SILCHAR, November 18: The vice-chancellors of universities in the Northeast have decided to set up an integrated information technology network to link the universities and other institutions of higher learning in the region for an effective use of instructional technology in higher education. The decision was taken at the first-ever one-day Northeastern vice-chancellors' Conference here yesterday. It was attended by eight of the region's 12 vice-chancellors and presided over by KB Power, secretary-general of the Association of Indian Universities. The conference decided to seek funds for the project from central agencies such as the Northeastern Council (NEC) and the Ministry of Human Resources Development. The vice-chancellors also decided to co-ordinate among themselves activities such as the use of library facilities, curriculum development and evaluation of answerscripts for developing "a common academic structure" among the centres of higher learning. Power said such co-ordination would help avoid duplication of efforts and conserve resources. Assam Central University vice-chancellor Mritunjoy Bhattacharyya said such common academic structure would facilitate the students' mobility among the region's universities and ensure the introduction of a system of "credit transfer" among them. The vice-chancellors also decided to initiate a state-level common eligibility test at regular intervals in the region to help enable the universities to streamline the process of annual admission of students. The conference also instituted a co-ordination committee to implement its decisions. (Correspondent; The Telegraph, Calcutta; November 19, 1999)

SILCHAR, November 21: The Centre has agreed to sanction a supplementary grant of Rs 242.16 crore this fiscal year as a "peace bonus" to Mizoram to help it tide over its acute funds crunch. Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga told The Telegraph over telephone from Aizawl today that the Centre decided to release funds to cash-starved Mizoram after it was satisfied with the revival package drawn up by the Mizo National Front-Mizo People's Conference government to resuscitate the state's moribund economy. Zoramthanga had alleged the state had become "near bankrupt" as the previous Congress regime had indulged in "financial profligacy," resulting in the increase in the state's financial liability. He said this supplementary grant would flow in after the Union finance ministry obtains the approval of the Lok Sabha during its next session for the sanction. The Chief Minister said that of this fund, Rs 82 crore would be earmarked for the clearance of the state government's past liabilities and Rs 93 crore would be kept ready to meet the additional financial burden arising out of the recommendations of the Fifth Pay Commission. Another amount of Rs 66 crore would be ploughed into long-term development schemes in the fields of horticulture and agriculture. Zoramthanga said this new outlay would be in addition to the state's annual plan for 1999-2000, which is pegged at Rs 360 crore. The Mizoram Chief Minister also made it clear the state's ruling alliance would "stubbornly oppose" the demand by the three autonomous district councils in Mizoram to upgrade them into Union territories. He described such demands as "divisive and separatist." He denied that successive Mizoram governments had discriminated against the state's three autonomous district councils, which were granted by the Mizoram government in 1972 under the provisions of the Sixth Schedule. Mizoram's three autonomous district councils - the 27-member Lai autonomous district council, the 23-member Mara autonomous district council and the 19-member Chakma autonomous district council - recently demanded Union territory status for themselves to ensure accelerated development of the backward council areas. The demand appears to have stemmed from fears about the possible dissolution of the Chakma autonomous district council following pressure from certain non-governmental organisations such as the Young Mizo Association. (Correspondent; The Telegraph, Calcutta; November 22, 1999)

GUWAHATI, November 23: Wildlife experts and forest officials have warned tea gardens in the vicinity of Kaziranga National Park against using pesticides which are harmful to flora and fauna. Park director BS Bonal wrote to the chief conservator of forests (wildlife) recently, complaining that water seeping into the park from the tea gardens contained many harmful chemicals. The park is home to at least 1,600 one-horned rhinos and various species of endangered flora and fauna. A preliminary study has revealed that water bodies in the area contain a high percentage of organophosphates. According to experts, organophosphates containing pesticides can damage the eco-system. Developed countries banned the use of such compounds many years ago. "As a first step, the tea gardens should be directed not to use pesticides or insecticides with organophosphates as the active chemical," says the report prepared by experts who conducted the study. "It has been found that water seeping into the park from the tea gardens contain four detrimental groups of chemicals," it adds. Soil samples collected from tea gardens near the park have been sent to various laboratories for investigation. The state forest department is also contemplating a detailed study. Bonal has suggested that the study be conducted in collaboration with other agencies as the forest department is short of funds. The Dehradun-based Wildlife Institute of India has already expressed its willingness to launch a research project on the harmful effects of pesticides on flora and fauna in the Kaziranga National Park. "The study is very important as there are many tea gardens around Kaziranga. Many more small gardens are coming up," a forest official said. Kaziranga, the world's largest habitat of the one-horned rhino, is also under threat from the Numaligarh Refinery in Golaghat district. Wildlife experts have long been warning of a catastrophe sparked by discharge of effluents from the newly-commissioned refinery. However, the refinery authorities claim to have taken "all precautionary measures". A refinery official said there was no danger whatsoever to the park. (Anirban Roy; The Telegraph, Calcutta; November 24, 1999)

AGARTALA, November 30: Heavy reduction in production, import of cheap tea by multinationals, increase in production cost and insurgency problems have been threatening the tea industry in Tripura. Talking to PTI, secretary of the Tripura unit of the Tea Association India PK Sarkar said that both the banned outfits of the National Liberation Front of Twipra (NLFT) and All Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF) have landed the industry into a point to no return. The militants had been demanding heavy subscriptions from the tea garden owners and even from the daily wager earners. A number of top and middle level officers had left their gardens for fear of being kidnapped or killed, he claimed. Sarkar said in1996 the ATTF militants did not release the then chairman of state unit of TAI and proprietor of a tea garden Yogobrata Chakraborty even after his family members had paid them Rs 30 lakh. It was reported that Chakraborty died in their captivity without treatment and his body also remained untraced, he said. He also said that annual tea production in the state was expected to be about five million kg this year against seven million kg in 1998. Sarkar attributed the two million kg fall in production to long drought and uneven weather. The fall in production also resulted in severe financial crisis as the production cost has increased manifold, he said. Criticising the Union government's decision allowing multinationals to import cheap tea from countries like Indonesia and Bangladesh, Sarkar said because of this there had been no demand of cheap Tripura tea in the market. The TAI secretary said it was the high time that the commerce ministry should immediately convene a high-level meeting to draw up a long-term strategy to find out ways and means to solve the multifarious problems of Tripura tea industry. He urged the Union government to stop import of tea from smaller countries immediately otherwise many tea gardens would be on the brink of closure soon. After the hike in diesel prices, the cost of production has gone up to Rs 3 a kg, Sarkar said. Octroi, central tax, hike in import cost combined together pushed up the production cost further by Rs 10 per kg and placed several tea gardens of the state in a commercially inadvantageous position, he said. A joint strategy should be adopted by the Union government, Tea Board and state government for the smooth and efficient functioning of the industry in the state, Sarkar opined. (PTI; The Northeast Daily, Guwahati; December 1, 1999)