India to become open defecation free country within the next decade

Agartala, Jun 30, 2012 : The UPA government is working on making India an open defecation free country by properly implementing the 'Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan' scheme within the next decade, said Rural Development Minister Joyram Ramesh. 

Altogether Rs 35 thousand crore will be spend over the next five years while Rs 3500 crore will be spent in the current financial year to achieve the end. Announcing this in an interaction with the media in the state Guest House the union minister said that Sikkim had already become a 'Nirmal' state by doing away with open defecation while Kerala will achieve that goal by the end of the current year. 

“We are hoping that Tripura, Mizoram and Manipur in Northeast will emerge as 'Nirmal' next year and will be followed by states of Arunachal Pradesh , Nagaland and Meghalaya in 2014; Assam will achieve this by the end of 2015” said Ramesh. Known for his candid and uninhibited articulation, Ramesh described Indian railway as the 'biggest toilet' in the world and said that unless this evil practice which he compared to the 'bane of caste system' was ended India would continue to suffer from malnutrition. 'The task is daunting as we have 2.40 lakh Gram Panchayats across the country and 60 percent of Indians still depend on open defecation ; out of this 60 percent more than 65 percent are women ; it is a shame to the country' said Ramesh . He stated that recently Bill Gates had met him in Delhi and promised to work in association with the government of India to eradicate this system.

On the issue of water supply which also falls under his ministerial jurisdiction Ramesh said that in the Northeast region Tripura, Mizoram and Manipur are adversely affected by high iron content in water while Assam is affected by arsenic. ‘RD ministry planning to launch a large number of water treatment plants in states of the region to insulate people from consumption of contaminated water' said Ramesh , adding that an arsenic research centre will be set up in West Bengal at a cost of Rs 50 crore and this will help Northeast also.

Ramesh who had arrived here this morning to hold discussions with the Chief Minister Manik Sarkar and senior government officials over progress in implementation of centrally sponsored rural development schemes said that Centre had already asked the CAG to conduct a 'performance audit' of the works done under MGNREGA in all the states of the country. 'The CAG will submit the final report on its audit to the government in November this year and it will be tabled in parliament in December this year ; discussions may also take place on the CAG report' said Ramesh, adding that Centre had received allegations of corruption, diversion and misuse of funds in implementing MGNREGA and other schemes. He also asserted that from next financial year CAG will take up at least one centrally sponsored rural development scheme for audit of performance. 'We have 2.40 lakh Village Panchayats across the country and they are now flush with funds ; 20 percent of Gram Panchayats will be required to furnish compulsory certification of funds utilized on the basis of audits conducted by registered chartered accountants appointed by CAG from next financial year' said Ramesh. He stress on the importance of accountability and transparency in implementing schemes and proper utilization of funds . 

'In the current financial year we have allocated Rs 99 thousand crore for rural development which is next only to the outlay on defence in our budget but this is public money and we are only trying to ensure proper utilization of funds for asset creation' said Ramesh . 

He indirectly hinted that many state governments have been defaulting on furnishing utilisation reports and audited accounts. Ramesh also indirectly contradicted Tripura government's consistent claims on development saying that development and utilization of funds should be reflected in economic indices of the state. 'The state government officially says that the below poverty line (BPL) figure in Tripura is still 65 percent ; if it is so, where has all the money given by Centre gone?' Jayram asked. “To much of money including in Tripura getting waste, we must provide honest accountancy”, said Ramesh adding that ‘ people of Tripura have every rights to know what is happening with public money’.

Jayram said that he had a cordial discussion with the chief minister Manik Sarkar and had assured him that there would be no political string attached to sanction of funds. 'In the last financial year we sanctioned Rs 990 crore for MGNREGA in Tripura and naturally in the current year the amount will be much more ; but we insist on accountability and utilization; we also give award and administrative incentives for good work in implementing centrally sponsored schemes ' said Ramesh. 

He added that the centrally sponsored scheme of road connectivity had earlier stipulated that habitations with population of 500 families would be brought under centrally financed road connectivity, water supply and sanitation development separately but now the population figure had been reduced to 250 families. He disclosed that chief minister Manik Sarkar had specially requested him to convey to the prime minister the urgent need for improved relations between Tripura and Bangladesh.

Jiten asks for fast-track NREGA implementation

Agartala, Jun 30, 2012 : Tripura has stressed for fast-track implementation of ongoing projects under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NRGA). An official communiqué of the state government stated that Jitendra Chaudhury, Minister for Rural Development asked all concerned officials tocomplete ongoing projects of the National Rural employee Guarantee Act (NREGA)within specified time-frame at a review meeting of ongoing projects at the newlyformed South Tripura district.



The review meeting held at the Civil Secretariat here yesterday resolved to ensure fast-track administrative approval for NREGA projects proposed from grampanchayat level.



District Magistrate of the newly formed South Tripura district informed the meeting that 18-20 mandays were generated in the district till June, 2012. Chairmen, Vice Chairmen of PanchayatSamity and Block Development Officers (BDO) were asked to monitorimplementation of the projects at regular basis. The minister also urged oncreation on block-wise mandays at par with the labour budget for currentfinancial year.

Intercropping in rubber estates for bio-diversity

Agartala, Jun 29, 2012 : The Rubber Board is now emphasizing on maintenance of bio-diversity through intercropping in rubber estates along with expansion of rubber cultivation in entire Northeast region except Sikkim.


Speaking with media persons in a local hotel last night , K G Mohanan, additional rubber production commissioner of Rubber Board said, 'All over the world tea, coffee, spices and rubber are grown as mono crop which tells upon ecological balance and bio-diversity; so we are now trying to encourage intercropping in the rubber gardens'


He said that in plantations coconut trees remain in between rubber trees but pineapple, ginger, turmeric , vegetables, capsicum , mustard etc can be intercropped up to three years since the beginning of the plantations. 'Subsequently when rubber plants grow up medicinal plants which do not require much light for growth can be intercropped in plantations', said Mohanan, adding that this would help retain bio-diversity.


Regarding the expansion of rubber cultivation in Northeast region, Mohanan said that after the traditional rubber-growing areas of Kerala, Kanyakumari district of Tamil Nadu and southern Karnataka NE region except Sikkim is the 'most suitable' area for rubber cultivation . Tripura tops all other Northeastern states in terms of area coverage of cultivation and production of rubber and is currently the second largest rubber growing and producing state in India. 


He said that the potential rubber growing area in Northeast was 450,000 hectares out of which only 1,13,685 hectares or 25.26 percent are currently under cultivation. 'Tripura is the largest rubber growing state in the region with an annual production of 25875 metric tons , followed by much larger Assam which has an average annual production of 8050 metric tons ; Arunachal Pradesh with an average annual production of only 167 metric tons is at the bottom' said Mohanan. He added that currently total annual production of rubber in Northeast is 41,200 metric tons. In Tripura 59.29 percent of the targeted area of 1 lakh hectares for cultivation has already been covered and the Rubber Board is now looking to help growth of 'Block or Cluster' plantations by bringing together a number of contiguous gardens for protecting bio-diversity.


Giving details on Tripura Mohanan said that rubber cultivation provides livelihood to 51,885 families in Tripura . 'In Tripura Rubber Board-aided rubber cultivation has significantly reduced 'Jhum' cultivation in the state and helped resettlement programmes for shifting cultivators.


“The board’s new scheme of block planting in 3725 hectares of land in 58 blocks will benefit 3423 indigenous families”, said Mohanan. He said that currently Northeast had a share of only 4.78 percent of rubber production in the country but 'optimum expansion' of rubber cultivation could change the face of Northeast because rubber has high potential for investment and export value.


He ruled out speculations about rubber being harmful to environment and said that the Board was planning to assist in intercropping of rubber in tea gardens of Tripura. 'Rubber and tea will go side by side and that will help in the gardens retaining their economic benefit, said Mohanan.

Grameen Bank staff to get pension, other benefits

Agartala, Jun 29, 2012 : The central government has taken an on-principle decision for extending pension and other retirement benefits to Grameen bank employees at par with nationalized and commercial bank employees, said Dilip Kumar Mukherjee, secretary general of All India Regional Rural Bank Employees Association here today.

Speaking at Agartala Press Club this morning, Mukherjee said that employees of the Grameen Bank were earlier deprived of pension benefits allowed to nationalized and commercial banks.

Outgoing Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee accepted the proposal as an on-principle decision at New Delhi recently, he said.

“The Finance Minister has cleared pension parity for regional rural bank staff. We had a meeting on June 20 last where he informed us that the central government had taken a policy decision for extending pension to regional rural bank staff at par with the existing scheme available in banking industry in terms of bipartite settlement”,said Mukherjee.

Mukherjee also met DK Mittal, Secretary of Financial Services,Government of India. The latter informed him that Department of Financial Services was considering various options to prepare draft pension scheme for regional ruralbank staff. The draft is expected to be prepared within a week or so, MIttal said.

All India Regional Rural Bank Employees Association had demanded recruitment of 120 casual workers serving the bank for last 15 years in Tripura as regular staff in 350 vacant posts that had been created recently.

Jairam to visit Tripura on June 30

Agartala, Jun 29, 2012 : Union Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh will visit the state on a whirlwind tour on June 30, informed Finance Minister Badal Choudhury here today.

Speaking to reporters at the Civil Secretariat here this evening, Choudhury said that the union minister would be arriving on June 30 morning to attend a meeting with RD ministers from all eight northeastern states on implementation of National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP).The meeting would be preceded by a secretary level meeting on June 29. 

The minister also informed that while the central government initially assured Tripura to sanction Rs. 110 crore under the National welfare scheme, the state was recently informed to have been sanctioned barely Rs. 68 crore.

Landslide in Assam affects food stock in state

Agartala, Jun 29, 2012 : Landslide on Lumding-Agartala rail route rendered the state to face food buffer stock crisis while several passengers were left helpless midway in different parts of Assam.

The state government has taken initiatives to extend transportation aid to the stranded passengers through Resident Commissioner of Tripura Bhawan at Guwahati, said Transport Minister Manik Dey here today.

“Trains of the route halted at Harengajao and Maibongdisa in Assam. Passengers have been brought from both locations to Lanka where from they will be taken to Guwahati. Further transportation will be borne by the passengers according to their requirement”, said the minister.

Meanwhile,Tripura was left with 77 days buffer stock of rice, 33 days buffer stock of wheat, 96 days stock of salt and 42 days buffer stock of sugar due to the stoppage of induction of PDS items through railways. Fuel stock condition is worse.

The state has got 11 days stock of petrol, 19 days stock of diesel and 36 days stock of kerosene oil, informed the minister.

“The worst of all is that repair work in the landslide-affected rail route could not start due to heavy downpour. The work will require 7-10 says ”, the minister added.

CM calls for stronger NEC

Agartala, Jun 28, 2012 : “The North Eastern Council (NEC), has not been able to achieve the objective of accelerating development process of the North Eastern region in order to bring it at par with the rest of the Country”, said Chief Minister Manik Sarkar addressing the 61st NEC Plenary Meet at New Delhi on Wednesday.

The 61st meeting of the North Eastern Council (NEC), a regional planning body, was held in New Delhi to finalize strategies for improving connectivity and other infrastructure in the region.

Chief Minister, addressing the NEC meet, said, ‘the allocation of funds to the NEC has been grossly inadequate. Not only that, the funds actually made available to NEC have been far lower than the initial allocations or the approved outlays. The manner of functioning of the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), which was created for speeding up the development of the North Eastern Region, also leaves much to be desired.

He suggested that DoNER should urgently develop the required administrative mechanism within the Ministry for processing and sanctioning of proposals.

“There should be no need for referring the project proposals to other Ministries, which defeats the very purpose of creation of a separate Ministry for Development of the North Eastern States. The process of sanction of projects and disbursement of funds needs to be speeded up considerably. The financial powers of the secretary of the Ministry should be increased”, opined Chief Minister.

‘Tripura is the 2nd largest state in NE region in terms of population and is in most disadvantageous position as far as the geographical location and infrastructure development is concerned, as the state is located in the extreme South-West corner of the region. Despite these factors, the share of Tripura in the funds allocated by NEC to various states has been very low and has been declining over the years’, said Sarkar.

He urged the NEC to work out a mechanism for more equitable distribution of resources among the states in the region.

He also requested NEC for speeding up the development of National Highway-44 and other important roads in Tripura, for extension of Railway line up to Sabroom and conversion of the same into Broad Gauge, for development of Agartala Airport and other Airports in the state, for completion of Agartala-Akhaura Railway link and other projects for connectivity with and through Bangladesh, for completion of power transmission, infrastructure, etc.

Sarkar reiterated that the faster development of NE region should be made the highest national priority and get due attention at the highest level by union government.

“The region has, for long, suffered from extremism, which has, to a great extent, been due to lack of development of the region. Speedy development of the region is absolutely necessary, if the region is to be saved from the curse of extremism”, said Chief Minister.

Members present included Governors of Assam, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Sikkim and Tripura, Chief Ministers of Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Tripura and Nagaland, Deputy Chief Minister of Meghalaya, Chief Secretary of Manipur, Minister Planning of Assam and three members of NEC.

It may be recalled here that the NEC meeting is held to discuss and take decisions on issues pertaining to development of transport, connectivity, telecommunications, civil aviation, railways, fresh investment and other key sectors which are crucial to the economic growth of the region.

CPM condemns Congress statements on militant link

Agartala, Jun 27, 2012 : Ruling CPM strongly condemned opposition Congress's statement on alleged nexus of the party with banned militant groups.

Amidst a major political controversy in Tripura with allegations and counter allegations between both the ruling CPI(M) and opposition Congress about alleged close links with extremist groups, CPM's state secretary Bijan Dhar said that the Congress statements was not an act of responsible political party. Dhar was interacting with the media in the party headquarter at Melarmath area of Agartala today.

He reiterated that Congress leaders were engaged in recruiting tribal youths and collecting money for banned NLFT. 'The plan is planning to disturb peace in ensuing assembly elections' he said.

"Our party never encourages such underground elements and their activities", said Dhar, adding that party's stand is clear on withdrawal of criminal cases of surrendered militants. 'Even according to norms set by the union ministry of home affairs all cases unrelated to heinous crimes like murder and crimes against women can be withdrawn' said Dhar.

He strongly objected to remarks made by Congress leaders and said that Congress insulted peaceful sentiment of tribal population of Tripura.

Referring to the outcome of the interrogation of arrested three NLFT cadres, CPM's spokesman Goutam Das said that nabbed Dhanu Kolio in his confessional statement in a local court had said crores of rupees had been collected from the construction agencies engaged in erection of border fencing work. 

Dhanu Koloi also said that NLFT collected their first installment of extortion money at MLA hostel in Agartala in presence of Congress's ST cell leader Debabrata Koloi.

He asked, if the Congress does not have any nexus with ultras, why opposition leader Ratanlal Nath stood for bail of arrested NLFT militant Jagadish alias Jester Debbarma as a lawyer.

State writes to MHRD on UGT recruitment standoff

Agartala, Jun 27, 2012 : Tripura has written to the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) providingdetails of trained and untrained teachers serving under the School EducationDepartment, said Principal Secretary Banamali Sinha here today.

"Under-GraduateTeacher (UGT) recruitment process has been long pending due to some conditions of the Right to Education Act, 2009, especially teachers' Eligibility Test (TET). We have provided all the details as asked by the Ministry in the Education Ministers' meeting held at New Delhi on June 05. We are hopeful of positiveoutcome", said Sinha.

Sinha argued that conditions of the RTE, which was made operational in 2010 in the state, should not be made applicable on interviews conducted in 2002, 2006 and 2009. 

"The state government is eager to deliver quality education as well. But a candidate may easily move the court of law if such conditions are imposed upon them", he added. 

The official also made reference to the results of nationally conducted TET examination. Barely seven percent of teachers who appeared in the test among Kendriya Vidyalaya, Sainik Schools etc could manage to pass in the examination, the Principal Secretary pointed out.

The Department is also contemplating to figure out reasons behind the 65 percent pass average percentage in recently published Madhyamik examination results of the Tripura Board of SecondaryEducation (TBSE), Sinha added.

Cong demands NIA, CBI prove on NLFT racket

Agartala, Jun 26, 2012 : Issuing the confessional statements of the NLFT members, who were arrested a couple week ago turn the political situation of Tripura in volatile condition with allegations and counter allegations of both the ruling CPI(M) and opposition Congress maintaining close links with extremist groups.

Two days after the ruling CPM’s press conference, opposition Congress organized another press conference here at Congress Bhavan on Tuesday alleged that CPM is the sympathizers of banned NLFT and ATTF militant groups.

Tripura Pradesh Congress president Sudip Roy Barman strongly condemning the CPM’s statement and said, ‘it’s a political propaganda to sideline the main issues of the state’.

“CPM leaders and their cadres have cordial relationship with banned ultras for gaining political mileage and tarnish the democratic, peace loving image of Congress”, alleged Roy Barman.

Claiming the state CID-is a frontal organization of ruling CPM, Congress demand National Investigation Agency (NIA) or CBI prove on recent arrest of NLFT militants and recovery of huge cash amount from their possession.

"Keeping an eye on the assembly election, the ruling CPM is trying to create violence and re-activate terrorism to capture power," Roy Barman alleged, adding the entire episode was a deep-rooted conspiracy produced by CPM leaders during their meeting with militants leaders recently at Dalak area in Amarpur subdivision.

"Before 2003 election, CPI-M accused INPT president Bijoy Kumar Hrankhwal of making a speech in Geneva on self-determination and leveled allegations against Congress and INPT, but after passing of ten years the government could not establish it, rather the government is on a back foot on the issue now, said PCC president.

Before elections such false allegation were made by CPM to gain political mileage, said Roy Barman adding that ‘if Congress and INPT had any nexus, then all 20 ST reserve seats could capture by them’.



“On May 28 last state government issued a notification signing by Law secretary Datamohan Jamatia and said all the criminal cases of surrendered militants would be withdrawn, which directly violate the Central government’s surrender norms”, said Sudip.

Opposition leader Ratanlal Nath alleged that CPM leaders frequent visits in Bangladesh has only for attend meeting with militants leaders.

Kharchi festival from June 27, Governor, CM greets people

Agartala, Jun 26, 2012 : Amidst tight security measures the state administration has geared up to celebrate the weeklong festival of Kharchi puja at Chaturdash Devata Mandir at Khayerpur from Wednesday .

All the road connected with fourteen deity temple from Khayerpur has already been renovated and illuminated with colourful lights along with main temple .

Apart from the traditional worships, newly built museum is expected to attract devotes during the festival days. The Haveli museum has been inaugurated by Chief Minister Manik Sarkar on Monday in the old Palace (Puran Haveli) . 

Administration has made special arrangement for parking of all kind of vehicles and hundreds of civil defence personnel and security forces would also be deployed to provide logistic support to the devotees.

Several police pickets have also been set up in and around the temple premises to ensure peaceful celebration of traditional Kharchi puja. 

However, Governor Dr D Y Patil and Chief Minister Manik Sarkar greets people and conveyed their best wishes to the people of state on the occasion of Kharchi festival.

Governor in his message said, one week long Kharchi Mela and Festival will be beautified by the presence of people irrespective of religion and races. The traditional consciousness of Kharchi Puja would strengthen further peace , integrity and fraternity in state and influence all to concentrate in building prosperous and powerful Tripura .

Chief Minister in his message said, from ancient period this festival of friendship has been flourishing our cultural tradition and heritage. He expected that Kharchi Festival would strengthen further the ongoing stream of fraternity and integrity among people of the state.

BA, B.Sc, B.Com results on Tuesday afternoon

Agartala, Jun 26, 2012 : Tripura University will announce BA, B.Sc & B.Com results for the year 2012 on June 26 AT 2 pm. The results which will be announced are BA, B.Sc and B.Com(Part-II & III General and Honours) under 1+1+1 and 2+1 systems respectively.

The compartmental results of three streams in Part-I and II category under 1+1+1 system will also be published on the same day. 

Moreover, B.Music(Honours) Part-III under 1+1+1 system and BVA(Honours) Part-III results also published on the same day, controller of exams Dr. Bhupal Chandra Sinha informed this in a press release on Monday evening.

The results will be available in www.tripurauniv.in and www.exametc.com websites from 2 PM. The students can get results through SMS by typing TUUG space Roll No SMS to 54242 or 56969.

CPM claims Cong leader in NLFT racket

Agartala, Jun 25, 2012 : "Three arrested NLFT members who were acting at the behest of the main group divulged involvement of a Congress ST department leader in anti-national activities", claimed CPM.

"The confessional statements of the NLFT members made it clear that a militant racket was functioning to disturb the peaceful environment of the state. And one of the Congress ST department ", said Bijan Dhar, CPM state secretary.

Addressing a press conference here at party office on Sunday after party's state committee meeting, Dhar alleged that Congress leader was engaged in recruiting tribal youths and collecting money for banned NLFT. The plan was to disturb ensuing assembly elections.

However, he did not mention the name of the leader associate with ultras.

"The entire racket was a deep rooted conspiracy led the Congress ST department leader", he said.

Referring to the outcome of the interrogation of arrested three NLFT cadres, Dhar said the insurgents had opened a new route- Jumpui-Mizoram-Myanmar for their movement. "The state government had already informed the Union government about the new route", he said.

He also urged the Union government to ask the Mizoram government to take all possible steps to plug the route.

Dhar did not forget to appreciate the role CID in its investigation. 

Giving details about the two-day CPM state committee meeting, Goutam Das, party's spokesman said that the party would organize mass demonstration on three-point demands. The demands include PDS for all and 35 kg rice at a price of Rs. 2 per kg. The mass demonstration will begin on June 30. 

In the two-day meeting, the party also took a stock of the prevailing political situation across the state.

"Altogether 1350 families joined CPM fold during the past few months. The party membership has increased by 6.2 percent during 2011-12 year. As of now, the number of party members stands at 81428", he added.

Guv sets high hopes for second Green revolution in state

Agartala, Jun 24, 2012 : Governor Dr. DY Patil toady lauded the state on its initiatives in tackling rising food crisis. Saying that the state is facing an annual food grain deficit of around 1.74 lakh metric tonnes,

Dr. Patil today said at the ceremonial release of Improved Crop Varities at ICAR, Lembucherra, that there is a pressing necessity of increasing productivity of rice to achieve self sufficiency in food production.

Rice covers nearly 80 percent of total food grain production of the state as principal crop of Tripura. Patting the initiatives for

developing high yielding crop varieties like brinjal, field pea, mustard etc under ICAR, Governor Dr. Patil today said that paths for a

second green revolution in the state are bright.

Speaking about the crop varieties developed by ICAR in Tripura,Governor Dr. Patil said, “These varieties, if adopted by the farmers to a large extent, will increase the average productivity of rice.

Food grain deficit in the Northeastern region might be solved to a large extent by this initiative”.

ICAR research teams have developed having high yield potentiality of 5-6 tonnes per hectare in the state. ICAR, Tripura has also evolved

crop varieties like brinjal, field pea and mustard.

State seeks centre's help for LPG

Agartala, Jun 24, 2012 : The state government has sought intervention from

Union Petroleum Minister Jaipal Reddy on the rising crisis on LPG supplies in Tripura. “During the last few months, supply of LPG refills in the state has been very irregular and inadequate.

LPG refills in the state are supplied form two bottling plants – one at Bishalgarh and another at Mohanpur. Supply is also made from Silchar

Bottling plant in Assam. Due to shortage of supply of LPG refills, the state has been facing serious problems of law and order. People are

blocking the roads and National Highway demanding regular supply of refills”, said Food and Civil Supplies Minister Manik Dey in a letter

to the ministry recently. Progress in expansion of LPG bottling plant at Bishalgarh had been ‘very much unsatisfactory’, added Dey.

RK Vaish, Chief Resident Commissioner at Tripura Bhawan, New Delhi, had raised the issue with GC Chaturvedi, Union Secretary in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas earlier. GC Daga, Director (Marketing) of the Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) visited

Tripura in 2010. The state government had requested him to set up two more bottling plants at Manu and Udaipur to tackle the growing demand

of LPG.

Supplies have normalized to a large extent on Friday. 10 truckloads of LPG cylinder were dispatched from Bishalgarh bottling plant, five from Mohanpur while barely one came from Silchar. Silchar Bottling Plant remained low productive as usual. Meanwhile, 13 bullets of LPG supply have reached the state today. 52 more are on the way, said Food and Civil Supplies Minister today.

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Tripura girl gang raped in Meghalaya, three arrested

Agartala, Jun 23, 2012 : A hapless Tripura girl bound for Guwahati by a truck to face interview for recruitment to central government job was gang raped by three miscreants at Byrnihat on Assam-Meghalaya border early in the morning of Friday .

After being rescued at the initiative of SP (Ribhoi district ), Ms C A Lyngwa the girl is now in a local hospital awaiting repatriation to Teliamura in Tripura's Khowai district. 

Govinda Roy, a truck driver who plies his vehicle between Guwahati and Agartala, said that on Thursday night the victim girl aged about 25 years, a resident of a village under Teliamura subdivision , had left by a truck driven by her brother for Guwahati. 

Around 4-30 in the morning of Friday when truck driver and his sister were resting and having tea at Byrnihat a group of three ‘Khasi’ miscreants reached the spot on an auto-rickshaw . Without any provocation the trio started beating up the truck driver before kidnapping the girl from the spot . The trio, later identified as Ronaldo Jena (18), Lumjaingshai Tangsap(21) and Kuntiewborlang Jyrwa (15), gang-raped her near 20- Mile MVI weigh bridge area.

Govinda said that he had caught sight of the injured truck driver and sent him to Byrnihat outpost with some other drivers from Tripura . 

However, the inspector of Nongpoh police station N T Lawai and SP (Ribhoi district) Ms C A Lyngwa took prompt action by launching a search operation and came to know by speaking to girl’s mobile that her three tormentors had forced another truck driver to drop her at Beltala area of Guwahati . They rescued the girl from Guwahati , recorded her complaint and sent her to Byrnihat hospital for medical examinations .

Speaking on phone with tripurainfo SP (Ribhoi distrcit) C A Lyngwa said that police had arrested all the three culprits . 'We will do everything possible to have the culprits punished by court ; the girl is still in a trauma and her parents also reached Byrnihat’, said C A Lyngwa. 

The inspector of Nongpoh police station N T Lawai who is also inspector of juvenile unit of police for Ribhoi distrcit also speaking on phone with tripurainfo said that all three had been produced in court and two grown-ups , Ronaldo Jena and Lumjaingshai Tangsap had been brought in police remand while minor Kuntiewborlang Jyrwa had been obtained for juvenile custody after arrest from court.

VCI delegation to visit Vet college

Agartala, Jun 23, 2012 : The fate of the only College of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry in Tripura will depend on the visit of a delegation of Veterinary Council of India(VCI) in the month of July.

In 2009 the College of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry had been established at R,K,Nagar area on the outskirt of Agartala, but till date, the college and state government authorities have been unable to get the affiliation of VCI due to non-fulfillment of guidelines. 

Official sources said, earlier, VCI had fixed its visiting date on June 28 next in Tripura, but the state government had requested VCI to defer their inspection date till July 20.

Sources added that VCI agreed with the state government’s suggestions and decided that its high level inspection team for verifying the college status for affiliation will visit Tripura after July 20 next.

The government establishments are now working round the clock to develop existing infrastructures of veterinary college as per guideline framed by VCI and required recruitment of faculty members.

It may be recalled here that in the opening year of college only 19 students were admitted. But during the last three academic years no student was admitted due to VCI’s non-affiliation.

Governor emphasis on high productivity of rice

Agartala, Jun 23, 2012 : Governor Dr D Y Pail distributed high quality and high yielding seeds, which have been developed by Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR)-Tripura among farmers on Friday.

Addressing a programme on the ceremonial release of improved crop verities at ICAR at Lembucherra Dr Patil emphasized on the productivity of rice in order to achieve self sufficiency in food production.

Dr Patil released two occasional variety of rice TRC-2005-1(Gomati Dhan) and TRC 2005-3 , which are suitable to Tripura’s climate and these seeds average yielding in both the seasons are 5 to 6 tons per hectare that mature within 134 days and 125 days respectively.

Governor also formerly handed over the seeds to farmers.

He congratulate the breeders and the members of the ICAR family for their dedicated work and achievements.

Rice is the principal crop covering nearly more than 80 percent of the total food grains produced in Tripura. There is an annual food grain deficit around 1.74 lakh metric tons, said Patil.

“I would like to thank the dedicated research team of ICAR who have undertaken such pioneering research work pertaining to agriculture, animal science, fisheries. It is a matter of great satisfaction to me releasing a number of rich varieties having high yielding capacity paddy seeds”, said Governor.

Science and Technology Minister Joygovinda Debroy said the increase production decrease suicide cases of the farmers and balancing the market.

ICAR scientists said the new released crops will help the all paddy farmers of Tripura and will bring second green revolution .

ICAR-Agartala improved seven crop verities during last eight years of efforts.

Power generation improves, load shedding cut short

Agartala, Jun 22, 2012 : The power generation in two units of Dumbur hydel power plant has resumed on Thursday after four months of inaction.

Official sources said, low water level in Dumbur lake and long dry spell forced the authorities to stop the generation from two units of 8 MW capacity in February last.

Among the two units, one 4 MW capacity unit started its power generation partially in the last part of May. But after June 6 last, the heavy shower increased the water level in Dumbur lake and on Thursday both units started generation in full swing.

Now the state’s own power generation stands at 82 MW, while the overall demand of power stands at 205 MW. The current supply is 147 MW which leaves a shortfall of 58 MW, said Tripura State electricity Corporation Limited (TSECL).

TSECL added that the daily power cut has been reduced from two hours to one and half hour after improvement in internal power generation.

BJP organized Jail Bharo movement

Agartala, Jun 22, 2012 : The state unit of BJP organized civil disobedience (jail Bharo movement in Agartala on Friday morning to protest against the increase in prices of daily commodities and petrol products and against alleged ‘misrule’ of Left Front government of Tripura.

Hundreds of BJP workers including state leaders organized a mass rally in various thoroughfares of Agartala on Friday morning and concluded the rally near Joynagar Bus stand, where police obstructed their rally.

Police said that only 71 BJP supporters including 7 women supporters and leaders were arrested during the agitation.

BJP’s state president Sudhindra Dasgupta said that the party organized ‘Jail Bharo Andolan' across the country on June 22 on the issues of inflation and hike in petro prices.

Public awareness programs were organized in different part of the state against the anti-people policies of UPA government in which a huge number of people from every section of society participated, said Dasgupta.

He said the country was passing through difficult times because Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was leading a “corrupt” government and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi was their “protector” .

The UPA government is helping oil mafia and those responsible for rise in prices of essential commodities."

Several key leaders of the party were participated in the agitation in different corners of the state on Friday.

Sujit Banerjee, spokesperson of BJP’s state unit said, the party also demand for CBI enquiry on the recent arrest of surrendered NLFT militants with huge cash.