Fire in Artfed destroys handloom, handicraft items
Morigaon: A major fire broke out in Assam government business outlet, ‘Artfed’, in Morigaon district on Sunday destroying handloom clothes and handicraft items worth an estimated Rs 50 lakh. The fire was triggered by a short circuit in the main switch of the outlet burning silk, khadi, cotton clothes and other handicraft items, police said. Fire tenders battled for three hours to douse the flames that engulfed the entire shop, the sources said. No injury or loss of life was reported, they added. (PTI)
PPA Chief Ministerial candidate for complying with SC order on beacons
Itanagar: The Peoples’ Party of Arunachal (PPA) Chief Ministerial candidate Laeta Umbrey has appealed to the state and law enforcing agencies to immediately issue ‘order’ for compliance of the Supreme Court’s latest ban on the use of red lights and sirens on all vehicles except those used by high dignitaries holding constitutional post, in Arunachal Pradesh. Citing misuse of red light vehicle by the terrorists in December 2001 attack on Indian Parliament, Umbrey urged the Chief Secretary and DGP to ensure strict implementation of the apex Court’s order without any dilution. “The rampart use of red lights by individuals like, Chairmen’s, Advisors, Political Secretaries, OSDs, MLAs, MPs, Parliamentary Secretaries, Councilors and Panchayat leaders as a status symbol is violation of the Supreme Court’s directives and therefore should be immediately banned in the larger interest of the state”, he said. (PTI)
Nagaland BJP’s ‘Run for Unity’ on Monday
Kohima: The Nagaland unit of BJP would be organising a ‘Run for Unity’ on Monday. It would start from City Clock Tower to Super Market of Dimapur town. According to Nagaland BJP sources, earlier, this event was scheduled to coincide with the death anniversary of the ‘Iron Man of India’ Sardar Patel today, the December 15, but had to be postponed by a day as it fell on a Sunday in keeping with the norms. Everyone has been requested to join the party workers and school children in this event and run for unity. (UNI)
Arunachal inks MoU with NABARD
Itanagar: The Arunachal Pradesh government has signed an agreement with National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) for a loan aiver scheme under the Revival Reform Restructuring (RRR) package scheme of the union Ministry of Textiles. The MoU was inked here yesterday by union development commissioner (Handloom), and state Handloom & Textiles secretary, and NABARD in presence of Union Textiles Minister Dr Kavuru Sambasiva Rao, who was on a day-long visit to the state. The scheme would provide for waiving of outstanding loan for sick handloom units to encourage weavers and cooperative societies to revitalise. As per the MoU, loan (non-performing assets) up to Rs 50,000 would be waived providing a great relief to the weavers of the state who have been struggling to promote the sector to boost the rural economy, sources said. (PTI)