Tripura power project gets central nod

October 10th, 2009 CHENNAI - The state-run Neyveli Lignite Corporation Limited (NLC) has sought the central government's permission to commission a 250-MW power project in Rajasthan, a company official said. The company already has a mandate to build two 125 MW project at Barsingsar village in Rajasthan.

August 21st, 2009 Akhaurah (India-Bangladesh Border), - Bangladesh has in principle agreed to provide transit facilities to India but in return has demanded a corridor through West Bengal to carry out bilateral trade with Nepal and Bhutan. Bangladesh Commerce Minister Colonel (retired) Faruk Khan said: "India already enjoys maritime transit with Bangladesh, and we can hold bilateral talks to resolve the long pending road and rail transit issue." "Providing transit facilities to India is not a big problem, it can be resolved through mutual talks.

July 5th, 2009 AGARTALA - Bangladesh's industry bodies want transit facilities for India to help it transport cargo to the northeast region through their country. According to them, transshipment can be done through Chittagong and Mongla international ports and Sherpur and Ashuganj river ports, besides through road and railways.

June 23rd, 2009 RAIPUR - Decks have been cleared for the 4,000-MW ultra mega power project (UMPP) in Chhattisgarh as the central government has finally approved the project, ending months-long controversy. The government, which had earlier selected Chhattisgarh as one of the five states for setting up UMPPs, reportedly rejected the project last August as the state government stuck to its demand for 50 percent of power at "invariable cost" from the project.

June 12th, 2009 AGARTALA - Germany will provide a whopping Rs.1.40 billion financial assistance to the northeastern state of Tripura for empowering the tribals and people living in remote areas by utilising the abundant natural resources, a minister said Friday. "Under the Indo-German development project, the German government would provide 15 million euros (Rs.1.40 billion) as grant to implement the six years long project," Tripura forest and industries minister Jitendra Chowdhury said.

May 29th, 2009 AGARTALA - Bangladesh has agreed in principle to allow India to use its waterways to transport heavy machines for Oil and Natural Gas Corp's (ONGC) upcoming 740-MW power project in Tripura, officials said here Friday. The gas-based project, the biggest ever of ONGC, is coming up in south Tripura's Palatana, about 60 km from here, and is expected to be operational by 2012.

May 20th, 2009 KOLKATA - West Bengal is keen to take up a hydel power project in Bhutan and wants the central government's help in this regard, a senior government official said here Wednesday. 'We want to set up a project, with our own investment, in Bhutan and we have asked the government of India to help us,' power secretary Sunil Mitra told reporters here.

April 23rd, 2009 AGARTALA - Banking services had to be curtailed in Tripura after the Election Commission appointed a large number of bank employees to conduct the Lok Sabha election Thursday, an official here said. 'We had to restrict some customer services since Wednesday as a large number of bank employees of various nationalised banks were engaged in the general election,' a senior bank official said.

February 21st, 2009 AGARTALA - The central government is likely to compensate the northeastern states for the whopping financial burden due to implementation of the recommendations of the Sixth Pay Commission, officials said here Friday. 'Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia during a meeting with Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar in New Delhi Thursday said the issue was presented before the finance ministry for active consideration,' a government spokesperson said.

February 17th, 2009 AGARTALA - A national 'van mela' is being organised in the northeastern state of Tripura to promote sustainable use of forest resources and diversified utility of non-timber forest products. 'The 'van mela' intends to provide an opportunity for interaction across various stakeholders on forest based livelihood and traditional knowledge on the use of forest and its products,' Tripura Forest Minister Jitendra Chowdhury told reporters here.

February 16th, 2009 AGARTALA - Terming the interim budget of the central government a 'poll lollipop', the Left Front government in Tripura Tuesday said it largely neglected the northeastern region. The budget is 'a political agenda ahead of the general elections and no programme to deal with the crucial economic issues of the northeastern region in view of the slowdown', Tripura Finance Minister Badal Chowdhury told reporters.

February 8th, 2009 AIZAWL - A 460 MW hydroelectric project will be set up by state-run National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) in Mizoram, officials said here Monday. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between NTPC and the Mizoram government to commission the Rs.30 billion power project in Sahia and Lawngtlai districts of southern Mizoram.

January 7th, 2009 AGARTALA - The Left Front government in Tripura would not use the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) against the striking employees of public sector oil companies, the state's Power and Food and Civil Supplies Minister Manik Dey said here Thursday. 'Responding to a letter from the union government, we have informed the centre that the Tripura government would not impose ESMA on the striking officers,' Dey told reporters.

January 5th, 2009 AGARTALA - India's premier hydrocarbons exploration company, Oil and Natural Gas Corp (ONGC), has undertaken a Rs.43.76-billion project in Tripura to boost gas output, the company said here Tuesday. 'The investment proposal has been approved to produce and supply six million cubic metres gas per day from the state's gasfields,' ONGC executive director Biplab Guha told reporters.

December 30th, 2008 AGARTALA - Tripura Wednesday announced a Rs.150 million package for the minority Muslims to bring about an all-round development of the community. 'On the basis of Sachar Committee observations and a Tripura government study on Muslims, the package was formulated and would be implemented in three years' time,' said Chief Minister Manik Sarkar.