The Government of Meghalaya has appointed Intercon Maritime Consultants to prepare a project report to identify Water sports facilities such as sailing, water skiing, boating, etc. and the shore infrastructure like restaurants, amusement parks etc. at the Barapani lake.

The first step of the study by the Consultants will be a market survey of what the people of Meghalaya would like to have at Umiam (Barapani).

Questionnaires will be distributed to schools, colleges, Government officials, police, army, air force and and others to obtain their views. Students, both boys and girls, will assist the team to obtain the reactions and desires of the residents of Shillong.

The team of Consultants, led by Project Officer, Admiral Batra, a keen angler and wild life expert, includes a sailing expert, civil engineer, market survey leader and a leading landscaping and environment adviser. The team, with a group of volunteers would call on various departments especially by schools and colleges. Students have been requested to co-operate by giving their views as per the questionnaire.

The Union Home Ministry in consultatian with the Comptroller and the Auditor General of India, has announced that the procedure for automatic transfer of family pension on the demise of a freedom fighter has been further simplified with immediate effect.

An official press note issued recently said it has been decided that a freedom fighter can make a simple declaration about his spouse and unmarried, unemployed daugnters and get his Pensions Payment Order ammended from the Accountant General concerned to enable the pension disbursing officer to commence payment of dependant pension to the spouse on receipt of a intimation of demise of the freedom fighter.

The press note further adds that freedom fighters receiving Swatantrata. Sainik Samman Pensiou from the Centtral Government have benn requested to avail of this facility of the simplified procedure, so that there is no difficulty in the matter and payment of dependent family Pension can be commenced without delay.

In two highway robberies in East Khasi Hills this week two truck drivers were robbed of their valueables.

In one incident near Sumer, five persons waylaid a truck driver and dispossed him of his cash. The robbers escaped in a jeep. The driver reported the matter to Barapani Beat House and the police arrested all the five men and recovered the cash intact.

In another incident, four persons stopped a vehicle at Khanapara and took away two wrist watches and Rs.500 from its driver. The Police was successful in nabbing the culprits and recovered the looted materials.

The various Sub Groups constituted by the main Working Group for formulation of the strategy for Draft Seventh Plan for North East have begun discussion.

The deliberations held so far have revolved around various aspects on the problems and potentials of the Region and strategies and approach to formulates appropriate schemes for inclusion in the draft Seventh Plan.

It may be mentioned that the main Working Group in its first meeting held under the Chairmanship of Mr P H Trivedi Secretary of the NEC constituted one model group to study the various reports and materials regarding North-East and drawn inference, frame approach, the strategy, priorities and objectives of development. The Working Group on Agriculture Allied Sector, Transport and Power and other infrastructures, Industries and Minerals including Handlooms and Sericulture and Social Services. The first meeting of the Sub-Group on Social Services recently held at the NEC Secretariat discussed the present status of social services like education, health, drinking water supply, maternity and child welfare, family planning and other infrastructure like Manpower Development.

A background paper prepared in the NEC Secretariat formed the basis of discussion of the meeting of the Sub-Group. The Sub-Group recommended improvement of the teaching method to tackle the problems of drop-out and poor standard of science and mathematics, improvement of vocational training, modernization of technical education, promotion of self-employment and Crafts Training Centres for scheduled castes and scheduled tribe candidates. The Sub-Group suggested that greater reliance should be placed on the establishment of Health Centres, Sub-Centres and deployment of para-medical staff, to improve medical and health services. The existing Training arrangements should also be improved to remove the shortage of Doctors, Nu8rses and Pharmacists. In view of high child mortality in this region, the Sub-Group suggested greater efforts for maternity and child care particularly with emphasis on immunization measures Setting up of one Regional Drug Control Laboratory and involvement of local leadership for family welfare programme were also suggested by the Sub-Group.

Taking up of specific scheme for fighting malnutrition providing employment to the physically handicapped were also suggested by the Sub-Group. Utilization of TV facilities for extension of mass education and also for promotion of national integration development of sports and culture activities, greater utilization of the renewable resources of energy formed some part of the recommendation of the Sub-Group. Discussing the problem of jhum cultivation in the region, the Sub-Group suggested positive measure for a forestation and prevention of drying up of sources water. It also suggested that substantial increase in the financial provision for water supply and recommended that big irrigation projects should also include water supply as an additional activity. It also suggested that problem villages should be provided with drinking water while non-conventional sources of energy should be utilized for rural water supply. In the plains and valleys at least one tubewell should be constructed for every 250 persons, the Sub-Group added.

Mathematics is being made a compulsory subject at the Pre-University level under the North-Eastern Hill University.

This was stated by the Vice-Chancellor, Dr B D Sharma, while addressing a two-day regional conference on `Mathematics & Mathematics Education” organized by the NEHU’s Maths Department here on July 10. Dr Sharma called for the involvement of the best brains in the country in building up the foundation of science and mathematics in the region.

Mr Oris Lyngdoh, Meghalaya’s Agriculture Minister who was the chief guest at the conference, advocated the need for tracing the reasons why the students of the North-East were shy of taking mathematics. He said that all out efforts should be made to banish the psychological hang up about mathematics among the students of the region.

The Deputy Commissioner of East Khasi Hills, Mr J. Tayeng has reacted sharply to the criticism of lawyers over the shifting of the Executive Courts to Laitumkhrah.

Talking to this reporter, Mr Tayeng remarked that the Bar Library should be located near the Bar. “If the lawyers can attend courts in Jowai, Nongpoh and other places, can they not also come to Laitumkhrah,” he asked.

Justifying the decision to shift, Mr Tayeng pointed out that under the new dispensation, all the appendages of the DC’s office were brought under one complex. This, he said, was of great advantage to the public, especially those coming from the interior places who would be able to complete all their works in the same place and within a short time. Hitherto the different branches of the DC’s office were scattered far and wide giving little scope to the DC to exercise his administrative control over all the branches.

Mr Tayeng admitted that the new location was slightly out of the way. The approach road was narrow, but steps were underway to widen the road and also to construct a new road to serve as an outlet. Some parking space was also provided.

Meanwhile, the Home Minister, Mr D D Lapang blessed the new set up of the DC’s Offices complex. Speaking at a function on July 17 what turned out to be a house-warming get-together, Mr Lapang congratulated the DC for the speedy shifting. He hoped that the public would bear with the administration for the inconveniences caused.

Concerned over the tardy progress of the Greater Shillong Water Supply Scheme, the Meghalaya Home Minister Mr D D Lapang, made an on the spot verification of the project site at Mawphlang on July 19.

Mr Lapang, who also holds the Municipal Administration portfolio, acquainted himself with factors inhibiting its completion.

He has decided to convene a meeting of all the concerned agencies, including officials connected with it as well as the contractors, for sorting out all their problems.

The Greater Shillong Water Shillong Scheme, which has suffered a series of setback since the time it was conceived a decade ago, is already running behind schedule by several years.

The First Phase of the project was to have been commissioned sometime in April this year. Official sources said that some 70% of the works have since been completed involving an expenditure of Rs. 9.72 crore. Owing to inordinate delay in its completion, the Govt has been completed to revise the budget estimate by adding another Rs. 30.08 lakhs, sources said.

The Seventh Intab 6 up Table Tennis Tournament, 1984 in which about 300 junior and sub-junior table tennis players from different parts of the country will be taking part, will be held in Shillong from July 24 to 27 next.

The Intab Cup, which is a national table tennis tournament for junior boys and girls under 17 and sub junior boys and girls under 14, is being held in Shillong for the first time.

Started in 1978 as the `Intab Cup”, also known as the `mini junior nationalists’, the Tournament will be drawing budding table tennis talents from different states in the country to vie for the coveted honours.

The Meghalaya Table Tennis Association (MTTA) is making brisk preparation for the holding of the tournament scheduled to be inaugurated in Shillong on July 24 morning by the Governor of Assam and Meghalaya, Mr Bhishma Narian Singh.

The Shillong Agri-Horticultural Society is organizing a “Fruits, Vegetables and Flower Show” on July 20 at All Saints Cathedral Hall, Shillong (Opposite State Central Library).

The show will be open for both professionals and amateurs who are eligible to compete under different categories for each group at nominal entry fee of Rs. 1/- for cut flowers and Rs. 2/- for fruits, vegetables and pot flowers alongwith the entry forms will be received in the show premises on July 19 between 9 AM and 2 PM and the cut flowers will be received on July 20 from 7 AM to 9 AM.

The self-exiled rebel Mizo leader, Mr. Leldenga’s response to suggestions about resumption of talks for resolving the Mizo problem within the framework of the Indian Constitution has been hailed in the Union Territory. The newly elected Congress(I) Ministry headed by Mr. Lal Thanhawla has started on a clean slate by stressing the imperative need for restoration of peace through co-operation of all sections including the outlawed M.N.F.

The success of Lal Thanhawla-led Congress(I) to enlist support from Mr

Laldenga (through video taped speeches) as well as from the leading figures

of the Church has undoubtedly cleared the decks for facilitating resumptions of talks even though some problems remained to be overcome. These problems originate from the presence and activities of the armed insurgents belonging to the outlawed M.N.F.

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It may be recalled that the Chief Minister, Mr. Lal Thanhawla held a meeting with the Church leaders soon after assuming office. He thanked the dozen church leaders present for their prayers and their concern for peace which was a priority of his Government. He sought their cooperation in restoring peace in Mizoram as also for bringing about moral awakening in Mizoram. ‘‘This,’’ he said ‘‘is an important issue besides economic development’’. He added that he would welcome suggestions and advice from them.

The Church leaders assured the Chief Minister that they would continue to do their best in their efforts to bring about peace. They emphasised the importance of all parties and denomination putting their efforts together towards bringing about atmosphere conductive to peace. They also expressed their confidence that under the guidance of the Chief Minister and his colleagues, peace would surely return to Mizoram.

The Mizoram Church leaders Council has agreed to a proposal to renew contacts with Laldenga, President of the MIZO National Front in a bid to resume the peace talk with the Centre. Mr Lal Thanhawla told EPS that the earlier efforts of the church leaders in this regard were frustrated as the previous government under Brig. Sailo had failed to create a congenial atmosphere for it. (EPS)

Committee Member and Secretary of Assam State of DYFI.