News

GUWAHATI, Feb 1 ? Inspired by the success of the shallow tubewell irrigation scheme implemented in the State under the Samridha Krishak Yojana (SKY), the Planning Commission has recommended it as ?ideal for adoption in other States.? In what should sound as good music for the State Agriculture department, often in the news for the wrong reasons, the Planning Commission has termed the project a success in terms of its physical achievements ? added irrigation, increased farm output, and higher income for farmers besides efficiency of financial utilisation ? and said such a scheme has potential...

Agartala, Feb. 1: For the first time in Tripura?s electoral history, security forces engaged in counter-insurgency operations have been dragged into a major controversy by political parties.

PCC chief Birajit Sinha, who took the help of the Indigenous Nationalist Party of Tripura and its president Bijay Kumar Hrangkhwal in garnering the president?s post after losing a party election to it, is toeing the INPT?s line on nearly all issues, particularly relating to deployment of forces.

During the past decade, militant outfits have always been opposed to the deployment of Tripura State Rifles...

Guwahati, Feb. 1: Assam Rifles will acquire new surveillance equipment for its units deployed on the porous Indo-Myanmar border, which has become one of the hotspots of militancy in the Northeast.

The director-general of the country?s oldest paramilitary force, Lt Gen. G.K. Duggal, today said the presence of troops along the Indo-Myanmar border ?spanning the four states of Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram ? was adequate at present. However, the Assam Rifles would still like to strengthen its presence along the border, he added.

Duggal disclosed that Assam Rifles units would...

Shillong, Feb. 1: Former Meghalaya chief minister E.K. Mawlong kicked off the United Democratic Party?s (UDP) election campaign today by releasing the party manifesto.

Mawlong, who is president of the party, said the UDP would attempt to take the controversial deal regarding the Calcutta-based Meghalaya House to its logical conclusion if voted to power. He was optimistic that his party would form the next government in the state.

The UDP, which had contested in 56 of the 60 Assembly seats, has released a list of 50 candidates for the February 26 polls. In the last Assembly elections, the party...

Guwahati, Jan. 31: For thousands of years, countless devotees have walked down the cobbled steps to reach the sanctum sanctorum of the Kamakhya temple to pay obeisance to the goddess. But from now on, pilgrims will not be allowed to break a coconut at the altar of the goddess or light incense sticks inside the main temple.

Threat to the structure of the temple due to vibrations, smoke and harmful chemicals ? pointed out by the Archaeological Survey of India ? have prompted the temple authorities to impose a ?ban? on breaking of coconuts and lighting of incense sticks inside the sanctum...