NEW DELHI, Feb 27 – Uncertainty over the 2000 MW Subansiri (Lower) hydro-electricity project may be finally over with the project likely to get the all-important Cabinet Committee on Economic Affair (CCEA) clearance by next month-end. The project – part of the Prime Minister’s economic package – has been hanging in limbo for past few years caught in bureaucratic wrangles in Delhi and problems with environmental groups back in Arunachal Pradesh. But that is over with the Central government already deciding to do away with the pre-Public Investment Board (pre-PIB) clearance. The project...

Imphal, Feb. 27: After campaigning against drugs and liquor, the outlawed Revolutionary People’s Front (RPF) of Manipur has imposed a ban on chewing tobacco. The RPF, whose crusade against social evils has earned it the image of an outfit with a conscience, said in a statement here that all brands of khaini and zarda should be neither sold nor consumed in the state from April 13. “Anybody who is found violating the ban will be punished without warning,” it added.

The outfit appealed to elders, especially parents and guardians, to advise their wards against chewing tobacco.

The RPF observes...

UDALGURI, Feb 27 – The All Assam Nepali Students’ Union (AANSU) of BAC region has welcomed the signing of the Memorandum of Settlement (MoS) on Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) on February 10 last at New Delhi among Central, State governments and Bodo Liberation Tigers (BLT). This was stated in a press note issued by Sri Ram Budathoki, secretary of the students’ organisation.

Terming the accord a milestone in favour of peace and prosperity in the region, the AANSU leader hoped that the other rebel outfits of the region too would follow the example of BLT for the greater interest of the...

NEW DELHI, Feb 27 — The Human Development Index of Assam has gone up and the State has been ranked 14th a marked increase from the rank of 26 in 1991, according to the Economic Survey Report released here today. Assam’s Human Development Index was constant since 1981 at 26th position. The State was given a value of 0.272 in 1981 and 0.348 in 1991. But the value in 2001 has increased marginally to 0.386 and the state has been promoted to the rank of 14. However, Assam has miles to go to catch up with the all India average value of 0.472. Kerala remains at the top of the NHDR with an Index of 0...

DIMAPUR, Feb 27 – Nagaland Police chief reacting to the allegations levelled by various non-Congress political parties that personnel of both the recently raised Indian Reserve Battalions (IRB) had favoured ‘one’ political party, said the complaints have been enquired into through various sources and the report has been submitted to the government.

Terming the IRB personnel as the most disciplined and well trained to tackle any situation, Hesso Mao, Director General of Police, Nagaland vehemently denying the accusations said they had been properly briefed before being deployed for elections...