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                         Vol.4, No.8 [*] February 12, 1999
                         ---------------------------------

                   In baiting a mouse-trap with cheese,
                     always leave room for the mouse.
                                - Saki
   -------------------------------------------------------------------

1  DESPITE DEADLINE RIL, OIL FAIL TO CLINCH DEAL          [S:9-FEB-99]
   ---------------------------------------------
   GUWAHATI:  Even though a high-level meeting  of  the  officials  of
   Union Ministry of Petroleum and Chemicals, the Government of Assam,
   the  Oil  India Limited (OIL) and Reliance Industries Limited (RIL)
   in New Delhi on January 5 had imposed the deadline  of  January  31
   for  the  OIL  and  RIL  to  come to an agreement on the gas-supply
   between them for the Assam Gas Cracker Project  at  Tengakhat,  the
   deadline  came  and  went  without,  however,  any deal having been
   struck by the two companies.   This  has  further  pushed  the  gas
   cracker project into uncertainty.
   
   The OIL is not agreeable to any guarantee on any of the  parameters
   of the  deal  which  the  RIL  would  like to see through.  The OIL
   cannot give an undertaking about the quantum of  the  gas  reserves
   for  the  next 15 years because it is not in a position to tell how
   much gas is in reserve at present.  Secondly, nowhere is there  any
   precedent of paying `liquidate damage' as asked for by RIL, sources
   said.
   
   According to  sources  in  the  Industries  Department,  the  RIL's
   conditions  are  `weird  and  impractical'. By raising this kind of
   demands, the RIL actually wants to  postpone  the  project  for  an
   indefinite  period.  This  is unacceptable in view of the fact that
   the company had already been given a great deal  of  concession  by
   the Union and State Governments.
   
2  HPC PASSING THROUGH CRITICAL STAGE                    [S:12-FEB-99]
   ----------------------------------
   GUWAHATI:   The  Hindustan  Paper  Corporation  (HPC),  Jagiroad in
   Morigaon district is in red and passing through a  critical  phase.
   The  deterioration  in the financial position of the corporation is
   due to an outstanding amount of  nearly  Rs.232  million  from  two
   Assam Government undertakings.

   The outstanding amount of Assam  State  Text  Book  Production  and
   Publication  Corporation  Limited  till  November  1,  1998 against
   supply of paper by HPC for academic session  1997,  98  and  99  is
   above  Rs.200 million. The outstanding amount of Assam Rashtrabhasa
   Prachar Samity, amounts to Rs.30 million.

   The officials of the HPC met the Chief Minister,  Chief  Secretary,
   Finance   Commissioner,   Industries   Commissioner  and  Education
   Secretary in this regard but to no avail. Till May 1998, the  State
   Government has paid only Rs.40 million.
   
3  BARAK GANA PARISHAD WANTS SEPARATE STATE            [PTI:10-FEB-99]
   ----------------------------------------
   SILCHAR: The Barak Gana Parishad (BGP) has ruled out  formation  of
   an  Autonomous  Council  for  the people of Barakland and said that
   creation of a separate State was the only solution to the  problems
   faced by this region.
   
   `We  have  already  turned  down  the  proposal  of  Chief Minister
   Prafulla Kumar Mahanta for creation of an Autonomous Council.   The
   councils  set  up for the Bodos, Karbis and North Cachar Hills have
   turned out to be damp squibs.  A permanent solution can  be  worked
   out  by creation of a separate Barakland State,' BGP president Rati
   Ranjan Roy told newsmen at Silchar on February 9.

4  ULFA IMPOSES TAX ON AGP LEADERS                       [S:11-FEB-99]
   -------------------------------
   NAGAON:   In  a  major change of its fund-raising drive, the banned
   ULFA now imposed taxes on the workers and  leaders  of  the  ruling
   Asom Gana Parishad (AGP).  The outfit imposed huge amounts of taxes
   on  the  contractors who could make quick buck with the help of the
   AGP-led Government.
   
   The rates were fixed, ranging from Rs.50  to  Rs.1,000  per  month.
   There  are also some reports that some of the financially-sound AGP
   leaders have been asked to pay Rs.100,000.  Sources said  that  the
   new  fun-raising  drive was being carried out under the supervision
   of the commander of the `action group', Suresh Bora.

5  FIFTY PER CENT OF CRPF DEPLOYED IN NORTHEAST          [S:10-FEB-99]
   --------------------------------------------
   GUWAHATI:  At  present, about fifty per cent of the Central Reserve
   Police Force (CRPF) is deployed in the  Northeast  region,  out  of
   which,  126 companies are deployed in Assam, the Inspector General,
   CRPF, Northeastern Sector, Mr Ramakrishnan  disclosed  at  a  press
   conference at Amerigog near Guwahati on February 9.
   
   A  total of 56 companies are engaged in anti-insurgency operations,
   64 companies  in  maintaining  law  and  order  and  ten  companies
   deployed as neutral force in the Assam-Nagaland border areas.
   
   Mr  Ramakrishnan  said that in 1998, 34 militants were shot dead by
   the force, 11 injured and 217 apprehended -- all belonging  to  the
   different extremists organizations like ULFA, BLT, NDFB, BTF, NSCN,
   KNV and  several others. 
   
   Twenty-five  dacoits  and  28  smugglers  were  also   apprehended.
   Besides  more  than 324 weapons, 34 grenades and IEDs, 2,983 rounds
   of ammunition,  2.6  kg  of  explosives  and  137  detonators  were
   recovered by the CRPF during the period.

6  HOSPITAL RANSACKED, INQUIRY INTO PATIENT'S DEATH      [S:11-FEB-99]
   ------------------------------------------------
   NAGAON:  Following the death of one  Rumi  Bora  immediately  after
   giving  birth  to  a baby, an irate mob ransacked the blood bank of
   the Bhogeswari Phukanani Civil Hospital at Nagaon on February 9.

   The  patient,  wife  of  Deba Bora of Madhupur, was admitted to the
   hospital after a normal delivery due to development of pain in  her
   chest.   According  to  sources, the patient needed immediate blood
   transfusion, died allegedly due to negligence on the  part  of  the
   hospital staff.
   
   Meanwhile,  the Health Department has instituted a magistrate-level
   inquiry commission immediately after the publication of the news in
   the media.
   
7  RS.400-MILLION SCHEME FOR MEDICAL COLLEGES APPROVED   [S:11-FEB-99]
   ---------------------------------------------------
   GUWAHATI:   The  North  Eastern  Council  (NEC)  has   approved   a
   Rs.400-million  scheme  for  supporting  development  of  the three
   medical colleges in Assam during the 9th Five Year Plan.  The funds
   will be made available before the year 2002 for  developing  health
   services, medical education and research work.

   An  amount  of  Rs.150  million for Guwahati Medical College (GMC),
   Rs.130 million for Assam  Medical  College,  Dibrugarh  and  Rs.120
   million for Silchar Medical College has been fixed.

8  TEA PRODUCTION TOUCHES 53 MILLION KG MARK             [S:10-FEB-99]
   -----------------------------------------
   SILCHAR:  `Barak Valley has touched an all time record of producing
   over 53 million kg of tea during 1998 through extensive replacement
   planting,  rejuvenation  and  consolidation  of  the  existing  tea
   areas', Mr R.C.Saraf, chairman of the Surma Valley  branch  of  the
   Indian  Tea  Association (ITA), disclosed this while addressing the
   89th annual general meeting of the association at Retreat  Club  at
   Silchar.
   
   The chairman however pointed out that the productivity level of tea
   gardens  in  this  valley  `is  still pegged at 1,500 kg as against
   1,900 kg in Brahmaputra valley', and said that emphasis  should  be
   on  extension  planting  in  a massive way in order to increase the
   yield per hectare.  Area under  tea  plantation  stands  at  35,200
   hectare  to  which  an  additional  16,000  hectare  can  be added,
   according to the Tea Board, he said.

9  ANOTHER ASSAM ONLINE FROM ASSAM ?
   ---------------------------------
   GOLAGHAT:  An advertisement  in  an  English  daily  from  Guwahati
   announces the  launching  of  live  Internet service.  `You can now
    have your wedding and events on the Internet live' the ad says.  It
   also announces the launching of an Internet  news  magazine,  Asom.
   The  specially designed `O' of Asom, which looks like a globe has a
   band with the words `Assam Online'.  The contact address was  given
   as:   Pankaj  Duarah,  editor  Asom,  care of Azury Communications,
   Guwahati.
   
10 WEBSITE FOR FIFTH NATIONAL GAMES AT MANIPUR BY NIC  [PTI:10-FEB-99]
   --------------------------------------------------
   IMPHAL:   National Informatics Centre (NIC), Manipur State Unit has
   developed a website for the ensuing Fifth National Games at  Imphal
   from February  14.  The site will enable people across the globe to
   have access to information on the functioning of  the  Games  which
   will  include  media  and sponsors, events and participants, medals
   tally, visitors guide etc.  (The URL is not yet announced.  - Mozz)

______________________________[Mozz-BG]_________________________________
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