NEW DELHI, March 31: In what has been described as an additional step to give a boost to exports from the Northeast region, the Union government today announced that apart from barter trade at custom checkpost at Moreh in Manipur, on the Indo-Myanmar border, normal import and export on payment of applied duties will be also permitted. The step is seen as the first major measure to normalise the border trade between the region and the neighbouring countries. The president in his address to both the houses of the Parliament had mentioned about the decision of the Union government to open up border trade in the Northeast for better development of the border areas as well as the region. The Centre's announcement was part of import and export (exim) policy 2000-2001 released by the commerce minister, Murasoli Maran. Releasing the document, the minister said that the facility for determining the entitlement for status certificate for exports has already been extended to the Northeast, while this facility will be granted to Jammu and Kashmir this year. (Staff correspondent; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; April 1, 2000)

AIZAWL, March 31: At Mizoram's Lengpui airport poor visibility of a different kind is making landing of aircraft difficult for the pilots. It is not the canopy of thick clouds which usually envelopes the runway during monsoon but smoke generated by the burning of bamboo forests by Jhum or shifting cultivators around the airport. In a letter written to the chief secretary on Tuesday, the SP (Security) said Jhum burning was creating problems for the pilots to land Boeing 737 aircraft at the airstrip. He also requested the deputy commissioners of the eight districts to check Jhum burning on flight days for the safety of the aircraft. Recently the state government had issued orders banning Jhum burning after March 31 to avoid jungle fires during summer. Jhum cultivators had been rapidly burning down forests to make way for cultivation before March 31. (UNI; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; April 1, 2000)

GUWAHATI, April 1: Oil India Limited, a premier upstream exploration and production company, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the government of India for the year 2000-01. This was signed here by S Narayan, secretary, ministry of petroleum & natural gas and BB Sharma, chairman and managing director of Oil India Limited. The target for the crude oil production for the year 2000-01 has been set at 3.39 MMT, which will be the highest ever to be achieved by OIL since its inception. Similarly, the gas production target of 1740 MMSCM will also be the highest ever to be achieved by OIL. To give thrust to our concern for 'environment protection' and 'human resources, the parameter for 'environment management' and 'human resource initiatives' have been added this year in the MoU. Based on the performance, the company was rated 'excellent' during the last two years (1997-98 and 1998-99) by government of India. The company recorded highest ever crude oil and gas production and highest ever income and profit during the year 1998-99. The period 1999-2000 has also been a successful year for OIL. The company expects to record highest ever gas production and sale during the year. The income and profit are also expected to go up. OIL's exploratory efforts led to discovery of crude oil in the Chabua, Kusijan & North Tamulikhat in Assam during the year. For the first time, 2D seismic data was acquired by Oil India Limited across river Brahmaputra covering a length of about 34 kms in collaboration with NGRI. During 1999-2000, OIL has engaged Ernst & Young Consultants, New Delhi, for preparing a corporate and strategic plan for giving new vision and mission to the company in the emerging new economic scenario. (Staff reporter; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; April 2, 2000)

IMPHAL, April 1: In view of the overdraft of about Rs 50 crore, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has once again frozen all accounts of the Manipur government with effect from March 30 last, a highly placed source said. Earlier, following release of funds by the Union government the freeze had been relaxed from March 18 last. At behest of the Manipur government the Union government has sanctioned in advance a sum of Rs 85 crore out of the plan money with the result that the freeze was temporarily lifted. Though the RBI clearance had been faxed to Imphal ten days back, salary could not be disbursed as the next day was a Sunday. Besides, there was a holiday from March 20 onwards in Manipur. As a result, no salary, pension and other allowances could be drawn. The withdrawal begun from March 23 last. According to official sources, over Rs 70 crore had been drawn as salary and pension. The salary was for the month of February. A few crore of rupees was spent on payment of bills of the contractors. (Correspondent; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; April 2, 2000)

NEW DELHI, April 2: In what has been described as an additional step to give a boost to exports from the Northeastern region the Union government on Friday announced that apart from barter trade at custom checkpost at Moreh in Manipur on the Indo-Myanmar border, normal import and export on payment of applied duties will be also permitted. The step is seen as the first major measure to normalise the border trade between the region and the neighbouring countries. The president in his address to the both the houses of the Parliament had mentioned about the decision of the central government to open up border trade in the Northeast for better development of the border areas, as well as the region. The Centre's announcement was on the basis of the import and export (exim) policy 2000-2001 released by the commerce minister, Murasoli Maran. Releasing the document, the minister said that the facility for determining the entitlement for status certificate for exports has already been extended to the Northeast, while this facility will be granted to Jammu and Kashmir this year. (Staff correspondent; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; April 3, 2000)

ITANAGAR, April 3: The draft bill on Arunachal Pradesh Land Management, Settlement and Records, which was initiated in 1988, has been referred to a cabinet sub-committee headed by land management minister Takam Sanjoy, reports agencies. Sanjay told newsmen that the draft bill prepared long back could not be passed and was pending. The state cabinet on Wednesday decided to refer it to the cabinet sub-committee for necessary modification of various clauses within one month. Other members of the sub-committee are Lijum Ronya (power), Tako Dabi (agriculture), Thupten Tempa (PWD), Chowra Mein (public health engineering) TC Teli (urban development and revenue), secretary, law and justice and T Talo, secretary land management as the member secretary. (The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; April 4, 2000)

SHILLONG, April 5: The Northeast Council (NEC) has undertaken about a Rs 30 crore multifaceted programme for the Northeast states. These projects mean implementation of various schemes in the region which, official sources said, were NEC activities during the past month. The Council mainly targeted development of entrepreneurs for strengthening production base for handicraft and handlooms in the region at a cost of Rs 140 lakh. Some other major proposals accorded administrative approval comprised upgradation of orthopaedic and rehabilitation centre, accident and trauma centre at a cost of Rs 473 lakh at Civil Hospital in Shillong, construction of 30 paying cabins at Assam Medical College costing Rs 104.3 lakh, Rs 497.12 lakh bridge over river Dibru on Pakke-Seijusa-Itakhola road in Arunachal Pradesh and Rs 120 lakh for development of village economy by mineral appraisal programme in Shillong, the sources said. The NEC was also organising a high-profile fashion show of north-eastern garments in New Delhi at an estimated cost of Rs 10 lakh. The Council also accorded administrative approval to Indian Institute of Technology in Delhi for checking the design of RCC jetty at Pandu at a cost of Rs 2 lakh, NEC sources said, adding, Rs 14.36 lakh, including the Council's share of Rs 2.93 lakh, had been earmarked for setting up Tochhawng cane furniture industry in Aizawl. Besides, preparation of community resource development plan for parts of upland areas of Arunachal Pradesh using remote sensing survey costing about Rs 20 lakh and awareness and initiation policies seminars for the Northeast states to amend their Cooperative Societies Act at a cost of Rs 2 lakh at Guwahati also got administrative approval in the past month. Some major sanctions to payments accorded by the Council included grant of Rs 360 lakh and loan of Rs 40 lakh to Tripura, grant of Rs 135 lakh and Rs 15 lakh as loan to Nagaland and the Manipur, Mizoram and Meghalaya governments received Rs 90 lakh as grant and Rs 10 lakh as loan each, the sources said. Two other major institutions that were accorded sanctions to payments were B Barooah Cancer Institute in Guwahati (Rs 175 lakh) and Regional Paramedical and Nursing Training Institute in Aizawl (Rs 248.66 lakh). (UNI; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; April 6, 2000)

GUWAHATI, April 7: The Assam government has agreed to impose a ban on creation of posts or on upgradation of the existing posts under the non-plan budget, besides banning purchase of all new vehicles under non-plan, reduction in travelling allowance expenditure by ten per cent and also to agreed to undertake privatisation programme in non-essential sector, said a summary record of discussion held between the union ministry of Finance and state government on January 13 last. The summary record was placed by Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta in the state Assembly this afternoon. It also contained an action taken note on the agreed steps on financial reforms. Moreover, the ban on all posts is to be extended even to the plan posts, besides abolition of vacant posts and reducing the size of the government in phases, increase in tax rates and compliance and rationalisation and increase in users services were also agreed upon during the January 13 discussion, the summary record said. Besides, the state government also agreed to maintain police expenditure on anti-insurgency measures, among others, at 1998-99 actual and not to provincialise any new private educational institution, excepting the ones related to the Scheduled tribes, Scheduled castes and other backward classes. The state government also agreed to introduce zero-based budgeting in respect of all schemes under the annual plan, to phase out free text book scheme by the academic year 2000, to rationalise sales tax rates as per recommendations of the state finance ministers' conference, to computerise the sales tax records of the check gates, besides constituting Electricity Regulatory Commission, reforms in PSUs and transport sector. Meanwhile, a state-level empowered committee has been constituted by the state government to identify the non-essential vacant posts in state government services. (Staff reporter; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; April 8, 2000)

SHILLONG, April 7: Union communication minister, Ram Vilas Paswan today unveiled a special telecommunication package for the Northeast states under which all villages in the region would be provided telecom and postal network within March 2001. Announcing the special consideration for the region at a press conference here this evening, Paswan said whereas the target for connecting all villages in the country is fixed for March 2002, the same would be achieved in the Northeast one year in advance. "Funds will not come in the way of reaching the targets in the region," the union minister assured. Top priority is given to the region in providing communication facilities, he said adding that he tried to give special consideration to the region even when he was the railway minister. Announcing that all telephone exchanges in the region will be converted to electronic exchanges by March 2001, the union minister claimed that all targets in Northeast are being fulfilled. The press conference virtually turned into a consumers redressal forum with the minister disposing off complaints on the spot. He announced that the telecom department will not submit any bill against dues more than two year old when a newsmen drew his attention to the fact that the department was serving bills of 1994 and 1995 now. "Consumers cannot be made to suffer for fault of the department," Paswan said. Senior telecom officials were at a loss while trying to reply to the complaints of the newsmen in the presence of the minister. (Special correspondent; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; April 8, 2000)

GUWAHATI, April 8: Succumbing to the Union governments' pressure for drastic fiscal reforms the Assam government had to agree to abolish 5,000 'non-essential posts' by March 31 last and 10,000 more such posts in the state government services by September 3 next. This agreement of the state government was recorded in the summary record of discussion held between the union ministry of Finance and state government on January 13 last. The summary record which was signed by JN Chaubey, joint secretary to the union ministry of finance and SC Das, commissioner and secretary, finance department, government of Assam, and tabled by Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta in the state Assembly yesterday, also contained the state government's agreement to constitute an empowered committee headed by the chief secretary /additional chief secretary, by December 5,1999 to identity the 'non-essential posts' in state government services, barring the education, health and police departments. Besides, it also made it a binding on the state government to make a Electricity Regulatory Commission functional by February 28 last, besides finalisation of the strategy papers for privatisation of electricity distribution in general by March 31 last. The January 13 discussion also made it obligatory for the state government to prepare a strategy paper by February 28 last, to make the state transport corporation commercially viable by including, among others, indexing of revision of DA and prices of fuel into the fare structure, on the top of introduction of a voluntary retirement scheme in the ASTC and other PSUs, which is, however subject to the availability of fund, within the same timeframe. (Staff reporter; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; April 9, 2000)

GUWAHATI, April 8: The union minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Ram Naik will flag off the first rail rake on Numaligarh Refinery Limited's (NRL) products (high speed diesel) in a brief ceremony tomorrow in presence of minister of state, E Ponnuswamy. With the flagging off the rail rake of high speed diesel, the Rs 235 crore marketing terminal of the NRL will be commissioned. Addressing a press conference here this afternoon, Naik said with the commissioning of the marketing terminal, the NRL would be in a better position to serve the region. The state government will earn an estimated Rs 90 crore as additional sales tax from the marketing terminal. The petroleum minister who had a meeting with the Chief Minister, Prafulla Kumar Mahanta and other senior state and Union government officials here today, told the newsmen that final decision regarding the move to merge BRPL with the IOC was yet to be taken by the government of India. When asked whether the BRPL would be merged with the IOC or would be made a subsidiary to the IOC, the minister said it would be decided only after consultation with the employees of BRPL and managements of both BRPL and the IOC. He said he had already received representation from the BRPL employees requesting him to go for merger of the refinery with the IOC. The minister said he would visit the BRPL before the government takes a final decision. Regarding the much talked about gas-cracker project, the minister said the main hurdle had been the disagreement between the Reliance Industries and the OIL about supply of gas. However, the issue was now as good as resolved and the project would be implemented soon, the minister hoped. However, about the shifting of the gas-cracker project site from Tengakhat to some other location in Dibrugarh, the union minister said it was to be settled by the state government. Ram Naik today informed that at present there were 34,000 applicants in the waiting list for LPG connection in Assam. He said the waiting list will be cleared by the end of June next. The chairman-cum-managing director of the OIL, BB Sharma, who was also present in the press conference, informed that under the Brahmaputra Valley Exploration Project the OIL had drilled four wells at Bihaguri, Dhakuakhana, Nij-zaluk and Madhupur. There was indication of present of oil bearing strata in the wells at Bihaguri and Dhakuakhana. He also said extensive seismic survey was on as part of the project and hoped to strike oil at Chemen Chapori area. The petroleum minister today informed the press here about two important decisions taken by the union cabinet on April 5 last. One of the decision was on modalities for utilisation of Rs 5400 crore collected last year as road cess on petroleum products. The minister said that the cabinet decided that 65 per cent of the amount would be at the disposal of the state governments for improvement of roads. He said 50 per cent of the amount would be spent on development of roads in rural areas while 15 per cent would be utilised in development of state highways. Thirty per cent of the total amount would be utilised for development of national highways (NHs) for which a separate organisation would be constituted. The rest five per cent of the amount would be spent in converting unmanned level crossings to manned ones, the minister informed. A bill will be tabled in the Parliament in this regard. The other decision taken by the union cabinet was regarding use of LPG as auto fuel which will be comparatively cheaper and more environment friendly. The minister informed that the LPG used as auto fuel would not be subsidised like the LPG for household use. Talking about the New Exploration Licensing Policy (NELP), which is aimed at increasing the domestic production in the interest of national oil security, Ram Naik informed that total 25 blocks were offered for hydro-carbon exploration by national and international bidders. Out of them 23 are off-shore blocks, while two are on-shore including one in Arunachal Pradesh. He said no block from Assam could be offered for exploration as the Assam government was yet to approve the NELP. He informed that bidders had already been selected for all the 25 blocks and final agreement on exploration would be signed in New Delhi on April 12 next. He said 230 million US dollars would be invested by these bidders for oil exploration in these blocks. At present 70 per cent of the country's total requirement of petroleum products is met through import. Last year the oil import bill was Rs. 59,000 crore. Ram Naik today regretted that there had been no increase in domestic production of petroleum during the last ten years. But the domestic consumption of petroleum products has been rising at the rate of ten per cent per year. (Staff reporter; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; April 9, 2000)

GUWAHATI, April 8: The banks operating in Assam in most cases decline to finance self-employment schemes of educated unemployed youths even though lead bank officers of different districts are involved in selection of beneficiaries of various schemes submitted by the state government through different departments and agencies like DRDA, DIC, ST/SC/OBC corporations, agriculture, fishery and veterinary etc. This was observed in the 32nd report of Employment Review Committee (on banking sector) of the state Assembly. The report was tabled in the house in the just concluded budget Session. The report says that in view of very low credit-deposit ratio of banks operating in the state, this should not have taken place here. The committee, therefore, tells the government to take up the matter and make necessary arrangement for quick disbursement of such loans by discussing with top officials of the banks. At the same time the committee also observes that concerned departments of the state government do not study feasibility and viability of such schemes at the stage of preparation. Even after sponsoring the schemes, the departments never bother to keep co-ordination between the beneficiaries and the banks for greater success of self-employment schemes. The committee says the departments should not think that their responsibility ends only at submitting of the schemes and selecting the beneficiaries. It asks the government to issue necessary directions to all such departments for proper and meaningful co-ordination at all level and monitor implementation of schemes by the beneficiaries. It is also observed in the report that due to lack of proper motivation, guidance and follow-up action, the loanees generally utilise the loan amount in fulfilling the basic requirements of the life rather than investing it in the purpose for which the loan was sanctioned. In this regard the committee says that the departments and agencies concern have responsibility towards this end so that loan money is fruitfully utilised to meet the objectives of the schemes. Otherwise, it becomes extremely difficult to secure loan for the next group of willing first generation entrepreneurs. Regarding extension of credit facilities to local youths, the Assembly committee remarks that local entrepreneurs are not given due emphasis by banks management in comparison to big business houses. Keeping in mind the acute unemployment problem in the state, the committee feels that the banks in the state should come forward to extend loan on soft terms to local youths to enable them to set up small industrial units. The committee also observes that in almost all the banks including the two private commercial banks operating in the state, many of officers are recruited from persons residing outside the state. These officers are generally recruited by the Banking Service Recruitment Board on all India basis. For the UCO banks recruitment of officers is done by Calcutta Board and for the state Bank it is done by Bombay Board. As the test for recruitment of officers for nationalised banks are held in all-India basis, the committee feels that to brighten the chances of youths from the state for getting into bank officers jobs, the state government should arrange for regular training facilities for desiring candidates in Assam Administrative Staff College. The committee also recommends that the government of India in collaboration with bank management should arrange for proper publicity for increasing awareness of the general public including the educated unemployed youths regarding different facilities provided by banks. The committee took into account particulars submitted before it by 19 nationalised banks, two private commercial banks and four regional rural banks operating in the state. (Staff reporter; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; April 9, 2000)

SHILLONG, April 8: Union petroleum and natural gas minister Ram Naik has urged the Meghalaya government to help the Oil and Natural Gas Commission (ONGC) obtain a petroleum exploration licence to undertake oil exploration work in certain areas of Garo Hills. There is potential for oil in the Garo Hills in Meghalaya. During a meeting with Chief Minister EK Mawlong, held at his office here on Friday, Mawlong, while promising his government's support for such developmental projects, pleaded for more visits by Central ministers to the Northeast for better understanding of ground realities. The Chief Minister said it would be of immense benefit to the region if the Planning Commission could come here and "see things for themselves". Mawlong asked for increased allotment of kerosene oil to the consumers in the state. However, the union minister was understood to be not keen to comply as the Central was contemplating to do away with subsidy on kerosene and LPG gradually. The Chief Minister also urged the union minister to sanction an oil depot at Tura to meet the needs of Garo Hills. (The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; April 9, 2000)

GUWAHATI, April 7: Oil India Limited, a public sector undertaking, engaged in exploration and production of crude oil and natural gas, has recorded highest-ever profit in the financial year 1999-2000. The profit before tax and profit after tax has been recorded at Rs 557 crore and Rs 351 crore respectively which is 35% and 20% higher as compared to previous year. The board of directors of the company have approved an interim dividend of 40 per cent on its paid-up capital. (Staff reporter; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; April 9, 2000)

GUWAHATI, April 9: Inland water transport of Assam has received a shot in the arm as Centre has decided to carry out development and maintenance activities in the Brahmaputra with an eye to explore the potential of the region. Centre's initiative came following a memorandum of the state government where it urged the union Surface Transport minister to bolster the water transport system in order to open more trade routes. In a letter to the state government the union surface transport minister, Rajnath Singh said: "... five floating terminals have been provided from Dhubri to Sadiya for cargo transhipment. One hydraulic surface dredger is in advanced stage of construction and proposed to be deployed immediately after construction." The IWT department has already reached agreement to carry goods of Numaligarh Refinery and Coal India. In the letter, the union minister also said, "...For providing night navigation facilities from Dhubri to Guwahati, action has been initiated for construction of 215 lighted buoys. ...The possibility of having a permanent terminal at Pandu is under examination and soil investigation work is in progress." Hailing Centre's initiative, the transport, food and civil supply minister, Pradip Hazarika expressed the hope this would improve trade in the state as well the Northeast. Hazarika further said the state government has already taken steps to gear up the water transport department to garner more revenue. "We have already reached agreements with companies to carry their goods but due to lack of navigation system in the Brahmaputra, the department is facing problem," he said. The transport minister also expressed the view that with the improvement of navigation system more commercial services would be opened with Bangladesh. (Staff reporter; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; April 10, 2000)

NEW DELHI, April 9: In what is being described as a long-term measure to develop the power sector in the north-eastern region, the states of Assam, Mizoram, Manipur and Nagaland will set up a joint Electricity Regulatory Commission (ERC). The new body will be christened as Northeast Electricity Regulatory Authority (NEERC), official sources here disclosed. According to plans drawn up and consented to by the union power ministry, the members of the NEERC would be common though they are to function as independent ERCs in respect of the fours states. The merit of the new arrangement being that it would enable each of the four states to take an independent decision over entrusting the NEERC with a particular function, sources added. The Union government sources said, has agreed to provide funds for the initial period. The Union government would bring about the necessary amendments in the central legislation, shortly, providing for creation of the NEERC. The Centre, it may be noted here has been insisting on creation of a ERCs all over the country, in order to prepare the ground to introduce the much talked about reforms in the power sector. The stress would be to check power theft, pilferage, prevent T&D losses, recovery of outstanding dues running into hundreds of crore of Rupees, thereby pulling the SEBs out of the red. As far as the Northeast is concerned, as the individual states were reluctant to set up individual SEBs because of the cost factor involved, the Centre formulated the idea of setting up a common ERC for the four states. The power ministry sources claimed that by 2012 a synchronous grid has been envisaged with a capacity transmission system at 765 KV level, which would interconnect Eastern, North Eastern, Northern and Western region. These connections would enable an exchange of 10,000 MW of power coming from hydro projects in the Northeast, Sikkim, Bhutan and large thermal projects in Bihar, Orissa in Eastern region and Madhya Pradesh in Western region. (Kalyan Barooah; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; April 10, 2000)

GUWAHATI, April 11: In the backdrop of growing unemployment in the state where emphasis has shifted to self-employment, Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship (IIE) is doing its bit in promoting entrepreneurship in the Northeast. It has till date trained 8162 people in various aspects of enterpreneurship development through its different training programmes numbering 289. With an impressive infrastructure that boasts of hostel with 42 single rooms, audio visual facilities, computers, well documented library, etc., IIE was set up in 1993 with the mandate of promoting entrepreneurship in the region. Only the fourth of its kind in the country under the union industry ministry, IIE has the chairman of the Northeast Council (NEC) as its president, while the director acts as its academic and administrative head. Currently, DD Mali is its director. National Institute of Small Industry Extension and Training that existed here earlier was merged with the institute when it came up. The institute conducts various programmes, like financial management, working capital management, entrepreurship development programmes (EDPs), EDPs on food processing industries, location-specific EDPs, etc. For entrepreneurial education, entrepreneurship awareness camp for school students are being conducted at schools in the state capitals of the region. Summer and winter courses on entrpreneurship for college and university students are also being conducted. One year diploma course on entrepreneurship, besides a certificate course, are in the pipeline. With the intention of reaching out to youth in a more comprehensive manner and provide information on alternative career, information and career guidance cells in the colleges are also being planned by the institute. As part of its efforts to promote new entrepreneurship with an area approach, the institute launched an experimental rural industries programme (RIP) in Nagaon district in 1996. Supported by Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI), till March 1999 (the records of which are available) 254 persons were trained under RIP, out of which 104 applied for loans. While 42 units were set up with bank finance, 43 units were set up with their own funds. It also organised a five-day entrepreneurial orientation programme for college and university faculties in January this year. And the institute is not keeping its activities confined to its headquarter, but spreading out to other places by organising various programmes. At the instance of union home ministry, small scale industry and agro and rural industry and NEC, it has started a new initiative to train about 250 youths in Bodoland Autonomous Council area. It even organised two motivating programmes for surrendered militants, and plans to do so more in future. Seminars and workshops are also organised from time to time. Its programmes are sponsored by various institutions like NEC, SIDBI, Industrial Development Bank of India (IDBI), NEDFI, etc. Recently, with the aim of enrolling media to complement its activities, it organised an interactive session with the media at its office premise. But have all these been able to make much of an impact? Mali thinks so. According to him, earlier youths turned up for its training programmes out of compulsion, but now they do so out of their own volition. (Staff reporter; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; April 12, 2000)

GUWAHATI, April 11: The fifty-year-old Coal Research Institute at Jorhat is facing imminent closure due to the indifferent attitude of the parent organisation, Central Fuel Research Institute (CFRI), Dhanbad. Another reason is, the coal producing states of Northeast region have failed to utilise the service of the institution since its inception. The Coal Research Institute was set up at Jorhat by the CFRI in 1950 with the primary objective to determine the suitability and potential of coal reserves found at Makum, Joypur, NC Hills, Garo Hills, Jaintia Hills, Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland. Over the years the CFRI has shown no interest at all in developing its only wing in the entire north-eastern region, located at Jorhat, not very far from coal producing horizons in Upper Assam. The institute, which was started with 50 employees, including scientists, is today crawling to death with only 13 staff including two scientists. The CFRI never bothered to fill up the retirement vacancies let alone improving the infrastructure in the laboratory. The reason often given by the CFRI for its negligence is that the Jorhat wing does not have any work load at all and hence does not merit huge investment for infrastructure development and further appointment. According to SR Hazarika, one of the remaining two scientists in the institute, the workload is less at Jorhat laboratory than other wings of the CFRI in different parts of the country because there is no coal-based industry in the NE region. But there was scope for increasing the work load provided the NE states could try to utilise the service of the laboratory better. Talking to The Assam Tribune at Jorhat recently, Hazarika said there was still hope for revival of the laboratory if the NE states and the Northeast Council (NEC) take some urgent steps. He suggested that the state government could make it mandatory that sample of every ton of coal found in the NE must be tested in the laboratory to determine its quality before the solid fuel is sent to the market. Thereby the work load in the laboratory will be increased. The scientists said the general impression that all NE coal were of low grade was not based on facts. Because coal found in all NE states are hardly screened for quality before being marketed. There has not been any proper evaluation of the solid fuel found in the region. He also alleged that even the Coal India Limited was not doing justice to the region as it had been selling coal from its fields as of low quality without subjecting it to proper evaluation in the laboratory. Hazarika lamented that even the coal reserve in the Northeast region has not been estimated properly resulting in recurring loss of revenue for state governments. Besides there are many virgin coal bearing horizon in the region which need attention from the Geological Survey of India and other concerned agencies. Regarding coal related projects in the region, he suggested that the NEC, if wishes so, can take up at least two such projects. One is conversion of coal to oil for which the Assam coal is most suitable for its high tar content. Another project can be blending of NE coal with outside coal to produce coke. Though it is already too late, the state governments and the NEC should take notice of the only coal research institute in the region and save it from closure. For NE it is always difficult to get an important institution. So it will be very unfortunate, if this 50-year-old institute cannot be put back on the track with some urgent concerted efforts. (Staff reporter; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; April 12, 2000)

AGARTALA, April 12: Border road construction along strategic, Indo-Bangla border in Tripura is being hampered considerably by ongoing militancy. director-general of Border Roads Organisation (BRO) Lt General AK Puri here said the border road along Indo-Bangla border is important for checking infiltration and cross-border movements of militants of the Northeast. But as the road is being constructed in hilly terrain and militant-infested areas, the Border Road Task Force (755 BRTF raised by BRO in Tripura) personnel are facing threat from extremists including extortion. Only two years ago, eight BRTF personnel were killed by militants in Tripura. Lt Gen Puri said " We have our own security but it is not enough." state government must provide security cover to BRTF personnel, he said. The BRO DG also held meetings with Tripura governor Siddheshwar Prasad, Chief Minister Manik Sarkar and chief secretary V Thulasidas. However, Lt Gen Puri said despite constraints BRTF has already completed 418 km of border roads out of 533 km under the organisation. The BRO has also been assigned with a task of making Assam-Agartala National Highway 44 A, double-lane highway as well as extension of the highway to Sabroom, the extreme southern tip of the state on Bangladesh border. The double-lane project cost is estimated at Rs 80 crore. (Correspondent; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; April 13, 2000)

SHILLONG, April 13: The comptroller and auditor-general of India has slammed the Meghalaya government for not organising the state lotteries in consonance with the requirements of the Supreme Court or on commercial considerations resulting in the state coffers receiving only crumbs out of the turnover of several thousand crore in the lottery business. The report of the CAG, placed in the state Assembly yesterday by the Meghalaya finance minister, AH Scott Lyngdoh, has made it clear that the irregularities in the state lotteries is certain to emerge as the biggest scandal in the history of the Hill state overshadowing all other scams in the state taken together. "Every conceivable transgression took place in the running of the lottery to benefit the organising agent at the cost of the State", the report said. The state government had introduced state lotteries in 1982 to mobilise additional resources for development of sports and games. The draws of the lottery were suspended in 1991 and revived in 1995. The agreement entered into with the state sole distributor (SSD) for running of the state lottery from May 1995 to March 1997 was not in consonance with the Supreme Court's directives of April 1994 and suffered from inconsistencies resulting entire amount of sale proceeds of tickets aggregating a whopping Rs. 16,293.32 crore was not deposited in government account. The SSD earned a net profit of Rs 1300.46 crore in running the lotteries during the two year period, while the state government received Rs. 15.08 crore only being the guaranteed return which was 0.09 per cent of the face value of the tickets printed due to non-insertion of any clause in the agreement about profit-sharing between the government and the SSD. In what appears to be a tale of loot of public money by swindlers in league with politicians and bureaucrats, there was additional benefit of Rs. 185 crore to the SSD due to defects in the agreement viz., (i) non-fixation of limit of the face value of tickets for each draw of lottery, (ii) wider range of face value of each ticket, and (iii) bonus/commission to the agents etc., at the cost of the prize winners. A spokesman of the government admitted that though the scandal was unearthed sometime back no FIR could be lodged so far. "We were awaiting the CAG report" he said. (Bedabrata Lahkar; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; April 14, 2000)

SHILLONG, April 13: Germany has offered Rs 300 crore to Meghalaya for development of integrated agricultural project. The proper implementation of the project would generate employment for about 3,000 people. Disclosing this at a function held recently at Bhoirymbong, Meghalaya Chief Minister EK Mawlong said a Rs 25 crore Space Application Centre would come up at Umiam in the Ri-Bhoi district soon. Mawlong said the Centre had sanctioned Rs 35 crore for upgrading Umroi airport. He said the long-pending Shillong bypass, via Mawryngknemg, Diengpasoh and Umroi would be completed soon. Speaking on the immense potential of the Ri-Bhoi area, which include industrial, agricultural and horticultural activities, Mawlong said the Centre had recognised Byrnihat as the first and only industrial area in the whole of the north-east region. (UNI; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; April 14, 2000)

KOHIMA, April 15: The Centre has decided to revoke the Restricted Area Permit (RAP) from four districts of Nagaland within three months, if no untoward incident occurred during the period. This was stated by K Asungba Sangtan, the lone MP from Nagaland at a seminar on development of Mon and Tuensang districts here recently. He said the four districts are Dimapur, Kohima Mokokchung and Zunheboto. He said RAP was one of the major hindrances to the growth of tourism. Tourism in the state would not prosper unless RAP was lifted, he added. He emphasised that by 2002, every village in the state will have telephone connection, while Tobu, Aboi, Longwa and Wakching, the international trade centres, will have telephone exchanges within May next. He admitted that the Kohima centres of All India Radio and Doordarshan were short-staffed and assured that he would inform this to the Union government. (UNI; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; April 16, 2000)

IMPHAL, April 13: The announcement by the Manipur finance minister Henam Lokhon that the government is striving to pay the salaries to the employees for the month of March within April 20 may have to be changed, official sources said here on Thursday. Instead state finance commissioner Y Chibber told the reporters that as the chances of getting further advance of plan money for payment of salaries and pensions have become bleak, the Manipur government has started seeking loans from HUDCO, Power Corporation of India and other organisations. He said the state Chief Minister is holding an important meeting in this regard with the officials of the finance department. It is further learnt that the Chief Minister held a meeting with the additional chief secretary in this connection. The finance commissioner further told this correspondent that it cannot be said definitely when salaries and pensions to the government employees and pensioners would be paid as it is not known whether these loans will be given to Manipur. According to Chibber, the amount of overdraft Manipur had run into by the beginning of April was about Rs 277 crore. The figure was reduced by over Rs 64 crore recently. In this crucial juncture, the high-level talks between the state chief secretary H Jelshyam and representatives of the nationalised banks operating in the state and local banks held on Wednesday afternoon here at the chief secretary's office, bore no fruit and as a result the banks will continue non-transaction of cash. Meanwhile, the banks have a refused to accept deployment of ten home guard personnel in each bank. The home department officials who were present at meeting had proposed to deploy five home guards and five police personnel in each bank. However, the bank representatives were not impressed by the office. As a result, the 45-minute-long meeting ended without arriving at an agreement. (Correspondent; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; April 16, 2000)

DULIAJAN, April 15: Ram Naik, union minister for petroleum and natural gas, E Ponnuswamy minister of state for petroleum and natural gas and Bijoya Chakraborty, minister of state for water resources visited the fields headquarters of Oil India Ltd. on April 9 during their weeklong visit to the Northeast states. BB Sharma, CMD of OIL, along with other directors and senior officials received them at the oilfields of Digboi. After their brief visit to the historic Well No 1 at Digboi, the team proceeded to the fields headquarters at Duliajan and visited some of OIL's key installations. The highlights of the visit was the inauguration of OIL's Coal Oil Co-processing pilot plant by Ram Naik. The pilot plant is a sophisticated state-of-the-art technology plant, jointly designed and constructed by OIL and IFP North America, Inc (IFPNA), which uses IFPNA's proprietary ebullated bed co-processing technology, Indian coals and heavy petroleum derived residuals oils i.e. bottom-of-the-barrel products from refinery are converted to premium transportation fuels using this technology. This pilot plant is the first of its kind in Asia and fourth in the world. The overall project consists of conducting a bench test at IFPNA's Research Centre in USA using feedstock of Assam Coal and Vacuum Residium of Digboi Refinery, basic design and detailed engineering, procurement and construction of a 25 kg per day capacity co-processing pilot plant at OIL's R&D Centre at Duliajan and start-up operation of this plant. Earlier, in a presentation, the dignitaries were given a broad overview of the company's activities and the future plans and projects. (Correspondent; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; April 16, 2000)