GUWAHATI, November 1: Now that the Ogden Energy Incorporated has threatened to take the state government and the Assam State Electricity Board (ASEB) to a London court on the issue of leasing out the Bongaigaon Thermal Power Station (BTPS), the Lease, Rehabilitation, Operation and Transfer (LROT) agreement signed by an ASEB official and the Ogden on the Thermal Power Station assumes significance. For, the Ogden has taken exception to the state government's unwillingness to recognise the LROT as a valid legal document. In fact, the board meeting of the ASEB on July 8, 1999, maintained that "the party (Ogden) has been selected without following competitive bidding procedure". The Board also said in its resolution number 10 that day, that it "discussed the unaddressed issues in the LROT which need necessary modification and agreed with Industrial Development Bank of India's (IDBI) suggestions dated 19.2.99 except in case of deemed generation and selling of surplus power. "Board also agreed with IDBI's suggestions in respect of condition precedent and merging of Amendment with main LROT suggestions which have not been agreed by M/s Ogden. "As regards fixed tariff, the Board noted that while IDBI has commented that Ogden's offer of Rs 1.118 compares favourably with other IPPs, but, IPPs deal only with Greenfield projects (that is, new projects) and no other case of tariff is available from comparison. "Board was informed that the "levelised fixed tariff" of Rs 1.118 has been worked out only on the basis of generation cost of BTPS and negotiations with M/s Ogden. After detailed discussion the Board felt that there may be scope for further reduction of 'levelised fixed tariff'. 'As regards M/s Ogden's contention that initialled document was executed, signed, sealed and delivered, the Board noted the legal opinion of Law Cell that the LROT document handed over to M/s Ogden was an initialled one and is not executed, signed, sealed and delivered", said the ASEB board meeting resolution on July 8, 1999. The above resolution of the board meeting reportedly came in the wake of May 20, 1999 letter from the Ogden to the ASEB. The letter was signed by S Bose of the Ogden Energy Asia Pacific and was addressed to G Gogoi, Chief Engineer (Generation) of the ASEB. In the letter Bose said, "we would request you to use your good office to expedite the government of Assam's endorsement of the LROT document" arguing that "both ASEB and Ogden had embarked on this endeavour by adopting the 'negotiated tariff' route". Hence, Bose said "Ogden's investment pattern in this scenario has no relevance". It is worth mentioning here that the initial enthusiasm to lease out the 240 MW BTPS to M/s Ogden got dampened in the face of popular resistance and the IDBI and its technical consultant Tata Energy Research Institute's (TERI) strictures against the draft proposals of the LROT. Leena Srivastava, Dean, Policy Analysis Division of TERI, in her letter to the ASEB Chairman on July 4, 1998, said that the "terms of agreement (draft LROT) seems unfavourably loaded against ASEB. Before an agreement of this nature is undertaken it would be essential for both the lessee and the lessor to estimate the current status of the plant. "The current status would require that some of the essential parameters like the heat rate, availability, residual plant life, cost of assets, cost of generation, O&M (Operation and Maintenance) expenses and other financial parameters are estimated as these would form the bench marks. "The lessee should further indicate in concrete terms the specific activities or schemes that it would undertake to improve the PLF (Plant Load Factor) as well as the heat rate of the plant. This should be indicated by a detail plan. The amount of investment required for the entire R&M (Running and Maintenance) programme will have to be estimated and acceptable to both the lessee and the lessor. "As per the government of India's guidelines on R&M a detailed lease agreement will be required. The lease deed provided for analysis is very vague and several aspects will have to be incorporated in the agreement. The government of India's guidelines clearly state that a separate O&M agreement will be required if the lessee will take over the plant for operation. A fuel supply agreement between the operator and Coal India Ltd or any other source is the sole responsibility of the operator and is a prerequisite". Further, Srivastava said, "The agreement should also indicate how the transfer of assets will take place from the lessee/operator to the lessor and what should be the condition of the assets during transfer. The costs and modalities of transfer should also be mentioned in the agreement" - Srivastava said. But, unfortunately, most of her suggestions allegedly went unheeded and the LROT was 'initialled' in a hurried manner due to the pressure from a coterie. (Ajit Patowary; The Assam Tribune, Guwahati; November 2, 1999)

KOHIMA, November 1: Nagaland government has approved pay revision for its employees as recommended by a working group. The state Cabinet recently okayed the recommendations submitted by the working group on implementation of Central fifth pay panel awards for the State government employees, but the beneficiaries will have to forfeit certain perks and facilities being enjoyed by them at present. Official sources here said the decision to implement the Central fifth pay commission recommendation would be notified very soon following approval by the Council of Ministers. Following persistent demands from the employees, the government had appointed a working group headed by Education Commissioner Bano Z Jamir to make recommendations for revised pay scales. (PTI; The Assam Tribune, Guwahati; November 2, 1999)

NEW DELHI, November 2: Nearly a month after the Supreme Court passed an order and three abortive attempts to reach Nagaland, a five-member CBI team is yet to begin its inquiry into corruption cases involving Chief Minister S C Jamir. The official reason for the delay: the state government has failed to provide "adequate security" to the team members. In desperation, the CBI has now turned for help to the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). But even this request, made a fortnight ago, is lying unattended by the CRPF. Sources in North Block say that the central agency will be looking into large scale siphoning off of Central funds meant for developmental work in Nagaland, apart from some cases involving the PWD. It's being alleged that the State's civic body helped certain private parties by selling its material for a song. Early this month, sources said, the CBI received a curt statement from the Chief Minister's office that in view of the shortage of security forces, the team's requirements would not be fulfilled. Apparently, the investigating agency is told, the forces in the State are busy fighting insurgents and controlling law and order. The team for Nagaland is headed by a DIG and is in possession of several crucial documents necessary to kick-start the investigation, it is learnt. The Supreme Court had ordered a thorough inquiry into the charges following a public interest litigation filed two years ago by former CM Vamuzo. But a string of delays have bogged the CBI. The matter was first registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation's Silchar branch in Assam which is headed by an SP who referred the case to the CBI's headquarters four months ago. Early this month, the CBI finally decided to drag itself out of its stupor and move over to Nagaland. But only to find itself in the same vortex its Silchar man got trapped into two months ago. With a string of corruption charges against the powers that be in this State, the Union Home Ministry is keeping a close watch. The current probe comes on the heels of the scathing CAG report that virtually indicted the Nagaland government in the lottery scam. As of now, the CAG report is being tackled on two fronts. While Jamir has referred it to the State's Public Account Committee (PAC), a public interest litigation was filed in the Delhi High Court has sought strict penal action against the guilty. (Ajay Suri; The Indian Express, New Delhi; November 3, 1999)

GUWAHATI, November 2: The Union environment ministry will soon submit a white paper on disposal of garbage in Assam's capital city and provide Rs 1.5 crore annually to keep it clean, Union minister for water resources Bijoya Chakrabarty said here today. Though it is yet to be decided which agency would implement the scheme, Chakrabarty said it was unlikely to be the Gauhati Municipal Corporation. "After witnessing its performance, or the lack of it, I do not favour asking the corporation to do the job," she said at a meet-the-Press programme organised by the Guwahati Press Club. The minister said she was also working on several schemes to rid the city of the twin problems of waterlogging and scarcity of potable water. She said the Central Water Commission had already cleared 28 schemes, including construction of a new sluice on the Bharalu river at Santipur. Another scheme approved for the city is the re-sectioning of the Bahini river from its diversion point to RG Baruah Road. "I have also issued directives to study the feasibility of artificial recharging of the ground-water level," Chakrabarty said. "Such replenishment of the ground-water level, which is receding rapidly in the city, will certainly help in providing drinking water during the dry season," she added. The minister said steps had also been initiated to reactivate the Brahmaputra Board, which is functioning without a chairman or any other senior official at present. "I have directed my officials to take steps to amend the relevant Act so that people from the state can be appointed to the chairman's post," she said. As per the Act, only a person who has served as a chief engineer and has three years left for retirement can be appointed chairman of the Board. On the problem of erosion in the world's largest riverine island of Majuli, Chakrabarty said steps would have to be taken to plug 16 breaches simultaneously. "Piecemeal measures will not do," she said. The minister said a project to check erosion in Majuli was worked out nine years ago, but it never got off the ground. "That project has been resurrected and we will try to upgrade it to suit the present situation," she added. Chakrabarty said the Centre was keen to ensure implementation of the Tipaimukh project soon and had invited the Manipur minister concerned for discussions on the issue. (Correspondent; The Telegraph, Calcutta; November 3, 1999)

SILCHAR, November 2: The Railway Ministry recently sanctioned a sum of Rs 66.94 crore for the gauge conversion work on the Silchar-Lumding section. This was disclosed by Mamata Banerjee, the Railway Minister in a letter to Santosh Mohan Dev, the Congress MP from Silchar. The part estimate of Rs 66.94 would mainly be spent for the conversion work between Lumding-Hathikhali stretch covering 19.99 km. Earlier, another part estimate for Badarpur-Chandranathpur section (20.158 km) was sanctioned amounting to Rs 51.06 crore. Informing this, Banerjee assured that the estimates for the balance sections of the project would also be sanctioned as soon as the final location survey report was received from RITES and processed. She further assured that her ministry had given top priority to the pending projects in the NE region and that the Railways had already geared up to utilise the full funds provided for this project. Its progress was being regularly monitored to ensure that there was no slippage. Earlier, in his congratulatory letter to Banerjee for her attaining the portfolio of the Railway Minister, Dev urged her to give top priority to the much delayed gauge conversion of the Silchar-Lumding sector. Dev alleged that for some mysterious reasons, no money had been spent on this time and the work was at a standstill during the regime of the erstwhile BJP-led 13-party alliance government. However, Banerjee, in her reply, said that the work on earthwork and bridges was in progress in the section. She added that the Final Location Survey for diversions in the ghat section of Lumding-Badarpur to suit the requirement of broad gauge and preparation of land acquisition plan and papers had been taken up by RITES, entrusted with the work of this Final Location Survey. It had already completed the paper alignment for the entire length and staking of the alignment had been taken up. An expenditure of Rs 41.21 crore had been incurred for the project as a who till October 99. During the current year, an amount of Rs 40 crore had been provided as outlay for this work. (Correspondent; The Assam Tribune, Guwahati; November 3, 1999)

GUWAHATI, November 3: The Centre has ordered a CBI probe into the multi-crore rupees timber smuggling business in the north-east in a bid to take its crackdown on the racket to its logical end. Meanwhile, the government has suspended Avinash Kumar, managing director of the Arunachal Pradesh Forest Corporation, on charges of corruption, union government officials said. Contacted in Itanagar on Wednesday, Arunachal Pradesh Information minister, Takam Sanjay, confirmed the suspension of Kumar. He said that action has been taken against Kumar for violation of service rules but denied immediate knowledge of corruption charges against the officer. Reports said that the CBI has been asked to probe into allegations of several politicians from the region being involved in timber smuggling including former Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister, Gegong Apang. According to Takam Sanjay, the centre has already issued a notification paving the way for a CBI probe into power and other scams in Arunachal Pradesh. " These scams had taken place during Chief Minister Apang's tenure," Sanjay claimed. Asked whether the new Congress government in Arunachal Pradesh would order an independent probe into timber smuggling in the state, Sanjay said: " The matter has not come up in the cabinet and it would be difficult to comment further now." The CBI probe follows the seizure of 46 railway wagons at the Tinsukia railway station, in eastern Assam, between October 5 and 8, filled with illegal timber worth Rs 2.4 crore. The raid was conducted by the ministry of environment and forests with assistance from the ministry of home affairs. (Staff Reporter; The Northeast Daily, Guwahati; November 4, 1999)

GUWAHATI, November 3: The Chief Minister, Prafulla Kumar Mahanta, today informed the Assembly that grim financial situation continued to haunt the state government. During a discussion on the Assam Appropriation (No III) Bill, 1999 which was later passed by the Assembly, the Chief Minister informed that monthly expenditure of the government had increased to Rs 451 crore against monthly revenue receipt of Rs 310 crore. The result is irregular payment of salaries to the government employees. The Chief Minister informed that over Rs 300 crore was required per month to pay salary and pension. He said failure of the government to mobilise sufficient funds to clear outstanding overdraft with the Reserve Bank of India had resulted in a ban on government payments including salaries till today this month. For the current month the state government has found itself in a helpless situation to clear the RBI overdraft, for the monthly Central assistance would not be made available this month as government took advance last month. Giving detail of Central assistance due to the state government for the month of November this year, Chief Minister informed that total amount of the assistance was Rs 213.59 crore out of which Rs 112.19 crore would be deducted at source by the Centre for outstanding State debt. Though the State is supposed to receive Rs 101.40 crore after deduction at source by the Centre, no amount will come as the State took Rs 146.12 crore advance of the Central assistance for the current month in the month of October. That leaves the State with Rs 44.92 crore deficit regarding central assistance for the month of November. The Chief Minister informed that ban on government transaction for the month of October was lifted on September 30 last. But on October 14 the RBI reimposed the ban as the state government crossed the overdraft limit of Rs 114 crore. On October 30 last the outstanding overdraft with the RBI stood at Rs 323 crore. The RBI is not going to lift ban, on government payments if the outstanding amount was not cleared by the state government within stipulated time. The Chief Minister said the State was in dire need of additional Central assistance to wriggle out of the present financial crisis. But for that matter, the Centre has put certain conditions and the State would be required to sign an MoU with it accepting these conditions. The conditions include ban on filling up all existing vacancies and then abolish 50 per cent of vacant posts in each year; ban on provincialisation of the private educational institution; restructuring of the ASEB and constituting electricity regulatory commission; revision of electricity tariff, privatisation of the ASTC and impounding DA to government employees for the next three years. The Chief Minister sought advise of the House regarding the conditions put forward by the Centre to give additional central assistance. (Staff Reporter; The Assam Tribune, Guwahati; November 4, 1999)

SHILLONG, November 3: The financial bankruptcy of the state governments in the north-eastern region has turned so acute that the Union government is now exploring the possibility of involving private third parties to implement Centre-sponsored schemes. This was disclosed by an official of the Ministry of Non-conventional Energy Sources (MNES) at a business meet on biomass/biogas energy organised by the Northeastern Industrial and Technical Consultancy Organisation (NEITCO) here yesterday. The MNES has earmarked about Rs 26.5 crore for the NE region out of the total allocation of Rs 265 crore for implementation of various schemes under the ministry during 1998-99 and 1999-2000. There is in fact no problem of funding from the Centre but the main hindrance in implementation of schemes is the failure of the Northeast region to provide a budgetary support for the schemes even to the extent of 10 per cent, he said. The official regretted that the fund allotted by the Ministry has remained unutilised owing to lack of support by the state governments in the region. "The ministry is in a fix over the situation, the official disclosed, saying:" It is imperative that a third party is involved to implement the schemes. Citing an instance, he said that there are three schemes in Meghalaya alone which have remained unimplemented owing to lack of budgetary support by the state government. Earlier, inaugurating the business meet, the Northeastern Council secretary-in-charge, JS Syiem, stressed the need to harness all possible sources to generate more power. He regretted that most meets and workshops like this end up in nothing as there is no follow-up action. R Barua, managing director of NEITCO, highlighted the need for exploiting renewable energy sources in order to prevent degradation of the environment. The meet sponsored by the Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA) was attended by representatives of MNREDA, KVIC, MeSEB besides a good number of NGOs. (Special Correspondent; The Assam Tribune, Guwahati; November 4, 1999)

AIZAWL, November 3: After reintroducing sales tax in the State, the Mizoram government has prescribed conditions for registration of traders under the Sales Tax Act. To be registered under the Mizoram Sales Tax Act, 1989, an individual or firm should possess inner line permit (ILP) for the purpose of business as provided under the Bengal Frontier Regulation, 1873, a government order said. In case of a non-tribal trader, the ILP he held should have validity for not less than two years from the date of filing of application for registration, the order said. Any businessman having his place of business within the three district councils - Lai, Mara and Chakma - also must be in possession of valid trade licence, the order added. Two to five per cent sale tax had been levied on luxurious goods in the State from yesterday despite strong Opposition from tribal business community here. (PTI; The Assam Tribune, Guwahati; November 4, 1999)

GUWAHATI, November 4: The Northeastern Regional Agricultural Marketing Corporation Limited has set its sights on largescale export of agricultural and processed fruit products from the seven Northeastern states. The Union government undertaking, set up in March 1982, has already begun exporting "true" potato seeds. The first consignment of seeds was sent to the Nepalese capital of Kathmandu on October 5, followed by another on October 14. Managing director of the marketing corporation, Anthony Lianzuala, said quite a few countries had already made trade enquiries. "We are trying to finalise a deal with the agriculture department of Indonesia and are optimistic about attracting more global buyers," he said. Lianzuala, who took charge as managing director in June, said the corporation first exported potato seeds to Bangladesh. That was in 1994, but there has since not been much demand for seeds in that country. "We are taking care to maintain the quality of the potato seeds. These seeds are being collected from the Northeastern Council-sponsored research centre at Nagichara in Tripura and certified by the director of the state agriculture department," Lianzuala said. "Potato seeds can bring in a lot of foreign currency as the price of each kg is $ 500," he added. With the system of on-board cargo booking being introduced at the Lokapriya Gopinath Bardoloi airport here, exporting seeds is expected to be much easier now. Lianzuala said farmers in the country should also be made aware of the superior quality of "true" potato seeds. "About 30 to 35 per cent of tuber potato seeds can go to waste during transit. Moreover, tuber seeds are bulky and the rate of germination is also not at par with that of true seeds," he said. In addition to boosting export of "true" potato seeds, the corporation plans to market pineapple concentrate overseas. In accordance with global standards, the packaging will be aseptic. "Overseas buyers prefer preservative-free fruit juice and we are targeting them. We also plan to export pineapple slices to Europe," Lianzuala said. The managing director said about half-a-dozen overseas buyers had already made enquiries about pineapple products from the region. (Correspondent; The Telegraph, Calcutta; November 5, 1999)

SHILLONG, November 4: The coal lobby in Meghalaya have threatened to agitate against the state government's efforts to regulate coal export at the Dawki-Tamabil trade outpost with Bangladesh by setting up a weigh bridge. The coal traders want to continue with the old-fashioned "eye" method called the volume-cubic measurement since Bangladeshi importers refuse to buy coal measured on a modern weigh bridge saying they do not have one on their side as well. The Bangladeshi importers have also threatened to buy coal at a cheaper rate from China, leading the Meghalaya traders to put pressure on the government to relax its orders about the weigh bridge. The thriving trade has come to a halt for the past month as the impasse over the "method of measuring" continues. Meetings between government officials, political leaders and coal traders of both the countries have failed to solve the issue. The controversy has put Chief Minister BB Lyngdoh in a dilemma with two of his Jaintia ministers at loggerheads. While minister for mining and geology Kymien Susngi is firm on the weigh bridge, minister of state for border trade Riang Lemon Tariang wants to continue with the "eye method". Funeral service: The funeral service of former Meghalaya chief conservator of forests PS Ingty was held at the All Saints Cathedral church here today. Ingty died on November 1 after a long illness. He was 79 and is survived by his wife Verma and eight children. (Correspondent; The Telegraph, Calcutta; November 5, 1999)

GUWAHATI, November 4: A Division Bench of the Gauhati High Court in a recent judgement admonished the Minister in-charge of State PWD for resorting to "sweeping conclusion without application of mind while awarding the contract for capital complex construction to Hindustan Steel Works Construction Limited (HSWCL)", a government of India enterprise based at Calcutta. This was revealed in the Floor of the House by Congress MLA Pradyut Bordoloi while bringing a censure motion against the State PWD Minister. The motion was later defeated in the House by a voice vote. The High Court judgement was delivered on a case filed by Delhi-based M/s Unsold Properties and Industries Limited challenging the state government's action in awarding the tender for capital complex construction to bankrupt HSWCL. The High Court dismissed the state government's reasoning that HSWCL was awarded the contract for being the lowest bidder and a government of India enterprise. The High Court observed that since the state government while floating the tender for capital complex construction did not mention about preference to government enterprises, it could not be a criterion while selecting the bidder. In the process the High Court quashed the order of Guwahati Development Department Minister who is the Chief Minister himself, awarding contract to HSWCL on the basis of the recommendation of Minister in-charge of PWD. The Congress MLA, Bordoloi informed the House the High Court further castigated the PWD Minister saying that "the Minister in-charge is influenced by consideration not relevant to the matter." Bordoloi further informed the House quoting from minutes of meetings of tender and selection committees of the PWD, that the Minister in-charge ignored suggestions made by these committees while awarding contract to HSWCL. He informed that the PWD tender committee favoured awarding of contract to M/s Unsold Properties and Industries Limited which wanted the work for Rs 73.92 crore. The selection committee chaired by the Chief Secretary, on the basis of the suggestion of the tender committee raised doubt over financial capability of HSWCL to implement the capital construction project and advised against giving the job to the company. It suggested that M/s Unsold Properties and Industries Limited be given contract for Rs 69.577 crore, the lowest rate. Bordoloi further informed the House that as per records available with income tax department the accumulated loss of HSWCL stood at Rs 460 crore at the end of financial year 1997-98, which is more than the paid up capital of the company. Even the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India in its report mentioned that the liabilities of the company exceeded its property. The Congress MLA criticised the State PWD Minister for awarding the contract to such a bankrupt company. He also claimed that the company had engaged a sub-contractor one Radheshyam Khaitan for the construction works. The PWD minister, Nagen Sharma in reply to the discussion on censure motion, however, said the High Court had not set aside the Guwahati Development Department order awarding contract to HSWCL. He said High Court only called for review of the decision. The Minister criticised the Congress for fusling to substantiate corruption charges levelled against him in the censure motion. Several Congress MLAs brought the censure motion against the PWD minister alleging unabated corruption in the department, lack of developmental works, failure to utilise plan money, dilapidated conditions of roads and bridges in the state. Several MLAs from different parties including Dilip Kumar Saikia, Chandra Mohan Patowary, Sukhendu Sekhar Dutta, Brindaban Goswami, Chandra Kanta Terang, Hemen Das, Binod Goyari, Munin Mahanta participated in the debate on the censure motion against the PWD minister. The PWD minister, Nagen Sharma during his reply cited lack of adequate budgetary provisions and central fund under flood damage repair head as main reason behind slow progress of work by the department. (Staff Reporter; The Assam Tribune, Guwahati; November 5, 1999)

KOHIMA, November 4: India and Myanmar are likely to sign agreements to enhance bilateral trade, cultural exchange and infrastructure development in the four-day sectoral-level meeting of the two countries beginning here on November 11, official sources said on Wednesday. The ninth sectoral-level meeting involving border states of the Northeast and Myanmar government would take up various bilateral issues of mutual interests during the deliberation. The meeting will be attended by a high-level delegation from Myanmar, representatives of Union Home, Commerce and External Affairs Ministries, besides those from the north-eastern states concerned, the sources said. The Nagaland government has identified two border villages for developing them into international trade centres to enhance bilateral trade and commerce, as informal barter trades were on in border areas due to presence of Naga tribes on both sides of the international border. The Commerce Ministry had already formalised border trade in Manipur and Mizoram sectors with Myanmar by developing Moreh and Champhai respectively into trade centres. Under the agreement signed in 1994 between the two neighbours, 25 items have been identified for two-way trade through those centres and export-import was slowly picking up with formalisation of the age-old informal trade and development of necessary infrastructure. (PTI; The Assam Tribune, Guwahati; November 5, 1999)

GUWAHATI, November 5: With the State Assembly giving its consent to the Assam Panchayat Employees (Provincialisation) Bill, 1999, the services of the employees working in State panchayat at all levels, established under the Assam Panchayat Act, 1994, have been provincialised. As per the content of the Bill, the provincialisation of services of panchayat employees is aimed at improvement, better management and control of panchayats in the State. The Act shall extend to the entire State of Assam in the rural areas except the Autonomous Districts under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of India and shall exclude any area which has been or hereafter may be included in a Municipality or a town committee or a cantonment constituted under the Assam Municipal Act, 1956 and Cantonment Act, 1924, respectively. The Act is deemed to have come into force on the first day of October, 1991. The terms and conditions governing provincialisation of services of panchayat employees are as follows : All rules including service rules and rules of conduct and discipline and appeal which are applicable to the government servants of corresponding grade and similarly placed shall be applicable all employees of panchayats; all panchayat employees shall get such emoluments as salary and allowances as are admissible to government servants of similar category; services of all panchayat employees shall be encadred in the appropriate cadres in accordance with the rules as may be prescribed by the state government for the purpose; the inter service seniority of the employees of a cadre or class shall be determined on the basis of the principles laid down in the rules framed under this Act. Notwithstanding anything contained in the proceeding section, all employees other than Grade-IV employees, coming within the purview of this Act, shall, on attaining the age of 58 year, go on superannuation on attaining the age of 60 years. All employees going on superannuation shall be eligible to pension and gratuity or both in accordance with the pension rules applicable to government servants of equivalent rank. With the Act coming into force total 783 retired or expired panchayat employees since October 2, 1991 will be paid pension. For the purpose the total requirement of fund will be Rs 21.39 crore. (Staff Reporter; The Assam Tribune, Guwahati; November 6, 1999)

GUWAHATI, November 6: The diesel prices have gone up by 35 per cent, and the city bus fares, up by over 33 per cent. According to a conservative estimate, the hike in the city bus fares at this rate will fatten the wallets of the city bus owners by over 100 per cent. This amply proves how pro-people(!) our state government is. According to the estimate, each of the city buses plying on the city streets, makes, on an average, 12 trips both ways on a day. For each of the trips, a bus requires, on an average, about four litres of diesel and hence about 48 litres of diesel in total on a day. Earlier, the expenditure on diesel per day, per bus was Rs 480. As the diesel prices are now up by 35 per cent, additional amount to be spent by each of the bus per day on diesel stands at Rs 168 making the total expenditure on diesel soar up to Rs 648 per day. As each of the buses carry at least 200 passengers (sitting and standing) per day trip, the income of each of the buses stood at Rs 300 per trip at the old rate of minimum fare of Rs 1.50 per passenger. And, on a day, the gross income of each of the buses thus stood at around Rs 3,600. Let us be liberal as far as possible and assume that the bus owners per day against a bus earned around Rs 800 as net income when the old bus fares were applicable for the city buses. And thus if we take 26 days as working days for a bus in a month, the net income of a bus in a month stood at around Rs 20,800. As the minimum fare for a city bus passenger is now fixed at Rs 2, the gross income of a bus on a trip from today is around Rs 400. The gross income of a bus on a day thus stands at around Rs 4,800. If we deduct the expenditures incurred by per bus per day, taking Rs 2,000 as the total expenditure in a liberal manner, the net earning by a bus stands at around Rs 2,800 per day. Let us be more liberal again and assume that an amount of Rs 1,200 is lost everyday by every bus. Still then the final net amount earned by a city bus owner for a bus on road as on todate, can never be less than Rs 1,600 and thus the ultimate net earning by a city bus owner is doubled, one, over 100 per cent, - said the estimate. The arithmetic of the city bus owners is deceitful in the sense that they present their case on the basis of seating capacity, while it is their usual practice to carry almost equal number of standing passengers, said the sources. Though the authorities should penalise the bus owners for such illegalities, the authorities simply turn a blind eye to it, the sources added. Moreover, the bus owners and their employees by refusing to issue tickets to the passengers have by this time cheated the authorities in matters of taxes, this may, if properly calculated, make up an astronomical figure. But the state government instead of punishing the bus owners for such a tax evasion, rewarded them with an abnormal hike in the bus fares. This only exposes the sympathy of the state government towards he bus owners and its total lack of concern for the improvement of the State finance, the sources said. Meanwhile, the city bus users in the city have not accepted the new fare structures in a tamed manner. Heated exchanges between the passengers and city bus employees on the issue have been reported from many places, while a case of assault on city bus employees has also been reported from the city's Lal Ganesh area. Several cases of altercation on carrying excess passengers by the city buses have also been reported from various parts of the city. The All Assam Motor Transport Association (AAMTA) will hold a meeting of its steering committee at its headquarters at 1 pm of November 7 to discuss the situations arising out of the ongoing indefinite chakka bandh of the AAMTA. A delegation of the AAMTA will also hold a discussion with the Chief Minister, prior to the steering committee meeting, said an AAMTA press release here this evening. Meanwhile, the State committee of the SUCI has made an appeal to the people to defeat the "conspiracy" of the state government and the bus owners for enhancing the bus fares. It also called upon the state government to take all steps to force the bus owners to put an end to their 'unjust' strike. (Staff Reporter; The Assam Tribune, Guwahati; November 7, 1999)

KOHIMA, November 6: The Kohima Bench of Gauhati High Court has sentenced Nagaland Finance Commissioner Lalthara to one month simple imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 5,000 in a contempt case in connection with governance of GPF rules by the State government, reports PTI. In a significant judgement, Justice N S Singh yesterday directed the additional deputy commissioner (judicial) to issue immediate custodial warrant against the accused and asked the city SP to extend necessary co-operation to lodge Lalthara in Dimapur central jail. Disposing the contempt petition filed by All Nagaland State Service Employees Association (CANSSEA), the court also ruled that the contemner will go for another 15 days simple imprisonment if he failed to deposit Rs 5,000 to the court's registrar within one month from the date of issue of yesterday's judgement. The judge observed that the ruling would not affect the service condition of the respondent, a senior IAS officer of Nagaland cadre. Lalthara prayed before the judge to review and suspend his ruling for a few days, but Justice Singh rejected the plea. Lalthara has decided to move the principal seat of Gauhati High Court against yesterday's judgement, his counsel told newsmen. On the other hand, CANSSEA, which has been demanding removal of all restriction imposed by the government on withdrawal of GPF by employees, decided to submit caveats either in Gauhati High Court or the Supreme Court, confederation office bearers said. The court observed that the Finance Commissioner is liable for contempt of court for wilful disobedience of related court's orders. Earlier, the principal seat of Gauhati High Court in its order on March 11 ruled that the State government should govern the GPF rules, 1960, and allowed its employees to withdraw the GPF subscription as per the rules. The employees contended that restrictions imposed by the government on GPF withdrawal was not revoked according to the court's directive and moved the contempt petition against the Finance Commissioner on July 14. The petitioner alleged that the government did not revoke the ban or restriction imposed on GPF withdrawal and did not restore the Rules 13 and 15 of the General Provident Fund (Central Service) for advance and withdrawal by the employees. (PTI; The Assam Tribune, Guwahati; November 7, 1999)

GUWAHATI, November 7: The Northeastern Development Finance Corporation (NEDFi) has sanctioned Rs 379.70 lakh as term loans projects in Manipur, Meghalaya, Nagaland and Assam. The Corporation also sanctioned 19 projects in the 12th Directors' Committee meeting held here on Friday night taking the total number of projects sanctioned so far to 77, a release issued by NEDFi said here. Most of the projects sanctioned belong to the agriculture and allied sectors which do not require large loans. NEDFi since its inception has been concerned about the working capital requirements of the entrepreneurs in the Northeast but having no cash credit facilities, it was difficult for the organisations to provide capital finance to its clients. "Finally, a modus operandi was worked out whereby entrepreneurs would get working capital loans for operation of the plants. Once the functioning of the plants were firmly on the anvil, the entrepreneurs would be able to convinces commercial banks to give working capital loans and at that point NEDFi's loans would be returned," the release said. (PTI; The Assam Tribune, Guwahati; November 8, 1999)

GUWAHATI, November 8: In a welcome move, the Centre has set up a technology mission for integrated development of horticulture in the north-eastern region, considered one of the largest gene pools in the world. All the eight NE states including Sikkim, the latest member of the Northeastern Council, will be covered by the mission to be sponsored by the Department of Agriculture and Co-operation (DAC) under Ministry of Agriculture, government of India. A high-level Central team led by JNL Srivastav, Special Secretary, Agriculture held a meeting here with all the NE state governments and representatives of various State and Central organisations including Trifed, APEDA, NCDC, ICAR. The meeting was also attended by representatives of the NEC and Assam Agricultural University (AAU). All these agencies were briefed by the Central team about the technology mission and modalities regarding its functioning, as all of them will have to play certain role in development of horticulture in the region under the integrated approach of the mission. The technology mission has been constituted in view of recommendations from SP Shukla Commission, expert committee chaired by internationally acclaimed agricultural scientist MS Swaminathan and strategy adopted by the Ninth Five Year Plan regarding development of the Northeast region. Moreover, recommendations of the report titled 'A profile of horticulture in the region and its development potentialities', submitted by the zonal planning team of Assam Agricultural University were also taken into consideration while setting up the technology mission for horticulture development. In spite of its well recognised potential for horticulture development, the region's share production of fruits and vegetables is barely two per cent, warranting special efforts to tap the potential. The integrated approach of the technology mission encompasses various key areas starting from development of appropriate technology through research, creation of suitable infrastructure facilities for adoption of these improved technologies by the farmers so that there is significant rise in production and productivity, providing suitable post harvest management, marketing and export facilities. The mission proposes for incentives in promoting food processing facilities to utilise the local produce since most horticulture products have very short post-harvest life span. After making an analysis of strength, weakness, opportunity and threat (SWOT) in the region regarding development of horticulture, the technology mission proposes to integrate all players in production chain starting from technology till the produce reaches consumers. For the purpose the mission will be divided into four mini-missions. Mini Mission-I (MM-I), research : This mission will focus on evolving technology appropriate to the NE states. This will be co-ordinated by Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and implemented by ICAR institutions and state agriculture universities or related scientific organisations of the region. Mini Mission (MM-II), production and productivity : This mission aims at increasing the production and productivity of horticulture crops like fruits, vegetables, spices, cashew, medicinal and aromatic plants, floriculture and mushroom through improved technology developed in MM-I. Another objective of this mission is to create suitable environment and infrastructure. It will be co-ordinated by DAC, government of India, and implemented by the Agriculture and Horticulture departments of the State governments, NGOs and cooperative organisations. Mini Mission-III (MM-III), post-harvest management, marketing and export : The main objective is to increase the supply of horticulture produce by concentrating on reducing post-harvest losses. This mission will also provide special thrust to export promotion. This mission will be co-ordinated by the DAC, government of India and implemented through National Horticulture Board (NHB), NERAMAC, Trifed, Directorate of Marketing and Inspection (DMI), National Co-operative Development Council (NCDC) and Agriculture and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA). Mini Mission-IV (MM-IV), processing : This mini mission aims at promoting the processing industry in the region to prevent post-harvest losses. It proposes to achieve this objective by providing incentives for setting up of horticulture processing industry in the region and encouragement for the suitable linkages between the market for the horticulture produce and processing industry. The mini-mission will be co-ordinated by Ministry of Food Processing Industry and implemented through agencies under the administrative control of that ministry and other organisations, concerned departments of state governments of the NE. (Bijoy Sankar Bora; The Assam Tribune, Guwahati; November 9, 1999)

KOHIMA, November 8: Health care system in the State capital has been affected during the ongoing strike by the medical fraternity in protest against the abduction of a dentist on November 2, reports PTI. Shops and business establishments in Dimapur town today downed their shutters in support of a separate 48-hour bandh call given by the medical fraternity of the commercial city protesting the abduction. The bandh was spontaneous and no untoward incident was reported from any part of the city, police said. General Practitioners' Association, Nagaland Medical Dealers Association, Laboratory Technicians Association and Homoeopathic Association had closed clinics and nursing homes for the last five days demanding immediate release of RK Paul, who was kidnapped from his Dimapur residence. The fraternity called for a 48-hour Dimapur bandh from today and requested individuals and organisation to condemn the act. (PTI; The Assam Tribune, Guwahati; November 9, 1999)

NEW DELHI, November 9: The Centre is yet to receive any formal SOS from Assam government to bail it out of the financial mess though the feeling here is that of extreme scepticism over the state government's plea for additional funds because of its financial indiscipline. Although the Union government has so far not closed its doors on the Assam government, it is likely to give the state government officials a tough time, as the government has not been submitting its expenditure accounts with the Centre. Sources in the Ministry of Finance said that they are yet to receive any officials from the Assam government, though they are aware that the state government is in the red and have not been able to pay salaries to its employees. They hold a gross financial indiscipline and failure on part of the state government to curb its galloping expenditures as the possible main cause for its present plight. According to sources; the figures with the Finance Ministry indicate that the State has received the highest Central assistance among all the north-eastern states, besides the cess on oil and crude royalty. According to figures with the Finance Ministry, during the April-August period, the State was sanctioned Rs 1171.65 crore. The share in the Central Tax component was Rs 530.96 crore, Small saving - Rs 53.44 crore, Central assistance - Rs 441.54 crore, Assistance for Basic Minimum Services - Rs 76.63 crore Sum Development Scheme Rs 1.23 crore and others Rs 67.85 crore. The amount, the sources said, they feared may all have been used up on payment of salaries. Sources here also indicated that they are not likely to review the decision to lift the ceiling on overdraft imposed on the Reserve Bank of India. The problem being faced by the state government is also partly due to slashing of the ceiling limit of the overdraft facility given to the State a matter which was vehemently protested by the Assam government on several occasions. The reason for the Finance Ministry's action being its own financial crisis in the aftermath of the Kargil conflict and a sharp hike in defence expenditures. With the Prime Minister himself indicating about tough decisions, it is highly unlikely that the Union government will bend rules for Assam government, though indications are that they may do something to bail it out temporarily. Meanwhile, a highly placed source confirmed that Chief Minister made a request to Union Finance Minister, Yashwant Sinha to release Central Assistance. (Staff Correspondent; The Assam Tribune, Guwahati; November 10, 1999)

GUWAHATI, November 9: Assam which has been importing huge quantities of rice at a huge cost to the exchequer will soon be a rice surplus state in the new millennium. The rice eating state which was a rice deficit state till the last year will be having a surplus of 3.68 lakh metric tonnes of rice in the new millennium irrespective of natural calamities. State agriculture minister Chandra Mohan Patowari told newspersons on Tuesday that the government is taking every possible step to make Assam a surplus rice producing state and reduce to a possible extent the shortfall in wheat and pulses by 2002. In the year 2000-2001, the state will be producing 43 lakh metric tonnes of rice against the requirement of 39.32 lakh metric tonnes making the state surplus by 3.68 lakh metric tonnes. By 2001-2002, the surplus would increase to 5.26 lakh metric tonnes, the minister informed. Patowary said this would be possible with the installation of one lakh shallow tubewells in the state which would help in giving assured irrigation - a factor which has not been given equal importance in the agricultural development. A total of 2 lakh hectares would come under irrigation with the installation of one lakh shallow tubewells, he informed adding that the state has a total of 2.24 lakh hectares under assured irrigation which will be increased to an additional area of 7.76 lakh hectares by the end of the ninth plan. Replying to a specific query on how much the state had to pay for importing rice for meeting the deficit, Patowary said the figure (unofficial one) can be anything from Rs 100 to 150 crore per year. Keeping in view the productivity potential of summer rice which is 2 metric tonne per hectare, the department has decided to increase the area under summer rice (boro and early ahu) from the present 2.30 lakh hectares to a level of 10 lakh hectare with the support of minor irrigation and mechanisation on inputs. The Assam Agricultural University is playing a pivotal role in providing new high yielding variety seeds which have had a wide acceptance among the farmers, he added. Regarding the use of hybrid seeds in the state, the minister informed that experiments have been conducted with 6201 variety which have been good results. In order to bridge the gap of deficit in foodgrain and oilseed production, the department is laying emphasis on increasing the area and production of rabi crops with assured irrigation coupled with the use of HYV seeds, during the remaining period of Ninth Plan, Patowary informed. It is also giving priority in increasing the double cropped area from the present level of 12.51 lakh hectares to 24 lakh hectares by increasing the area under rabi pulses and oilseeds by the end of the Ninth Pan. To a question on preventing glut of fruits and vegetables in the market, the department has made tie-up arrangement with the Assam State Agricultural Marketing Board which will provide minimum support price of vegetables and fruits commensurating with the cost of cultivation to the growers of surplus production areas of the state. (Staff Reporter; The Northeast Daily, Guwahati; November 10, 1999)

GUWAHATI, November 9: State Agriculture Minister CM Patowary said today that the State will be surplus in rice production by December 31, 2000, reversing the present status of Assam as a food deficit State. Patowary, who was talking to presspersons here this morning said that his department is focusing on increasing agricultural production in the State with a "new vision". Giving a projection of that vision, he said that by the end of 2000 rice production will be 39 lakh metric tonne (MT) against the requirement of 38.59 lakh MT, leaving a surplus of 41,000 MT. He said that production target for 2000-01 is 43 lakh MT against a requirement of 39.32 lakh MT and a surplus of 3.68 lakh MT. For the next financial year, 2001-02, targeted production is 45.30 lakh MT while consumption will be 40.04 lakh MT leaving a surplus of 5.26 MT. The Agriculture Minister informed that rice production in the State during the year 1997-98 was 34 lakh MT which led to a shortfall of 3.15 lakh MT. Shortfall in 1998-99 was 4.88 lakh MT with a home production of 33 lakh MT. He explained that rice production during the last financial year was lower than the previous year due to the floods. The production in the current financial year is expected to be 38 lakh MT. The Minister informed that rice requirement in the State during 1997-98 was 37.15 lakh MT while in 1998-99 it was 37.88 lakh MT. Estimated requirement of the staple food crop in the State during the current financial year is 38.59 lakh MT. The targeted production levels will be achieved at any cost, Patowary assured. He said that the targets will be met despite the floods or droughts that may occur adding that self sufficiency in rice production and reduction in the shortfall of items like wheat and pulses are the primary objectives of his department in the current 9th Five Year Plan. Thrust is also being given on the augmentation of sugarcane and oilseeds production and priority attention will be given to minor irrigation development, enhancement of fertilizer consumption and agricultural mechanisation. The Agriculture Department has decided to increase the area under summer rice (Boro and Early Ahu) from the existing 2.30 lac hector to 10 lakh hectare, keeping in view the productivity potential of summer rice which is two MT per hectare. Patowary said that with the installation of one lakh shallow tubewells under the million wells scheme, about two lakh hectare of agricultural land will be brought under irrigation. Lack of assured irrigation is the "number one problem" besetting agriculture in the State, he said. Patowary said that current level of fertilizer use in the State is 21 kg per hectare against the national average of 75 kg per hectare. The Minister informed that the acidic nature of the agricultural soil in the State is not conducive to the normal fertilizer application procedures. An acidic soil laboratory is to be set up soon to deal with the problem, he said. Patowary said that a huge potential exists to market the agricultural products of the State. He said that the kola jowa variety of rice has good market potential along with the 'khumti lahi' variety which is an exhotic variety from Margherita. He furthr informed that the Assam Agricultural University (AAU) has been providing good support to his department. A moong dal variety 'SG 1' developed by B Burman of the AAU recently is one of the best moong dal varieties in the country, he said. (Staff Reporter; The Assam Tribune, Guwahati; November 10, 1999)

AIZAWL, November 9: The Centre has decided to spend Rs 1.25 crore over a period of five years for the development of 5000 hectares of bamboo forests in Mizoram as part of a national programme to develop bamboo as an alternative to wood to save the dwindling forest cover, reports UNI. The Centre has decided to develop one lakh hectares of bamboo forest annually at the rate of Rs 2.5 per hectare in the country. It would also dole out Rs 500 each for the 50,000 families engaged in growing bamboo in India. 14 micro enterprises would be set up nationwide, each of which would generate employment for about 200 bamboo craftsmen and artisans. The project, scheduled for completion in five years, would cost Rs 150 crore at Rs 30 crore per annum. According to Chief Secretary, the State Department of Environment and Forests has also drawn up plans for implementation of the project. It has been decided that 500 hectares of bamboo forests would be developed in the State and Rs 100 each as financial assistance would be given to the 5000 families involved in bamboo plantation. A micro enterprise unit would also be set up, while people in the rural areas would be encouraged to raise 6,500 hectares of additional bamboo forests under the Joint Forest Management Scheme. It might be recalled that the Union Environment and Forests Minister Suresh Prabhu, during his visit in July, 1999, to the State, had announced the setting up of a Bamboo Research Institute to impart training in scientific management of bamboo forests. The emphasis would, however, be on employment oriented training for the rural poor. The proposed institute would be financed by the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) for 10 years. (UNI; The Assam Tribune, Guwahati; November 10, 1999)

SHILLONG, November 10: Meghalaya Governor MM Jacob today lamented that the state of agriculture in the Northeastern Region is far from satisfactory and attributed it to low per capita investment in agriculture sector in the region during the successive plans. He was inaugurating a national seminar on 'strategies for agricultural research in the Northeast' organised by the National Academy of Agricultural Sciences at the St. Anthony's College Auditorium here today. Observing that 50 per cent of the region's income originates from the agrarian sector, the Governor said 'if agriculture lags behind, the growth of the economy is bound to be retarted.' He voiced his concern that foodgrains productivity in the region during 1995-96 was on 1351 kg per hectare against the national average of 1551 kg necessitating the import of around two million tonnes of foodgrains annually. The Governor identified jhuming or shifting cultivation as the biggest agrarian problem in the region. Citing an estimate, he said nearly 3.86 lakh hectares of land is under this age-old system of agriculture involving a staggering 4.23 lakh families. Alternative farming systems have been developed by the Indian Council of Agriculture Research but unfortunately farmers are not attracted to it because of the high initial costs involved, he said. He stressed that any strategy for the development of agriculture in the NE region must be based on a wide-range of research and extension activities. 'Development of agriculture calls for multi-pronged drive, starting from agrarian reforms to changing the outlook of farmers and diffusion of technologies,' he added. RS Paroda, Director General of ICAR and President NAAS, described the region as 'grey area' agriculturally and said that to make agriculture sustainable, increase in productivity and profitability must be ensured. Winner of Padmabhushan award, Paroda disclosed that the ICAR which is currently spending about seven per cent of its budget allocation in the region hopes to raise it to 10 per cent by March next year. He, however, stressed that development of agriculture in the region would require coordinated efforts of the State Governemnts, NGOs, private sector and most important the farmers themselves besides Centre's initiative. Meghalaya Chief Minister, B B Lyngdoh was present at the inaugural function of the seminar being attended by agricultural scientists from all over the country. (Special Correspondent; The Assam Tribune, Guwahati; November 11, 1999)

AIZAWL, November 10: Mizoram may not offer visual attraction for tourists but it has peace and tranquillity in abundance, prerequisite for a visitor, Chief Minister Zoramthanga has said, reports UNI. The government, he said, has launched a plan to convert Mizoram into a major tourist destination in the Northeast to generate more revenue for this cash-strapped hill state. Speaking to UNI, Zoramthanga said initially the Centre would be requested to extend better air links to the state. The present Calcutta -Aizawl air service is both inadequate and irregular, he said. (UNI; The Assam Tribune, Guwahati; November 11, 1999)

GUWAHATI, November 11: The state government has decided to go for market borrowing to clear the pending salaries of the employees and to overcome the grim financial crisis faced by the State for the past several months. Disclosing this at a press conference here today, the general secretary of the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and the State PWD Minister, Nagen Sarma, said that the State Governemnt had taken the initiative to clear the salaries so that employees did not suffer. In this context, Sarma revealed that earlier the government did not want to go for market borrowing fearing the debt burden on the State. He, however, said that despite dismal financial situation, the AGP-led government had been making an all-out effort to carry out developmental activities. Admitting the prevailing acute financial crisis of the State, the PWD Minister informed that the expenditure of the State was more than the income generated, moreover the situation had become further aggravated following the state government decision to clear revised pay to the employees. Giving details about the financial crisis, Sarma revealed that the government was facing a monthly average shortfall of Rs 51 crore to meet the obligatory expenditure and deficit of Rs 151 crore to meet the required expenditure after issue of ceiling. "As a result of the monthly deficit, the overdraft figures for every month have been increasing and a situation has arisen when we are unable to liquidate the overdraft," he said, adding that in view of prevailing financial crisis the Centre has instructed the state government to undertake certain fiscal reforms - privatisation of the Assam State Transport Corporation (ASTC), hike in power tariff, etc. The general secretary said that desite Centre's instruction, the state government is discussing the matter keeping the greater interest of the people in mind. Ministers offer to resign: In a fresh move, several Ministers of the State are prepared to resign to strengthen the hands of the Chief Minister, Prafulla Kumar Mahanta to carry out developmental activities. The spokesman of the party, and the State Cooperation Minister, Nurul Hussain said, "We are waiting for the Chief Minister's signal. We will abide by his instructions." The three other Ministers who were present in the press conference - Moidul Islam Bora, Biraj Kumar Sarma and Nagen Sarma unequivocally said. "We are prepared to strengthen the hands of Mahanta in bringing necessary reforms for development." They, however, said that no final decision was taken yet. (Staff Reporter; The Assam Tribune, Guwahati; November 12, 1999)

KOHIMA, November 13: New Delhi and Yangon today signed a fresh agreement to enhance trade and commerce and extend co-operation on security issues at the end of a three-day Indo-Myanmar sectoral-level meeting here. Security on both sides of the international border, trans-border management with effective co-operation to check militant activity and drug smuggling were accorded priority in the pact. Both the countries also agreed to build the necessary infrastructure in their respective territory by re-activating certain traditional border trade routes and strengthening the existing ones. According to the agreement, construction of the Tamu-Kalewa-Kalemayo road in Myanmar with Indian assistance, navigational survey on the Kaleidan river link between Mizoram and Myanmar, maintenance of boundary pillars and building up of necessary infrastructure at the Champai-Reh trade centre (Mizoram sector) will be completed within a specific time-frame. The meeting agreed to open four trade centres in Nagaland to facilitate barter. The Nagaland government has already constructed market sheds and developed the approach roads at Longwa and Pangsha in Mon and Tuensang districts. Two more trade centres will also be developed at Mimi (Tuensang) and Molehn (Phek). Initially trade will be restricted to 22 essential items because of lack of infrastructure. But the Myanmarese government assured its Indian counterpart that Pongnyo (opposite Pangsha) Yankyang (Longwa), Robermi (Mimi) and Sompra-Pansahk (opposite Molehn) will be developed to facilitate trade, joint secretary (Northeast), home ministry, G.K. Pillai told newsmen. For effective co-operation on the security front, both sides agreed to share information on militancy, smuggling and seizure of drugs. When asked about the possible re-opening of the historic Stilwell Road constructed by the Allied Forces during the World War-II, Pillai said the Centre in principle was ready to revitalise the important routes to south China, but "it will take sometime to realise the dream." (Correspondent; The Telegraph, Calcutta; November 14, 1999)

GUWAHATI, November 13: The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) has taken up a project to introduce organic spices farming in the Northeastern states. It will be implemented by four NGOs under the guidance of the Spices Board. Sources at the Spices Board regional office here said the UNDP had taken up the three-year project as the agro-climatic condition of the Northeast was favourable for production of good quality organic spices for domestic and international market. "Moreover, the project aims at preserving the environment through eco-friendly farming," they added. The sources said the NGOs would mobilise cultivators to take up organic spices farming. The NGOs selected by the Spices Board are Bosco Reach Out (BRO), Shanti Sadhana Ashram, Agency for Integral Development Action (AIDA) and Destitute Women's Uplift Society. "We have carried out a survey in more than a dozen villages in Ri-Bhoi district of Meghalaya," Sajan Joseph, project officer of the BRO said, adding that the response was good. He said they had identified two villages in the area where ginger, turmeric and chillies are grown in abundance. Joseph said they have been asked to conduct a benchmark survey on the socio-economic status of the target group and quality of spices in the selected villages before commencing fieldwork. The source said the NGOs will motivate the farmers to adopt modern methods of farmings for higher productivity through organic farming and bridge the gap between the farmers and the exporters for marketing the spices. The NGOs have also been asked to address issues related to health, education and family welfare. Assam small planters: Small tea planters are likely to contribute 20 per cent of the total tea production in Assam by the next decade. Chairman of Northeast Foundation Dhrubajyoti Bora, who conducted a survey on the small tea garden movement of Assam, said the small planters had produced 195 million kg green leaf last year. "This alone shows the prospect and the importance of this movement," he said. Bora claimed that the small planters, likely to produce 40 to 80 million kg tea in the next decade, would become a major economic force. Bora said the small tea garden movement had started with veteran social worker and former agriculture minister Soneswar Bora's initiative. General-secretary of the All Assam Small Tea Growers Association Hemanta Gohain, who was present at a press conference organised by the Northeast Foundation last evening, said the movement got organised with the establishment of the association in 1987. (Anirban Roy; The Telegraph, Calcutta; November 14, 1999)