• EVM awareness at tehsil level soon : 

The states election department will soon undertake large scale programmes to make the voters aware of the use of Electronic Voting Machines (EVM). The awareness programmes will be undertaken at the tehsil level soon, according to the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of the state Mr. Debasish Sircar. Mr. Sircar was addressing an al part meeting in order to apprise the leaders of various political parties on the use of EVM. Representatives of Congress (I), RSP and NCP were present at the meeting. At the meeting that was organised at the conference hall of the state secretariat was also significant as this ws the first time that the states election department has come forward in order to make the political parties part of the awareness programme on the use of EVM.

Mr. Sircar also stated that a mass campaign will soon be launched through the electronic media soon in order to apprise the voters of the use of EVM. The political leaders present at the meeting got a first hand account of the use of the EVM. But the first hand training of the political leaders could not satisfy them as they demanded that immediate steps should be taken in order to make sure that the voters get apprised on the use of the EVM. They also demanded that steps should also be taken in order to make sure that the departmental staff of the election department should be involved in the process of providing training to the voters.

In the meantime reports from different parts of the state pointed out to the fact that the ruling CPI (M) has already started to apprise the voter in general and the party cadres in particular about the nitty-gritty of the use of EVM. This is done in order to make sure that the r8lign party supporters vote en bloc for the party candidates in the coming polls and do not get confused on the use of the same. The CPI (M) has earlier raised the demand for proper training measures to be undertaken particularly in the tribal belt in order to apprise the voters there on how to use EVM that will be used for the first time in the polls next year.

• Rs. 60 crore for new jails in state : 

Central government has sanctioned rupees sixty crore for setting up of another wing of central jail, district jail and sub-divisional sub jails in state, according to official sources of the concerned department. The official sources said, another wing of central jail will be set up at Bishalgarh. A major chunk of the total sanction will be spent for setting up of the central jail at the sub-division. A district jail will also be come up at Ambassa. A total rupees six crore will be spent for the district jail, official sources said adding that site of proposed district jail has also been chosen up. Besides the district jail, a sub jail will also be set up at the same Ambassa sub-division. The approximate fund for the project has been estimated at rupees five crore.

The total project includes the sub-jails at Kanchanpur, Langtrai Valley and Gandacherra Sub-divisions. Nearly rupees twenty crore will be spent for setting up of the three sub-divisional jails i these three sub-divisions. The state government earlier proposed to the central government for setting up of another wing of central jail and district and sub-divisional jails in state. The government also had proposed five sub-divisional jails but only three were sanctioned, it is learnt. Sources said the state government decided to initiate a reformation drive to the existing jails.

A separate reformation centre for the prisoners with good track record during the imprisonment will also be set up. However, it is not decided yet whether the funds will be used up from the sanction, given for setting up of another wing of central jail, district jail and sub jails in three sub-divisions. Sources said, the state government also decided to set up a reformation centre for female prisoners in state. The official sources of the department said that the project is being reviewed and it will be proposed to the union government.

• Nirmahal Utsav from Dec 28 - 30 : 

The stage is set for Nirmahal Utsav 2002 that will commence on December 28 next that will continue till December 30. Even though it has been confirmed but it is expected that the Union Minister of state in charge of tourism department remain present at the opening ceremony of Nirmahal Utsav that will commence at Rajghat in Melaghar that is being organised by the Information Cultural Affairs and tourism (ICAT) Department will be a gala event this year. This wil be made possible as a result of the fact cultural artists from different parts of the country will take part at the function that will be organised on the occasion.

Special arrangements have been made in order to make sure that tourists who are willing to remain present at the festival can stay at the Sagarmahal tourist lodge and enjoy a ride at the Rudijala lake. Various departments will open stall in the mela premises on the occasion. The light and sound show that was planed to be organised on the occasion that was to be a special attraction on the occasion has however been cancelled this year.

• Bangladesh intelligence using Indian media for political interest : 

Within a few days of the gunbattle between NLFT factions in Burichong of Commilla region, Bangladesh intelligence has mounted a counter disinformation in India's frontier states. Indian intelligence says that some elements of the local media in West Bengal and Tripura are cooperating with Bangladesh intelligence officials masquerading as diplomats. They said that the Bangladesh military intelligence had earlier planted stories in a leading Kolkata Newspaper, painting Awami League leaders as Al Qaida and ISI agents. A senior editor of a Bengali daily in Kolkata was paid half a million rupees to run these stories so that India's border states could be rendered unsafe for Awami League politicians seeking shelter in India and also to throw a spanner during Sheikh Hasina's trip to India. Unsuspectingly, the Kolkata police arrested a number of Awami League politicians and this Bengali newspaper promptly dubbed them as Al Qaida. Now a similar operation has started in Agartala. The target : Awami League's former MP in Feni, Jainal Hazari.

Bangladesh intelligence is desperate to prove he is in India so that demands for his repatriation can be stepped up to counter Indian pressure for pushing back North-Eastern Indian militants from Bangladesh. A non-descript daily from Triprua ran a story recently detailing Hazari's so called land purchases at Belonia  and Sabroom, his alleged torture of Hindus and his continued presence in Indian territory. Hazari long ago fled India with a false passport in the name of Jayanta Hazra and even met Sheikh Hasina in Brussels when she was there last month. He is currently in London and calls up his close confidantes from a London mobile phone. Indian intelligence says that the editor of his daily has been Bangladesh Intelligence, whose officers masquerade as diplomats during their presence in India. He has been close to the Visa Office in Agartala and Indian intelligence link his stories on Jainal Hazari to build pressure on Delhi to deny shelter to Awami League and other secular forces and also to counteract Delhi's pressure to push out North Eastern militants.

• Manaik directs police to be more proactive : 

The Chief Minister Mr. Manik Sarkar today directed the police personnel to be more proactive in the coming days. Addressing the top police officers of North Tripura district at a high level meeting at Kailasahar today Mr. Sarkar also asked the police officers to make sure that the militants are notable to foil the polls in the state that are due early next year. The Chief Minister Mr. Sarkar had earlier held similar meetings at Ambassa as well as Udaipur. The top police officials including the Superintendent of Police of the concerned districts were also present at the meeting that is seen a preparation to the forthcoming assembly polls in the state. Besides meeting with the top police officials in the concerned districts the Chief Minister also met with the top CRPF, BSF and Assam Rifles officers deployed in the districts too.

The Chief Minister's interactive meetings with the police officers have been morale boosting for the police officers in the districts. The Chief Minister talked with the DSPs, SDPOs, CIs and OCs and this meeting has been a tremendous morale boosting affair for the police officers particularly the ones deployed in the interior parts of the state particularly the ones deployed in the insurgency affected belts. The Chief Minister Mr. Sarkar arrived at Kailasahar boarding a helicopter and was received by the SP and DM of North Tripura district. Soon after landing he reached the venue of the meeting and talked with the top police officers deployed in the district. (From ' TRIPURA TIMES ' English Daily, 10th December 2002)

• CM opens new bridge : 

The Chief Minister Mr. Manik Sarkar today opened for traffic the Gautam Dutta memorial bridge over river Burima at Chelikhala in Bishalgarh sub-division today. In his address on the occasion Mr. Sarkar said that the Left Front government has fulfilled most of the promises during the last five years. Still the government has a long way to go in its endeavor towards development. He was all praise for the centre for recognising the gravity of the insurgency problem in the state. Among others PWD Minister Mr. Badal Chowdhury and ONGCL Asset Manager Mr. Abhijit Mahalanbis also addressed the gathering present at the opening ceremony.

• State Govt. determined to provide better health facilities : Manik : 

The Chief Minister Mr. Manik Sarkar has reiterated the firm commitment of the state government in terms of providing better health facilities to the people in the coming days. Mr. Sarkar who laid the foundation stone of the new building complex at IGM hospital here today also mentioned that the need of the hour is to see that the constructing work of the building also gets completed on time. Mr. Sarkar also said that the doctors, nurses and other health staff should work more dedicatedly in order to achieve the goal on the part of the state government. If they work dedicatedly then better service can be provided even with the existing facilities too, he mentioned.

The Health Minister Mr. Keshab Majumder however struck a different tune and blamed the health policy adopted by the NDA government at centre that was blocking the sustained attempt that was undertaken by the state government on developing the health infrastructure in the state. He admitted that it is true that there is excess pressure on the existing facilities in both the IGM and the GM hospital. To stop the excessive pressure on GM and IGM hospital the state government has decided to improve the existing facilities in the district hospitals, he added.

He mentioned that pretty soon the state government will open 15 more primary health centres in the state. This will be done despite the numerous odds that was faced by the health department. The MAC Chairperson Mr. Sankar Das said that after the health facilities in the state improves people will no longer rush to other states to receive medical treatment. The proposed building when complete will have a total capacity to cater to 200 patients with 39 beds dedicated for special cabins. The estimated cost of the building has been placed at Rs. 10 crore. Besides Rs. 2.6 crore will also be needed for the procurement of health instruments to be used here. The wards that will be housed in the building include Child, Guinea, Radiology, City Scan, MRI, ICU and Blood Bank. (From ' TRIPURA TIMES ' English Daily, 9th December 2002)

• Army units arrive, police also get ready for polls : 

The security preparations in the run up to the run up to the assembly polls seem to be going in a smooth manner. Army units as promised by the centre has started to arrive. The army jawans from the artillery unit reached the state and will take up duties shortly. The units will be deployed in the areas that have been worst affected by insurgency. Reports said that the arrival of the army units will provide the necessary boost to the security cover in the state. The army units will however not e performing poll duties as has been the practice in general. But they will actively take part in anti insurgency operations in the belts where ATTF and NLFT militants are active. In the meantime state police is also started preparations in order to make sure that the forthcoming polls in the state remains incident free.

This will be a tough ask for the state police as this time the militants of NLFT and ATTF have stepped up their activities in the last few days. The recent visit by Chief Minister Mr. Manik Sarkar to Udaipur and Ambassa who took stock of the prevailing situation in the districts has also enthused a new lease of life among the police officers especially those police officers deployed in the interior areas. Mr. Sarkar will also hold a meeting at Kailasahar soon in order to boost the morale of the police officers prior to the polls.

Reports said that with the arrival of the army units will lead to streamlining in the deployment patters of various security forces deployed in different parts of the state. This will also lead to subsequent change in the deployment pattern of CRPF, TSR and Assam Rifles units in the state, sources said. At present areas are clearly demarcated and seperated between the different security forces.

• A total 12 films will be screened : Cine Delve's film festival begins from Dec 25th : 

Agartala film festival, 2002 organised by cine Delve, a film society, will begin from December 25th next. A total twelve films including Bengali, English and Hindi will be screened during the week long film festival. This was informed by president of cine Delve, Sena Bhattacharjee today. Bhattarcharjee said, Chief Minister Mr. Manik Sarkar will in augurate the film festival to be held at Rupasi Cinema Hall. He said, told 21 show will be organised for screening the twelve films. The films, to be screened in the festival were internationally and nationally awarded. A few number of tickets will be reserved for members of the Cine Delve. The film society will initiate a fresh membership recruitment drive film society will initiate a fresh membership recruitment drive.

The common visitors will get tickets from office of the Cine Delve at Colonel Chowmuhani. The fund will be donated to the Chief Minister Relief Fund Mr. Bhattacharjee said. Bhattacharjee said, efforts are on to include two films from France and Iran in the Weeklong film festival. "The object of the film festival is to great a good sense through the silver screen", he said. The exclusive film society has been organising films from the year of 1995 last. The films to be screened in the festival include Amarbhuvan directed by Mrinal Sen., Mitr, My Friend directed by Rebate. Two films, directed by Shyam Benegal will be screened in the festival, these are Samar, Harivari, all Hindis.

Chandni Bar directed by Madhur Vandarkar and Swaraj directed by Anowar Jamal all Hindis are also in the twelve film category. Two films, directed by Gul Bahar Singh including Dutta and Abaidha, Hindi and Bengali respectively will also be screened. Anjan Das directed, Sanjhbatir Rupkatha, Bengali and Kali Saloar, Hindi a film directed by Farida will be screened in the festival. Run Lola run, of a film directed by JohnTikar of Germany will  be screened in the festival according to Bhattacharjee. (From ' TRIPURA TIMES ' English Daily, 8th December 2002)

• Women's police station starts operation : 

The first women's police station of state was opened today. The Chief Minister Mr. Manik Sarkar inaugurated the exclusive women's police station in a simple function within the premises of East Agartala Police Station this morning. The chief minister in his inaugural speech said that it is a beginning for redressal of women's suffering and it will be an instrument to ensure justice to the women of the state. Mr. Sarkar said, efforts are on to set up Women's Police Station in each districts. The chief minister hinted that a similar police station will come up early at Udaipur. He said the state home department has been asked to review all the measures relating to the setting up of women's police station and the report will be submitted to him soon.

Mr. Sarkar hoped that the women officials of the police station will serve the purpose effectively. He also urged the higher officials to help the women officials to ensure success in the investigation. "You all would have to help the officials of this women's police station. Earlier, they worked with you. To work separately in women's police station does not mean that they have no working relation with you", Mr. Sarkar said. The chief minister said that the onslaught on women are on the rise in state alongwith other parts of the country and the police station was set up with a view to ensure proper investigation in order to give justice the women victim.

The chief minister declared that there will be no mercy to those accused of committing crime against women. "There will be no withdrawal of cases for the surrendered insurgents who are involved with committing crime against women", the chief minister said. The chairperson of women's commission Manjulika Bose said that the women's police station will install confidence among the women who earlier hesitated to come to male police and narrate their sorry state.

She hoped the officials of the women's police station will function properly. Panna Das Debbarma is the Officer-in-Charge (OC) of the women's police station and a total 26 Sub-Inspector rank officials have been posted in the police station. It will have the jurisdiction authority over both West and East Agartala police station area. The DGP Mathew John, ADGP Pranay Sahai, DM of West Tripura District Mr. Ashutosh Jindal and other officials were present on the ceremony. (From ' TRIPURA TIMES ' English Daily, 7th December 2002)

• Rs. 300 crore investment in industrial sector in state : 

The rate of industrial development in state stood 15 percent during the four years. This was reported in a study conducted by Planning commissions. State Industries & Commerce minister Pabitra Kar told reporters today. The industries minister said a 14 percent of total domestic production was flowing from industry and commerce sector. "The industry and commerce sector has made a rapid development during the four years", the minister said. He said, efforts are on to implement schemes relating to the growth centre, food park, rubber park, EPPI and others.

"The total investment to all these projects is approximately of rupees 50 crore", Kar said. Detailing the sort of industrial development, Mr. Kar said, a total 214 industrial units were set up during the period and the total investment in this regard is of rupees 21.93 crore. A total 1453 persons were employed in these industrial units, he said. Mr. Kar said that nine medium scale industrial units were also set up during the period. Total investment is rupees 18 crore and 550 persons were employed so far. The minister said, a rupees 18 crore worth projects for building up necessary infrastructure for foreign trade is going on. Efforts are on to implement a project for plying vehicles on Compressed natural Gas (CNG) method. The Gas Authority of India (GAIL) will provide necessary assistance in this regard, he said.

The total investment in industry and commerce sector is rupees 300 crore. The revenue, collected from the sector stand at rupees 130 crore. Mr. Kar said that, a total 4039 persons were brought under Prime Minister's Rojgar Yojana (PMRY) and 12,117 persons we employed in this regard.

• Pramod Mahajan makes announcement : IT sector to wear a developed look in North-East : 

A fresh boost to the Information Technology (IT) sector is on the cards in the North-East. The Union IT Minister Mr. Pramod Mahajan told the Rajya Sabha today that within the next three to six months the IT sector in the North-East will get a fresh new look in the coming days. The Union IT Minister was earlier instrumental in making sure that Computer Information Centre (CIC) scheme gets the necessary back up in the North-East. Already several hundred blocks in the North-East have been covered under the scheme. The CIC schemes has also received the needed back up from the concerned state governments too. In Tripura too most of the blocks now have their own CIC well equipped with computers, printers and an internet connection.

Today's announcement is significant considering the fact that there has been demand for the improvement of the prevailing internet facilities in the North-East in general and Tripura in particular. In Tripura the internet connectivity has left a lot to be desired. Even as BSNL has been holding monopoly over the market as a result of the fact that no other Inter Service Provider (ISP) has come to the open to provide internet connections in the state the existing subscribers have complained that the need of the hour is to make sure that the present dial up network set through which they have to log on to the world wide web is very cumbersome and time consuming.

Besides it is also not devoid of faults as a result of the fact that often the internet connection gets snapped. It remains to be seen what shape the internet connectivity takes shape in the coming months in the state. If the announcement made by the Union IT comes into affect and has the desired results then the hard days may be over for the internet subscribers in the state, reports added. (From ' TRIPURA TIMES ' English Daily, 6th December 2002)

• Foil ill motives of militants : Manik :: Deal firmly with insurgents : Seth : 

The Governor Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Krishnamohan Seth has asked the policemen to perform their duties in a proper manner and also stressed on the need to firmly deal with the insurgency activities in the state. Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Seth has in his address today before the police officers on the occasion of police week at the Rabnidra Satabarshiki Bhawan complex made it clear that it is being noticed that people in general seem to have complaints on some of the functions performed by police. In order to avoid such a scenarios the need of the hours is to make sure that police acts in close coordination with the people.

The police-public coordination is the need of the hour in order to make sure that the performance of the police gets enhanced. He also expressed the hope that Bangladesh would continue to mount pressure on militants inside its territory. The Chief Minister Mr. Manik Sarkar in his address on the occasion stated that the police officers who have received the police medals shouldn't release. They should strive hard in order to improve their performance. he stated that it is true that police and TSR has been receiving considerable success in terms of counter insurgency operations. This trend has to continue, the Chief Minister added. The Chief Minister in his address also stressed on the need of foiling the ill motives of the militant outfits to disrupt the assembly polls. He said that the policemen should ensure that the militants are unable to raise their head in the run up to the polls.

Mr. Sarkar said that the state police personnel should make sure that they remain true finds of the people. This is the need of the hour and police should keep in mind the fact that they have to make sure that even in terms of achieving success in counter insurgency operations. He also referred to the links established between NLFT and Naga militant outfit NSCN (I-M). All these outfits alongwith PLA and other militant outfits who have their bases inside Bangladesh. This fact has been established by the centre too, Mr. Sarkar mentioned.

The Chief Secretary Mr. V. Thulasidas in his address was full of praise of the performance of the TSR units. He said that the TSR had made its mark as one of the best forces in the entire North East. On the occasion the police officers were given police medals other awards were also presented by the Governor, Chief Minister, DGP and Additional DGP. The DGP Mr. Mathew John also released a paper on "community policing in Tripura".

• 2000 EVMs brought for elections : 

A total 2000 Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) have been brought in state today for the ensuing assembly elections, according to sources of state election department. The EVMs were brought from West Bengal, sources said and will be used in all the polling booths across the state for the assembly elections. Official sources said one thousand EVMs were already available in state. About three thousand EVMs will be used for polling. The state election department already took up necessary efforts for awareness among the people of the state about exact use of EVMs.

Special training was also given to the polling officials in state to monitor the EVMs during the polling. Sources said, polling through the EVMs will ensure top secrecy about the entire matter and there will be not a minimum chance of it. All the EVMs will be closed with the conventional cover. The only one voter could press the button on a single time land the matter will be kept stored until is commented before the presence of contesting candidates and representative of all the political parties. The opposition parties have welcomed the introduction of EVMs in the voter list. (From ' TRIPURA TIMES ' English Daily, 4th  December 2002)

• Governor visits Baramura power unit : 

The State Governor Lt. Gen. (Retd.) K. M. Seth today inspected the recently installed 21 MW capacity power unit and the project site at Oil and Natural Gas Corporation of India Limited (ONGCL) at Baramura. The Chief Minister Mr. Manik Sarkar had inaugurated the power unit an November 27th. The governor was apprised of the generation of power from the unit. The governor in delivered a short speech in which he appreciated roles of ONGCL in the for its contribution to industrial and economic development in state.

Seth also expressed the need for further viable efforts from ONGCL to go ahead with the developemnt works in state. The Engineer-in-Chief of State Power Department Ajit Kumar Debnath and other officials of ONGCL including general manager of ONGCL (Tripura Asset) Abhijit Mahalanabish were present. Later, the governor visited the site of ONGCL and held discussion with the ongoing works of the project. The governor also planted a Christmas tree within the premises of the project site ONGCL. (From ' TRIPURA TIMES ' English Daily, 3rd December 2002)

• Scientific sanitary system for capital city : 

Specially designed technique will be used for improvement of sanitary system in capital city Agartala. National Building Construction Corporation (NBCC) will take up the project soon, according to official sources of the urban development department. Sources said, usage of separate and modified tank to pipe out the disposal from the city drains will be given top priority. The consultant engineer of NBCC will visit state soon to review the project. State government and Agartala Municipal Council (AMC) will take up necessary steps after NBCC submits its projects report to the government and AMC, according to official sources of the department.

The technique is used in other cities of the country where the sanitary system was adopted in a complete scientific way. They two separate tanked sanitary system would be of very much productive given the congested population mode of capital city Agartala. The official sources said, the capital city will be decided by a number of "zones" where the under ground sanitary system will be laid. Before the final projects city lanes and all the by-lines will be given a fresh look to equip with the fresh mode of high-tech sanitary system. (From ' TRIPURA TIMES ' English Daily, 2nd December 2002)

• Rail route between Agartala Kumarghat by 2006 : 

The construction of Railway track between Agartala and Kumarghat is in full wing and it will be completed by the scheduled time frame, official sources said. Sources said, about seventy percent work of each digging has been completed and special designed techniques  are being adopted in this regard. The 1109 km. long Kumarghat to Agartala Railway track would have to cross a total 47 bridges. Among them construction of 45 bridges have bee completed. The efforts will be taken to construct two other bridges on river Khowai and river Manu, the sources added. 

The construction of Railway track between Nalkata and Kumarghat was completed. The rail will roll on by December next. The finishing touch is being taken up and the trial run will also be initiated, sources added. Official sources said, the construction of Railway track between 10 km. stretch on Nalkata and Manu will begin soon. The sources said, rail route between Kumarghat to Manu was scheduled to being November 30th but it was not approved by Railway safety board. The officials of Railway safety board will visit Agartala to oversee the safety of the railway track, sources said adding the trial run will begin after that.

Two station will be on the 20 km long Kumarghat to Manu these two stations are at Nalkata and Maniama. Sources said 59 bridges would have to be covered between Kumarghat and Manu. The construction work begun in 1998 last and a total rupees 90 crore was spent for it. The central government had sanctioned the project for construction of Railway track between Agartala-Kumarghat on 1996 last. A total rupees 575 crores was earmarked for the project. The state government demanded increased allocation for the project. The railway track between Agartala-Kumarghat when completed will give a boost to the state transport sector.

• Fernandez says India has proof on ISI presence : BSF DG terms Indo-Bangla border as volatile : 

The BSF Director General Mr. Ajay Raj Sharma has termed the Indo-Bangladesh border. Reports from Delhi said that the BSF DG told reporters at a press meet at Delhi that the Indo-Bangla border has become so hot that BSF apprehends that major militant strikes may take place any time through the border. Reports also added that the BSF DG has also made it clear that the centre has decided that time has come to take a tough look into the matter in this regard. In fact a scheme of Rs. 2300 crore is now underway that will be implemented within the next five years. Under this plan a additional 50 battalion BSF  personnel will be deployed along the Indo-Bangla border. The deployment will be made in Tripura, Assam, Meghalaya and West Bengal.

Another startling data revealed by Sharma during the course of the press meet is acknowledgement of the fact that arms are been trans shipped by sea through Bangladesh to the militant outfits in the North East. Even as the BSF DG was meeting the press the Defence Minister joined the likes of Deputy Prime Minister Mr. L. K. Advani and External Affairs Minister Mr. Yashwant Sinha in making it clear that India had ample proof of the fact that ISI was active in Bangladesh and several sources had confirmed to him of the presence of Al Qaida and Taliban in Bangladesh.

In the meantime in another development the former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has again ridiculed the charge brought against her of showing her country in poor light. The former Prime Minister of Bangladesh while reacting to the charges brought against her by the Bangladesh foreign minister had alleged that Hasina was spreading misinformation against Bangladesh during her present stay at New Delhi. (From ' TRIPURA TIMES ' English Daily, 1st December 2002)

• 202 Km. Indo-Bangla border insurgency prone : 

The barbed wire fencing in state along Indo-Bangla border will be completed by 2007 next. This was said by Inspector General of Police (IGP) of TMC sector of Border Security Forces (BSF) M. C. Parmer today. "The barbed wire fencing in state along Indo-Bangla border would be completed by 2007 next according to the schedule. But efforts are on to speed up the fencing word so that it could be completed before the schedule period", Parmer told newsmen in a press meet, on the eve of 37th raising day of BSF at Shalbagan. The IGP said about 7.2 km. long border area from Asharam Bari has been completed so far.

The IGP when asked said that the quality of barbed wire fencing would be of much better than those of Punjab and Jammu & Kashmir. Border Road Organisation was entrusted to construct barbed wire fencing so far but three other agencies have been given the task, he said. The three other agencies are state Public Works Department, National Building Corporation (NBC) and Central Public Works Department (CPWD), the IGP said. When asked, Mr. Parmer said in a fresh development, a good number of villagers living along Indo-Bangla border area are in terror of insurgents and such close proximity makes the task difficult.

He claimed that 52 camps of insurgents of state including both National Liberation Front of Triprua (NLFT) and All Tripura Tiger Forces (ATTF) are set up in Bangladesh. The IGP hoped that pressures being exerted on Bangladesh government to demolish the base camps will bear fruit to maintain friendly relation with neighbouring country. Mr. Parmar said about 202 km. long area of Indo-Bangla border is insurgency prove. The IGP said that at present nine battalion of BSF are available in state. Three battalions of BSF, withdrawn from state to deploy to Jammu & Kashmir will be redeployed soon and efforts are on in that direction.

• India to submit report soon : Top Al Qaida leader now in Bangladesh : 

The Indian government will soon submit to the Bangladesh government providing details of the presence of Al Qaida operatives there. And among those present inside Bangladesh is the second in command after Osama Bin Aman Al Zawhari. Reports said that the Indian side will provide details on available date on the arrival of this senior top Al Qaida leader and number of other operatives. Reports from Delhi said that the intelligence agencies there has collected data that this senior leader of Al Qaida has been camping in Bangladesh since September last.

The central agencies have also collected detailed account of number of instances where the Al Qaida operatives have arrived in Bangladesh. The arrival of the Al Qaida operatives took place first in June last year, February and April this year, reports added. In the meantime in another development the Director General of BSF Mr. Ajay Raj Sharma has again mentioned today that the BSF has time and again got concrete date about the movement of Al Qaida operatives inside Bangladesh. On the other hand the Union External Affairs Minister Mr. Yashwant Sinha today declined to comment on the Bangladesh denial of his claim that the Pakistan embassy at Dhaka has been acting as a nerve centre for the ISI.

He said that the Indian government was willing to give some move time to the Bangladesh government in order to make sure that they can prove that Al Qaida and ISI does not have a presence inside Bangladesh. In the meantime latest reports from Dhaka said that police has not been able to pick up reputed journalist Saleem Samand. But police has nabbed one female reporter Sumi Khan who had helped the BBCs channel four journalists collect substantial evidence on the presence of Al Qaida and Taliban inside Bangladesh. Both the channel four journalists were detained by Bangladesh police while trying to cross over to India, as reported earlier.

In the meantime the Bangladesh foreign minister Mr. Morshed Khan has again stated today that it is not possible for Al Qaida operatives to hide inside a small country like Bangladesh. His claim came at a time when Pakistan government has also denied the claim made by Mr. Sinha on ISI presence in Dhaka.

• Capital Complex : Behind shadow of Rabindra culture : 

The much awaited Capital Complex is set to be dedicated to people of the state by a few years. About 170 hectare sprawling area behind Rajbhawan is now to have a fresh look with the scattered concrete jungle of towering constructions. A group of journalists visited Capital Complex today. Though the initial cot is estimated to be a rupees 177 crore but it would like to touch rupees 200 crore. Construction works are on for new assembly building spreading 63.266 squares feet area. The assembly complex will come up at a higher land of the actual complex.

The executive engineer of Capital Complex division of Public Works Division M. K. Sen told newsmen that the construction will be completed by three years next. The construction work was begun from July of last year. The basement work is nearing completion, Mr. Sen said. A total rupees 20 crore was earmarked for construction of this part of the complex. Out of the total fund rupees eight crore will be available from non-lapsable central resources pool and the remaining rupees eight crore from 11th finance commission. A total rupees 613 crore has been spent and the NPCC Limited is construction it.

The new secretariat building will come up adjacent to assembly building Kolkata based Machintas Burn Limited will build up the rupees 21.34 crore worth secretariat building. The construction work begun on December last and a target has been set to complete it by next three years. The executive engineer said hotels for Members of Legislative Assembly (MLS), bungalows for chief minister, chief Secretary, ministers, speaker of assembly and other higher officials will be built within the Capital Complex. Besides post office, fire service station, police station and other important offices will be built up in the Capital Complex. The head quarter of police department will also be in the Capital Complex.

• Al Qaida, Taliban & ISI presence in Bangladesh : Detained journalists had collected credible evidence : 

The three detained journalists who were nabbed by Bangladesh police while trying to cross over to India had collected credible evidence providing details on the presence of Al Qaida, Taliban and ISI operatives. Reports pouring across the border said that the three detained journalists included Saleem Samad, L. Bruno and Ms. J. Naj. The trio had got hold of video footage that provided details of the Al Qaida and Taliban camps inside Bangladesh. This material was reportedly collected after the trio visited Chittagong Hill Tracts, Tekna, Jessore and Comilla for the last few days.

Besides Samad, who is a Bangladeshi national the two others were foreigners. They were freelancers who were working for BBC's channel 4 programme", unreported world. They were assigned the task of tracking down Al Qaida and ISI presence in Bangladesh. Reports said that during the course of their tour to Bangladesh they had also collected some video footage that provided details on ISI presence inside Bangladesh. The ISI operatives active in the Dhaka based Pakistan High Commission got hold of this fact and informed Bangladesh police of the movement of the trio. Unfortunately they were caught by Bangladesh police while they were on the verge of entering India via the Benapole border.

Significantly enough soon after the trio were nabbed the Bangladesh government has issued a statement saying that it is upto the India government to provide 'credible evidence' to the Bangladesh government listing the ISI, Al Qaida and Taliban presence inside Bangladesh. The statement has also been compounded by a statement issued by the Bangladesh High Commissioner at Delhi Mr. Tufail K. Haider who has made it clear that the charges made the Indian government including the foreign minister Yashwant Sinha were wrong. He also said that the Bangladesh government was trying to prove that the charge that Bangladesh government was helping the militants of North East including Triprua was incorrect. 

Reports from Delhi said that the statement issued by the Bangladesh high commissioner must have been propelled by the fact that the former Bangladesh premier Sheikh Hasina who is presently in New Delhi has also given clear pointers that the charges made by the Indian government has substance.

• DGP, DMs apprise Chatterjee of electoral affairs : 

The Dy. Election Commissioner Sayan Chatterjee today reviewed the security measures in relation with the next assembly elections in state. Sources said, Mr. Chatterjee stated to the state Director General of Police (DGP) that all efforts would be made on behalf of the Election Commission to arrange security measures during the ensuing assembly elections. The DGP John Mathews apprised the Dy. Election Commissioner about the security measures prior to the final announcement of exact schedule of election, sources.

Mr. Chatterjee was also informed about the electoral trends related to law & order. Sources said Mr. Chatterjee of polling booths falling under the sensitive and hipper sensitive category in consultation with the state election department as it is utmost necessary for arranging security measures on priority basis to ensure free & fair elections in state. He was also apprised of the previous incidents of subversive activities during elections, according to source. It is learnt that the District Magistrate (DM) of all the four districts apprised the Dy. Election Commissioner about the electoral affairs.

Sources said that the Dy. Election Commissioner said that all efforts would be made to ensure free & fair electoral proceedings. Sources said, the DMs have apprised Mr. Chatterjee of the steps being taken to introduce Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in the ensuring assembly elections. It is also learnt that Mr. Chatterjee enquired about exact number of EVMs to be required in each district. The Dy. Election Commissioner is learnt to have advised the DMs to monitor the awareness campaign about the proper use of EVMs by them as a part of the steps y the Election Commission. Mr. Chatterjee held talks with the DMs at Circuit House this evening.

• Engineering Conference : 

The stage is set for an All India Seminar of Engineers that will commence from December 13-15 next at the Rabindra Satabarshiki Bhawan. According to a statement released by the General Secretary of SEAT, Mr. C. Debnath the focus of the conference will focus on the IT sector, use of natural gas and development issues of different central and state government department. Over seventy representatives from different parts of the state will remain present at the seminar, he added. (From ' TRIPURA TIMES ' English Daily, 29th November 2002)

• Safety of Alliance Air flights : Internal safety report puts question mark : 

An internal safety report of Alliance Air has at last a admitted that it has a dangerous fleet. It may be mentioned here that TRIPURA TIMES had first published about the fact that the Alliance Air authorities flying old aircrafts on the Kolkata-Agartala and Guwahati-Agartala sector. The report had generated mush heat among the commuters who travel frequently on this sector.

The passengers travelling on this twin sectors have also said that Alliance Air needs to take a fresh look into the aspect of air safety all over again. The internal safety report has substantiated the report has substantiated the report published in TRIPURA TIMES. Last night STAR NEWS provided in detail the report that revealed that during the last six months 47 faults were reported in all the sectors of Alliance Air.

The internal report of the Alliance Air has come as an eye opener as it substantiates the claim that Alliance Air indeed has an ageing fleet. Reports said that some of the Boeing 737-200 the Alliance Air is flying to and from Agartala are as old as 20 years. This has been confirmed by the internal safety report of Alliance air aired on STAR NEWS. In the meantime reports mentioned that the reduction of the Airbus A0320 on the Kolkata-Agartala sector has also led to resentment among the commuters on this sector. The Airbus A-320 that is a relatively  new fleet in comparison to the Boeing 737-200. (From ' TRIPURA TIMES ' English Daily, 28th November 2002)

• EC takes up poll preparation : Dy. Election Commissioner to visit on Thursday : 

Deputy Election Commissioner Sayan Chatterjee would visit state on Thursday next to review the preparation for ensuing assembly elections. The advisor of the Election Commission would visit tomorrow in this regard, sources added. Sources said, the Deputy Election Commissioner will talk to political leaders at secretariat after his arrival. After the talks with political leaders, Mr. Chatterjee is scheduled to hold talks with all the district magistrates of state.

The issues relating to the next assembly poll including the role and service of the DMs as returning officer will be figured in the talks, according to official sources. The Deputy Election Commissioner would also hold talks with the Chief Secretary and Director General of Police ((DGP) of the state on the preparation of next assembly elections. The official sources tonight said that A. K. Rao, Advisor of the Election Commission would hold talks tomorrow with the officials of state election department. The sources said, the state Election Department was taken up all out measures to finalise the agendas to be discussed during the visit of deputy Election Commission Mr. Sayan Chattarjee.

According to the sources the state election department will submit a detailed report about the initiative to be taken by it to create awareness and knowhow among the voters about use of Electronic Voting Machines. The political parties, particularly the opposition parties would discuss about the alleged attempt by the ruling parties to doctor the voter lists. The leader of the opposition parties today said they would press for use of fresh electronic voting machines during next assembly poll. However, it is not yet confirmed whether the political leaders would take up the issue relating to draft proposal for delimitation with the Deputy Election Commissioner.

• Reduced number of Airbus causes trouble : Speed Post Service gets delayed service : 

A tug of war between Indian Airlines (IA) and Postal Department disrupted normal service of speed post in state, the prevailing circumstances indicate. What appeared to be more disturbing is shugishness of postal department to take the matter to the notices of higher authority of Indian Airlines while the people are suffering extremely. Situation reached to such a pass that a single piece of packet on speed post takes more than ten days to reach Agartala from out of the state. 

A sources from postal department said that withdrawal of aircrafts of Airbus category led to disruption of normal service of speed post. The sources said, due to the reduction in number of aircraft of air bus category caused loading problem forcing the IA not to carry huge load of packets containing speed post materials  At present three airbus are flying in Agartala-Kolkata route in a week. Sources said, earlier speed post materials weighing more than 50 kg. were booked. But due to the absence of the required aircraaft of airbus category, speed post materials worth 25 kg. are booked by Indian Airlines authority at present.

This led to the mounting load of 25 kg. in every single udan. The IA authority in Kolkata is releasing the speed post materials through surface route. And it takes more time to reach Agartala from Kolkata to Guwahati to Agartala, sources added. It is learnt that even the IA authority was constantly booking the speed post without talking any alternative measures to ensure early delivery of the speed post materials. The sources said that postal department and IA authority signed contract for delivery of speed service. According to the contract 50 kg. of speed post post materials would be delivered on every single udan through airbus aircraft.

But reduction of airbus aircraft on Kolkata Agartala route led to the delayed delivery of speed post service. The postal department is yet to taken up the matter with the higher authority of Indian Airlines to renew the contract.

• Foodgrains worth Rs. 4 crore damaged : 

Foodgrains worth rupees four crore was damaged due to heavy shower in the just swept rainy seasons, according to official sources of state agriculture department. Though, the state government did not declare flood or any flood like situation but extent of damage was nothing less than it, the official sources added. A major quantity of the damaged parts include vegetable and other categories of foodgrain, the sources added. According to the official sources, about 347 hectre land was completely destroyed due to the recent rainy seasons. Official sources of the agricultural department said the department has decided to bring 17,000 hectre land under fresh cultivation.

Among the proposed cultivable land. 5916 land will be brought for cultivation of potatoes, 5000 hectre for other crops. The sources said efforts are on to compensate the damage by bringing more land under fresh cultivation schemes. The sources said the farmers who were affected are being contacted to make necessary steps for further damage control programme. The sources said, the department has decided to evolve a separate schemes to follow the fresh cultivable policy keeping in line with the other states, affluent in agriculture. The LAMPS and PACS have been directed to initiate a survey to find out the damage parts of cultivating land under their respective jurisdiction.

According to the sources, the agricultural department decided to release fresh highbred seeds to the farmers to enable them to plant alternative crops during winter session. The sources said that the state government will likely to pass a fresh proposals to compensate the affected farmers in the next cabinet meet. (From ' TRIPURA TIMES ' English Daily, 27th November 2002)

• Add 2 in front of existing numbers : Confusion ends as all numbers in capital changed : 

At last all the confusion has ended and all the phone numbers in the state capital have got 2 prefixed. Reports said that son after midnight all the phone numbers got changed to seven digit numbers. As reported earlier BSNL Tripura state SSA had decided to go along the entire nation to change the existing phone numbers and as a result of the move mass confusion prevailed for the entire day yesterday among the phone subscribers. The sudden move taken by the BSNL authorities of going ahead with the change in numbers came as a surprise to all the subscribers. All phone numbers fell silent from 7 PM yesterday even as the numbers were changed. The phone lines in the state capital got restored only at around 8.30 PM and after that too the numbers did not get changed.

It was only after midnight that all the numbers in the state capital in both the new as well as the old exchange got changed and got transformed fro six digit to seven digit numbers. All these numbers will start with 2 from now on. But emergency three digit numbers such as 100 and 197 will however remain unchanged. In the meantime anger is brewing among phone subscribes in other parts of the state on the BSNL move of not going for a change in the number in the entire state on a single day. The BSNL authorities decided to go for a phased change that was scheduled to take shape from today.

The phone subscribers in the state capital have fallen in the with the decision taken by BSNL and have started to dial 2 before the present number from today. Some of the STD and ISD callers had to redial after getting the recorded message in order to get hold of the number. Reports said that the sudden move announced by the BSNL without organising press meet in order to inform the public has also been criticised from the concerned circles including the STD and ISD callers. It may be mentioned here that as per the schedule announced by BSNL it will be only after 20 days that all the telephone numbers of the state will get changed with 2 been added in front of the existing numbers. The schedule announced by the BSNL says that the process will end on December 13 next.

• Private engineering college : 

The Chief Minister Mr. Manik Sarkar today informed that a private engineering college may soon be setup in in the state. Mr. Sarkar who was addressing the refreshers programme at the Tripura Engineering college here today also stated that if the private engineering college comes up then the students in the state will go a long way as they will be benefited by the move. He said that state government has also invited private initiative in terms of improvement of the educational infrastructure in the state. As a result of the moves taken by the state government in this regard a science college is coming up in the state.

The Education Minister Mr. Anil Sarkar in his address said that state government had evolved a massive plan so that the schools in the state have their own buildings within the next two -p three years. But as a result of the activities of the militants the attempt taken by the state government had suffered setback. This is borne from the fact that in last years Madhyamik examinations only 24 students secured first division. As a result of the insurgency activities an entire generation of tribal were facing a bleak future. Local MLA Manik Dey, TTAADC Opposition leader Radhacharan Debbarma and Principal of TEC Dr. R. K. Dutta also spoke on the occasion.

• Sanyal overseeing entire move : Deployment of TSR on in full swing : 

In the run up to the assembly polls number of TSR camps are been set up in the interior parts of the state. Reports said that the IGP (law and order), Mr. T. K. Sanyal, has been instrumental in making sure that the deployment of the TSR jawans in the interior parts of the state in the run up to the assembly polls. Reports said that TSR camps are coming up right across the interior parts of Dhalai, North Tripura, South Tripura as well as West Tripura district. Reports said that as a result of the coming up of these TSR camps the movement of the militants has been hampered to a considerable extent. As a result the local collaborators of the militants have been the ones who have raised hue and cry over the move to set up the TSR camps.

Such reports of opposition to the move in terms of setting up of TSR camps has come from Barkathal under Sidhai police station area, Tirtharampara in Dhalai district and Gopalnagar in Khowai sub-division. Despite the opposition of the moves on the part of the local collaborators and a section of the local politicians the state police top brass seems to be hell bent in terms of making it sure that trouble is averted in the run up to the assembly polls.

So far the plan devised by Mr. Sanyal seems to have worked wonders even though reports said that militants are planning to strike back and even thinking of launching attacks as was done at Hirapur in West Tripura. Reports said that once BSF, CRPF and army units arrive in the run up to the assembly polls the TSR jawans will be send to camps in even more interior areas then the ones set up now. Reports said that these camps including some of the camps already in existence now do not have proper infrastructure facilities including electricity, safe drinking water facilities.

Most of the camps are also not connected by metal roads that pose major problems for communication that comes to the fore once the jawans face insurgency attacks and when the jawans fall ill. But as the jawans are mostly new recruits they are not protesting as yet. 

• Notification for delimitation of assembly segments issued : 

Notification to delimitation of sixty assembly constituencies has been issued today. The notification virtually indicated that the delimitation of sixty assembly constituencies before the next assembly poll is certain, according to official sources of state election department. The draft proposal for the delimitation was issued by its commission headed by retired Chief Justice of Supreme Court Kuldip Singh. Official sources today indicated that existing pattern of four assembly constituencies including Ramnagar, Bardowali, Agartala and Banamalipur will be changed completely following the realignment based on 1991 cencus.

The notification order also stated that the political parties can move the Election Commission of India for their objection, if any, on the delimitation issue. The hearing on delimitation will take place on 16th December at Agartala. Chairman of the delimitation commission, retired justice of Supreme Court (SC) Kuldip Singh, Election Commissioner B. B. Tandon are scheduled to visit state to attend the hearing at Agartala. The delimitation issue created sharp reaction among the political parties of the state. The opposition Congress alliance has opposed delimitation before the next assembly elections while the ruling CPI-M has not made its stand clear on the issue.

Meanwhile, sources of the state election department said they are going ahead with the assumption that delimitation on the assembly constituencies is certain as the short time frame in view of the approaching assembly elections in state. The sources said that sharp differences were cropped up among the leaders of ruling CPI-M over the working draft proposal for the delimitation of assembly constituencies.

It is learnt the objections, put forward by the leaders and members of the ruling CPI-M were not taken to the notice of election commission. It is learnt that the CPI-M leaders favours certain change in four constituencies of Sadar sub-division and North Tripura district. The ex-office chairman of state delimitation committee is A. B. Paul, Law Secretary. Other members are Khagen Das, Bajuban Reang, MPs, Ashok Bhattacharjee of Congress, Manik Dey of CPI-M and others. (From ' TRIPURA TIMES ' English Daily, 26th November 2002 )

• Draft proposal for delimitation today : 

Draft roll of delimitation of assembly constituencies will be published tomorrow, according to official sources of the state election department said today. All efforts were nearing completion by the state election department to submit the draft proposal for delimitation of assembly constituencies to the respective political parties. The draft for delimitation of the assembly constituencies was formed according to the census of 1991.

The sources of the department, earlier, indicated that delimitation of certain assembly segments will be certain as the speculated theory of short period time frame is not major hindrance towards the delimitation process. The election department sources said that chairman of delimitation commission, headed by retired chief justice of Supreme Court Kuldip Singh, Election Commissioner B. B. Tandon will visit the state to attend hearing on December 16th next.

All the political parties virtually opposed delimitation of assembly constituencies, but the available situation indicates that the next elections will be held with new amalgamated assembly constituencies based on 1991 census report. The ruling CPI-M did not express its stand on the proposal for delimitation of assembly constituencies. The Pradesh Congress sought fifteen days time or making its stand clear about the delimitation issue. The election department sources said even twenty four days is enough for delimitation of assembly constituencies.

Four elite constituencies of state capital Agartala will be realigned if delimitation process is initiated before the ensuing assembly elections. The four constituencies are Ramnagar, Bardowali, Agartala and Banamalipur. The ex-office chairman of the state delimitation department is Law Secretary A. B. Paul. The other associate members are two Lok Sabha (LS) members Khagen Das and Bajuban Reang, Ashok Bhattacharjee of Congress, Manik Dey of CPI-M and Ratimohan Jamatia of INPT.

• Manik says State Govt. to look into doctors demands soon : 

The Chief Minister Mr. Manik Sarkar today inaugurated the All Tripura Medical Conference at the Rabindra Satabarshiki Bhavan Complex. Mr. Sarkar assured at the conference to mark the 33rd biannual conference of IMA, state branch that the demands of the doctors will be looked into by the state government shortly. He mentioned that the spread of the water borne diseases in the state will be solved in the state once the state government makes sure that all the remote hamlets get pure drinking water facilities by December 31 next. In his address on the occasion Health Minister Mr. Keshab Majumder asked the people of the state to take the maximum benefit of the existing health infrastructure in the state.

he pointed out that the state government was trying hard to further improve the health infrastructure in the state. he said that the doctors should remove all doubts about the super speciality unit at G. B. hospital that is been run after an MoU was signed with care foundation of Hyderabad. All the facilities in this super speciality unit will become operational by October 2003 next,. Mr. Majumder informed the assembled doctors.

Even though the IMA state branch had appealed to all the doctors to close their chambers and remain present at the conference the attendance of doctors at Rabindra Bhavan was far from satisfactory.

• Irrigation facilities extended : 

A total sixty seven thousand two hundred seventy eight area land were covered under fresh irrigation facilities during the previous five years. The state government has taken up a major scheme to bring more cultivable areas under the fresh irrigation facilities. The minister of Public Works Department Badal Chowdhury today told newsmen that land around sixty seven thousand two hundred seventy area was brought under fresh irrigation and other agricultural and sanitation facilities. The agricultural sector for the project was stood about 0.3 per cent and irrigation project include 57.8 per cent.

The minister said state government has set aside a separate project worth rupees one lakh seventeen thousand for irrigation scheme. Mr. Chowdhury said, a considerable development took place in agriculture, irrigation sanitation and other sector from 1998 to 2002. Despite severe financial crisis and lack of proper infrastructural facilities, the government already embarked on a ten years' project to attain self sufficiency and maximum benefit in agriculture, rural development and other sanitation facilities.

Mr. Chowdhury also released a book containing implementation of various development projects from 1998 to March 2002. The Engineer-in-Chief of Public Works Department S. nag was also present in the press meet. (From ' TRIPURA TIMES ' English Daily, 25th November 2002)

• Fiscal situation of states to be discussed at Nov 28 meet : 

The Finance Minister of seventeen states will meet at Delhi on November 28 next and discuss the present fiscal position of the respective states. Reports said that the Finance Minister Mr. Badal Chowdhury has also been invited to remain present the meet that will be presided over by Asim Dasgupta, the Finance Minister of West Bengal. Reports said that several states including Tripura and West Bengal both having Left Front governments have been facing fiscal crisis to different extent over the last few years. The finance minister of West Bengal is also head of an empowered committee that has been formed especially to provide certain recommendations to the centre so that the states get the necessary help so that they can tide sorry fiscal state.

It may be mentioned here that despite the fiscal crisis the state government in Tripura has ordered the release of one more installment of DA that will cost the state exchequer Rs. 50 crore annually. Sources said, at the meeting that will take place on November 28 next the twin demands that will taken up include providing fiscal help to the hard-pressed states and secondly lowering of the interest rates of central loans. Besides the matters relating to Value Added Tax (VAT) will also be taken up at the meeting, reports added.

With assembly polls round the comer there will also be tremendous pressure on the states expenses in the coming months that may raise the problems for any government coming to power in future. The Finance Minister Mr. Badal Chowdhury has already made it clear that the onus of coming in support of the state governments facing precarious fiscal situation lies with the centre. (From ' TRIPURA TIMES ' English Daily, 24th November 2002)

• Draft roll on Monday, hearing Dec 16th : Delimitation of assembly segments certain : 

There is maximum possibility of delimitation of all the assembly constituencies before the next assembly elections, according to sources of the state election department. Sources of the department today said that draft roll of the delimitate will be released on Monday next and a team of delimitation commission headed by chairman of it will visit soon. The delimitation commission is very much keen to ensure it like other states including Himachal Pradesh. Sources of the election department today said that short time-frame is not any problem to the delimitation process.

Even a gap of fourteen days between the exact date for filling of nomination papers and the exact date for the process, if it is initiated is enough for it, sources said. Even the delimitation process in other state was also conducted before 24 days of the assembly poll. Sources said the assumption that the delimitation process might not be possible in short period before the assembly election is wrong. The sources said that the delimitation process is a separate issue and commission would has the supreme say in this regard.

The associate members of the state committee have expressed their views in Delhi regarding the delimitation process. Official sources said that hearing of the delimitation of the assembly constituencies will be held the assembly constituencies will be held on. The political parties of the state are yet to clear their stand on the delimitation process. The chairman of the delimitation commission retired Chief Justice of Supreme Court (SC) Kuldip Singh, Deputy Election Commissioner B. B. Tandon will visit state on December 16. The hearing for the process will be held on that day. The associate members of the delimitation committee are A. B. Paul, Khagen Das, Ashok Bhattacharjee, Ratimohan Jamatia, Sudhan Das and Manik Dey.

• Election Department takes up awareness campaign : Assembly poll through EVMs : 

The state election department has started its electoral process for the next assembly elections, scheduled to be held on February next. The election department will begin an awareness programme among the voters to use the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), according to Chief Electoral Officer of Election Department Mr. Debasish Sircar. The Chief Electoral Officer said that the Election Commission has decided to contact elections through EVMs. The will be introduced in all the polling booths, he said.

At present one thousand EVMs are available in state and the department has decided to bring one thousand, EVMs from West Bengal. The CEO told newsmen the EVMs, were manufactured by Electrical Corporation of India Ltd. (ECIL) and all the EVMs will be checked before pressing into service. Mr. Sircar said, a total 16 candidates' name can incorporated into the each single EVM. Maximum 3800 votes could be cast in a single EVM. The entire process is a simple one and the Returning Officer (RO), Electoral Registration Officers have been given necessary training about handling the EVMs.

The training was held at SIPARD the training Programmes will be continued. The Chief Electoral Officer also said that no vote will be rejected in the casting process through the EVMs. Maximum secrecy will be maintained from the casting at polling booths to counting hall. The EVMs are decided in two parts, one is ballot unit and other is control unit,. All the two units will be closed by the use of guns in the presence of respective candidates or polling agents, he said. Mr. Sircar also said that there is no chance or pressing of buttons of EVMs. The entire units will be closed once button is pressed. And the units will be resent for next casting.

According to the CEO their matter within the two units will be stored for atleast six months. The Election Department will take up awareness campaign for the use of EVMs during the poll.

• Census for small scale industries soon : 

Small scale industries in state is growing on rapid pace with a total turnover in the capital market is likely to go more tan crore of rupees according to official sources in state. Hundreds of Enumerators, Inspectors and Supervisors were in service in the small scale industries. Official sources in the small scale industries department today said that a total 1857 registered small scale industries are in state. The number of unregistered small scale industries are of more than the registered industries, official sources added.

An industries census is being conducted to ascertain exact number unregistered small scale industries. The official sources said that turnover in the capital market per annum is crores of rupees and it also create employment generation larger scale. The sources in the state Industries Commerce Department said that efforts are on to-co-ordinate among the various units of rural development department, agricultural department and other departments of the state government. Official sources said, a recent survey was conducted in state to ascertain the trend of small scale industries.

The report of the survey indicated that there were maximum potential of the small scale industries to flourish with the large scale industries starting to spread up in state the sources added. As a part of the drive to ensure rapid industrialisation, taken up for that last few years, a total industries units worth rupees 250 crore was established in state. For the first time instate an industrial unit in for manufacturing oil from sandal wood will be set up at Bodhjung Nagar Industrial Complex at outskirts of capital city Agartala. The Industries Department will launched census for small scale industries from December 2 next. The census report will entice the investors to set up industries in state.

• 10 to 15 p.c couple suffer from infertility disease in state : 

About ten to fifteen percent of the total couple are suffering from infertility related problems in state. The most of the couples blame their fate for not having the next generation but they hardly come to believe that the disease might be cured with proper treatment. This was informed by Dr. A. K. Roy, the Chief Executive of Materanate which attempts to set a new era in assisting reproduction system. Dr. Roy, since his medical career cherished the idea to help those couple who are suffering from infertility related.

Dr. Roy told newsmen today, "I have keenly observed the suffering of those people, though there number is not less than 10 to 15 percent". Dr. Pramod Sharma, another senior physician told that now it is almost established that the consultive factors for infertility is 50-50 for both male and female. "Proper counseling, minor correction and a good laboratory workup can help at least 70 to 80 percent of the infertile couple to achieve their goal", Dr. Sharma said. Dr. Roy said that Materanate was set up with the hop and good intention assisted by a group of hard working boys and girls working as lab assistants.

The chief of the "secondary infertility care unit" said that it provides various facilities. The facilities include preconception counseling, and guidance to infertile couples. The infertility work up includes basic laboratory investigations, metrology, hormone analysis, ultra sonography, Sonsosal pingography, hysteresis pingography hydrotubation and diagnostic and operative labaroscopy. The other major facilities include secondary infertility care unit management antenatal care and gynaecology clinic menopausal care and woman cancer screening. Dr. Roy said the secondary in fertility care unit is trying to provide all the facilities and efforts are on with the help of some private institutions. The care unit decided to organise seminars on infertility work up by inviting super-specialists from other part of the country.

• AR takes up another Bharat Darshan tour : 

The 21 Sector of Assam Rifles (AR) initiated another excursion trip for the students in the form of Bharat Darshan. The aim of the excursion is to acquaint the youths of the State with the western part of India. the excursion team consists of 19 students and they are led by three teachers of Assam Rifles School. The team will visit various locations in Delhi, Jaipur, Udaipur and Mt. Abu. The team will return in state on 7th December after 17 days of tour of Western India.

The AR sources said, the students during the journey will be provided the boarding and lodging under military Civic Action Programme. The visiting students will be staying in various army cantonments during the whole journey. The excursion is expected to be an eye opener for the students participating in it. Most of the students have never ventured out of the state. This is the third excursion of School students sponsored by Assam Rifles in the last one year.

The excursion trip of the students was initiated by Brigadier Satyendar Kumar. The bus carrying the 19 students of excursion team was flagged off by officiating Commandar Colonel, S. K. Sharma. (From ' TRIPURA TIMES ' English Daily, 23rd November 2002)

• SEB securitisation scheme : NE CMs' to raise issue at NDC meet on Dec 21 : 

The Chief Ministers' from the North-Eastern states including Triprua Chief Minister Mr. Manik Sarkar will raise the issue of the new state electricity board (securitisation scheme) launched by the centre recently at the National Development Council (NDC) meet scheduled to take place at New Delhi on December 21 next.

The scheme envisages one time settlement of the outstanding dues of the SEBs. At the meeting of the power ministers from the North-East held at Imphal recently the Power Minister Mr. Badal Chowdhury has also made it clear that in order to see that the interests of the North-Eastern states is kept in mind when the centre finally drafts the policy in this regard some concrete steps needs to be taken. The steps include taking up the issue within the Parliament and also with the Union Power Minister. Besides Mr. Chowdhury stressed on the need for a combined meeting between the Union Power Minister and he concerned minister from all the North-Eastern states.

The North-Eastern states has also sought certain specific proposals that includes relaxations from this scheme. The proposals include implementation of the scheme in the North-East with affect from April 1, 2003. Besides the scheme should also be extended to cover dues payable to GAIL since natural gas is used as fuel for power generation in Tripura. It may be mentioned here that six states have so far not accepted the proposal including Tripura and several other North-Eastern states. This is a direct result of the fact that the North-Eastern states have genuine difficulties in meeting the stiff conditionality of the scheme.

The centre is yet to get hold of the fact that the present power operations in the North-East ca not be run on the same commercial lines as in the rest of the country. Reports said that the state government has been examining the scheme for quite sometime now. But as a result of the fact that the conditionality attached to the scheme is quite stiff any final decision has been kept pending. While there are some benefits for of the scheme, it comes with the stringent conditions. The conditions include if there is delay in payment of current bills then an interest of 15 percent will be enforced alongwith reduction of power supplied from the CPSUs will also be reduced accompanied by suspension of the assistance for different power schemes.

• Before arrival of additional forces :A fresh look into security network : 

State government decided to review the existing security network before the arrival of additional security personnel in state, according to sources of the state home department. Sources said, the chief minister has directed higher ups of the home department to draw up specific network to accommodate the additional security forces including army personnel to be arrived soon as assured by the Dy. Prime Minister Mr. L. K. Advani. Sources said, the central government as asked the state to have a final look into the exact requirement of the security personnel in specified areas.

The Union Home Ministry also directed the state government to submit a concrete report detailing the existing security network made with the available forces and the specified areas where the requirement of the deployment of additional forces is maximum, according to sources. It is also learnt that the Union Home Ministry is also giving a relook into the necessary aspect of the deployment of security personnel made in 1988 last. The higher officials were busy enough in formulating the necessary aspect to incorporate into the report t be submitted before the cetnre for deployment of army and other security personnel, sources added.

Sources of the home department said that at the prevailing circumstances, the deployment of security forces is utmost necessary Dhalai district and South Tripura district. State government decided to make more co-ordination between the state's own security forces and the central security forces to make the operation more effective. The TSR jawans are being given necessary training to continue a close contact and monitoring with the additional security forces when deployed. The chief minister Mr. Manik Sarkar recently met Dy. Prime Minister Mr. L. K. Advani and urged him to release addition a forces before the ensuring assembly elections. (From ' TRIPURA TIMES ' English Daily, 22nd November 2002)

• Fresh look into clinical establishment rule : 

State government has decided to give a fresh look into the clinical establishment acts & rule. The decision was taken to ensure better service to the patients in a controlled way, according to official sources. The sources said the clinical establishments' Act and rules is prevalent to monitor the function of the pathological units and other private medical establishments, all over the state. Earlier, a crucial meeting of higher officials of state health department was held. It was reviewed that the function of certain medical establishment was not upto the mark.

Certain disadvantages and allegation were received from a few number of medical establishments regarding the services. The fresh look into the existing clinical establishments will be of significant one in respect to the service by private medical establishments. The officials sources said the department will move the government to make it more effective. A certain provision is also being reviewed by the state law department, sources added.

• Tight security along Indo-Bangla border : 

Security measures have been tightened up along Indo-Bangla border area of West Triprua district. The Border Security Forces (BSF) were put on maximum alert to prevent any infiltration of subversive elements from neighboring Bangladesh. It is learnt that the Indo-Bangla Border area spreading Northern part of West Triprua district was sealed of as a part of the tight security measures. The patrolling by jawans of Border security forces has also been beefed up. The tight security measures were taken anticipating fresh infiltration from Bangladesh army to flush out the insurgents.

It is learnt from reliable sources that Bangladesh army, following repeated appeals by India to check subversive elements from that country, launched a massive strike to flush out the insurgents, from hilly terrain parts of Chittagong Hill Track Area (CHT). It is suspected that the insurgents of the state might infiltrate into state in the wake of the fresh offensive against them by Bangladesh army. The sources said, Sidhai, Mohanpur and other parts of Northern part of Sadar subdivision area preferred by the subversive elements to infiltrate into state.

Besides, a gun battle between the two rival groups of National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) and All Tripura Tiger Forces (ATTF) also took place at somewhere in the forest covered part of Sidhai. Sources said, the gun battle took place when the NLFT militants tried to stop a group of rival ATTF insurgents infiltrating into state through this part of Sadar subdivision. Besides, police personnel of Sidhai police station was put on more alert. The police is also maintaining a close contact with the BSF and other central security agencies as a part of the tightened security network.

• TSR camps to come up at interior parts : Manik : 

The chief minister Mr. Manik Sarkar today made it clear that despite all the opposition in terms of setting up the TSR camps the state government was determined to secure the interior parts of the state. The chief minister Mr. Sarkar who was addressing the TSR jawans at the inauguration ceremony of the fifth battalion headquarters of TSR at Duluma in Amarpur subdivision also mentioned that the state government was determined to foil the attempt in terms of foiling the orchestrated attempt to block the moves of the state government in this regard.

He also expressed concern over the fact that ISI activities was increasing. He lamented over the fact that earlier when he had mentioned about the threat of ISI nobody was willing to pay any heed. But now even the Union Home Minister Mr. L. K. Advani has also expressed resentment in this regard. He expressed concern over the fact that the ISI was using the Bangladesh soil.

Regarding the insurgency activities he said that the leaders of the militant outfits have been leading lavish lives in Dhaka and Chittagong who were hell bent to get hold of power in one way or the other. He complemented the rule of the TSR jawans who have made sure that the ground situation in Amarpur improves gradually. The IGP (operation) Mr. T. K. Sanyal in his address said that the TSR jawans were working quite hard in terms of bringing in everlasting peace in the state. He said that not only at Duluma the camps will also come up at Jampuijala, Brikharampara and other interior part of the state too despite the protests from certain circles in this regard. Among other South Tripura police super Punit Rastogi, BSF DIG P. S. Deb were also present on the occasion. (From ' TRIPURA TIMES ' English Daily, 21st November 2002)

• All CICs to be brought under scheme : 

State government has decided to take up a quality computer awareness programme at district and block levels involving the Collective Information Centre (CICs). As a part of the awareness scheme, the project would be launched under computer programme of Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU). The decision was taken in a meeting convened to evolve ways to widen information and technology based network across the state. State minister of industries and commerce department Pabitra Kar presided over the meeting.

The official sources said, the computer awareness programme with the assistance of IGNOU will be launched in phased manner. The programme in its first phase will be launched CICs of Khowai, Bishalgarh and Jirania. The scheme include a curriculum ranging 40 hours period. The first 10 hours will be of theory based curriculum and the rest 30 hours will be practical curriculum, official sources said all the others CICs will be brought under the similar scheme in the next phase. The sources said a short period based computer awareness programme will be launched for Members of State Legislative Assembly (MLA), Members of Municipal Council, Nagar and Gram Panchayats.

Apart from this, special scheme will also be launched for officials, employees, students under the programme, official sources added. Official sources said it decided that "four category" area have been identified to enable the common people to have access to the computer education through the CICs. The official sources said such facilities will be made available for any patients to contact with doctors for fixing appoints and for registration of names at the outdoor of G. B. hospital. The farmers will have the access to the weather and farming trends through these CICs. The students will get necessary information about the admission in educational establishments and such facility will also be available for unemployed. (From ' TRIPURA TIMES ' English Daily, 20th November 2002)

• Badal for use of local materials for earthquake proof buildings : 

The Finance Minister Mr. Badal Chowdhury has stressed on the need for the use of locally available materials in order to bring low cost housing to the doorsteps of the common man. Mr. Chowdhury who inaugurated a seminar on "Revision of National Building Code of India" at SIPARD auditorium recently. Mr. Chowdhury who was the chief guest at the inaugural ceremony of the seminar also made it clear that the importance of such seminars is borne out of the fact that there is an urgent need for the construction of earthquake resistant buildings and the use of locally available materials for the same purpose. The proposals placed by Mr. Chowdhury was appreciated by the assembled engineers.

At the end of the seminar certain important points were incorporated by the assembled engineers in the revised code for national building. The points include use of locally available materials and the need for using inbuilt security systems in the important buildings to avoid loss of life and properties by unnatural hazards. In terms of specific problems of the North East it was decided at the seminar that small cities specially water supply and sewerage system in the region. The local planning authorities have also been advised to make sure that right use of water and its conservation is affected and a specific enforcement mechanism for the provision of code particularly with respect to the statutory clearness is observed.

It has also been decided that a task force will be set up that will organise similar seminars as the one in Agartala in the coming days. The seminars will be organised at New Delhi, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Cochin and Nagpur. The recommendations from the various seminars will be placed before the Bureau of Indian Standards towards carving out of the national building code in the coming days.

• Option open for delimitation of assembly segments : 

The meeting of delimitation committee today reviewed the necessary aspect of the restructuring of the sixty assembly constituencies. Sources said, all the related matters relating to the delimitation of the assembly segments in the context of the short period of scheduled date of ensuring assembly elections were discussed in the meeting. It is learnt that the talks were presided over by former Chief Justice of Supreme Court (SC) Mr. Kuldip Singh. The Election Commissioner Mr. B. B. Tandon was also present in the meeting.

Associate members of the delimitation committee and representatives from the state A. B. Paul, members of Parliament (MP) Mr. Khagen Das, Mr. Bajuban Reang, Mr. Manik Dey and Mr. Ratimohan Jamatia were among others present in the talks. It is learnt that options for possible delimitation were figured in the talks. Sources said, state government, however, did not give any specific proposal since it is a normal process of the Election Commission.The delimitation of sixty assembly segments became necessary following changed demographic nature of the assembly segments. (From ' TRIPURA TIMES ' English Daily, 19th November 2002)

• Concern over discrepancies in Urban Development schemes : Centre asks state to file Utilization certificates & Quarterly progress reports : 

Concerned over the fact that major discrepancies are appearing in terms proper use of funds meant for the Urban Development schemes the Centre has asked all the state governments in the North East to send all Utilization certificates and Quarterly progress reports. Reports said that the Left Front government may face trouble in the coming days as major discrepancies have been reported in major urban development schemes including the work now underway by National Building Construction Corporation (NBCC) and National Projects Construction Corporation (NPCC), the two government enterprises that have also got stranglehold of urban development projects in Tripura including the state capital.

Reports said that the tight measures initiated by the Centre was announced by the Union Urban Development Minister Mr. Ananta Kumar at Guwahati recently. significantly enough the Urban Development Minister Mr. Sudhir DAs was not present at the meeting when the important announcement in this regard was made. Reports said that the centre is concerned over the fact that there has been major discrepancies in terms of the utilization of the funds meant for the Urban Development schemes. Besides the centre is also aware of the work done by National Building Construction Corporation (NBCC) and National Projects Construction Corporation (NPCC), the two government enterprises in states like Tripura where the work has left a lot to be desired.

Eyebrows have been raised over the quality of the work done by National Building Construction Corporation (NBCC) and National Projects Construction Corporation (NPCC), the two government enterprises in the state and a departmental inquiries also on. The Union Minister has taken a hard stance on the issue after receiving complaints from concerned circles in order to make sure that the quality in terms of the urban development schemes is maintained. The Union Minister has however expressed his opinion on the tremendous potential in terms of the development of the urban region in the region.

• Delimitation Committee meet : 

The meeting of Delimitation Committee will be held in New Delhi tomorrow, according to sources of the state election department. The meeting of the Delimitation Committee will be chaired by former chief justice of the Supreme Court Kuldip Singh. The representatives of the Election Commission visited the state and reviewed the process in consultation with the officials of the state election department. The delimitation of the state legislative assembly became necessary following change in demographic nature of the legislative assembly. It is also learnt that due to changed demographic nature the balance of population was also changed within the sixty assembly segments thus creating unbalanced ration in the representation to the assembly.

It is learnt that population of certain segments was increased tremendously and the same declined in other assembly segments during the past several years. It was decided that the increased population will be slipped into that assembly segments with decreased number of population in order to bring a balanced ratio. The decision to delimit the assembly segments created varied reaction among the political parties. Members of both ruling and opposition parties expressed displeasure over the move of delimitation. The state government, however, stated following reports in media, that it never approached for any delimitation move. The state government repeatedly said it was the discretionary authority of the Election Commission of India to take any step on the delimitation issue.

• Construction companies stop work at Teliamura : No security arrangement by Assam Rifles : 

Lack of proper security cover by Assam Rifles hamper construction work at a camp of the AR sources said. Even it is learnt that despite directive by the Brigediar Satyendra Kumar to arrange security arrangement for the workers, engaged in construction work at the camp, of the Assam Rifles, sources said. Even it is learnt that despite directive by the Brigediar Satyendra Kumar to arrange security arrangement for the workers, engaged in construction for the workers, engaged in construction work at the camp, the authority and jawans of the camp were not allegedly taking any step in this regard.

It is learnt that the two construction companies M/s MP Khaitan and M/s Indrajit Mehta Pvt.. Ltd. were entrusted to for construction work at Saddukarkari camp of 22 no. Assam Rifles at Ranghawl Para of Teliamura. It learnt that the insurgent of the banned outfit National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) recently sent letters to the management of two private construction companies demanding huge cash. The letter was sent on November 6 last. Sources said, the NLFT ultras demanded that one per cent cash of the total amount of the project should be subscribed to the ultras.

It is also learnt that the ultras entered the makeshift office of the two construction companies, within the premises of the AR camp and handed the extortion letters. The management of the two construction companies took the matter to the notice of the higher authority of the camp but no positive step was taken in this regard, it is alleged. It is also learnt that heavy resentment is brewing among the workers as higher authority of MES is not taking any steps to ensure proper security to them. It is alleged that CE, Shillong zone and garrison engineer (executive engineer) of MES is not taking interest and step to take the matter with Assam Rifles Authority to ensure necessary security arrangement to the states.

The two private companies were working on behalf of the MES, the core company, Mr. Pandey and Mr. Tiwari, Manager and Supervisor respectively of M/s Indrajit Mehta Pvt. Ltd recently left the project site due to the lack of proper security covers. It is also alleged that the insurgents also demanded cash rupees 50,000 from the two sub-construction companies about six months ago. The ultras also threatened of dire consequences if the money was not paid to them. The management of the two private construction companies had paid rupees 50,000 to the insurgents.

It is also alleged that police personnel of Teliamura police station also urged the AR of the camp to take necessary steps at Rangkhwal Para and its adjoining areas to check movement of insurgents but no step was taken by the AR jawans of the 21 Bn. of Saddukarkari camp. It is learnt that the two construction companies stopped the construction works and left the project site with staffs.

• Manik raises voice of protest at last : No place for Tripura in East West corridor : 

The Atal Bihari Vajpayee government at the centre that has drawn up a grand plan in terms of connecting the four regions of the country. The proposes North-South and East-West corridor that envisages for a four lane highway however does not have any place for Tripura.

What is significant is that the ruling CPI(M) that has in the past taken up the aspect of neglect meted out to the state on several occasions has totally skipped the issue of the centre completely keeping out Tripura from this massive plan. The East-West corridor plant to connect Silchar with Porbandar. And till this date 800 kms of the East-West corridor is already complete and 688 kms is under implementation. On the other hand the centre proposes to connect the rest of the 5,812 km of the East-West Corridor by December 2007. Reports said even the state government has lost the opportunity of raising the demand in front of the Union Minister of state for road transport and highways Maj Gen B. C. Khanduri who visited the state recently. The project envisages connecting the cities of Silchar and Porbandar with a four lane highway. This will be result in much improved roads in the North-East. But what is significant is that the proposed four lane highway will not pass through Sonarpur in Meghalaya and Patharkandi in Assam that are in a deplorable condition at present.

Reports said that if the state capital Agartala is to be connected to the proposed Trans Asian Highway then it needs to be connected with the East-West corridor that will lead in major improvement in roads leading upto the state capital. Otherwise international donor organisations that propose to fund the Trans Asian Highway that will connect the North-East with Bangladesh, Myanmar and Thailand will surely back off given the lack of basis road infrastructure in the state.

The Chief Minister Mr. Sarkar has in the meantime in his address at the North East Council meet asked the central government to take affective steps in order to ensure that Tripura also gets linked with the East-West corridor with a four lane highway. He mentioned that the need of the hour is to see that Tripura also gets connected and linked with the proposed Trans Asian Highway. The demand was raised at the 47th North East Council (NEC) meet at Guwahati. He mentioned of the fact that Tripura has to face major problems as a result of the fact that condition of road at Sonarpur and Patharkandi in Assam. Movement of essential commodities suffer for log time because of road blockades at these locations.

• Helicopter service resumes : 

The helicopter service along the Agartala-Dharmanagar route has resumed today after a gap of few days. Reports said that the normal helicopter flights between Agartala and Dharmanagar was delayed as a result of the fact that the pawan hans helicopters operating on this route needed urgent repair. As a result of maintenance work the services were called off for the last few days. In the meantime eyebrows have been raised to why the helicopter service was discontinued within a short span of the beginning of the service. Reports from Kailashahar and Dharmanagar also said that the residents of the two towns were a confused lot as a result of the fact that the helicopter service did not operate for the last few days. But with the service resuming today the locals have expressed  sign of relief.

• Power unit at Baramura becomes operational this month : 

State power minister Badal Chowdhury today laid foundation stone of 33.11 KV and 1 X 7.5 MW sub power station at Khairpur. The estimated cost to build up the power station has been fixed at rupees 1.02 crore and it will be completed by eight months next, officials sources of the state power department said. The power minister in his speech said that there is immense demand for power for the industrialisation in state. He said state government took all out efforts to provide electricity to all the villages of the state.

The power minister said that efforts are also on to utilise the natural resources available in state for generation of power. Mr. Chowdhury also criticised the central government for its privatisation move of power sector. The minister said the state government objected the privatisation move of the centre and said formulated policies to ensure that the consumers of the state are exempted from maximum power tax. The farmers and industrialists of the state will be benefited after the power unit states generation of power in state.

Mr. Chowdhury said that the insurgent activities were hampering development projects of the state. Mr. Chowdhury said the common tribal are severely affected due to the subversive activities and people of the state should come forward against the insurgents. The state industries & commerce minister Pabitra Kar in his speech said much development took place at power, industries and farming sectors in state during the previous ten years LF rule. Mr. Kar said that state government was reviewing the prospect of generation of power by utilising natural resources available in state. The MLA Manik Dey, Vice Chairman of Jirania Panchayat Samity Anil Baran Majumder were among those present. (From ' TRIPURA TIMES ' English Daily, 16th November 2002)

• Gujrat polls delays arrival of additional paramilitary forces : State Govt. has rushed urgent message to centre : Manik : 

The state government has rushed an urgent message to the centre to rush additional paramilitary forces to the state. The Chief Minister Mr. Manik Sarkar who is in Guwahati to attend the 47th meeting of the North East Council today made the disclosure fo the state government's SOS to the centre for rushing additional security forces to the state.

In his address at the NEC meet the Chief Minister Mr. Manik Sarkar also made it clear that the state government urgently needs more central forces to tackle the problem of insurgency. It is well known fact that several camps are located across the international border and therefore the central government needs to take effective steps to meet this challenge while at the same time construction of boundary fencing should be taken up on priority to prevent easy movement of the militants across the international boundary. He also made it clear that the need of deliberation on development in the region will be incomplete without a decision on ways and means to tackle the insurgency problem. He lamented over the fact that insurgency was not only hampering development activities but also discouraging prospective investors to the region.

In the meantime, reports said that the arrival of the additional security forces in the state prior to the assembly polls next year will be delayed, highly placed sources told TRIPURA TIMES today. Reports said that the arrival of the security forces is going to be delayed as a result of the fact that assembly polls are round the corner in GUjrat. Reports said that the Deputy Prime Minister Mr. L. K. Advani has already conceded to the demand made by Chief Minister Mr. Sarkar for the deployment of additional security forces in teh state in the run up to the assembly polls early next year. And Mr. Advani wh is also the Union Home Minister will ensure that the additional BSF and CRPF units starts arriving to the state as soon as possible.

The Union Home Minister is particularly happy with the fact that the Tripura Chief Minister has supported his hard stance taken vis-a-vis Bangladesh that has become a hub of activity for taliban, ISI and AI Qaida besides the ATTF, NLFT and other militant outfits of the North-East. But the deployment of BSF as well as CRPF units is getting delayed due to the simple reason that at present priority number one for the election commission is to make sure that free and fair polls takes place in Gujrat. As a result the additional BSF and CRPF units tht were bound for the North-Eastern states from Jammu and Kashmir have now been diverted to Gujrat.

Reports said that after the assumption of the Congress-PDP government in Jammu and Kashmir relative peace has returned there helping the centre to withdraw some units of the central paramilitary forces that were rushed to the state in the run up to the assembly elections there. Besides Tripura Chief Minister Mr. Manik Sarkar his Assam counterpart Mr. Tarun Gogoi had also raised the demand for the deployment of a additional security forces in the state. This is after the recent upsurge in the activities of militants in Assam.

• Base camps of NE ultras outfit : Bangla Govt. reviews India's offer : 

Khaleda Zia led Bangladesh government seems to beat a retreat from its avowed resolution that there are no insurgents base camps of North-Eastern (NE) region in that country. Reports said, foreign minister of Bangladesh, Samsul Haque Chowdhury today told newsmen at Dhaka that Bangla government was reviewing the list of insurgents' base camps of NE region given by India. The statement of Bangla foreign minister came in the wake of India furnishing list of insurgents with Bangladesh detailing number of base camps of NE ultras.

The union government also furnished details with the Bangladesh government about the number of insurgents caught by Bangladesh army. The Bangladesh government recently refuted the allegation by Deputy Prime Minister Mr. L. K. Advani that NE insurgents had set up base camps in Bangladesh and they were using Bangla soil to launch subversive activities in NE region. Even recently the Bangla government also gave a list of criminals return. The Khaleda Zia led governemnt also claimed that these criminals took shelter in India and India government should hand over them.

The deputy prime minister also urged Bangladesh government to demolish those 99 base camps of NE region and also hand over the 77 insurgents, caught by them. The stand taken by the Bangla government at this stage clearly indicates a major change of scene in the sweeping insurgent activities in the NE region. Chief Minister Mr. Manik Sarkar also urged repeatedly to the centre to take up the issue with Bangladesh government and to persuade it to demolish the base camps and hand over the insurgents of the two banned outfits National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) and All Tripura Tiger Forces (ATTF).

• Shatrughan may attend Annual Conference of Diabetic Forum in Dec. : Over 3.1 lakh people in Tripura have diabetes : 

Over ten percent of the states population or about 3.1 lakh people in the state have diabetes. This startling data was provided by Dr. P. K. Bhattarcharya, the President of All Tripura Diabetic Forum at a press meet on the occasion of world diabetes day. World diabetes day that is been celebrated in the whole world today assumes greater significance according to Dr. Bhattarcharya as the number of diabetic petients in the state is increasing with every passing day everywhere including the state.

As per data made available by Dr. Bhattcharya that was provided by the Workd Diabetic Federation there are as many as 151 million people suffering from diabetes in the whole world at present. And WHO believes that this figure will rise to 300 million by the year 2025. India infact has the largest number of diabetic patients in the world with as many as 32.7 million patients in the country. Another startling data that was provided by Dr. Bhattacharya is that half the population in the world is not aware of diabetes and its symptoms.

This year the theme that has been chosen by the world diabetic federation is 'your eyes and diabetes'. And the state diabetic forum that has received a silver medal for exemplary work in the field of raising the awareness level on diabetes organised a check up camp at the lions club here today. He said that early detection of diabetes may prevent blindness. This aspect is often neglected by phyisicians too, he mentioned.

According to Dr. Bhattacharya the main reason for the rising number of diabetic patients in the state is that the people are going for fast food that results in uncntrolled weight and excess intake of calorie or fat. In addition there is less interest in terms of going for exercse that has raised the number of diabetic patients in the state. Also present at the press meet was Dr. H. S. Roychowdhury who declared that the eight annual conference of the Triprua Diabetic Forum will commence from December 21 next. The Union Health Minister Mr. Shatrughan Sinha is expected to inaugurate the two day conference. At the conference specialist doctors including Prof. B. K. Sahay will present modern exercise techniques.

• Seminar on NBC (National Building Code) : 

The two day long seminar on National Building Code concluded here today. The seminar was organised by Agartala Local Centre of the Institution of Engineers (India). The representatives from ONGC, CPWD and others from neighbouring Assam, Meghalaya participated in the seminar. Several recommendations were incorporated in the final agenda and these would be sent to apex body of the NBC. (From ' TRIPURA TIMES ' English Daily, 15th November 2002)

• India losing interest in Bangladesh gas? : 

The recent discovery of gas by Reliance petroleum in the Krishna-Godwavari basin will have a direct affect on the prospects of import of gas from Bangladesh. Reports said that the discovery of gas by this private consortium has resulted in a situation where the energy needs of the country will be met to a considerable extent in the coming years. But the demand for gas still remains in the national capital territory of Delhi. The demand has been made in terms of clear indications on the part of the Bangladesh government is still lacking in terms of sanctioning gas supply to India.

But the commitment on the part of the Bangladesh government has been lacking due to mounting internal pressures. Reports said that the forthcoming session of the Bangladesh parliament could be significant in the sense that this could provide the indication on the future stance of the Bangladesh government in this regard. The Bangladesh government is thinking in terms of introducing a bill i the next session of Parliament reports said. The move by the opposition Awami League to boycott the forthcoming session of Parliament might well help the moves on the part of the Bangladesh government in this regard.

But the recent trends in terms of disruption of normal ties between the two countries after recent allegation made by the Union Home Minister Mr. L. K. Advani in terms of terming Bangladesh as a hub of Al Qaida, Taliban and ISI has resulted in a situation where the Bangladesh government might well be not too keen in terms of sanctioning gas supply to India. Latest reports also pointed out to the fact that the Bangladesh Prime Minister Khaleda Zia might well announce the decision on the sanction of gas supply to India during her visit to New Delhi in December next. But this will materialise only after the Indian government too gives the necessary sanction in terms of gas imports from Bangladesh. Given the present blow hot and blow cold position of Indo-Bangladesh ties at the present juncture the uncertainty in this regard might well continue for quite sometime.

• No moves to raise allocation to 90 percent : Centre thinking of forming RD monitoring committee : 

As a result of complaints received from concerned circles in different North Eastern states the centre has decided to set up pa three tier monitoring system to stop misultilisation of Rural Development funds in the North Eastern states. Reports said that the centre had received the maximum number of complaints from Tripura and Assam in this regard. Reports said Union Minister Mr. Tapan Sikdar has personally informed the Union Rural Development Minister Mr. Shanta Kumar about allegations in terms of gross misultilisation of rural development funds in Tripura. Reports also added that the proposed three tier monitoring committee will be set up at the state, district and block levels. Indications about the formation of the three their monitoring committee was provided by Mr. Kumar who met the Rural Development minister of the North Eastern states at Guwahati recently.

Mr. Jitendra Chowdhury, the Rural Development minister of the state was also present at the meeting. Reports added that despite all pressures the centre was not conceding to the states demand for a 90.10 proportion in terms of sanction of Rural Development funds. The centre has been providing a 75.25 percent allocation for all the North Eastern states till this date despite constant demands been raised by the concerned state governments in the North East. The demand made by the likes of Mr. Chowdhury is to ensure that for the special category states like Tripura the centre gives 90 percent of the total funds leaving the rest 10 percent for the concerned states.

But significantly enough the ruling CPI (M) has remained mum on the neglect of the state on the part of the centre in terms of neglect of sanctioning of appropriating funds for Rural Development Sector. It remains to be seen how the CPI (M) reacts to the move of formation of monitoring committee. The ruling CPI (M) controls over 90 percent of the states Panchayets and formation of a monitoring committee might hamper the smooth functioning of Panchayets, it is feared. Reports said that the centre's move did not come out from the blue as the union minister Mr. Sikdar had also provided indications in this regard during his visit to the state. He had made the allegation of misappropriation of funds for the Rural Development Sector. But the states Rural Development minister Mr. Chowdhury had strongly refuted the claims made by Mr. Sikdar. Soon after the union minister left the state.

• Jampui Festival concludes : 

The three day long Jampui Festival concluded today. Even though the celebrations on the penultimate day of the festival was hampered as a result of the fact that the heavy rains lashed Jampui Hills today the skies were somewhat clear. The attraction of the Jampui festival increased considerably as a result of the fact that several cultural artists from Bangladesh were present during the course of the festival. The ICAT Minister Mr. Jitendra Chowdhury  and Deputy Speaker in the state assembly Mr. Subal Rudra were also present at the celebrations on the penultimate day of the festival reports said. It may be mentioned here that the ICAT Minister Mr. Chowdhury had earlier inaugurated the three day festival.

Speaking at the inaugural ceremony the ICAT Minister Mr. Chowdhury revealed the plans on the part of the state government to develop the tourism sector in the state. The cooperation of the people is needed for the fruitful implementation of the plans on the part of the state government. He said that he has observed that the tourists who arrive to the state are the ones drawn by the natural beauty of the state. Among others Editor of Daily Desher Katha Mr. Gautam Das, local MLA Binduram Reang were also present on the occasion.

• More industries on fruit processing : 

The Industries & Commerce Minister Pabitra Kar today said a good number industrial units expressed wish to set up industries on horticulture and fruit processing units in state. A seminar on horticulture and fruit processing industries on North-Eastern (NE) region were held at Kolkata on November 7 last. The minister of state for fruit processing ministry N. D. Sammugam was present in the meet. Mr. Kar said that seminar discussed on the prospect of horticulture and fruit processing industries. The estimated production of fruits including jack fruits, mango was also figured in the talks.

The industries minister said recently NEDFI conducted a survey on production of fruits and prospect of setting up of fruit processing industries in state. The report of the survey indicated that there is maximum potential of setting up of fruit processing industries based on varied number of fruits in state, he said. The ministers said 12 industrialists involved in fruit processing units and they submitted a detailed projects in these units. Mr. Kar said, a good number of industrialists expressed willingness to set up industries. He said, state government would provide necessary help to including subsidy if the industrialists come to set up industries in state.

• Farmers in trouble, standing crops damaged : 

Normal life was completely disrupted following torrential rains from evening last. The sudden spates of rain threatens the harvest of next agriculture season with most of the standing corps are likely to be damaged. The state capital Agartala was several was severely affected following the incessant rains. Al the city roads were submerged with rain water outpouring from the roadside drain. The poor drainage system of capital city Agartala was exposed further with all the major roads were under knee-deep water. The traffic system was completely paralysed as the disorder continued till evening. Though the movement of vehicles was poor following the incessant rains, indiscriminate and rash driving triggered fear of road mishaps. The official sources said all the major rivers following in West Tripura district were on normal course and there is no threat of flood or flood like situation.

The low laying areas of capital city Agartala including Bhattapukur, Krishnanagar, Bidurkarta Chowmuhani were submerged with rain water. The mechanised water pumps were in operation to drain out the rain water. The MET sources said the cyclonic storm located in Bay of Bengal caused the sudden rains and it would likely to continue for few days. The officials sources of agricultural department said that farmers would be in trouble due to the unseasonable shower as rain water gets stagnant of the crops. P. K. Paul, top executive of the state agriculture department today said that the farmers will face difficulties to harvest the crops due to the rains.

He said, the farmers would have to adopt extra careful method for harvesting. Mr. Paul advised that a mixture of sands should be used for harvesting as rain water stagnant on the roots of the crops might damage the standing crops. The MET sources today said that the sky will remain cloudy tomorrow. A total 92.3 mm rains were recorded since last evening. Reports fro several parts of state the normal life was also paralysed at Udaipur, Dharmanagar, Kailashahar sub-divisional towns. The condition of National Highway might further deteriorate following the rains.

• Manik opens new Tripura Bhawan at Delhi : 

The Chief Minister Mr. Manik Sarkar today inaugurated the new Tripura Bhawan complex at New Delhi today. The new Tripura Bhawan complex that is located at Tikendrajit Marg at Chanakyapuri has been constructed by CPWD. The Chief Minister opened the new Tripura Bhawan and hoped that the residents of the state will reap the benefits after opening of the second Tripura Bhawan at New Delhi. He stressed on the need of proper maintenance of this new Tripura Bhawan.

The Triprua Bhawan will also serve the interests of the people of the state including cross section of children who come for higher education, others who come for health requirements, business as well as tourism requirements. He mentioned the fact that residents of the state even have to stay on at bhawans run by the other governments of the region too, he added. Mentionable the residents of the state had to face a harrowing time in terms of getting proper facilities for boarding and lodging at the national capital. They had to stay at hotels as the only Tripura Bhawan only had a limited capacity.

With today's opening ceremony there are two Tripura Bhawans at Delhi. AT present there are two Tripura Bhawans at Kolkata too. Besides there are Triprua Bhawans at Chennai and Guwahati too. What is significant is that several opposition leaders were also present on the occasion. They include PC President Birjit Sinha, INPT leader Mr. Nagendra Jamatia, both MLSs and former Minister Mr. Ratan Chakraborty. There are 16 rooms at the new Triprua Bhawan. Other facilities at the Triprua Bhawan include conference room, an amphitheatre LAN connectivity to facilitate sharing of information and internet connectivity. Officers from the Horticulture Department, National Informatics Centre, several senior and retired and serving officers were also present on the occasion.

• Seminar on National Building Code of India : 

In a joint initiative of the Institute of Engineers, Agartala Local Centre, and Indian Building Congress, New Delhi, a seminar will be held the Conference Hall of SIPARD, Arundhutinagar, Agartala on Nov, 13 and 14, 2002. The subject of discussion is "Revision of National Building Code of India", which was formulated by the Bureau of Indian Standard.

In this connection the experts of various organisation and the government departments of West Bengal and the government departments of West Bengal and North-Eastern states will keep their observations. After the seminar the salient features of the resolutions will be submitted to the special Task Force New Delhi, that was set up on this subject, to include in the code in the next phase. Representatives of the Central and State governments and the Non-Governmental Organisations will be present. Persons and Organisations who are willing to take part in this discussion are requested by the Honorary Secretary of IE Agartala to contact the office of the local centre.

• Tremendous scope of food processing sector remains untapped : Elevation of Arun Shourie to help North East states : 

The Union Minister in charge of Department of North Eastern Region (DONER), Mr. Arun Shourie has taken over as the new Industries Minister. Reports said that the Prime Minister Mr. Atal Bihari Vajpayee has handed over to Mr. Shourie this important portfolio only as a stopgap arrangement. This is as a result of the fact that Mr. Murosli Maran the present incumbent to this post is ill and undergoing treatment is US.

Reports said that Mr. Shouries appointment will be beneficial to the North Eastern States. This is so because Mr. Shourie has been toiling hard in order to bring about industrial development in this region. The North East has remained underdeveloped for long despite the fact that it has a strong potential. But due to proper initiative on the part of the state governments as well as the centre the region has remained underdeveloped for long. DONER had previously organised an investors meet at Mumbai showcasing development prospects in the industrial sector.

The idea of organising the investors meet was drawn by none other than the minister in charge of DONER, Mr. Shourie. In future too similar investors meets will be organised. Reports said that despite the best of efforts on the part of Mr. Shourie as lot needs to be done in this regard. Recently the centre had announced that a concession of Rs. 4 crore for those willing to set up food processing industries in the North East. Also on offer was Rs. 1 crore each for those old food processing units willing to go for an up gradation.

But despite these measures the industrialists have preferred to stay away from this region. The Union Minister in charge of the concerned department Mr. N. T. Shammugam expressed his anguish over the apathy on the part of the industrialists. He was addressing a seminar organised by Confederation of India Industry (CII) at Kolkata. He mentioned of the tremendous scope or development of food processing industries that was brought put by recent surveys conducted by the concerned ministry. He launched over the fact that it if efforts of the ministry did not materialise as a result of the apathy on the part of the industrialists thousands crores of rupees will go down the drain.

• Bangladesh High Commissioner admits of  ISI presence : 

The Bangladesh High Commissioner in India Tufail Haider has admitted to ISI presence in his country. The startling revelation was made by the Bangladesh High Commissioner at Kolkata. This is the first time anybody holding a high rank from Bangladesh has admitted of ISI presence. Reports said that the Bangladesh government that has been in the firing line of late over the issue of increased presence of Al Qaida and Taliban presence inside Bangladesh. In order to tide over the accusation of being tagged as terrorist and rouge nation the Bangladesh government seems to have taken the stance of admitting of limited ISI presence.

The Bangladesh High Commissioner who was at Kolkata to meet the West Bengal Chief Minister Mr. Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee made it clear that there was to presence of Al Qaida as well as Taliban elements inside Bangladesh. He pooh-poohed recent media reports in this regard and added that there were no 'hidden' elements in Bangladesh. Mr. Haider made the candid confession that it was indeed true that like in some states in India occasionally it is noticed that ISI agents are also nabbed in parts across Bangladesh. This is indeed a matter of concern, he mentioned. But at the same time he mentioned that in recent times the Bangladesh government was not taking any compromises on the law and order problem.

This was amply made clear by the peaceful passing away of this years Durga puja festival, he claimed. A general alert has been sounded on the Indo-Bangla border to see that the militants as well as other trouble making elements are unable to cross over to India, the Bangladesh High Commissioner stated. He said that Bangladesh government will abide by the decisions taken at the meeting held between the BSF and BDR DGs at there recent meet at New Delhi.

• Space department to help state Govt. : Jiten : 

The Space Research Department from centre has decided to extend the necessary help to the state government, the Science and Technology Minister Mr. Jitendra Chowdhury told scribes at a press meet at the state secretariat today. The help will come in terms of evolving development schemes evolved by the state government, he mentioned. The assurance was given by the joint secretary of the Space Department V. V. Bhat. The help from the space department could come in multifaceted fields. The include scanning the earthquake trends, threat of earthquakes that was one of the fields that was requested specially by the state government.

In other spheres the help has also been sought in terms of looking into the underground water resources available in the state. Besides data provided on land use and related spheres will also be taken up by the space department. In terms of developing a Agartala-Sonamura corridor and greater Agartala scheme too the data will be of immense help. Mr. Bhat was also present at a high level meeting held at the state secretariat presided over by Mr. Chowdhury. Among others Chief Secretary V. Thulasidas, Tripura State Pollution Control Board Chairman Mihir Deb and Science and Technology Commissioner G. K. Rao were also present on the occasion.

• Bangladesh, Nepal to attend : 

The fourth North-East Book Fair would highlight on the literal tradition of Tripura. The Book Fair will be held from November 29th to December 5th at Guwahati. This way informed by education minister Mr. Anil Sarkar and Information Minister Mr. Jitendra Chowdhury in a press conference. The representatives of the Gauwahati based organisation committee of the Book Fair were also present in the press meet.

The Education minister Mr. Anil Sarkar rsaid that book sellers and publishers will take part in the Book Fair. A separate pavilion will be set up in the week long fourth NE Book Fair. The Education minister said that the administrative building of the Book Fair will be constructed imitating Ujjayanta Place. Mr. Sarkar said that this years' NE Book Fair will highlight on the literal tradition of the state.

He said cultural programmes will be organised on 5th December and the focus will be laid on the theme of Tripura literature. The Joint Secretary of the organising committee of the Book Fair Narayan Kejariwal told the first NE Book Bair was organised in 1998. Each year a particular is chosen for bringing under focus. The first year, the highlight was laid on Mizoram and Meghalaya on the next year of it. The Chief Minister of Assam Mr. Tarun Gagoi will inaugurate the Book Fair Nepal and Bangladesh will also take past in the Book Fair. (From ' TRIPURA TIMES ' English Daily, 9th November 2002)

• Centre agreed to set up food park in state : 

Union government decided to set up a food processing industrial park in state along with seven others in North-Eastern region, according to official sources. The sources said the decision to set up all the eight other food processing industrial park was taken in a meeting held in Kolkata where officials of food processing industries of North-Eastern region and the concerned ministry were present. According to the senior officials of the industries department the four industrial parks will be set up at Assam and one each Meghalaya, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh and Tripura.

The ministry has directed government of these five states to formulate a separate potentiality based strategy and submit it to the centre within three months. The centre has decided to earmark rupees 125 crores for setting up of the fruit processing industrial park and building up of the necessary infrastructure for it, official sources said. It is learnt that a official of the ministry would visit all the five states to review the prospect of fruit processing and fruit based units.

The state government earlier, had proposed to the centre to set up a food processing park in state. The President A. P. J. Abdul Kalam laid foundation stone of a pineapple dust manufacturing unit at Bodhjung Nagar Industrial Complex on October 4. Earlier officials of fruit processing units expressed desire to harness potential of horticulture resources by setting up of fresh unit.

• State Govt. signs contract with Care Foundation : 

The Hyderabad based Care Foundation has entered into agreement with state government on the Tripura Super Speciality Hospital Society for the Super Speciality Block. The agreement was signed on October 29th last. The health minister Keshab Majumdar, Director of department, Secretary and Additional Secretary were present from state government side. The Care Foundation Society was represented by vice chairman Dr. D. Prasada Rao, A. K. Tiwary, Member Secretary of the society. Other officials were also present in the meeting.

It was decided that the society will enter into lease agreement with the state government for an initial period of 10 years on a monthly rent of rupees 2,00,000. The rent will be adjusted towards the seed capital provided by the government of the Tripura for the project, official sources said. The initial management structure will consist of Mission Director, Project Director, two hospital administrators, Manager, finance, accounts & billing, Estate Manager-cum-Security Officer and a Project Engineer, according to the agreement.

Total cost of project would be rupees 32 crores including the cost of medical equipment, computer systems and working capital margin of rupees 22 crore would be taken as term and remaining rupees 10 crore would be shared by the state government and the Care Foundation. Hyderabad on equal share. With part of the state government's contribution to the tune of rupees 3.60 being offset against lease rent for the building.

Official sources said attempts would be made, according to the agreement, to ensure that the society will run on a self supporting basis. It would have uniform charges for all the patients. Patients from BPL families would be given medical assistance by the state government as at present. According to the contract, the medical officers and other stall of Tripura government and Care Foundation most join the society on a deputation basis and the details would be worked out shortly. Cardiology and Cardio Thoracic surgery, Neurology, Nephrology, Urology and other departments would be commissioned in phased manner by October 2003 next, official sources said.

• Badal appeals to withdraw agitation : State Govt. decides to appoint 628 junior engineers : 

State government has decide to appoint 628 junior engineers through Tripura Public Service Commission (TPSC), state finance minister Badal Chowdhury said today. Chowdhury said 312 JEs will be recruited in public works department, 38 in agricultural department. A total 75 and 65 JEs will be recruited in rural development department and power department respectively. Besides 138 assistant engineers will also be recruited in different departments, he said. 

The finance minister said that earlier, the department has sent proposal to TPSC to start the recruitment process on May and August 2001 last. When asked about the alleged delay in recruitment process of junior engineers, Mr.. Chowdhury said the indiscriminate appointment policy of the previous government on 1989 onwards created administrative crisis. Even the appoint was not made through TPSC and reservation policy was also not maintained which led to retain problems including promotion, he said. The finance minister also said that even TPSC could not initiate the recruitment process as it was occupied with other process.

The finance minister said that fresh engineering graduate would also be able to apply for the same. However, the finance minister appealed to unemployed engineers to reconsider their decision to observe indefinite strike on May 11. Mr. Chowdhury said the state government have already taken decision to provide employment to unemployed engineers. He said the finance minister already told the agitating unemployed engineers that necessary recruitment process will be taken so.

• Pollution Control Board takes strong step to check Sound Pollution : 

Tripura State Pollution Control Board has decided to take step as precautionary measures to restrain indiscriminate use of fire crackers on the forthcoming Diwali festival. The Pollution Control Board has already conducted two separate surveys to measure the rate of pollution during the Durga Puja and Laxmi Puja Festivals. The Pollution Control Board expressed severe concern over the increasing rate of Sound Pollution due to use of fire crackers. Official sources today said that survey on November four, the Diwali Festival night at Agartala and other adjoining areas.

The department of Pollution Control Board would also conduct similar surveys at Ambassa and Udaipur sub-divisional town and other adjoining areas. Official sources of the Pollution Control Board would also conduct similar surveys at Ambassa and Udaipur sub-divisional town and other adjoining areas. Official sources of the Pollution Control Board said it also approached state home department to take necessary step to check use, manufacturing of the crackers with sound capability of more then 90 dB. Official sources said, the Science and Technology & Environment Minister Mr. Jitendra Chowdhury also appealed on behalf of him to people of the state to stop fire crackers. In the two previous surveys it was found that the indiscriminate use of fire cracker on the nights of Durga Puja and Laxmi Puja Festival caused Sound Pollution tremendously.

• Kailashahar linked by chopper service : 

Kailashahar sub-division has been linked with state capital Agartala by air route when Pawan Hansa chopper touched the ground of the old and reconstructed air filed at the sub-divisional town this morning. Minister of Social Welfare Department Mr. Bidhubhusan Malakar, Managing Director of Tripura Road Transport Corporation (TRTC) and other officials of the Pawan Hansa were present at the air field. The chopper touched the airfield at around of 9.47 this morning amidst thunderous appliance from the local residents gathered at the airfield. The minister Mr. Bidhu Bhushan Malakar said that a long demand of people of Kailashahar sub-division has been fulfilled with the introduction of the chopper service.

He said the state government has decided to introduce chopper service with remote parts of Dhalai and North-Tripura districts. At present the state government is considering to link Bhangmun, Jampui of North Tripura and Raisyabari, Gandacherra of Dhalai districts with helicopter service. He said talks were held with Pawan Hansa Ltd. to introduce helicopter with more sitting capacity. He said Pawan Hansa Ltd. will introduce 10 seated helicopter if the service on Agartala via Kailashahar to Dharmanagar proves profitable. With the new link two major sub-divisions of North Tripura district have been linked with state capital Agartala by air route. (From ' TRIPURA TIMES ' English Daily, 2nd November 2002)

• Action plan for livestock farming at Kanchanpur : 

The state Animal Resources Development Department has drawn up action plan for socio-economically development of one of the most backward sub-division of the state. The action plan has been chalked out as part of 10 years long project to attain self sufficiency in all aspects by the fourth Left Front (LF) government. Official sources said that new action plan is aimed at attaining self sufficiency in animal origin food and self employment depicting a categorical approach with a wide range of activities covering various sectors.

These include production of egg, meat, milk wool, fodder drought power and skill up gradation apart from gearing up the departmental infrastructure, official sources added. A prestigious exotic pig breading farm having 32 numbers of parent stock (Launders breed) capacity has been inaugurated recently. The farm was inaugurated by Animal Resources Development Department Minister Mr. Narayan Rupini.

sources said the department has decided to set up a veterinary hospital with indoor facilities with operation theatre and modern diagnostically facilities. The model design was prepared by the local officer Dr. Sanjib Saha. A fund of rupees eleven lakh has also been assured by the member of parliament under MPLAD Scheme, sources added. Official sources said one duck farm will also be established at the farm complex of Kanchanpur. The department has also reviewing a proposal to set up a bacon factory for production of pork and by products for ensuring marketing. The issue has also been referred to the state planning board. Besides a new office of assistant director was also opened at Kanchanpur. The officials and staffs hope that function of the department will be smooth after opening of the office at the sub-division.

• 300 mentally retarded in state : 

About 300 mentally retarded persons are in state and state government has taken all efforts to provide social safety and security to them. This was informed by secretary of social education and welfare department T. S. Sailo in a workshop organised at SIPARD. The secretary said that a survey was conducted about the exact number of mentally retarded persons and causes of mental disabilities. Sailo said that the survey revealed that 300 persons were mentally retard in state.

He said that state government has initiated steps to improve condition of mentally retarded persons all over the state. The secretary said that cordial attitude should be adopted towards mentally regarded persons and non-government organisation should also come forward in this regard. Mr. Sailo said the department has taken step to set up a hospital for them in state. The director of national institute for mentally handicapped Dr. Jayanti Narayan in her speech said that about five percent people of the total population are disabled and among them two percent are mentally handicapped.

Dr. Narayan observed that the problems of them should be viewed on social point of view not on scientific view in order to give them due rights in society. "The problems of the mentally retarded persons should be viewed in the context of social needs and social value not in scientific view merely", he said. The director of the institute said that all should have a human attitude towards the mentally retarded persons since the problems faced by them in quite different from the common people. The two day long workshop was organised by the Institute and State social Education and Welfare department. (From ' TRIPURA TIMES ' English Daily, 1st November 2002)

• Power Ministry calls meeting on Nov 1 : Monarchak project on the lookout for alternative finance : 

The 500 MW mega power plant at Monarchak in Sonamura subdivision is all set to get the necessary head start despite the bottlenecks that has been blocking the project. Reports said that a high level meeting has been convened on November 1 next by the Union Power Ministry to explore the possibility of alternative finance and also to expeditiously start the project. The meeting assumes significance in view of the fact that the Japan Bank of International Cooperation (JBIC) has still not come to the forefront with its plan to fund this mega project. As a result the concerned implementing authorities have started to go on the lookout of alternative finance.

Due to the delay on the part of JBIC the option of finance from other commercial organisation with the help of the Government of India has become all important now. Putting to rest all speculation concerning the future of the project sources said that if the attempt on the part of the authorities failed the second option of International Competitive Bid (ICB) will be closely looked into. Already necessary steps have been taken in this regard besides looking into the option of agreement for connection to the national grid signing of gas supply and gas transportation agreement. Steps are also been taken in order to see that the signing of power purchase agreement and Public Investment Board meeting takes place at regular intervals.

Reports said that the investment clearance for the project will be in place by the end of the year or by January 2003 at the most so that work for the project construction could start immediately. Various surveys are already underway in order to present a perfect preparation needed at the time of tender document and general planning of the project.

• Unocal no longer willing to wait anymore : ADB links funds release with gas exports : 

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) one of the principal lending institutions in Bangladesh has asked the BNP led coalition government at Dhaka to make up it mind on the all important issue of gas exports to India.

The President of ADB Tadao Chino who is presently at Dhaka has asked the Khaleda Zia government to expediously order gas exports to India. He has threatened that the ADB help to Petrobangla will be stopped henceforth if the Bangladesh government did not take any hefty decision in this regard. The ADB had already set a deadline for the Bangladesh government on the gas exports issue. But the Bangladesh government turned a blind eye on the matter. As a result the ADB President had to rush to Dhaka in order to pursue the matter. But the Bangladesh government that faces mounting internal pressure is still non committal on the matter.

In the meantime US oil major Unocal has taken the onus of developing favourable campaign in order to see that the general public is made aware of the benefits of gas exports to India. Unocal funded a seminar on the issue at Sylhet last week. Addressing the seminar the Bangladesh head of Unocal also made it clear that if the Bangladesh government did no stop dilly-dallying on the issue of gas exports to India then Unocal will have no other option but to pack its bag.

In the meantime the Left parties in Bangladesh are going ahead with their long march from Dhaka to Chittagong protesting any moves on the part of the Bangladesh government to go for gas exports to India. The second leg of the long march is now on and is not generating the needed response as the Left parties do not have any mass base in Bangladesh.

• PC sanctions 3500 for North East Council : 

The Planning Commissioning has sanctioned Rs. 3500 crore for the North East Council (NEC). The allocation made by the Planning Commission is double that was made by the Planning Commission. The allocation was made during the ninth plan that was half that has been made by Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Mr. K. C. Pant. According to sources he Minister in Charge of DONER Mr. Arun Sourie has impressed upon the Union Finance Minister Mr. Jaswant Singh in order to make sure that the allocation for the NEC that plays a pivotal a role in the development of North East is increased.

Mr. Shourie has also impressed upon the Planing Commission to make sure that the overall allocation for the various states in the North East. All the states have been categorised as special category states by the centre. The increase in the allocation for the NEC has however not brought in a cheer for the state government.

This is so because the Chief Minister Mr. Manik Sarkar and the Finance Minister Mr. Badal Chowdhury has time and again said that the NEC has been neglecting the state in terms of providing allocation to the state. In terms of adequate allocation Triprua has to get the second largest allocation from the NEC. This is so because Tripura has the second largest population in the North East second only to Assam. But even as Assam gets the largest chunk of funds from NEC Tripura has not been lucky enough in terms of getting the second largest allocation from the North East Council.

In the meantime the Rural Development Minister Mr. Jitendra Chowdhury has demanded increase in teh allocation from the centre in order to implement all RD schemes in the state. The demand was made before the Union RD Minister Mr. Shanta Kumar at the meeting of North East RD Minister meet at Guwahati. (From ' TRIPURA TIMES ' English Daily, 31st October 2002)

• Krishnamurthy reviews electoral procedure : 

Election Commissioner of India T. S. Krishnamurthy today reviewed the situation relating to the next assembly elections in a meeting held at Rajbhawan. Chief Secretary V. Thulasidas and Director General of Police (DGP) Mathew John and others were present in the meeting. The CS V. Thulasidas is learnt to have apprised him about the prevailing electoral procedure prior to the announcement of assembly election

The DGP has informed him about the prevailing law and order situation before the ensuring assembly elections.

Later, the Election Commissioner of India inaugurated a workshop on the use of Electronic Voting Machine at SIPARD. The Secretary of EC S. P. Singh and Joint Secretary Ashish Chakraborty demonstrated about use of EVMs. Mr. Chakraborty told that name of maximum 16 candidates will be contained in the each ballot unit.

On electricity is required for operation of the EVMs. Only battery can make it operative he said.

He said five votes could be recorded in every EVM per one minute and a total 3840 voter could be recorded in a central unit. The Election Commissioner arrived in state today to review preparation for next assembly elections scheduled on February next. (From ' TRIPURA TIMES ' English Daily, 30th October 2002 )

• All hamlets to be provided with safe drinking water soon : Manik : 

The state government has decided to provide safe drinking water facilities in all the hamlets in the state with a sizeable population. The Chief Minister Mr. Manik Sarkar made this announcement at a seminar on Drinking Water Supply at the Rabindra Bhawan here today. The seminar funded by UNICEF was the opportune moment for the chief minister to make the announcement with regards to the grand plan evolved by the Chief Minister to supply safe drinking water to the masses in the state. He said that the Left Front government has decided that providing safe drinking water facilities in the remote hamlets will be priority area. After the Fourth Left Front government came to power only 21 hamlets have been left out of the list of the hamlets that still do not have safe dinking water facilities. By December 30 next it has been decided that these hamlets will also be provided with safe drinking water facilities. Referring to be problems faced in terms of providing safe drinking water facilities in hilly areas like Jampui Hill he said that the state government was thinking of using new technologies in order to provide safe drinking water facilities in these areas.

He however took a dig at the engineers to see that the drinking water facilities in place in the state are maintained in a proper manner. He also said that it is very concerning to learn that the iron content of water supplied through the plants that will soon be upgraded. But this will result in consumption of huge amount of money. He also expressed concern over the fact that the water level in the mass dominated areas in the state has been coming down of late. In Tripura the there should not be any problem in terms of drinking water as the rainfall in the state is quite high in comparison to the other states.

The PWD Minister Mr. Badal Chowdhury in his address stated that the state government was unable to make sure that the plans in terms of providing safe drinking water gets implemented. This is as a result of the fact that there is a paucity of funds and the states have to depend on the centre for supply of funds in order to implement the schemes. The AMC Chairperson Mr. Sankar Das in his address said that it is true that there are several pipelines in the state capital that are too old. The AMC has send to the centre a plan for providing safe drinking water to the residents of the state capital. The plan has earmarked a total expenditure of Rs. 13 crore.

• DONER to organise investment meet at Shillong in November : 

The Department of North Eastern Region (DONER)  has decided to organise an investors meet at Shillong in November next. The investment met will be organised by DONER in order to draw investments to the North East that has remained backward till this date. Reports said that the Chief Ministers of all the North Eastern states including the Tripura Chief Minister Mr. Manik Sarkar will be invited in the investment meet. The investment meet is not the first one that is been organised by DONER.

Earlier DONER had organised an investment summit at Mumbai. In the summit representatives from the North Eastern states and corporate houses took part. This had resulted in the improvement of the ranking of the North East in terms of investment in the state. Reports also mentioned that the investment meet is been organised at the behest of Mr. Arun Scourge, the Minister in-charge of DONER. Mr. Shourie has impressed upon the representatives of the corporate houses so that they can come all the way to the North East ad attend the investment summit.

Mr. Shourie was also instrumental in organising a workshop in New Delhi recently that was attended by the representatives of the aid agencies that have been providing billions for streamlining development in the North-East. Reports said that even though most of the states could not achieve anything substantial from the investors meet at Mumbai it was Tripura that remained the only real beneficiary. It remains to be seen as to what the Chief Minister and his cabinet colleagues are able to achieve at the investors meet in Shillong.

• Mukherjee assures fund for SC, OBC categoryd : 

Union Minister for State for Social Justice and Empowerment Satyabrata Mukherjee today assured that due considerations would be given to the demand of state government to sanction fund, except under the capital share pool, to minority corporation and OBC Corporation like ST & SC Corporation. The assurance was given during a meeting with the higher-ups of the state government. Mr. Mukherjee arrived in state today on a two day long visit.

The minister of SC and Other Backward Community Department Anil Sarkar during the meeting stated that centre should provide more assistance to the state government for development of SC and OBC community.

Sarkar said that state government earlier placed proposals to the centre in this regard. The union minister of state asked the officials to take note of the proposals for due consideration. State government also demanded that central government should increase stipend for students belonging to SC, OBC and minority community. The union minister of state was also approached to take up more steps to ensure survey for identification of physically disabled.

The state government during the meeting also placed a demand for setting up of a regional composite centre at Agartala for Tripura and Mizoram since adequate service is not available from the Gauhati based regional centre. Social welfare and social education minister Bidhubhusan Malakar, Labour Minister Faizur Rahaman were present in the meeting. The Joint Secretary of the ministry Swapna Roy and Director Joyshiry Banerjee and other officials of the state government also attended the meeting.

• EVM training from today : 

The Election Commission has decided to use Electronic Voting machines (EVMs) in all the polling booths in the next Assembly polls. The Election Commission decision comes along expected lines and the state election department has been asked to gear up for using the EVMs in the next assembly polls.

Reports said that at present there are 972 EVMs in the state at present. But this is quite low as there are as many as 2377 voting centres in the state. The requirement of voting machines in the state will therefore be to the tune of around 3000.

The Election Commission has at last undertaken measures in order to make sure that the election department staff  who will be deployed on poll duty get the necessary training in order to use the EVMs. But even till this date no effort has been made in order to make sure that the voters get the much  needed training as to how they will have to use the EVMs while casting their votes.

The Election Commission has decided that the election department staff will be provided with training at Sipard tomorrow. This will be the first time that the EVMs will be brought to the forefront in order to make sure that they get a first hand account of the nitty gritty about the use o the EVMs. The election department has at last woken up to the need for providing the training to the staff as the dates of assembly polls in the state is approaching slowly but surely. (From ' TRIPURA TIMES ' English Daily, 29th October 2002)

• Centre pressurizing state to sign MoU : Badal : 

The Finance Minister Mr. Badal Chowdhury today decried the pressure mounted by the centre to sign a MoU with several conditions that are not acceptable to the state government. Addressing the final North-Eastern Regional Rural bank Employees Federation sixth by annual conference at the Rabindra Bhawan here today he listed some of the harsh strictures on the part of the centre. These include restriction on further recruitment, abolition of vacant posts, 10 percent reduction of existing employee strength selling out or closing the loss making PSUs.

The Finance Minister disclosed that the centre is linking the issue of signing the MoU with the signing a MOA on power sector reform. If the state government decided to sign the MoU then as many as ten thousand employees will be retrenched. If the MOA comes into affect the minimum power tariff will be raised from Rs. 1.50 to Rs. 4. The fate of over 40,000 consumers who get power connection at the rate of Rs. 15 per month will be jeopardised in the event of the centre succeeding in its attempt in forcing the power MOA. Mr. Chowdhury was far more critical of the centre in his speech quite in stark contrast to the Chief Minister Mr. Manik Sarkar who addressed the conference yesterday. He also disclosed that he had made several demands at the meeting of the Chief Ministers held recently in New Delhi. He had demanded 90 percent grant to the North-Eastern states, debt relief to insurgency affected states like Tripura. Besides the state government had also opposed the measures initiated by the state government in order to curtail DA / DR and gratuity benefits to the employees. In the meantime the two day conference of the North-Eastern Regional rural Bank Employee Federation concluded at the Rabindra Bhawan here today. The bank employees have opposed vehemently the recommendations made in order to go for disinvestments of shares, liquidation of weak RRBs. It has been decided that the bank employees will hold a massive dharna at V. P. House, New Delhi on November 26 next in this regard.

Representatives from most of the North-Eastern states except Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland participated in the conference. In Tripura the Gramin Bank is functioning quite will even though the loan recovery was quite low ranging from 25-30 percent.

• Training on EVM use gets delayed : 

The state election department is yet to start the preparations in order to train the voters in the state on the use of electronic voting machines. Reports said that this will the first time that the EVM will be put in use. While this will ensure almost cent percent fairness in the poll and also reveal the election result instantly there is no attempt been made by the election department in order to make sure that the voters get a first hand experience to use the EVMs.

Almost 99 percent of the voters are yet to get an idea of the use of EVMs. It may create confusion on poll day as has been the case in some other states. It may be mentioned here that in Jammu & Kashmir it was noticed recently that voters in several areas who had gone all the way to the polling booths had no idea as to how they should cast their votes through the EVMs. This had resulted in mass confusion on polling day.

The Election commission has in the meantime despatched several representatives in order to make sure that the preparation for voting gets on in the normal manner. After the two representatives presently in the state including Mr. Mendiretta and CR Brahman ends their visit S. P. Singh will visit the state. After that it will be the turn of Election Commissioner T. S. Krishnamurti who will visit the state on October 29 next.

• CM reviews law and order : 

The higher-ups of the state home department reviewed law & order in a crucial meeting presided over by state chief minister Manik Sarkar. Sources said, soon after the killing of eight non-tribals, at Ashrambari village under Khowai sub-division yesterday, the chief minister held emergency meeting. The higher officials of the state home department were present in the meeting. It is learnt that Mr. Sarkar expressed resentment over the prevailing anti-insurgency patrolling at one of the most insurgency ridden parts of the district.

Sources said that Mr. Sarkar enquired about the patrolling particularly on Khowai-Ashrambari road. It is learnt that it was decided that security forces would provide special anti-insurgency patrolling on the Ashrambari-Khowai road on every market days. It was reported earlier that the police personnel of Khowai, Champawhar and Kalyanpur police station about movement of a group of insurgents in the area. Sources said the chief minister asked the security agencies to launch drive to flush out the collaborators from the area and insurgents. (From ' TRIPURA TIMES ' English Daily, 28th October 2002)

• Internal politics in Bangladesh not favourable : Make proper use of available gas reserves : Arun : 

The Tripura government should make proper use of the available gas reserves in the state and make this a priority area in order to usher in development. This is the advise of Mr. Arun Shourie, Union Minister in charge of Department of North-East Region.

In an interview to the North-East channel of Doordarshan he has expressed concern over the present state of internal politics in Bangladesh that is not quite suitable for the North-Eastern states including Tripura. The present situation in Bangladesh was also hampering fruitful ties between both the countries. But hopefully the situation will improve in the coming days, he hoped and maintained that it is with Bangladesh that the North-Eastern states should go for the closest relationship and even go for energy exchange in the coming days.

Mr. Shourie also made certain important announcements during the course of the interview. he stated that the North-East Council has decided to provide a subsidy of Rs. 35 crore to Indian Airlines to make sure that air taxi services are started in the coming winter in the region. The proposed air taxi service will connect as any as ten airports that are in operation in the region at present. For this purpose as many as four 50 seater aircraft will be leased by Indian Airlines in the coming days.

Mr. Shourie however did not approve of the policy adopted by certain states government including the Tripura government in terms of providing more and more government jobs. He said that the state governments should shun such policy as this will be depriving the common people in the state. His rationale is that every job given results in expenditure on the part of the state exchequer. Thus the state government misses out in terms of fulfilling its obligation of providing 25 percent allocation that is its share in several projects that are implemented after the centre provides, the rest of the 75 percent allocation.

But in a candid confession he also maintained that there was dearth of funds in terms of implementation of projects in the North-East. He revealed that he had asked the financial institutions such as the LIC to form a consortium that will finance the big projects in the North-East especially the big power projects. On the power front he expressed concern over rising transmission and distribution losses in the North-East. Mr. Shourie who is the first minister to head DONER also referred to the insurgency activities in the North-East including Tripura. He mentioned that kidnapping had become a mean for earning money easily. His advise to the state governments was to see that violence is curbed ruthlessly and also to see that accountability is is established in terms of funds meant for development.

The North-East should see that besides looking for border trade the big in house market in the North East should also be looked into. He made special reference to the fisheries and food processing sector. Referring to the tremendous potential of the North-East in the tourism sector he asked the states to promote the entire region as a whole instead of promoting their own state only. The Union Finance Ministry was thinking in terms of providing special tax concessions to this sector in the coming days.

• Orange festival in November : 

The lush green hills of Jampui hills in Kanchanpur sub-division is gearing up for the Orange Festival. The state government has decided that the festival will be organised this year at Bhangmun from November 11-13 next. The ICAT Minister Mr. Jitendra Chowdhury has sought the co-operation of the locals in terms of organising the festival in a fruitful manner.

• Rs. 1.15 lakhs non-realised from public carrier agencies : 

Penalty of rupees 1.15 lakhs realisable from the owners o public carriers of other states for belated payment of composites fees payable under National Permit Scheme, according o report of Comptroller and Auditor General of India. The report observed that under the national permit scheme. The owner of public carrier registered in another state buy ply in Tripura is required to pay in advance of composite fee of rupees 3000 to the state transport authority of the respective states issuing the permit. If the owner does not pay the composite fee within the prescribed date, he shall be liable to pay, to the authority issuing the permit, in addition to the composite fee a penalty of rupees 100 per month or part there of for each of the states.

Both the composite fee and penalty, on realisation by that authority, is to be remitted to the state transport authority of Tripura. Scrutiny in audit from January to February of 2001 revealed that an amount of rupees 1.15 lakhs was recoverable from other states by way of penalty for late payment of composite fees in respect of 379 cases during the previous years. The department stated that the concerned state transport authorities were requested to realise the penalty but no positive response was received.

A test check of records from January to February 2001 revealed that the office of the Deputy Transport Commissioner, Tripura received 274 Bank Drafts for rupees 5.30 lakhs issued between April 1998 and July 1999 from STAs of other states as composite fee. The date of receipt, letters under which drafts were forwarded, periods to which they relate were not found recorded in the relevant register. However, these drafts could neither be remitted to bank within the validity period of six months nor could these be got re-evaluated within one year of the issue. No fresh draft could also obtained in cancellation of original one despite lapse of a considerable period as a January of 2001.

• IAF recruitment rally in November : 

The stage is set for the first recruitment rally for youths for different posts in Indian Air Force (IAF). The recruitment rally will take place at the Assam Rifles (AR) complex on November 20-21 next. The recruitment rally is been organised after the state government made the demand made in this regard. Wing Commander R. S. Danak of IAF has congratulated the request made by the state government that will result in the recruitment of youths from the state in the IAF. (From ' TRIPURA TIMES ' English Daily, 25th October 2002)

• Two sub-divisions of North district linked with Agartala : 

After Dharmanagar, Kailashahar will be connected with state capital Agartala by helicopter service. The chopper service will begin from November 1 next. With the new chopper service, two major sub-divisional towns of North Tripura district now have the helicopter service in state. Official sources of State Transport Department today said that the helicopter service linking Kailashahar will be available every weekdays except Tuesday. The official sources said, the service would be available on Agartala to Kailashahar via Dharmanagar. Two seats will be reserved for passengers of Kailashahar on the route, official sources. The sources said fare has been fixed at rupees 975 per passenger and it will take 40 minutes to reach Kailashahar from Agartala.

The fare between Agartala and Dharmanagar has already been fixed at rupees 1,000 per passengers. The helicopter will land at Kailashahar air field, sources said adding necessary steps to repair the airport is nearing competition. The new helicopter service is a major step forward for state as it would boost the sagging transportation system between Agartala and two major sub-divisions of North Tripura district. The Pawan Hansa, a private airline agency had stepped in state to fly choppers.

Earlier, the state Chief Minister Mr. Manik Sarkar, during a short inaugural ceremony of helicopter service between Agartala and Dharmanagar had said that efforts were on to introduce more chopper service in other sub-divisional towns of the state. The Chief Minister had said that new helicopters with more seating capacity will be introduced if the service appears to be profitable. Official sources of the transport department said that efforts are on to introduce inter-state helicopter service. The department is contemplating to introduce the chopper service with Silchar. However, it has not been decided which agency will introduce the service.

• BDR planning pushback of militant to state : 

The Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) personnel deployed across certain stretches of the Indo-Bangla border along the state are planning to send several hundred militants of NLFT and ATTF outfit back to Tripura. Reports said that the move is aimed at avoiding bloody killings resulting out of the rivalry among different outfits. Already half a dozen militants have been killed in rivalry between the members of ATTF and NLFT. The BDR personnel are keen to see that the bloody clashes between the different outfits that has been a net result of the operations launched by the Bangladesh army.

Soon after the operations were launched there was a mad rush among the militants to vacate the camps hat are deep inside Bangladesh. The militant started to shift to the camps that are close to the border. This was done to see that they can cross over to Tripura at short notice. It is in the vicinity of the camps close to the border that the rivalry between the rival militants is the maximum. The clashes between the rival militant outfits have become so intense that BDR top officers are concerned that blood splitting inside Bangladesh.

The fact remains that the militants have also been looking for an opportunity in order to make sure that they can a re enter the state in the run up to the Assembly polls next year/ Some of the militants have been waiting close to the order for sometime now and are keen to scrape through the strict vigil of B SR personnel deployed along the border. The militants have chosen the current time to re enter the state due to the simple reason that pretty soon five battalions of BSF will be arriving in the state to bolster the present strength. After the deployment of the additional BSF personnel along the Indo-Bangla border it will become harder for the militants to cross over back from Bangladesh. (From ' TRIPURA TIMES ' English Daily, 24th October 2002)

• Bangladesh wants free access to NE markets : 

Bangladesh has sought free market access for its products to North-East Indian states. At the recent seminar held in Chittagong on the topic " Promotion of trade and investment between Bangladesh and North-Eastern states of India." The businessmen demanded that the Indian government lifted the various restrictions that have been imposed over the years. After the lifting of restrictions the Bangladesh government has now gone ahead with the demand for lifting of the restrictions on the other items too.

Reports said that the Indian side could not achieve anything concrete from the meeting. The only achievement was the formation of joint study group that will look into the problem and prospects of increasing trade and investment between the North-Eastern states and Bangladesh. The study group will comprise representatives from the Tripura Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Reports said that the Bangladesh side could not provide any concrete assurance on the demand that was raised on behalf of the delegates from the India side in general and from Triprua in particular for providing transit and transshipment facilities. Reports said that the Bangladesh side remained non-committal on the demand for land and rail transit via Akhaura and riverine transit through Gomati river. Reports added that if Bangladesh is given free market access to the North-East then the Indian products will get a run for the money in the coming days.

• Hojagiri festival starts : 

The two day long state level Hojagiri Festival commenced at Gachirampara in Kanchanpur subdivision today. Reports said that the threat by the NLFT militants did have an affect on the attendance at the festival today. But the presence of the TSR personnel in the vicinity of Gachirampara led the local Reangs to the venue of the festival. Several ministers of the state cabinet were also present at the inauguration ceremony of the festival. In his inaugural address the tribal welfare minister Mr. Aghore Debbarma blasted the elements that are hell-bent in disrupting the festivals of tribal. The ICAT Minister Mr. Jitendra Chowdhury said that state government was in  support of the organisations that come forward and organise such festival. Others who addressed the inaugural ceremony included the Panchayet Minister Subodh Das, Jail Minister Balaram Reang and former Minister Draokumar Reang. (From ' TRIPURA TIMES ' English Daily, 23rd October 2002)

• FCI office in Agartala : Gopal praises Sharad in advance : 

The Left Front government in the state seems to be wooing the NDA government at the Centre. Yet another instance of the cozy ties between the two that has become a new found phenomenon came to light with the announcement of the Food Minister Mr. Gopal Das. Mr. Das told reporters that the Union Food and Civil Supplies Minister Mr. Sharad Yadav gas informed him that Food Corporation of India (FCI) will open a regional office in the state. Reports said that it will take at least five years after the formal approval for opening such an office that work can begin.

But the Food Minister has been pre-emptive enough in terms of making the announcement of the opening of the office. This is a clear case of counting the chicken even before the eggs have hatched. Reports said that with polls round the corner the ruling Left Front government is trying every attempt to please the centre and not do anything so as to jeopardise the cozy links between the two. Reports said that even during recent times the supply of sugar and other essential supplies by FCI in the state has been hampered. But the fact remains that the Food Minister has remained mum on many occasions.

Other than sugar the supply of other essential items like petrol and diesel has also been disrupted ever since IOC close its office in the state capital. The Food Minister after the initial reaction has also gone silent in terms of protesting the moves on the part of IOC in this regard. This according to some is a clear pointer of the changed times when the Left Front government to remain silent instead of protesting against moves tat harm the states interest.

• Insurgency in state assumes inter-border crime : Governor : 

State Governor Lt. Gen. (Retd.) K. M. Seth today said insurgency problem of the state is not merely a law & order problem and it assumed a turn of inter-border related insurgency. He was addressing a seminar on police commemoration day, organised at Arundhutinagar. The Governor said, 'the insurgency problem of the state is quite different from the insurgency problem of Jammu & Kashmir'. While addressing at the seminar the governor stressed on the need for police taking more concerted efforts to reach common people.

"Common people are no longer assisting insurgents. This development is not only in Tripura but in all North-Eastern parts of the state", he said. The governor said insurgents of the state are not operating from the state. Insurgents of the two banned outfits NLFT and ATTF are using Bangladeshi soil for launching subversive activities. Seth said taking advantage of porous 200 km long of 850 km Indo-Bangla Border area, the insurgents were moving freely for launching subversive activities in state.

The governor stressed on the BSF jawans to take more concerted efforts to check infiltration of insurgents into state. Seth also called for strengthening of radio network among the security personnel the Chief Secretary V. Thulasidas in his speech said long international border is a major cause of crime. He said due to lack of adequate BSF personnel infiltration of insurgents from Bangladesh could not be checked. The Chief Secretary stressed on the need for barbed wire fencing along Indo-Bangla international border.

• Hojagiri festival despite NLFT ban : 

The stage is set for the commencement of state level Hojagiri festival at Gachirampara high school grounds in Kanchanpur subdivision tomorrow. The two day festival will be inaugurated by the tribal welfare minister Mr. Aghore Debbarma while the ICAT Minister Mr. Jitendra Chowdhury will remain present as the chief guest. Other dignitaries slated to remain present include the Panchayet Minister Mr. Subodh Das, Jail Minister Balaram Reang and CEM of TTAADC Mr. Kripamohan Reang. 

The festival is been organised even as the NLFT militants had given a ban call on the participation of the Reangs in such a festival. The NLFT militants have warned the Reangs of dire consequences if they join the festivities coinciding with the Hojagiri festival. The BNLF another militant outfit has however not imposed any such ban. Over 50 cultural troupes from different parts of the state have arrived in Gachiramparato participate in the festival. Reports said that on the second day of the festival the Reang youths will display traditional sports.

Security has been intensified in and around Gachirampara with a view to the commencement of the festival tomorrow. TSR personnel have been deployed in large numbers to prevent any untoward incident during the festival.

• Governor calls for reduction of health costs : 

The Governor Lt. Gen. (Retd.) K. M. Seth has called for rationalisation of the health costs incurred by the people of the state. While inaugurating Image Associate Services, a Private Health concern he mentioned that the exorbitant health costs had been rising with every passing and this was going outside the control of the common man. This has to be stopped. He also reminded that the doctors should take the responsible task that society has bestowed on their soldiers. The Health Minister Mr. Keshab Majumder in his address stated that the state government had been providing health services in the state free of cost despite the odds. But it is not possible to provide the latest health services as a whole. Hence private initiatives is welcomed in the health sector. The state government has also said that the necessary help will be extended to the private concerns that come forward with the help in this regard.

The Industries Minister Mr. Pabitra Kar said in his address that efforts should be undertaken to make sure that the people get the best health facilities available in the country in the state too. Among others Dr. A. K. Nath, Dr. I. S. Roy, Dr. Joyshree Roy Chowdhury and Leader of Opposition Mr. Jawahar Saha were also present on the occasion. (From ' TRIPURA TIMES ' English Daily, 22nd October 2002)

• Govt. opposes DA freeze, VAT from April, 2003 : 

State under debt trap of Rs. 2707 crore. State government opposed the proposal of the central government to freeze Dearness Allowance (DA), bonus and cut in pension scheme of government employees and retired employees. Besides, state is burdened with a debt of rupees 2707 crore and the state government alongwith others demanded writing off the debt by central government. This was informed state finance minister Badal Chowdhury in a press conference today.

Mr. Chowdhury said that during the meeting of chief ministers of all the states, convened by the Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, state government opposed the proposals, mooted by the union finance minister. State finance minister Badal Chowdhury represented the state as Chief Minister Manik Sarkar could not attend the meeting due to illness. He said many state government also opposed the proposal of the central government to freeze the DA, bonus of government employees. It was demanded in the meeting that an "expert committee" might be constituted to look into it. All the state governments were facing severe financial crisis after the implementation of report of fifth pay commission, he said.

Mr. Chowdhury told newsmen that the meeting of North-Eastern Council, held in 1999 had discussed implications of fifth pay commission and it was decide in principle that central government should have to bear the addition financial burden to be carried by the state government following implementation of the fifth pay commission report. Mr. Chowdhury said that state government appealed along with other states to write off debt of rupees 2707 crore. The state government also appealed to the centre to reduce interest rate from 12 per cent to 7 to 8 per cent, Chowdhury said. He said, central government should write off the debt in certain sector as state government along with other states is under severe financial crisis.

The finance minister also said that Value Added Tax (VAT) will come into affect from April 01, 2003. He said that state governments will face severe financial crisis following implementation of VAT. The finance minister said that there is no required infrastructure from introduction of VAT in state. He demanded rupees 14 crore from the centre for implementation of VAT in state. On the service sector issue he said all the state governments including state demanded additional fund to meet the expenditure for restructure of pay structure and DA.

Mr. Chowdhury, however, hinted at the possibility of imposition of taxes for service sector including banking, telecommunication and insurance sector. He said a bill would be introduced in the next session of parliament. The finance minister also said that no final decision was taken on the issue of debt swap after bringing down interest rate. Mr. Chowdhury aid that the despite the severe financial crisis, the state government never sought any overdraft from centre.

• BSNL mobile : A sleek preview of things to come : 

The Prime Minister Mr. Atal Bihari Vajpayee today introduced the BSNL cellular service at Lucknow. And as  per the indications available it will be the same cellular service that will be introduced in the state later on. As per the BSNL sources several services will be made available to those mobile phone holders. The rates fixed by BSNL for the mobile service will be the lowest in the country. This is well below the market rates that private cellular operators are offering in different circles. The rates it is made applicable in Tripura will also be below the rates on offer by Reliance that is also providing mobile connections in Guwahati and Shillong.

Facilities that will be made available to the subscribers include free incoming calls, caller identification and roaming facility. Besides other prepaid and postpaid services will also be on offer, reports said. Outgoing calls will cost Rs. 2.40 per minute and monthly rentals will vary from Rs.225 to 325. Besides the security deposit for the connections will vary from Rs.1000 to Rs.3000 for availing local, STD and ISD facilities. Besides fixed phone subscribes will only have to pay Rs. 700 as security deposit.

BSNL sources today hoped that with the relatively low rates the customers will make a beeline for getting a mobile phone connection in the coming days. On the other hand BSNL is keen to make sure that it is the first service provider in the state ahead of Reliance that is also o the lookout to enter the fray. Reports said that BSNL that had also introduced WLL services did not get adequate response from the subscribers. Most of them backed off after hearing the news of the possibility of introduction of mobile services in the state. (From ' TRIPURA TIMES ' English Daily, 20th October 2002)

• Major reshuffle in police : 

A total seven sub inspectors were transferred in major reshuffle. Ratan Majumdar, Officer-in-charge of Radhakishorepur Police Station to West Tripura. Debjyoti Goutam transferred to CID from West, Ratan Deb shifted to CID to South, Kishore Das was shifted to SB to South. Swapan Dey was transferred to West from SB, Suranjan Gupta was shifted to SB from West and Ardhendu Chowdhury from CID to West. All the officers will be given charge soon at district level.

• Badal seeks more fiscal assistance from Centre : 

The Finance Minister Mr. Badal Chowdhury who represented the state at the meeting called by the Prime Minister in New Delhi today has sought more central assistance in order to tide over the current fiscal situation in the state. Reports said that the Finance Minister made it clear that without adequate central assistance it was almost impossible to make sure that the demands of the state government employees with regards to enhanced pay scales and Dearness Allowance could be met. It is worth mentioning here that the state alongwith the other states in the North-East falls in the category of Special Category states. A demand was made by Mr. Chowdhury to make sure that special provisions are made to help these states in order to meet the current fiscal situation.

The Finance Minister also raised the demand for speedy release of grants and loans by the financial institutions for projects in the state. He also decried the fact that the financial institutions were on the lookout for state guarantees before sanctioning funds to the states. The Finance Minister also provided consent to the provision of service tax under VAT that is to be introduced throughout the country by April1 2003.

• Recruitment drive soon : 

With only three months to go before the state assembly elections, the state government started to make earnest efforts to fill vacant posts under several government departments. Though the initiative has only short period considering the elections round the corner the final notification to the poll likely to come by December next, the state government virtually venture into the recruitment drive as a traditional safeguard against the swing mood of despaired voters.

Though the government, earlier, said that 1900 teachers would be recruited within three months before the poll, efforts are on to fill up vacant posts at other departments including Panchayet, Health Department and Rural Department, sources said. The sources also said that the government decided to give priority to panchayet and rural development sector i the recruitment drive.

About 350 panchayet secretaries will be recruited in this phase of recruitment drive sources said adding the department already asked the officials to prepare the necessary steps in this regard. Sources said the government also gave priority to rural development and Public Works Department for filling up the posts. It has not been decided about how many offers will be released to these two departments.

The officials sources said that heads of the departments have been asked to submit the file relating to the number of vacancy and others to the Chief Minister's office. These files would b sent to the concerned departments very soon. However, sharp differences of opinion about the process of recruitment cropped up in the department functioning in this regard. Though the education Minister Mr. Anil Sarkar, earlier, had said that the job forms would be released. Sources said, the government would take final decision in this regard by the end of this month. (From ' TRIPURA TIMES ' English Daily, 19th October 2002)

• Air connectivity with Silchar soon : 

The stage is set for air connectivity between Agartala and Silchar. Reports said that the Union Civil Aviation Ministry has decided in principle to start flights along this route as soon as possible. Reports also pointed out that the moves on the part of the Union Civil Aviation Ministry comes in the wake of the demand made in order to increases the velocity of flights from the state.

The Union Civil Aviation Minister Mr. Shahnawaz Hussain has taken personal initiatives in order to make sure that more and more stations in the North East gets air connectivity. It is with this view in mind that the Civil Aviation Ministry has decided to connect new sectors in the region. And Agartala-Silchar route is one of the selected ones.

Reports also said that the Civil Aviation Ministry has not yet decided. whether to start the flights after the introduction of 50 seater ATR aircraft or with the Alliance air Boeing flights that are already in operation in various sectors in the region. As per the tentative schedule the flights on the Agartala-Silchar route will commence from December next. And as per the tentative schedule it has been decided that three flights will ply on the sector every week. Reports said that after the introduction of flights on this route the helicopter service in operation on the Agartala-Dharmanagar route will face stiff competition and get a run  for money. It is worth mentioning here that the ICAT Minister Mr. Jitendra Chowdhury was the first one to demand introduction of flights on the Agartala-Silchar route. (From ' TRIPURA TIMES ' English Daily, 18th October 2002)

• Al Qaida presence in Bangladesh : CNN tapes provides damming evidence : 

The Al Qaida video tapes that have been recovered by CNN have exposed the dragnet of the outfit that has spread in Bangladesh too. Reports said that the FBI authorities have now made it clear that their earlier observation that the two tapes that showed Al Qaida camps is from Bangladesh and not Myanmar as had been mentioned earlier. CNN had aired the tapes found in Afghanistan a few days ago. At first it was shown that a camp of the dreaded outfit in the tick jungles of Myanmar. But later on it was revealed that the camp is in fact in Chittagong Hill Tracts in Bangladesh.

Even as the controversy with regards to the tapes remained fresh a magazine published an item datelined from Chittagong that provided details of the fact that Al Qaida operatives were infact regrouping in Bangladesh. The report had also stated that DGFI of Bangladesh was hand in glove with militant outfits including ULFA and ATTF. But unlike the CNN tapes the Bangladesh government were quick to deny the story that was published in the magazine. The Bangladesh government made it clear that the news items was aimed at disrupting normal ties between Bangladesh and India.

The Bangladesh government has also been keen to make sure that the repercussion of the story published in the magazine does not have a cascading affect. The Bangladesh Prime Ministers plans to visit India in December next much ahead of her visit to Pakistan early next year was announced by the Bangladesh government. In the meantime following blasts in Bali, Indonesia FBI has warned both Indian and Bangladeshi law enforcing agencies to remain alert to make sure that attempts to launch such attacks by Al Qaida is averted.

It may be mentioned here that TRIPURA TIMES had published a news item on the nabbing of Al Qaida operatives in Bangladesh a few days ago. After the arrest the Bangladesh government had initiated all out attempt to make sure that Al Qaida operatives active in the country under the garb of organisations like Harkat Ul Ansar is brought under immediate control to prevent possible outrage from the US. (From ' TRIPURA TIMES ' English Daily, 17th October 2002)

• Previous job forms invalid : Govt. decides to appoint 1900 teachers : 

State government has decided to appoint school teachers on fixed pay basis. About 1900 teachers will be appointed in the department. The fresh appointment will be given after Puja, this was informed by state education minister Anil Sarkar today. The education minister told newsmen that 500 teachers will be appointed in primary schools. 1000 teachers will be employed from graduate degree and 400 teachers will be employed from post graduate degree, he said. The education minister said that the job forms issued earlier, will not be valid, he said adding fresh job form would likely to be issued. The education minister said that there is shortage of school teachers in remote areas where a major number of schools are closed due to the insurgency problems.

The education minister criticised the insurgents and said their subversive activities are responsible for the closure of the educational institutions. He said the state government has already initiated drive to improve condition of education. The fresh appointment of teachers would likely to give a boost to teaching condition, he hoped.

• Elaborate steps to ensure smooth traffic during puja days : 

Elaborate measures have been arranged to ensure smooth traffic movement during Durga Puja festival, Superintendent of Police (SP) of Traffic, said T. B. Roy. Hundreds of traffic personnel will be deployed in the state capital city Agartala to monitor movement of traffic in the city. Six terminal points will be built up in the capital city to monitor movement of heavy and light vehicles, he said. To facilitate movement of the vehicles 15 no entry points with category 'B' has been arranged. Besides, the normal entry points will be 24 and traffic booths will be 10, the SP informed in an exclusive interview with Triprua Times.

Seven points have been built up for emergency routes for shifting patients to GB hospital to and from Agartala Municipal Council (AMC) area. There will be emergency routes for movement of forces. The emergency routes will be from several parts of AMC via Nandannagar. No entry schedule will be in affect from 3 P.M. to 12 P.M. each day. To ensure smooth movement of traffic three special duty to maintain disciplined and restricted movement will be made. The traffic personnel will maintain traffic in three shifting duty. The shifting duly include from 9 A.M. to 12 P.M. and 12 A.M. to 5 A.M.

Fro 12 A.M. to 5 A.M. there will be no vehicular restriction. Ring road facilities will be in operative from 12 A.M. to 5 A.M., the SP said adding, the entire traffic security arrangement has been made in two sectors, Western and Eastern sector. Besides motor cycle mobile facilities and normal traffic post duty with vehicular traffic movement would be effective, Roy said. However, to avoid congested traffic movement due to movement of few undesirable vehicles, the department has decided to restrict uninterrupted movement of vehicles. Vehicles passes will be given to physicians, officials or ever media persons after due recommendation by the highest authority of the concerned department and judging genuinely of the individual.

"The efforts have been taken to enable the devotees to visit Puja Mandaps', he said. But the car or any other vehicles with the passes will not be allowed to proceed towards Puja Mandap, the SP said. Roy said that traffic department has sought co-operation from people of the state to ensure smooth movement of vehicle during the puja days. Besides, the department has given priority for enforcement of traffic rules. A drive to create awareness among the people about traffic movement is being taken. Special programmes are also be being arranged in All India Radio (AIR).

• CM interacts with Kathalia people : 

State Chief Minister Manik Sarkar today stated that Triprua Small Industries Corporation (TSIC) has been asked to manufacture bricks on larger scale to meet the demands for construction of road in remote parts of the state. The chief minister while talking to villagers of kathalia today said that state government decided steps to build up an construct new roads in remote parts of the state. He said that to meet the excessive demands of bricks, the TSIC has been asked to take necessary steps for manufacturing bricks on larger scale.

He said it is estimated that about 30 crore bricks will be required for construction of roads in next year. Mr. Sarkar said, insurgents were search active in several parts the area of Kathalia block. He said due to stepped up subversive activities, the insurgent failed to perpetrate any further attacks during the past few month. The chief minister said that the officials were asked to ensure that funds are utilised for the purpose it sanctioned. Mr. Sarkar was accompanied by deputy speaker of the assembly Subal Rudra, additional district magistrate of West Triprua district, Kishore Ambuli, Chairman of Kathalia Panchayet. (From ' TRIPURA TIMES ' English Daily, 9th October 2002)

• It happens only in Tripura : Durga Puja funded by State Govt. : 

The Marxist government in Tripura has come to the forefront in order to take care of the age old tradition and go ahead with plans towards organising Durga Puja funded by the state. This year the puja in Durgabari will enter into its 157th year. Tripura is the only state where the state has come to the forefront of funding a religious festival. The tradition has been going on since the Independence of the country and is going on during successive Left Rule in the state. What is significant is that despite the protests from the animal rights activists and environmentalists the age old tradition of animal sacrifice has been going on over the years. This year too animal sacrifice including the sacrifice of buffaloes and goats will be undertaken. This tradition has over the last few years incurred the wrath of the animal rights activists but the administration has permitted the same despite the protests.

On the other hand the administration has decided to go for open tender in order to buy buffaloes and goats that will be put before the butcher for open slaughter. It is also mentioning here that this Durga Puja is unique in the sense that the prasad in this Durga Puja includes meat, fish, eggs and of course fruits. This is unique Durga Puja in the sense that this has been patronised by the Tripura royal family and after Independence by the Tripura government.

It is on Dashami day that the real splendour of the Durga Puja at Durgabari comes to the fore. It is the puja idols of the Durgabari that leads the Dashami procession. It is the first to be immersed at Dashamighat. And during immersion it is done under the full state honours with the police band playing. This year the budget of this Durga Puja has been fixed at 1,59,000. This is an enhancement to the budget last year. And going by the popularity of puja at Durgabari it seems that animal sacrifice will go on under the green signal of the state government.

• 15 point memorandum to President : Madrassa teachers demand special provision : 

State Madrassa Teachers Association called for inclusion of representatives of Muslim community in recruitment and selection in several government bodies in state. The Madrassa teachers association submitted a six-point memorandum to President A. P. J. Abdul Kalam during his recent visit in state on October 4.

Madrassa teachers also demanded for special packages for upliftment of Muslim women like artisans for widows and release of salaries, held up for two previous financial years, proper and appropriate implementation of scheme of financial assistance for modernisation of Madrassa education. The Madrassa teachers in the memorandum demanded that steps should be made for proper and appropriate implementation of modernisation in four selected categories. The categories include ensuing appointments and modernisation Madrassa teachers, salary for teachers appointed under the scheme to be equal to the teachers of the respective state government. The two other categories as state in the memorandum include release of salaries pending for previous two financial year of 1997-98 to 1998-99, establishment of Madrassa abduction board like West Bengal Madrassa Education Board.

The association in the memorandum also demanded inclusion of representatives of Muslim community in various selection, recruitment, admission board advisory bodies steps for overall socio-economic development of the community. The other demands include provision of special packages for upliftment of Muslim women like artisan for widows and free education up to graduation level. The association also stated in the memorandum that steps should be made for effective implementation of the prime minister 15-point programme for welfare of minorities in true spirit and provision for reservation of Muslim minority in services as well as professional educations like medical, engineering, agriculture, animal husbandry, fishery, electronics & computer.

• Insurgents hamper state's development : Aghore : 

Tribal Welfare Department Minister Aghore Debbarma today said that insurgents' actrivitieswere hampering development process in state. He was addressing a gathering at Kumarghat on occasion of distributing awards to meritorious students belonging to tribal communities. Mr. Debbarma said Left Front Government has taken necessary initiatives to improve educational standards of tribal students. But the insurgents were hampering development activities through their subversive activities in state. He said tribal people are worst affected due to the insurgent activities. Sabhadhipati of North Tripura District Council Hasirani Bhattacharjee and Vice Chairman of Kumarghat Nagar Panchayet Bijay Roy also spoke on the occasion. (From ' TRIPURA TIMES ' English Daily, 8th October 2002)

• No power cut during Puja : 

The state Power Department has assured that there will be no power cut in at least five days of Durga Puja celebration. The department has decided to move North-Eastern power grid for additional power to meet the mounting demands for power during Durga Puja celebration. The official sources of the power department said that the additional power of 50 MW will be supplied in from NE power grid. The state own power units will provide 100 MW power. The total demand of power during Durga Puja celebration will be at 150 MW.

The official sources claimed that with the supply of additional power from outside of the state there would be virtually no chance of power-cut during the Durga Puja festival. The additional power will be utilised for the excessive demand of power, sources added. The sources said that state has outside of the state for meeting the required 100 MW power. The total power generated from the state's own sources is also included in the total MW of power

However, collapse of a good number of power generating units in state is also one of the causes leading poor supply of power, the sources added. The sources said at least 90 to 95 MW power could be generated in state if all the units available in state were operative. The sources said, at present the maximum 38 MW power is being generated from state's own resources. There is tremendous gap of power to the unit of two-third of the actual demand. Even poor condition of transmitting line is also a major cause for poor supply of power. It is learnt that a poor management of the department also hampers the balanced production. Earlier, the department had decided that prior information will be given to the consumers about the exact schedule period of load shedding. The could benefit the small scale industrial units. But no efforts were taken o follow the rules.

• Trial run for fresh traffic system : 

The traffic department has decided to introduce fresh traffic controlling system from Durga Puja days. Only a certain parts of the capital city will be brought under the new traffic controlling system. A trial run was conducted at Paradise Chowmuhani in capital city. The green & red light system was first introduced at Paradise Chowmuhani yesterday evening. The traffic personnel were busy enough in maintaining movement of the vehicles under the new traffic system. The traffic personnel were at their hard efforts to monitor movement of vehicle at Paradise Chowmuhani.

The higher officials of the traffic department also visited the spot. The fresh light system to monitor busy movement of vehicles will be introduced in other major paints of capital city Agartala, sources said. The traffic department already introduced fresh measures to central the traffic system. The scattered parking of auto rickshaws have already banned at congregated Battala and Motor Stand area. the speed limit has been fixed a Agartala-Bishalgarh and National Highway. Official sources said, the department will go for major drive soon to control traffic system in capital city. Efforts are also on to introduce such lighting system in other sub-divisional towns. (From ' TRIPURA TIMES ' English Daily, 7th October 2002)

• Preventive measures of pollution reviewed : 

Additional Director, Ministry of Forest and Environment, Govt. of India Dr. T. B. Darlong and Mr. M. K. Chowdhury Environmental Engineer and In-Charge of Central Pollution Control Board, Zonal Office of North-Eastern region reviewed several aspect of environment and forest, resource of state, according to official sources of Tripura State Pollution Control Board. The Executive Engineer of the Pollution Control Board Mr. Manas Mukherjee today said that Dr. V. T. Darlong, a eminent scientist on environment and pollution and Mr. Chowdhury who arrived on October 4th, 2002 last visited site of power unit of NEEPCO at Ramchandra Nagar and the power unit at Monarchak the two officials were apprised of the measures taken for prevention of pollution and preservation of environment.

Mr. Mukherjee said, Mr. Darlong and Mr. Chowdhury also held talks with the Manager of NEEPCO Mr. P. K. Ghosh and other higher officials. Several issues regarding the prevention of pollution environment in the two sites. The Executive Engineer said that the two officials during the visit at 21 x 4 MW worth Rukhia Power Plant held talks with the officials of state power department. The two officials explained about emission of green house gas from the power generating unit. The Executive Engineer also said that Dr. Darlong and Mr. Chowdhury visited drilling sites and production sites of ONGCL and reviewed the measures taken for prevention of pollution to environment. Mr. Mukherjee said that the two official also visited laboratories of Triprua State Pollution Control Board. They expressed satisfaction over the preventive measures taken by the board, he added.

Dr. Darlong also assured to take up necessary steps for flow of foreign fund for development of joint forest management at Melaghar. Dr. Darlong and Mr. Chowdhury held talks with Conservator of Forest Achinta Kumar Sinha and Secretary of Acharja Jagadish Chandra Basu Brikshmitra Subodh Sur. The two officials also held talks with the Member Secretary of Tripura State Pollution Control Board and Commissioner of Science, Technology and Environment Mr. B. K. Sharma, Chairman of Tripura State Pollution Control Board Prof. Mihir Deb. The Executive Engineer Mr. Manas Mukherjee was also present in talks.

• Govt. determined to continue development package : Badal : 

State Minister of State Public Works Department (PWD) Badal Chowhdury Today said that the state government will not compromise with the other implications on the issue of development of the state. Mr. Chowdhury was talking to newsmen at his office today. The minister said state government was facing severe financial crisis in state due to the poor pace of fund released by the centre. Poor financial flow in hampering development projects in state, he said. However, the government would go ahead with development projects on borrowed fund.

"If needed, the state government would borrow fund from private sector to continue the development projects in state," Mr. Chowdhury and adjoining that priority has been given to the development of infrastructure in state. The PWD Minister said, state government has taken elaborate measures for socio-economic development. The government also drew a separate scheme in this regard, he added. The minister said a major development took place at irrigation. He said a total 67,000 hectare land was brought under irrigation sector so far. all the farm land will be covered under the irrigation facilities by next five to six years, he said. The minister today released a book containing success of the department during the last four years. (From ' TRIPURA TIMES ' English Daily, 6th October 2002)

• Kalam calls for atomic approach for state's development : 

President A. P. J. Abdul Kalam today called upon the people of the state to best utilise the available natural resources in a mode of nuclear energy which could shuttle up progress of the state. The President arrived in Agartala on a special flight of Indian air force. This is the first visit of the President in state and on the first leg of visit of North-East since he became President of India. Tight security measures were taken with officials of Special Protection Group (SPG) already taking control of the capital city in view of the visit. Earlier, the President was received by Governor Lt. Gen. (Retd.) K. M. Seth, Chief Minister Mr. Manik Sarkar and his cabinet colleagues, Chief Secretary V. Thulasidas, higher officials of central security agencies deployed in state. The President on the one day long visit to the state laid foundation stone of Powder Manufacturing Unit of pineapple at Bodhjungnagar Industrial Complex area, at the outskirts of the state capital. The President in  his short speech stressed on the need for making the project as multifaceted project.

Since pineapple is a seasonal products, efforts should be made to plant other fruits so that similar powder could be manufactured from other fruits also, he said. Kalam said, state has a tremendous potential of natural resources which could be used as a mode of power generation on atomic reaction to the maximum advantage of the state. "Split up all  the energy of the state available and orient it on a atomic reaction which would ensure development at per with atomic power generation", Kalam said. "If you break the mode of energy something like a nuclear power Tripura will be one of the fastest developing states in the country", Kalam hoped.

The President in his speech also called for choosing a role model in every aspect of life. According to him role model is definitely needed for development of state or any individual. "Before coming here I was thinking what would talk to you", he said adding all things centered on positive thinking. Kalam said, value addition is utmost necessary, "If you sustain good economy, value addition is required", he said. The President also said that the production from the manufacturing unit will start from next May.

Chief Minister Mr Manik Sarkar in his speech expressed gratitude to the President for his advice to set up the powder manufacturing unit will come up in state", the chief minister said. Mr. Sarkar lauded the president for his contribution to take up the initiative with defence food research laboratory of Mysore. "You have found yourself in the hearts of common people for your contribution to state", the chief minister said. The chief minister said that state wants to be a partner of his thinking as the government sets a target of attaining self sufficiently in food production by 2010. Mr. Sarkar hoped that the President would continue to extend his contribution to development of the state.

State industries minister Mr. Pabitra Kar, Commissioner of the industries and Commerce Department Mr. L. K. Gupta and other spoke on the occasion. Earlier, the President had interacted with the students of schools at Rabindra Satabarshiki Bhawan. After the interaction, the President inaugurated a tale-medicine centre at G. B. Hospital. The tele-medicine centre was set up with a Hyderabad based heart care research unit. The pineapple juice powder manufacturing projects would be set up by Trans-India Agro Food Products Private Ltd., a Kolkata based company. The unique food processing project, using accelerated freez drying and burgle technology for the first time in India is developed and provided by Mysore based Defense Food Research Laboratory.

• Kalam asks students to think for vision : 

Breaking all the conventional protocol of ringed security cover and official status,  the President A.. P. J. Abdul Kalam today came down from  dias at Rabindra Satarbarshiki Bhawan and mingled with the students of different schools. The President brought about six hundreds selected students had, for the first time, easy access to President of India and throw eye to eye questions and answer ceremony. The missile man came down from the dais at Rabindra Bhawan to reply to the valuable questions of students.

The President tried to knock out the sense of choosing a role model in their life in to the minds of the students from the very beginning of life to become a true future of the nation. To a question of Rubi Das, a class nine standard students, Abdul Kalam said that the first and foremost necessity is thinking as it leads to a vision. Stressing on the need for best use of Science & Technology, the President asserted that thinking with a vision must to make the present society industrially and technologically developed. Kalam clarified that every body must have vision and vision can not be shaped without thinking, knowledge and vision always go together.

To a question about brain drain of the society and a trend of students leaving for Western countries, the President said it is a true that as a result of brain, drain, brilliant students were leaving for foreign countries. But it is not harmful for the country as the percentage of such students is little and wherever they went they are in constant contact with the country. When a student pointed out that communication bottleneck is one of the main problems faced by people of the state, the President said that he would discuss the issue with the chief minister Mr. Manik Sarkar today. Abdul Kalam said India is one of the leading countries in communication technology and all the states would be at per with the standard communication system.

To another question, the President asserted that importance should be laid on the education system of the entire country. Without education the nation can not progress. At one time, the President came down from the dias of Rabindra Bhawan and went towards he rows of the students to interact. What you want to be in your life? What is your role model? Kalam asked to a student. "I want to be a role model of one who can make the state and the country prosperous", came the reply. As the students were in disciplined rush to ask their President question, the President was a bit hurry due to the packed schedule, the President said "only one question, only one!" But the persistent students kept asking question and Kalam had to halt at least three occasions.

Answering to a question Kalam said, during his visit in state two years back when he was scientific advisor of the government, he had assured the need for setting up of a nodal centre for the North-East for earthquake predictions. Research on the subject would be taken up in the state and work is in progress in this regard. Kalam said to a another questions, India will be self sufficient country in food production, science and Technology sector by 2020 next. Kalam in his first visit since became President of India that his role model eminent scientist Dr. Vikrama Sarabhai had a vision even in the sixties like space satellites and remote sensing satellites.

"Now the vision has been transferred into mission and mission can be transferred into action", he said. Later, the President interacted with the students of M. B. B. College this evening. The students asked questions regarding from science and technological advance to socio-economic issues. The President called upon the students to split their potential energy as it would have a nuclear affect to the specified direction.

• Tele-medicine unit opens at GB hospital : Make Tripura the number one state : President Kalam : 

The President A. P. J. Abdul Kalam has asked the Governor Lt. Gen. (Retd.) K. M. Seth and the Chief Minister Mr. Manik Sarkar to fulfill the dreams of the children and make Tripura the number one state in the country. President Dr. Kalam who was present at the inauguration ceremony of the Tele-medicine unit at G. B. Hospital today said that he has seen that the children of the state are full of dreams. It is now up to the Governor and Chief Minister to fulfill these dreams. He mentioned in his inaugural speech that during the course of his interaction with the students at Rabindra Bhawan he had seen that the students are full of dreams. Some of them had even come forward to say that they dream of becoming doctors, engineers journalist and even girl wants to c=become a political leader. This sows that the students have high dreams.

He mentioned of his friendship with Dr. Somraju of the care foundation ad said that with the setting up of the Tele-medicine unit the patients in this far-flung state will reap the benefits of the latest medical technologies. Referring of the other tele-medicines unit in the country including the ones he has seen at Mehboobnagar in Andra Pradesh and at Madhya Pradesh he said that he is happy to see that the latest tele-medicine unit has now come up in Tripura too. Dr. Kalam also took part in tele-conference with doctors sitting at the Rajib Gandhi Memorial hospital at Kailashahar. He asked two doctors present there including Dr. S. Nath and Dr. Tapan Das whether they were happy with the installation of the tele-medicine unit there or not.

He also held a tele-conference with the doctors at care heart foundation in Hyderabad where he jokingly referred himself as a patient. The doctors at Hyderabad responded promptly and said that they were happy to see that the President was their patient even though for a short time. Later Dr. Kalam visited the patients in some of the wards of G. B. Hospital and interacted with the patients. He inquired about the well going of the patients in the words he visited. He also asked the doctors and nurses o make sure that the patients get the best treatment at the hospital. The Governor Lt. Gen. (Retd.) K. M. Seth an the Health Minister Keshab Majumder also spoke on the occasion. Later Dr. Somraju of the care foundation from Hyderabad and Health Commissioner Y. P. Singh signed the Memorandum of Understanding for starting the tele-medicine unit at the G. B. Hospital. The visit of the President at the G. B. Hospital culminated after the President took a look into the infrastructural facilities of a portion of the G. B. Hospital. The G. B. Hospital wore a brand new look in preparation of the visit of the President and at the ed of the day a new heralding chapter of health infrastructure got started today. (From ' TRIPURA TIMES ' English Daily, 5th October 2002)

• Pineapple dream to come true for President A. P. J. Abdul Kalam : 

It will be a dream come true for the President Mr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam when he lays the foundation stone of a pineapple powder factory at Bodhjungnagar today. He may even be happier than the day when the first missile developed by him successfully had one into orbit. The nation has elected him to the highest post in the country and the people of the state have started to reap the benefits of having scientist as a President. And the residents of remote Tripura are indeed fortunate. The President has decided to make Leftist Tripura as his first stop in the North-East. This seems to point out that he did have in mind the fact that he had asked the sate industries department to make sure that the pineapple produced in the state is used to manufacture products that finds a market in the national as well as international market.

The proposal was given to the stated industries department by Mr. Kalam during his visit as Defence Advisor. And significantly enough the President has chosen a state that is ruled by Left Front who had put up a candidate against his during his election. The first scientist to adorn the highest post of the country President Kalam has already made a jumpstart in order to see that India progresses on the right path of development in the coming days. And to make sure that he has not been elected to the top post only as a result of his attributes as a missile man is been justified by tomorrows visit to Tripura.

Significantly enough the President has included two programmes, one of children and another of college students during the course of the one day visit. This is clear pointer to the fact that he envisages of a India where the future generation gets into the track and makes sure that India becomes a developed country.

When the Chief Minister Mr. Manik Sarkar met him in New Delhi and requested him to visit the state he gleefully accepted it. And what is significant is the fact that even during his one day stay he will attend as many as four functions. These include one at Rabindra Bhawan, at G. B. Hospital, at Bodhjungnagar and at M. B. B. College.

• Badal opens new bridge : 

The PWD Minister Mr. Badal Chowdhury has blamed insurgency activities in the state for coming in the way of the development plans undertaken by the state government. Mr. Chowdhury who inaugurated a new bridge over river Juri close to Dharmanagar town today also enclosed that plans have been undertaken in order to improve the communication links of Dharmanagar town. he disclosed that plans have been put found to Brahmaputra Board in the regard. Six projects have been rushed to Brahmaputra Board and the state government has requested for urgently taking up two projects in Dharmanagar subdivision. Among others Panchayet minister Mr. Subodh Das, Labour Minister Fayzur Rahman and Handloom Minister Mr. Ramendra Debnath were also present on the occasion.

• Bangladesh keen to provide sea transit for NE states : 

The Bangladesh Government has shelved plans in terms of providing transit through its territory. Reports said that bowing down to internal pressure the Bangladesh government has shelved plans in this regard. But reports said that Bangladesh Government has evolved an alternative plan in order to make sure that the Indian demand for transit is not kept off altogether. The plan is to set up a new port Cox Bazar in Bangladesh to cater to transit needs of the North-East.

Pressure has been mounting from the Indian side on providing transit as well as trans shipment facilities that will connect the mainland with the North-Eastern states. This will  reduce the transportation costs by quite an extent and extent and save crores of rupees every year. The alternative route suggested by the Bangladesh Government envisages providing sea transit. The Bangladesh Government has asked an international firm to submit a feasibility report in order to make sure that whether or not a separate port could be set up in order to cater to the transit needs of the North-Eastern states or not. It has been decided that the new port seems to come up due to the simple reason that the existing reason. After feasibility report is submitted then the Bangladesh Government will take a final decision in this regard, reports added. In the meantime the North-Eastern states are continuing to mount pressure on the Centre to see that the Bangladesh Government succumbs to the demand for providing transit immediately. (From ' TRIPURA TIMES ' English Daily, 4th October 2002)

• Three more companies ready to join : Chopper service links Agartala-Dharmanagar : 

The much awaited helicopter service between Agartala-Dharmanagar was formally started today. State Chief Minister Manik Sarkar inaugurated the service in a short formal occasion at Agartala airport. Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation Sripada Nayek were among others present on the occasion.

Flagging off the helicopter service the Chief Minister Manik Sarkar said the helicopter service would be very much useful to people of the state considering remote and hilly parts of the state.

The Chief Minister in his speech said that it was deemed earlier that only businessmen, owner of tea estates and patients would only avail the facilities. The service would prove expensive for the common people. But with the rush of common people to by fly to Dharmanagar and Agartala proved that it would be effective venture in state.

"The enthusiasm among the common people reflected that the economic capabilities of people of the state and subsequent economic infrastructure have been increased", he said.

Mr. Sarkar said that state government is considering to introduce helicopters with more seating capacity.

The chief minister said three more private airline services have expressed desire to introduce helicopters in the fresh tie up would be made with the three private companies if the joint venture with Pawan Hansa Limited proves profitable.

Mr. Sarkar announced that similar service will be established with Kanchanpur, Kamalpur and Kailashahar.

The chief minister also appealed to Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation Sripada Nayek to take necessary steps to increase number of flights from existing 12 to 14 per week.

Mr. Sarkar also appealed to Mr. Nayek to hand over the abandoned Khowai airport to state government. He also gave five roses to the passengers.

The union minister of state assured that he will take necessary steps to increase number of flights on Agartala-Kolkata-Agartala route.

He said the terminal building of Agartala airport will be inaugurated soon.

The union minister of state said that the central government formed the Pawan Hansa to maintain aerial link among the remote and inaccessible parts of the country.

The airline company has already running choppers in other states including Arunachal, Meghalaya and Sikkim. Besides the airlines is also assisting home ministry for maintaining security.

The State Transport Minister Sukumar Barman assured all sorts of help to Pawan Hansa Limited to maintain the service effectively.

The Chairman of Tripura Road Transport Corporation (TRTC) Manik Dey, Member of Parliament (MP) Matilal Sarkar, Chief Secretary V. Thulasidas, General Manager of Pawan Hansa Limited J. P. Srivastava delivered speech on the occasion.

The helicopter service will be available six day of a week and tickets will be available at office of TRTC. The ticket has been fixed at Rupees one thousand per head.

Hundreds of people gathered at Gajabil helipad of Ganganagar to receive the first five passengers of the service. (From ' TRIPURA TIMES ' English Daily, 1st October 2002)