DHAKA, August 28: Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today urged Opposition leader Begum Khaleda Zia to stop street protests and join a debate in Parliament on a controversial proposal on the passage of Indian goods through Bangladesh. "I am requesting you (Khaleda) to discuss the issue of transhipment of Indian goods in the coming Parliament session," the official BSS news agency quoted Hasina as telling a meeting at Faridpur, 100 km southwest of Dhaka. "Khaleda is unnecessarily confusing the people about the proposed passage of Indian goods for political gains," Sheikh Hasina said. (Reuters; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati, August 29, 1999)

NEW DELHI, August 28: Alarmed by the mad rush of cigarette companies to get bases in the Northeast to avail of the 100 per cent excise waiver, a powerful lobby of cigarette manufacturers has started pressuring the Union government to withdraw the excise concessions to avoid a cut-throat competition among the manufacturers. Even as the move to force the Union government to abandon the excise duty concession scheme gathers momentum, another tobacco giant has joined the race to set up plants in the Northeast by submitting a proposal worth Rs 525 crore. The Indian Tobacco Company (ITC) has sought licence to manufacture 60 billion cigarettes annually through two plants proposed to be set up in Assam and Tripura. With ITC's bid, the total investment proposal in the Northeast, particularly Assam and Tripura, has gone up to nearly Rs 1,000 crore and that too in less than two months of announcement of excise waiver. But investment proposals are not the only applications to reach the Union government, as the Union finance ministry here has been flooded with equal number of petitions to withdraw the concessions. (Kalyan Barooah; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati, August 29, 1999)

GUWAHATI, August 29: Road accidents in Assam are turning out to be a greater menace than terrorism as the number of persons killed in road mishaps in the state is almost double the number killed in terrorist-related incidents. As per a report of the Assam Police, last year as many as 915 persons were killed in road accidents in the state, while 480 died due to terrorist-related violence. Last year 110 persons were killed in road accidents in Guwahati city while 268 others were injured. In the first seven months of this year, 81 persons were killed and 216 others were injured in road accidents in the city. Police sources said that of late a number of steps have been taken by the police to improve the traffic scenario in the ever-growing city but unfortunately, till now the steps taken have not showed the desired results. In fact, the police department, particularly the traffic branch of the city police is plagued by different problems including acute shortage of manpower as the strength of the department has not been increased since 1972, while during this period the number of vehicles on the city roads has increased manifold. (Staff Reporter; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati, August 30, 1999)

GUWAHATI, August 31: In a significant move, four countries - India, China, Myanmar and Bangladesh - have decided to boost the border trade and to improve the old existing roads linking the four countries. The decision was taken at an international conference on 'Regional economic cooperation and development involving India, China, Myanmar and Bangladesh' held at Kunming, China recently. The representatives of the four countries suggested setting up of trade points at Zemithang, Gelling and Kibithoo in the Northeast to facilitate trade with Myanmar and China. The three-day conference also laid emphasis on opening of river routes, besides developing air services in the region. (Staff Reporter; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati, September 1, 1999)

AZARA, August 31: Despite the ban on cutting forest trees by the Supreme Court, illegal felling of trees in the entire south Kamrup area has been continuing unabated for the last several years. Wood smuggling has been flourishing at Chhaygaon, Bamunigaon, Kukurmara, Rampur, Loharghat, Chandubi, Rani, Azara, Dharapur, etc., in south Kamrup for the last several years. There are Rani and Mirza reserve forests under Guwahati division while Loharghat, Kulsi, Singra, Boko, Bonapara and Bamunigaon reserve forests fall under Kamrup West division in south Kamrup. Valuable trees like sal, segun, gamari, titasapa, are available in those reserve forests. Wanton destruction of all these valuable trees by a section of smugglers is continuing day and night. The timber is supplied to Bangladesh, Meghalaya and Guwahati and its adjoining areas. It has been learnt from some reliable sources that the valuable trees of Loharghat, Kushi and Rani reserve forests on Assam-Meghalaya border are transported by elephant, and buffalo to Meghalaya and then are again taken to Bangladesh with Meghalaya timber permit. It has also been learnt that the smugglers have set up mini saw mills in some areas inside the hills. (Correspondent; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati, August 29, 1999)

GUWAHATI, September 4: Oil India Limited has been made to suffer heavy losses due to the failure of the Assam government to take necessary steps for the protection of the people of Khagorijan area of Dibrugarh district from floods and erosion. Oil India sources here said that the oil company struck oil in Khagorijan in 1997 and since then three oil wells are producing about 200 kilolitres of oil per day from that place. Oil India sources said it took steps for the all-round development of the area and steps have also been initiated for a thorough geological survey in the area. The area has long been neglected by the government and the people of the area are suffering from the problems of floods and erosion because of the failure of the state government to take necessary steps in this regard. After failure to persuade the government to take concrete steps for the protection of the area from floods and erosion, the people of the locality finally decided to hold the Oil India to ransom and from August 16 the local people prevented oil exploration works in the three oil wells in the Khagorijan area. The Oil India has to suffer heavy losses due to the drastic action by the people of Khagorijan area. (Staff Reporter; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati, September 5, 1999)

GUWAHATI, September 5: The Union government has decided to set up an oil museum in the city. It has also been decided that the Union petroleum ministry will take expeditious steps to implement the decision. The proposed museum is expected to give the visitors a comprehensive idea about the development of the oil industry in the world with emphasis on the history of the industry in this part of the country. Disclosing this, the director-general of National Museum, RD Choudhury, said since the matter was related to the petroleum ministry, he was not aware of the details of the proposal. The National Museum has also proposed to procure artefacts from all Northeast states, Sikkim and Jammu and Kashmir for proper display in the museum. (Ajit Patowary; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati, September 6, 1999)

JAMUGURIHAT, September 5: The leader of the wild tuskers (popularly known as 'khora' by farmers) of Panpur reserve forest (the sixth addition of Kaziranga National Park) died at Hatimora Tapu, 3 k.m. away from Panpurghat under Jamuguri police station. According to eyewitness accounts, the tusker had received serious injuries in its mouth which deprived it of food for more than 35 days as it took shelter at the Ghiladhari river-bed (a tributary of Brahmaputra), and ultimately succumbed to his injuries. Sources said the wild tusker had been leading a herd of 28 to 32 wild elephants from Panpur reserve forest to the different villages of Jamuguri area during winter and creating havoc and damaging paddy fields. Later, forest officials removed the tusks after a nine-hour operation. According to forest sources, the value of the two tusks is more than Rs 21 lakh in the international market. (Correspondent; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati, September 6, 1999)

GUWAHATI, September 6: Assam, where the majority of the people are fish eaters, is slowly becoming one of the largest fish importing states in the country. The state, which is already enmeshed in a financial tangle, now spends over Rs 63 crore a year to satisfy the demand of the fish consumers. The production of fish inside the state has remained largely stagnant over the past few years leading to a gradual increase in fish imports. Everyday, almost two dozen trucks enter the state through the Srirampur and Baxirhat checkgates on the Assam-West Bengal border bringing fish from states like Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and even Delhi, sources in the state fisheries department told this correspondent. Though a few of the trucks are bound for the other states of the Northeast, most end their journey in Assam itself. Against the average annual demand of almost 2.5 lakh tonnes of fish, the home production is barely 1.5 lakh tonnes, a production level that has remained constant for some time. (Staff Reporter; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati, September 7, 1999)

NALBARI, September 6: Two commercial centres of the state - Hajo in Kamrup district and Mukalmua in Nalbari district, are poised to be placed on the railway map soon. Railway authorities have completed a survey work to lay a new railway line connecting Changsari with Barpeta district via Hajo, Kalitakuchi, Mukalmua and Doulashal. According to reports, a team of high officials of the Northeast Frontier Railway has already completed the survey for the proposed railway line and submitted its report to the authorities concerned last month. The financial sanction for the proposed railway line has also been received. (Ramen Kalita ; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati, September 7, 1999)

GUWAHATI, September 8: Coal India Limited (CIL) today signed an agreement with the representatives of the All Guwahati Students Union (AGSU) saying that it will not shift the head offices of its subsidiary Eastern India Coalfields from Guwahati to Calcutta as earlier decided by the authorities. Nirmal Baishya, president of AGSU said students gheraoed the authorities at their head office at Christianbasti following which the deal was signed. (Staff Reporter; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati, September 9, 1999)

GUWAHATI, September 8: The Assam government has constituted an export advisory committee headed by chief minister, Prafulla Kumar Mahanta, to upgrade the infrastructure and to create a proper atmosphere for export. The committee was constituted at a high-level exporters meeting held at Janata Bhawan today. The committee will meet every three months to chalk out strategies to accelerate the export of the state. During the discussion, the exporters urged the chief minister to open more air services to China and South East Asian countries from the Lokapriya Gopinath Bardoloi airport. (Staff Reporter; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati, September 9, 1999)

AMTERENG, September 8: The much-talked-about Karbi Langpi Hydro Electric Project of the Assam State Electricity Board (ASEB) may become functional soon with the possible infusion of a Rs 150-crore loan for its revival by the Power Finance Corporation (PFC). The state power minister, Hitendranath Goswami, who was on a day-long visit to the project site, said the PFC has agreed in principle for disbursing the loan amount at 9 per cent interest rate. "But prior to its actual disbursement, ASEB must fulfil certain conditions which might prove somewhat difficult for the board under its present circumstances though efforts are on for meeting them at the earliest," he assured. Out of the total amount, 30 per cent would have to be provided by the state government while the rest would come from the PFC. The PFC has agreed to release Rs 7.5 crore of the loan very soon for preliminary expenditure. (Staff Reporter; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati, September 9, 1999)

KOHIMA, September 8: The Nagaland health and family welfare department has proposed to set up an epidemic surveillance and research centre at Dimapur in view of frequent outbreak of communicable diseases in the state. The proposal has been put before the state government to urge the Centre to set up the project at a cost of Rs 28.20 crore, sources at the directorate of health services here said. Hundreds of people were affected in the recent outbreak of communicable diseases such as viral fever, hepatitis, malaria, typhoid and gastro-enteritis in Mon and Mokokchung districts. "The present outbreak in the state is endemic in nature having close relation with poor economic and unhygienic living, lack of health education, non-existence of long-term infrastructure," the department said in a statement. (PTI; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati, September 9, 1999)

GUWAHATI, September 9: The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has decided to start a cargo service from the Lokapriya Gopinath Bardoloi Airport within this month, official sources said today. The AAI and the customs department have cleared all formalities and infrastructure has been developed for export and import from the airport. A meeting was held at Janata Bhawan which was presided over by the Assam transport minister, Pradip Hazarika, The director of the AAI, Guwahati, BK Srivastava, said that it had already developed the infrastructure at the airport and cargo service would be operated within this month. The Centre had granted permission for export and import from the airport during March last. (Staff Reporter; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati, September 10, 1999)

AIZAWL, September 10: Mizoram tops the literacy rate in the country, according to a report by the National Sample Survey Organisation. The report, submitted to the Centre, said the state had the highest literacy rate of 95 per cent, followed by Kerala with 93 per cent. (UNI; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati, September 11, 1999)

ROHMARIA, September 10: This place is hardly 20 kilometres by road from Dibrugarh's municipal limits, but even a four wheeled Gypsy ride took an hour and a half to reach the place. This is rural country, once famous for its lush agriculture. Most of the paddyfields have been eroded away by the Brahmaputra. If unchecked, the erosion threatens the existence of an Air Force base, Dibrugarh's civil airport at Mohanbari, several tea gardens and the residences and agricultural lands of the people of the area. The Rohmaria area falls under the Lahowal assembly segment and the population is mainly agricultural. Lately, the area has been found to have rich oil-bearing stratas four and a half kilometres from ground level. At Khagorijan, Oil India Limited had installed three oil rigs after commercially exploitable oil deposits were ascertained. Finding no other way to exert pressure on the state government to take up anti-erosion measures at Rohmaria, the local population have been staging an indefinite demonstration at the Khagorjian oilwells since August 16. Till now, the state government has not reacted to the plight of the local populace, while Oil India is being made the scapegoat. The company now fears that a few more days of closedown of the Khagorijan oilwells will result in irreparable losses, as the oil rigs have been forced to shut operations for the last 26 days. (Ron Duarah; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati, September 11, 1999)

GUWAHATI, September 10: Serious thinking is needed as to whether the present size of the administration is needed in Assam where the productivity of the government employees is very low, according to economist and chairman of the North Eastern Development Finance Corporation Limited (NEDFi), Jayanta Madhab. He said the state has at present 5,50,000 people on its payroll. About 70 per cent of the budget goes in paying salaries to them. Madhab, a former director of the Asian Development Bank, said moreover most NEDFi entrepreneurs have the complaint that they have to grease the palms of the people concerned at every step in state government offices to get their things done. He said recently a Federation of Industries and Commerce of North Eastern Region (FINER) report said that to install a diesel generating set in any of the plants the entrepreneurs need to get permissions from the Assam State Electricity Board (ASEB). The concerned files have to travel through 29 desks and it takes between six and 12 months to get the final clearance, the FINER report said. Madhab said, "In my opinion the state administration can be run with one-third of its present size. Assam today has 23 districts. Andhra Pradesh, two-and-half times larger than Assam, with a population of over 6.65 crore, has also 23 districts, while Gujarat has 19. "If proliferation of these districts and sub-divisions would have helped in bringing the state administration closer to the people and decision-making made quicker that would have been beneficial. (Ajit Patowary; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati, September 11, 1999)

GOLAGHAT, September 11: The wild animals in the Kaziranga National Park are facing starvation due to shortage of green grass, and are moving away for better shelter and pasture. Recently, it was reported that the land area of this world famous national park has shrunk to two-thirds of its original size due to erosion by the river Brahmaputra. Now the danger has emanated from the shortage of green grass because due to heavy rains throughout the session, the elephant grass could not be burnt properly. It is stated that perhaps due to want of good grass, a sizeable numbers of rhinos, deer and elephants must have migrated to distant places like Karbi Anglong and Dhansiri subdivisions. There is also the problem of floods. Kaziranga has been threatened by floods, erosion and poachers and as such strong measures are needed to protect the fauna from depredations. A new problem that the Kaziranga is facing this year is the creation of a char in the Brahmaputra which is about 35 km in length and is separated from the mainland by a narrow channel. Approximately due to the rich growth of grass in the char, most of the animals of the park have migrated to the char where protection measures are naturally non-existent. Hence the animals are vulnerable to attacks by poachers. (Correspondent; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati, September 13, 1999)