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DIMAPUR, June 27 ? Although the Centre is keen on lifting the restriction imposed on the installation of the WLL facility extended to all the north-eastern states including Nagaland, the dream of linking every village with telephone connections by the end of the current year may take time as the MHA seems to be quite reluctant to revoke the ban citing security as the reason. During their three-day visit of the state capital last week the 12-member study team of the Parliamentary standing committee on information technology, led by the lone Lok Sabha member from the state, K Asungba Sangtam...

NEW DELHI, June 26 ? In a major policy disclosure, the Union Home Ministry has today ruled out creation of an autonomous State of Karbi Anglong and North Cachar Hills under 244 A of the Constitution on the ground that it was not feasible. Union Home Minister LK Advani clarified the NDA Government?s stand on the issue, at a meeting of his Ministry?s Parliamentary Consultative Committee held here today. The Union Home Minister was responding to a clarification sought by CPI-ML MP Dr Jayanta Rongpi, who moved three agenda discussions at the meeting here this morning.

The Union Home Minister said...

DIBRUGARH, June 26 ? It took no less a person than the Prime Minister himself to personally intervene and come to the rescue of Rohmaria, a place where the Brahmaputra has been gobbling away square kilometre upon square kilometre of fertile farmlands since the past several years. It is learnt from a top official of the Assam Government that the Centre this week has agreed to provide the required Rs 406 crore for the comprehensive Rohmaria and upstream protection work. The scheme was prepared in 1998 by the Dibrugarh embankment & drainage division of the State flood control department. Work on...

NEW DELHI, June 26 ? The much-awaited mega gas cracker may finally take off ground, with the Assam Government and Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) being asked to finalise a date for foundation laying ceremony. The development came at the end of the official-level review meeting convened by the Department of Petrochemical here yesterday. The meeting was followed by a meeting between the Union Chemical and Fertilizer Minister, SS Dhinsa and State Industries Minister, Bhubaneswar Kalita, where they were briefed by the official about the outcome of the review meeting.

Subsequently, Dhinsa...

GUWAHATI, June 25 ? The use of elephants by the Forest Department of the State to demolish illegal structures as part of the Government?s eviction drive against encroachers in forest areas have drawn widespread condemnation from renowned authorities on animal welfare across the globe. The Forest Department has no right to carry out demolition of concrete structures, having corrugated iron sheet roofs through domesticated elephants. It is a violation of Section 11 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act 1960, and is a punishable offence, wildlife experts point out.

Dr Daphne...