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SILCHAR, May 8 ? Lack of adequate security cover and a hostile terrain make the Railway employees and the contractors engaged in the gauge conversion work between Lumding and Silchar easy targets of the militants, particularly the militants belonging to the Dima Halong Daogah (DHD). There were several instances in recent past when persons engaged in the gauge conversion work came under attack from the armed militants, and if such incidents are not checked, the gauge conversion work will be seriously affected. During a recent trip through the hill section of the Lumding-Silchar line of the...

GUWAHATI, May 8 ? Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today announced that salaries and expenditures of State Ministers and top bureaucrates would be reduced in view of the precarious financial crisis gripping the State. Talking to newsmen at Janata Bhawan here this afternoon, the Chief Minister informed that there would be 25 per cent pay-cut, 20 per cent cut on travel allowance and 20 per cent cut on telephone expenditure for all the Ministers as part of the austerity measures being contemplated by the State Government. He further informed that the Government would put ceiling on travel and telephone...

Imphal, May 08: Though announced with much hype under the Prime Minister package at the fag end of 1998, the Loktak Downstream Project is yet to take off. Sources from the National Hydro Electric Project Limited, NHPC said the project is yet to take off because the State Government has failed to provide the required security cover and also because of the wrangling overcompensation for land acquisition. NHPC which is to be spearheading the project had taken an unofficial stand that they would not be able to continue work at the project if the State Government does not provide adequate security...

AIZAWL, May 7 ? Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga is scheduled to leave for Bangkok today to hold talks with the NSCN (I-M) leadership, Chief Minister?s secretariat sources said here, report PTI. This would be Zoramthanga?s second meeting with NSCN (I-M) leaders in the Thai capital. A former rebel leader himself, Zoramthanga was earlier approached by both the Centre and the NSCN to broker peace deal to solve the Naga problems. He was said to be instrumental in breaking a stalemate when both the sides disagreed on extension of ceasefire outside Nagaland. He, however, said that he would not be...

NEW DELHI, May 7 ? The World Bank on Monday signed agreements for providing $ 315 million in loans for two projects in India aimed at improving the transport system in Mizoram and Kerala, reports PTI. The agreements were signed by Adarsh Kishore, additional secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, on behalf of the Government of India; Edwin Lim, World Bank?s country director; Babu Jacob, principal secretary, PWD, Government of Kerala, and HV Lalringa, chief secretary, Government of Mizoram, an official statement said here. The bank would provide $ 255 million loan for Kerala State Transport...