Dr Bhupinder Singh, Adviser in the Planning Commission called on Mr D D Lapang, Minister, Planning etc. Meghalaya this morning and had discussions on the priority to be given in formulating the Seventh Five Year Plan for the State.

Dr Bhupinder Singh was on a three day visit to the State. He visited some of the interior areas and also held meeting with the district officials at Jowai.

The discussion with the Minister Planning helped to highlight certain priority are like Transport, Agriculture and Preservation of the Environment, while formulating Meghalaya’s Seventh Plan.

An investment of the order of Rs. 1600 crores would be required for the new Power Projects of Ranganadi, Kameng and Kopili second and third stage which would enable generation of 1795 M.W. of power and 8600 million K.W. energy.

These Power Project investigation of which have been completed by NEEPCO and approval from Planning Commission is awaited for final investment decision, would bring about radical transformation in the economic condition of the whole region.

This information was given by the Chairman-cum Managing Director of the NEEPCO, Mr S.R. Shah, to the Governor of Assam, Meghalaya during the latter’s visit to the Kopili Projects.

The Government of Meghalaya, says an official press release, will raise a loan of Rs 7.75 crores from the open market during the current financial year (1984-85) with the right to retain excess subscriptions, if any, not exceeding 10% of the above amount.

The loan is described as 9.00 per cent Meghalaya State Development Loan, 1999 to be issued at Rs. 100.00 per cent and redeemable at par on the 4th September, 1999.

The proceeds of the loan will be utilised for financing productive developmental programmes and projects of the Government of Meghalaya.

Subscription will be received on the 4th September, 1984 upto the close of banking hours in the form of Cash/Cheque or conversion of securities of the 6% and of the 5% Meghalaya State Development Loans 1984. Applications for the loan must be for Rs.100 or multiple thereof.

Application form and special option form for conversion of the above mentioned securities with full particulars may be obtained from the branches or the State Bank of India within the State of Meghalaya.

The North Eastern Regional Electricity Board (NEREB) has decided to work out uniform power tariff for the entire region, besides sharing power on “equitable basis.”

The NEREB took these decisions at its 26th meeting held here on Aug. 22.

The establishment of hydro electric research stations in the north-eastern region which is necessary for facilitating future development of hydro power in the region was recommended at the meeting.

With central projects being commissioned in the region, and because of the need to ensure regular flow of power within the region, the Board felt that a uniform tariff for inter-state exchange of power was inevitable.

Due to disparity in the availability of power in the region, the Board felt that sharing of available power on equitable basis should be strictly followed by the states and union territories.

Since rural electrification schemes are not remunerative, the Board recommended that REC loans should be converted as out-right grant-in-aid.

To make the cost of generation of power by the central projects comparatively reasonable, the Board recommended to the Centre to provide transport subsidy for all power projects in the region.

The Board also recommended the taking up on a priority basis the 132 KV line connecting Sumer and Mawlai as this would facilitate useful utilization of the power generated in the central sector.

On the previous day, the Technical Co-ordination Committee Meeting was also hold. Those who attended were the chief engineers of the constituent States and Union territories. The members of the Bard expressed happiness on the re-commissioning of the Loktak and the commissioning of the Khahdong Power House. They felt this would give much relief to the power crisis in the region.

Besides the power minister of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Tripura, the others who attended the meeting were the member (power system, Central Electricity Authority, the Secretary, North Eastern Council, the Chairman, NEEPCO, the chairmen of the electricity boards of Assam and Meghalaya, the Special Secretary of Power, Meghalaya, and the chief engineers from the respective states from the North Eastern Region.

Representatives from Loktak and National Hydro Power Corporation and other connected departments also participated in the meeting. The Secretary Power, West Bengal also attended as one of the invitees.

The 2nd North-East India Yogasana Contest and the Annual Body Building Championship of Meghalaya will be held on September 7 & 8 in Shillong. In the Yogasana contest participants representing states as well as individual organization may send entries within Sept. 1

An official Press Note says in order to consider the applications for national and zonal permits and other matters, the state Transport Autnority (STA), Shillong has notified that the next meeting of the State Transport Authority. Meghalaya will be held on September 13, at 10 a.m,

In this regard the STA requested all applicants for national and zonal permits, whose names were notified on April 12 and 17 respectively and published in the Meghalaya Gazettee ou May 3 and August 2 respectively, to represent their cases either personally or through an agent or representatives duly authorised by them in this behalf on the appointed date, time and place.

The STA also requested that all applicant for national/zonal permits to bring with them all relevant dccuments of their vehicles showing payments of uptodate taxes, including valid sale tax and income tax clearance certificates and any certificates for supporting their candidature and to produce these before the STA on demand.

In case the hearing is not completed on September 13, the STA notified that the meeting would continue on the next working days.

Mr Martin Narayan Majaw, former President of the PDIC, has quit the party. In a press statement issued here he said that he along with some of his followers have decided to sever links with the party.

The Democratic Hills Movement is holding its first convention at the Durbar Hall Mawkhar on Sept 8. According to a press release issued on its behalf, the idea of the new Party was conceived at a meeting of 25 youths on July 16 last. The DHM symbolizes the “frustration and disillusionment of the younger generations with the present leaders who have failed to realize the noblest aspirations of the tribal’s.”

It denounces the present political leadership of the State for, what it calls, their mad lust for power and wealth, besides furthering the interests of non-tribal and foreign interest.

The Power workers of Meghalaya have withdrawn their agitation following the Power Minister Mr Grosswell Mylliemngap’s offer to act as a go-between. As a reciprocal step the MSEB has decided not to issue the pay-cut orders which it was earlier contemplating to issue in the wake of the agitation.

47th Constitution Amendment

Captain Sangma has done it! From what it appeared to be an irretrievable situation, he has managed to get the two Houses of Parliament to pass the Bill for 47th Amendment to the Constitution.

The Bill provides for reservation of Assembly seats for the tribal’s of Meghalaya and Nagaland, Parliamentary seats in the tribal States and Union Territories of the North-East.

On Aug 22 when, against now-or-never back-drop, the Parliament tailed to pass the Bill at the consideration stage for want of quorum, it was almost taken for granted that virtually that was the end of it. Normally when such a situation arises, the practice is that the Bill is reintroduced in the next session. But since the present session is likely to be the last one for the present House, and the since the result of the forthcoming elections are unpredictable it was vital for the protagonists of the Bill to get it adopted.

According to information’s available here, a crest-fallen Chief Minister, who is campaign in Delhi for the past fortnight to ensure its smooth passage, made a desperate bid to clinch the issue. He reportedly threatened to resign from the Congress(I) if the Bill was not adopted by the Parliament Mrs Gandhi instructed the colleagues to go all out. A desperate Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Mr Buta Singh, consult the senior parliament aides. It was decided that rules of the House be suspended to facilitate the passing of the Bill without complying with the normal requisites under the rules. Accordingly, the Look Sabah Speaker Mr. Balaam Shaker did the needful the next day.

It is the second time that Look Sabah suspended the rules for Meghalaya. The other occasion was at the time of creation of the State.

The idea to reserve the seats for the tribal’s has been unanimously supported by all the political parties of the State. Following the creation of Meghalaya, the Centre had decided to deserve the seats.

Subsequently, the State Assembly adopted a resolution urging the Centre to restore reservation of seats for the tribal’s who were apprehensive that outsiders would someday get elected from the predominantly tribal areas. However, so far there has been instance of any non-tribal contesting election from the interior areas.

There was a sigh of relief in the Congress (I) circles here when reports reached that the job is done. Earlier, when there was a set-back a sense of dismay had griped the partymen. For, it would have been a sure stick for the Opposition to beat the party with.