GUWAHATI: There is no let up in the problem of land erosion caused by the Brahmaputra and its tributaries in Assam.

India on Friday said it would look into how much water will be lost from its rivers because of dams being built by China on the Brahmaputra.

“The Ministry of Water Resources will advise us whether these dams are just run–of–the–river dams or storage dams. Our understanding is that these are run–of–the–river dams, in which case we would not be affected,” External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid told reporters here. “We also have to get expert advise on what is the downstream impact and how much water is likely to be removed. We have indicated (to China) that we have downstream concerns,” he added.

GUWAHATI: Advocating their support to the Lower Subansiri Hydro–electric Power Project (LSHEP) and the big dam issue, the North East Power News on the sidelines of their press meet on the Global Energy Conference, 2013 on “Development of Power with Peace” said that Northeast would suffer if there is obstruction of big dams in the region, considering the economic and development boon it brings.

Although the press meet was initially aimed at addressing the forthcoming global energy conference to be held on February 1, the organizers strayed from their main topic and went on to lambast the various organization in the State which opposed the big dams and the LSHEP project.

IMPHAL: Wildlife books, written a few decades ago say that many species of animals and birds were available in plenty in Manipur.

SHILLONG: People’s lifestyle has always been a factor in one’s health and this is true in Shillong too. With the rise in what doctors consider unhealthy life style the death rates too are rising.

In the last 5–6 years Meghalaya has seen a huge rise in Cancer rates in the state with 1038 cancer cases being registered in Civil Hospital Shillong alone. Addressing this issue, a Specialist from the Department of Radiation Oncology, Dr. Judita Syiemlieh informed that in recent years especially in 2009 and 2012 there was a huge rise in the numbers of cancer cases being reported only in Civil hospital Shillong. She added that the number would be many fold if we take into account the cases that go to other states of the country for treatment.

GUWAHATI: Hitakalpa, a social organization, has expressed resentment at the fact that despite repeated appeals, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi has taken no initiative to improve the drainage system in Guwahati.

Addressing a press conference in Guwahati today, Hitakalpa president Bani Bikram Sarma said, “The drainage system is unplanned. Every year, because of the poor drainage system Guwahati faces the problem of artificial floods. All the drainage outlets in the city release into the Brahmaputra. In this way, the river is getting polluted.

GUWAHATI:The Krishak Mukti Sangram Samity (KMSS), the Assam Jatiyatabadi Yuva Chatra Parishad (AJYCP) and the Takam Mising Porin Kebang (TMPK) slammed the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (

Itanagar: Union Minister for Rural Development Jairam Ramesh today approved in principle construction of two roads in Arunachal Pradesh namely Bameng to Lada (55 kms) and Miao to Vijaynagar (157 kms) under Prime Minister’s Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY).

Ramesh conveyed this to Chief Minister Nabam Tuki who met him at New Delhi today to discuss various matters related to the Rural Development Sector in the State, official sources informed.

IMPHAL: Manipur was one of the eight States rewarded for significant agricultural productions. President Pranab Kumar Mukherjee handed over to Chief Minister Okram Ibobi a cash of Rs 2 crore, one citation and one certificate in a solemn function held today at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

From among the small State category Manipur and Nagaland have been selected. Officials did not furnish details of the reported glut production in agriculture in Manipur. Because Manipur has been importing even ubiquitous items like rice, flour and all other food items from other States in general and Assam in particular.

In what can be called as a rare inititaive by an Assamese, this man from Dobia Borigaon in Gohpur sub-division started what can be called as a green revolution in this part of the country to fight the rage of global warming. He went on to popularize his concept not just in India but his experiments have been replicated in countries like England, France, Nepal, Bangladesh and Indonesia.

He did not buy gifts for his friend on their birthdays when he was young. Rather, he opted to spread the cover of green and gift them saplings. And he kept this practice alive as he grew up, only to expand it in a different magnitude altogether.