Manipur MLA demands booking of student leaders
Imphal: MLA RK Imo on Tuesday raised the reported statement of Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) to “ban movement of all vehicles” owned by a particular ethnic group in Naga-inhabited areas, during the Zero Hour of Manipur Assembly. Urging the Chief Minister to take necessary measures, Imo said the statement was unfortunate. He demanded the concerned leaders should be immediately booked under appropriate laws of the country for disturbing harmony. NSF issued the vehicle ban threat to members of a particular ethnic community on Monday last and said the ban will take effect from February 24. (PTI)
Four new bridges to come up in Assam
Guwahati: The Centre will construct four new bridges over the Brahmaputra in Assam with one of them connecting Jorhat with neighbouring Majuli, the world’s largest river island. Union Sports Minister Sarbananda Sonowal talking to reporters here today said the other proposed bridges would connect Disangmukh in Sivasagar district with Tekeliphuta in Lakhimpur district, another would connect Nagaon with Rangapara near Tezpur in Sonitpur district while the fourth bridge would connect Gohpur with Numaligarh in Golaghat district. For improving transportation infrastructure on the northern bank of the river benefiting the people of northern districts of Assam, Sonowal said the Dhakuakhana-Lakhimpur road and Lakhimpur Majuli road would be converted to national highways. The ongoing construction work of the road and rail Bogibeel bridge over the Brahmaputra in Dibrugarh district would be completed next year, he said adding Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari would come to Assam on February 27 to lay the foundation stone of various road projects. Bridges would also be constructed over the state’s other major river Barak as Prime Minister Narendra Modi had emphasised on the development of infrastructure in Assam, he said. (PTI)
FICCI releases ‘Economic Manifesto for Assam’
GUWAHATI: The North East Advisory Council of FICCI came up with several recommendations to reenergize development economic development in Assam.The recommendations which were released in a press conference in Guwahati advocates an exponential increase in social sector spending particularly in Health Care, Education and Skill Development apart from increased focus on improving connectivity within the region and with the neighboring countries. FICCI has identified Agriculture and rural tourism as the primary thrust areas.On health care, the FICCI advocates a focus on skill development. For education and skill development, FICCI has recommended setting up of a North East Technical University and development of Guwahati, Silchar and Tezpur as education hubs focusing on specific areas of education. Trade body suggested implementation of the Damodaran Committee recommendations on improving doing-business parameters, restoration of the North East Industrial and Investment promotion policy, a state startup policy to facilitate startups in the state, State Export Policy, and creation of a state land bank corporation.
‘Ban’ on coverage of statehood day lifted
Itanagar: The media houses in Arunachal Pradesh have lifted the ‘ban’ on the coverage of the three-day statehood day celebration imposed since February 20 after Chief Minister Kalikho Pul handed a copy of the release order of the first instalment of outstanding dues. Pul handed over a copy to a delegation of media persons in his office on Monday and informed that Rs 35 lakh from the total amount of approximately Rs four crore had been released and the remaining amount would be released shortly. The chief minister said that government officials had informed him that about Rs 70 lakh in advertisement bills were outstanding, a press release said here on Tuesday. Pul also sought suggestions to streamline advertisement bills which the media persons consented to submit in writing, the release said. (PTI)
