Tripura registers less tea production
Agartala: Tripura has registered an average 10-11 per cent less tea production in this financial year so, Tea Association of India (TAI) said on Tuesday. This year the 58 tea gardens in the state recorded only 10.5 million kg finished tea which is around 10 to 11 per cent less compared to the previous financial year, Secretary of the Tea Association of India (TAI) Tripura unit P K Sarkar said. Abrupt rise in the input cost – coal, fertiliser and diesel is blamed for bringing more woes to the ‘already troubled’ tea industry, said Sarkar. He said almost all tea gardens need substantial investment to revive the tea plants but it seems no one is interested to invest money keeping in mind of bleak future of the industry. In Tripura, around 14,000 people are engaged in the industry on a permanent and semi-permanent level. “We have been demanding for raising rubber plantation in certain portion of the granted tea cultivable land as cash crop. But the government has not paid heed on the core demand of the tea planters,” he lamented. According to the latest survey, of the total 14,000 hectares granted land for tea plantation, only 6,000 hectares land is actually covered with the tea plantation.(PTI)
Nagaland Forest Minister visits Kiphire
Kohima: Nagaland Minister of Forest & Border Affairs Y.Patton, on the occasion of Republic Day at Kiphire, the remote district of Nagaland bordering Myanmar and inspected the office of the Wildlife warden Kiphire. According to a an official report on Tuesday the Minister observed Kiphire district situated at the Mt. Saramati range was endowed with rich flora and fauna the department has many plans and visions to develop the district to attract visitors and investors from the state and outside. Patton, however, expressed concern that landowner issues were hindering development including the wildlife warden office Kiphire. He revealed that the department had purchased about six hectares of land for the office Complex but due to landowner issues it could not be fully developed. With regard to this, the minister urged the land owners to consider the issue for the benefit the public, the report said. (UNI)
Nagaland SIT makes breakthrough ‘Pachaspura killings’
Kohima: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted to probe the discovery of nine bodies in Pachaspura in Chumukedima ‘A’ under Dimapur district on January 3, has achieved a breakthrough following the arrest of three suspects that has led to identification of those allegedly involved in the massacre. In a press communiqué, the Director General of Police (DGP) Nagaland said the SIT also recovered the vehicle used to commit the crime besides other incriminating evidences and items. The DGP revealed that through sustained interrogation of the three arrested, the identity of the alleged perpetrators of the crime has been established. The Nagaland government had constituted a four-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate all aspects of the case and submit the report to the DGP on a regular basis for monitoring the progress of the case. The case was registered under Diphupar Police Station. Also, the state government had constituted a three-member High Power Enquiry Committee (HPEC) to probe into the same. On January 5, the state government had decided to ask the Centre and the Nagaland government for handing over the case either the CBI or National Investigation Agency (NIA). (UNI)
Tripura employees’ forum to demonstrate in Delhi
Agartala: Opposition Congress backed Tripura Government Employees Federation (TGEF) has decided to hold Delhi Abhiyan on February 8 next against alleged deprivation to government employees in Tripura. TGEF Secretary General Samar Roy said that in protest against the financial deprivation of the state government employees, the delegates would hold a sit-in-demonstration in Delhi at Ramlila Maidan or Jantar Mantar to press for unified pay structure for the state government employees like central government employees. (UNI)