Meghalaya CM visits cyclone affected areas
Ampati (Meghalaya), April 18 (IANS): Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma on Monday visited the cyclone-affected areas in the state’s South West Garo Hills district and reviewed the assessment of damages. Accompanied by district administration officials, Sangma met some of the affected families at Kolkatola village near Betasing Block where more than 25 households were affected and assured them of necessary assistance for restoration of their houses. The Chief Minister also asked the villagers and enquired whether the village disaster management committees were in place and called for preparedness for such emergencies.
PM taking the NE on a high growth trajectory: Venkaiah
Guwahati, April 18 (PTI): Union Minister of Urban Development, Housing and Poverty Alleviation M Venkaiah Naidu today said the central government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi is striving to take the North East region on a high growth trajectory. “Reform-perform-transform is our motto and our government is going to ensure that the fruits of India’s economic development reach the poorest of the poor of the country,” the Minister said presiding over a meeting here to review the progress of Central Government schemes for providing housing in urban areas in eight NE states.
GOC 101 Area calls on Assam Chief Secy, DGP
Guwahati, April 18 (PTI): General Officer Commanding 101 Area Lt Gen D S Ahuja today called on Assam Chief Secretary V K Pipersenia and Director General of Police Mukesh Sahay here to discuss several security related and other issues. Lt Gen Ahuja, accompanied by GOC 51 Sub Area Maj Gen Arun Kumar, called on the Chief Secretary at the state secretariat and discussed the ongoing water crisis at Narangi and Bashishtha Cantonment in detail, an official release said. The issues of handing over of land for establishment of an Army Institute of Nursing and the problem of illegal occupation of forest land around Narangi Cantonment were also deliberated upon in detail. The GOC also called on the DGP at the Assam Police headquarters and the two officers deliberated upon the security situation in the state, the release said.
Two poachers killed in Assam
Guwahati, April 18 (IANS): At least two poachers were killed by forest guards in Assam’s Orang national park on Tuesday, an official said. The guards also recovered a .303 rifle, 10 bullets and an axe. Assam’s Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) Bikash Brahma confirmed on Tuesday that the poachers had entered the park with the intention to kill one-horned rhinos. “The incident took place around 1 a.m. today (Tuesday). The forest guards heard a gunshot and launched an operation immediately. The poachers fired at the guards when asked to surrender. Two poachers were killed in the ensuing gunfight,” Brahma said.
Teachers of about 5000 Sarva Siksha Abhiyan schools struck work today demanding immediate release of their revised pay. The teachers struck work under the banner of the Meghalaya SSA Schools’ Association (MSSASA) that has been spearheading the agitation for quite some time. MSSASA president Aristotle C Rymbai said, “Following request from parents and managing committees, we have decided to withdraw the strike.” However, the association would hoist black flags in all SSA schools beginning tomorrow to be followed by a 3-day hunger strike beginning from April 26, Rymbai said. The association demanded immediate release of revised pay of over 12,000 SSA teachers.
