expenditure of Rs 6422.15 crore, resulting in an anticipated closing deficit of Rs 361.61 crore. But due to the scaling down of the annual plan outlay for 1999-2000 by Rs 90 crore to Rs 350 crore, the closing budget deficit for the year 2000-2001 is expected to be of the order of Rs 271.61 crore. Scott Lyngdoh sought to reassure the house that the deficit would further come down following the 11th Finance Commission award, continuing economy measures and the additional taxation measures proposed. "I would have been happier if the fiscal realities of the state economy had enabled me to present a more progressive and promising budget", the finance minister said. Giving an account of the state economy, he expressed concern that while the contribution of the primary sector has fallen from 40.84 per sent to 28.24 per cent, secondary sector from 13.25 per cent, to 12.74 per cent, the contribution of the tertiary sector has risen from 45.93 per cent to 59.02 per cent. Referring to the fragility of state finance and growing deficits, the finance minister announced the decision to bring all departments of the state under "letter of credit" and "letter of allotment" system with effect from April 1 this year in order to further tighten expenditure. The LoC and LoA system had been introduced during 1998-99 to cover major spending departments only, he said. Laying priority on agriculture sector, Scott Lyngdoh said, plan investment of Rs 17.05 crore is earmarked for the sector reflecting an increase of 25.5 per cent over the previous year. With a view to attain self-sufficiency in animal products including eggs, meat and milk, in ten years plan investment in animal husbandry sector has been hiked by 59 per cent, he said. He said, roads and bridges sector will continue to receive the highest priority and accordingly 60 more villages are expected to be connected by roads during the current year. So far, only 2573 of the state's 5484 villages are connected. (Bedabrata Lahkar; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; March 29, 2000)

JORHAT, March 28: About 1500 square kilometre area in Upper Assam forest circle is under encroachment out of the total area of 2800 sq km excluding the Kaziranga National Park. The conservator of forest, D Hara Prasad told The Assam Tribune that in some of those areas encroachment dated back to as early as 1950s. The encroachment is more intensive in forest areas along the Assam-Nagaland boundary in Golaghat, Jorhat and Sivasagar districts where encroachers from Nagaland side are ruling the roost under the very nose of ill-equipped Assam forest department personnel. Illegal felling of trees by miscreants from Nagaland in those areas is common place. Most of the time the illegally felled trees are dragged to Nagaland side of the boundary to cater to the need of several plywood factories there which are still in operation in a surreptitious way despite the ban imposed by the Supreme Court. For unarmed personnel of the state forest department it has become next to impossible to check such activities even if they receive the information in time. Out of the total 650 Assam Forest Protection Force jawans, half of them are deployed in wildlife protection areas while the rest are distributed among the territorial forest divisions all over the state. With such an inadequate force strength, the forest personnel in the state especially in Upper Assam are reduced to helpless spectators in the face of large-scale encroachment and illegal felling of trees by armed miscreants. "The state police can help us only in their spare time which they hardly have nowadays because of mounting law-and-order problem," said Hara Prasad. There are about 2 lakh encroachers thriving in reserve forest areas of Rengma, Diphu, Nambor and Doyang along the inter-state boundary in Golaghat district. Hardly any jungle is left in those areas today. The process of encroachment in those areas started with rehabilitation of some surrendered Naga underground members. In 1953, state forest department tried to launch eviction drives in those areas, which could not be carried out as the state government had stayed it. Now, the result is there for all to see. Another protected area, Sapekhati reserve forest in Sivasagar district has been totally encroached upon. If the state government does not rise to the challenge, the fate of 62 reserved forest and five wildlife sanctuaries in Upper Assam division will be left at the mercy of the encroachers and timber smugglers. The five sanctuaries are Panidihing Bird Sanctuary, Gibbon Sanctuary in Meleng, Bherjan Wildlife Sanctuary in Tinsukia district, Padumoni Wildlife Sanctuary in Tinsukia district and Borajan Wildlife sanctuary in Digboi. It may be mentioned that as per standing directive of the Supreme Court, the state governments are supposed to provide police assistance and budgetary assistance to forest departments and empower forest officials with magisterial power for the purpose of protection of forest areas. But so far, the state government has not taken any firm initiative in accordance with the apex court guidelines much to chagrin of forest officials. (Bijay Sankar Bora; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; March 29, 2000)

GUWAHATI, March 29: At a time when Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu is attracting world attention to the state with his futuristic plans, a lot of brainstorming is going on in Dispur to prepare a similar kind of vision document, a la Naidu, for Prafulla Kumar Mahanta. The document entitled 'Vision 2020' will set specific targets to achieve in different fronts during the next 20 years, demarcate areas to accord primacy and chart a road map to take Assam in a fast lane of growth and prosperity, highly placed official sources told The Northeast Daily on Wednesday. The exercise was ordered sometime in January this year, and the state government is understood to have taken special permission from the planning commission to go about with this plan. The entire exercise is going on at the behest of the Assam Planning Board. When contacted, Assam Planning Board vice-chairman Deba Kumar Bora confirmed undertaking such an exercise but refused to divulge details. He said Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta will make a 'theme statement' on the 'Vision 2020' sometime next month, setting board guidelines for the planners to shape up the document. A special three-member working group, led by Agriculture Production Commissioner, Assam, Saibal Purkayastha, is working out the broad parameters for the 'Vision 2020' after which the state plan body comprising over 100 members will deliberate and decide on the exact framework of the document, the sources said. When contacted, Purkayastha remained tight-lipped on the issue. He, however, said that he might be able to speak something on this towards the end of April, clearly indicating that the vision document may get a final shape by that time. The sources said that Mahanta's 'Vision 2020' will be very much on the lines of Chandrababu Naidu's 'Vision 2020,' which was prepared with consultancy services from American firm McKinsey. In fact, Naidu's futuristic document has been a 'path-guide' for the planners at Dispur. According to the sources, agriculture, information technology and infrastructure are some of the main areas to be accorded priority in the document. A three-fold increase in state's agriculture production, creation of information technology infrastructure down to the village level, specific programmes to reduce poverty, a water vision and a smooth surface transportation network are some of the tentative targets fixed for the vision, the sources said. An integrated flood-management programme based on 'living with the flood' concept is also likely to be envisioned in the document. Sources, however, said that the flood vision may not be much different from the project already prepared by the Brahmaputra Board, which is now under examination by New Delhi. Naidu's 'Vision 2020' aims at transforming Andhra into 'Swarnandhra' by achieving a seven-eight fold growth in per capita income, generating 20 million jobs, removing social disparities, transforming the state into the most attractive investment destination in the country and bringing in an information technology revolution in every sphere of life. Naidu also targets to make Andhra Pradesh the most prosperous state in India in terms of living standards by ensuring water, sanitation, health and veterinary care in all areas of the state within next ten years and achieving 100 per cent literacy by 2010. The document also targets health programmes like massive immunisation, family planning and malaria eradication and promotion of environment awareness. Mahanta has been following his good friend Naidu on all these lines by already setting a target to achieve 100% literacy by 2003 and announcing an Information Technology policy that aims at improving productivity and efficiency of government services to the citizens and enabling the state reach an eminent position in the IT sector. Mahanta has also tried to emulate Naidu by undertaking surprise trips to oversee administrative functioning in the ground level. Assam Planning Board vice-chairman Bora said, henceforth, all programmes and policies of the government will be devised keeping in view the Vision document and maximum emphasis will be given on creation of capital assets. (Bijoy Sankar Saikia; The Northeast Daily; Guwahati; March 30, 2000)

GUWAHATI, March 30: It was founded largely to avoid the possibility of the North American British colonies becoming American, resisting the terrific centrifugal force of the US economy and its political power. For well over a century now it has been maintaining its own distinct identity in the world, maximising the benefits of living next to the world's most powerful nation with a population of only one-ninth of that of its powerful neighbour. Today, maintaining its own distinct identity, it has been able to bring forth a tremendous change in its economy through bilateral cooperation with its powerful neighbour. Its experience in regional cooperation has much relevance for the people of India and Bangladesh. Greater economic cooperation between these two countries can lead to a development benefiting the entire sub-region including Nepal and Bhutan. For the last six years in a row, this country- known as Canada, has been ranked number one in the United Nations (UN) human development index. Its exports now account for over 40 per cent of its gross domestic product (GDP) estimated at US 620 billion Dollars in 1999. With the same population of 31 million as that of India's NE region, the per capita purchasing power of the country today is around US 21,000 Dollars (i.e., around Rs 9,03,000 in Indian currency). The present economic growth in the country can largely be attributed to the bilateral and regional arrangements of this top trading nation with the USA and Mexico. The size of its bilateral trade is more than US 1 billion Dollars i.e., around Rs 430 crore in Indian currency) per day. These are the information provided by Robert Andrigo, Deputy High commissioner of Canada in India, while presenting a paper on the Canadian experience in regional economic cooperation at a day-long seminar on benefits of regional economic cooperation jointly organised by the FINER, the FICCI and BICCI at the Hotel Brahmaputra Ashok here today. However, Andrigo said, initially, free trade with the US was unpopular in Canada. A major election was fought in 1988 on the issue with the result of 65 per cent of the population opposing free trade. But, today, the same percentage of the people are in favour of free trade. The Free Trade Agreement (FTA) was in effect in 1989 and the North Atlantic Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) in 1994. But, Canada-US tariff elimination was scheduled to be completed in 1998 and with Mexico by 2003, although in both instances there has been accelerated tariff elimination at the request of three domestic industries, Andrigo said. The results of NAFTA are such that Canada's bilateral merchandise trade with the US increased to 80 per cent in the first five years to stand at 475 billion Dollars in 1998, and with Mexico, the country's bilateral trade doubled to 9 billion Dollars during the same period. Since NAFTA facilitated economic interaction, 68 per cent of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in to Canada in now from NAFTA partners, while US investment reached 147 billion Dollars in 1998, the Mexican investment in the country touched 464 million Dollars that year. Besides, the Autopact, which started in 1965, helped Canada to have the world's fifth largest auto industry, while the water management agreements helped both Canada and the U.S.A. in the bilateral management of Great Lakes-St Lawrence river system. This river system contains one-fifth of the world's fresh water. It has many similarities with the Gangetic/Brahmaputra river systems, Andrigo said. Similarly, the International Joint Commission (IJC) between the U.S.A. and Canada, also deals with various issues including investigation into water pollution. The IJC also works on joint water management/pollution control plans under several Great Lakes Water Quality Agreements. It also manages smaller rivers that meander back and forth across the border in western Canada setting levels relevant for irrigation, approving dams or canals that affect water in both the countries. The IJC also approves construction of hydro-electric projects and sets norms for water flows, he said. The bipartite arrangements between Canada and the U.S.A. also transformed St Lawrence into a 'seaway', while liberalisation of exports to the US helped more developments in the Canadian oil sector and hydro-electricity sales to New York helped Quebec in Canada earn a huge amount of revenue. The bilateral cooperation between the two countries also augmented development of railway as a big venture in Canada, among others, Andrigo said. He also hinted that if there was any interest shown by the Northeast states of India and other countries like Bangladesh , Nepal and Bhutan, Canada could look at some additional involvement in this part of the world, saying, "This is a region rich in human and material resources, and perhaps no part of the subcontinent stands to gain more from successful bilateral and sub-regional cooperation." (Ajit Patowary; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; March 31, 2000)

GUWAHATI, March 30: Assam Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta today made an appeal to the Bangladeshi investors to come forward for making investments in the Northeast region, and particularly in Assam. He also called upon experts from Canada to extend their expertise in various economic activities to the Northeast region of India and Bangladesh to augur their economic development. The Chief Minister, who was inaugurating a day-long seminar on the benefit of regional economic cooperation based on the Canadian experience jointly organised by the Federation of Industries and Commerce of North East Region (FINER), Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and Bangladesh-India Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BICCI) at the Hotel Brahmaputra Ashok here this morning, also assured all sorts of help from the state government to the FINER in achieving its goal for forging sub-regional unity in the fields of various economic activities with the industry and trade and commerce bodies of the neighbouring countries. Pointing at the power generation sector in the Northeast region as a highly potential area for investors, the Chief Minister told the gathering of industrialists and representatives of trade and commerce bodies of the Northeast region , Bangladesh and Canada that export-oriented and value-added products of the Northeast region of India might also play a vital role in developing the economy of this region to a great extent. State industry minister Gunin Hazarika said in his address that he was highly impressed with the success attained by the countries involved with North Atlantic Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) in water system management. Similar steps can also be taken by India and her neighbours, particularly Bangladesh, in managing the water resources of the Ganga, the Brahmaputra and the Surama river systems, he said. As a first step of sub-regional economic cooperation the BICCI may take up with the Bangladesh government the issue of transit facilities for the Northeast region of India via Bangladesh, he said. Apprising that the government of India has already released an amount of Rs 11 crore for setting up land custom stations inside the Indian territory along the Bangladesh border, Hazarika called for similar steps by the Bangladesh government. Presenting the key-note address in the function, BICCI chairman and president of Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FBCCI) Md Abdul Awal Mintoo said that globalisation and liberalisation marked the new economic order in the world. This has also magnified the roles of the private investors in promoting economic activities, he said. Commenting on the economic condition of India, Bangladesh and Bhutan, he said that though 22 per cent of the world population live in this sub-region, over 50 per cent of this population live below the poverty line (BPL), which is so far the largest concentration of BPL population in the world. Unless we prepare ourselves regionally to face the challenges through by the new economic order, economic super powers will overpower us economically to make the situation more deplorable, Md Mintoo said, adding, politics should not be allowed to disturb the atmosphere of growing economic cooperation in the sub-region. Political leaders of the Northeast region of India and Bangladesh should sit together, taking lessons from the NAFTA experience in regional economic cooperation, with a view to overcome the obstacles in economic cooperation between NE India and Bangladesh, he said. Robert Andrigo, Deputy High commissioner of Canada in India, presented a paper on how Canada benefited from regional economic cooperation after signing the NAFTA with the USA and Mexico, in the function. N K Saharia of the FICCI, S K Jain, senior executive member of the BICCI and president FINER and Abhijit Barua, senior vice-president of FINER, also addressed the inaugural function which was followed by three round table discussions on trade, investment and infrastructure in the afternoon. It is worth mentioning here that 12 delegates from Bangladesh and two from Canada took part in the seminar. (Staff Reporter; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; March 31, 2000)

GUWAHATI, March 29: Lack of volumes in horticultural produce and the poor quality of the semi-processed products have hampered the development of the food-processing industry in the Northeast. Attempts to set up modern large-scale processing industries of global standards have failed as a result. One such attempt by corporate giants Hindustan Lever Limited (HLL) recently, to set up processing unit based on orange or tomato has been aborted. High prices of the products have also proved to be a deterrent. According to the Guwahati field officer of the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) Bidyut Baruah, an official from Jalandhar representing HLL had been here recently to explore the possibility of setting up a modern processing unit in the region incorporating latest technology and standards. He had to go back disappointed with the lack of competitive pricing and quality of the two products in question, along with the low volumes. According to Baruah, the region has a surplus in tomato to the extent of 1,74,402 MT (98-99), which sounds impressive. But, compared to the requirements of HLL, it was barely enough. The multinational's tomato processing unit at Jalandhar, for example, processes 735 MT of the crop each day. But, it is not only the quantity that has deterred the HLL. The high prices have also proved to be equally disheartening. Baruah said tomato is supplied to the company's Jalandhar unit at Rs 1.75 per kg whereas prices here are much higher. A ray of hope, however, exists in view of the fact that the crushing of tomatoes in Jalandhar is done during April-July while here it is harvested between January and March. HLL might try to take advantage of this factor. The viability of processing orange was also within the purview of HLL but here too the problem was similar. According to Baruah, HLL is sourcing orange concentrate from Nagpur at Rs 5 per litre. No one has as yet explored the possibility of making use of the good orange produce in the region by setting up a concentrate unit which could have fetched good returns for the cultivators. Even if there were, it is doubtful whether HLL would have utilised the produce considering the fact that hygienic standards in the food-processing sector is not up to expectations. "Nobody maintains hygiene over here," said Baruah. (Staff Reporter; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; March 31, 2000)

GUWAHATI, March 30: "Removing barriers to greater bilateral and regional economic cooperation is a desirable objective. There is wide awareness in South Asia that in recent years the world's major economies have seen the benefits of regional cooperation, and have been creating regional organisations such as the North Atlantic Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Mercosur and the European union (EU) in order to obtain those benefits," the Canadian Deputy High Commissioner, Robert Andrigo said in his address at the seminar on "The Benefits of Regional Cooperation: the Canadian Experience" organised by the Bangladesh-India Chamber of Commerce (BICCI) here today. Although bilateral and regional trade and other cooperation is growing, many physical, political, legal and psychological barriers continue to stand in the way, Andrigo said, adding that Canada hoped that the South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation (SAARC) would provide an important framework for more cooperation from all the countries in South Asia via the SAARC's proposed South Asian Free Trade Agreement (SAFTA). Talking about the initiative taken by the Prime Ministers of India and Bangladesh, Andrigo said that the full potential of bilateral and sub-regional cooperation between India and Bangladesh was far from being realised. He, however, expressed his hope that this seminar would suggest some new ways to take advantage of the potential. In his key note address, the chairman of the BICCI, Abdul Awal Mintoo said that the newly-created superior forces would overpower us unless India, Bangladesh and other South Asian nations failed to prepare themselves regionally to respond squarely to master the new challenges. He said that the region could convert the challenges into great opportunities with careful planning and unified response. By unified response, the BICCI president meant focusing attention on harnessing the intra-regional complementarities, on converting comparative advantages into competitive edge from a regional perspective and on exploring global market. In his inaugural speech state Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta said that the experience of high successful regional economic cooperation through bilateral trade pursued by Canada and the USA, if emulated and fitted to the local context, could be an effective guiding factor for the promotion of bilateral trade between the Northeast states of India and the neighbouring countries. He said that Canada and the USA were trading goods and services worth over US $1 billion everyday and the two countries were greatly benefited by such economic cooperation. He urged the members of the Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India and Bangladesh to emulate the Canadian experience for achieving effective regional economic cooperation by bringing about a flourishing bilateral trade between both the countries. He also thanked the Canadian Deputy High commissioner in India, Robert Andrigo, who made a presentation in the seminar on the Canadian experience of regional cooperation under the NAFTA, and urged him to provide details about their expertise and experience so that the same could held in boosting up bilateral trade relationship in this part of the Indian subcontinent. Gunin Hazarika, state Industries minister, in his speech in the inaugural session said that it was seen from the NAFTA experience that the relatively weaker economies among the North American countries also stood to gain by it. In a similar way, he hoped, that trade between north-eastern India and the neighbouring countries bordering the region could be opened up and it would be mutually beneficial. Hazarika said that the government of India recently released an amount of Rs 11 crore for strengthening the land customs station at Sutarkandi in Karimganj district bordering Sylhet district of Bangladesh. Another project for strengthening the Land customs station at Mankachar in Dhubri district bordering Kurigram district of Bangladesh was proposed to be taken up, he added. S.K. Jain, senior executive committee member, BICCI and president, FINER in his welcome speech said that Assam had the unique advantage of 430 million acres feet of water resources which could be used to generate hydro-electric power and widen irrigation network in the region. He said, there was huge scope of private investment in the energy sector in Northeast India and Bangladesh and if a right collective approach was taken, both of them would be able to share the benefit of regional economic cooperation. Earlier, the opening address was given by K.K. Saharia of the FICC. (Staff Reporter; The Sentinel; Guwahati; March 31, 2000)