Tripura to get Northeast’s first textile park
AGARTALA, Oct 30 (IANS): Northeastern India’s first textile park will be set up in Tripura, a minister said here Sunday.
“The proposed park in Tripura is part of the 21 new textile parks to be set up under the Scheme for Integrated Textile Parks (SITP),” Tripura Industries and Commerce Minister Jitendra Chowdhury told IANS.
Quoting a letter from union Minister for Commerce and Industry Anand Sharma, who also heads the textiles ministry, Chowdhury said that the parks would be set up at a cost of Rs.2,100 crore in Maharashtra (six parks), Rajasthan (four), Tamil Nadu (two), Andhra Pradesh (two) and one each in Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Tripura, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Jammu and Kashmir and West Bengal.
These parks would be set up over a period of three years on a public-private-partnership basis.
“A special purpose vehicle (SPV) would be formed to execute the project. The SPV would chanelised funds and supervise other aspects of the ambitious project.
“The Tripura government would extend all out support for setting up of the park. It would create new opportunities in the industry-starved northeastern region,” he said.
Source: Assam Tribune
Tripura to get more administrative blocks: Chief minister
Agartala, Oct 27 (IANS): The Left Front government in Tripura has decided to create four new districts, six subdivisions and five rural development blocks to take the administration closer to people, Chief Minister Manik Sarkar said here on Thursday.
“For rapid socio-economic development of the minorities, tribals, Scheduled Castes and other needy people, the Left Front government is firmly committed to providing basic services to these (disadvantaged) people,” Sarkar told reporters.
He said: “From the next statehood day on Jan 21 (next year), the new administrative setups will start functioning.”
The main opposition Congress has welcomed the Left government’s decision, though it says it is politically motivated.
“Targeting the 2013 assembly elections, the Left Front government after observing that their popularity is declining, has taken this reform measure to lure voters,” opposition leader Ratan Lal Nath told reporters.
In the new setup, the number of districts would be raised to eight, and the number of subdivisions and blocks to 23 and 45 respectively.
“Despite the state government’s severe financial crisis, the government took this pro-people decision to decentralise governance, take the administration closer to people and provide vital services to them within the quickest possible time,” Sarkar said.
According to the chief minister, for beginning the new administrative setup, an additional Rs.6 crore would be required.
After Tripura’s statehood Jan 21, 1972, this is the second reform of the administrative setup.
Source: Assam Tribune
THRO celebrates Human Rights Day
Times News
Agartala, Dec 22: Tripura Human Rights Organization today celebrated the Human Rights day with a mammoth procession. The programme started around 2.30 pm. The main procession initiated with a colorful procession from Lake Chowmuhani till RMS Chowmuhani. President of the organization Mr. Gyanendra Roy, General Secretary Mr. Puroshottam Roy Barman spoke on the issue of Human Rights demanding formation of Human Rights Commission in the state, strict administering of nursing home, health clinics, control over medicine prices et al. The celebration was delayed to December 22 from December 10 due to the AMC and Nagar Panchayat polls.
Source: Tripura Times
Chill to be tighter
Times News
Agartala, Dec 22: The State is expected to experience more chill as maximum and minimum temperature will be around 25 and 10 degree Celsius respectively within 24 hours. The minimum temperature today was recorded at 10.8 degree Celsius while the maximum has reached to 25.3 degree Celsius, informed an official of the Met Department this evening. The maximum relative humidity is 97% while 36% is counted as minimum by the Met Department. The sky will be possibly clear with a foggy morning tomorrow, said the official.
Source: Tripura Times
Chit fund flees with huge booty
Times News
Dharmanagar, Dec 22: Taking the advantage of the wobbly attitude of the state government, another chit fund company namely Daffodil fled away from Dharmanagar recently.
Local sources informed that officials of the chit fund company fled away from the firm’s branch office near Rajbari five days back. They escaped with around eighty lakh rupees, alleged the depositors. However, no FIR has been filed in the local Police Station as of now. The incident has given rise to alarm among the depositors across the entire Sub-division.
It may be mentioned here that Saibaba, a chit fund company, vanished from the Dharmanagar Sub-division with lakhs of rupees few days back. A FIR was lodged at Dharmanagar police station from the depositors though no arrests have been made so far.
Source: Tripura Times
Hills flare over Village Committee polls objections
Times News
Agartala, Dec 22: Ahead of the ADC Village Committee polls, political scenario of the hilly areas is flaring up on hearing and disposal of claims and objections. Worried about the happenings, Congress MLA Subal Bhowmik today alleged that CPM has scorned the election process in the state. Addressing a press conference here, Mr. Bhowmik claimed that the schedule for hearing and disposal of claims and objections starting from December 15 till December 18 was not performed by Returning Officers. While several Claims and Objectives were filed by the voters and masses, all the claimants came to know was that they were being examined and it would be automatically corrected. The people were kept in complete dark about the issue as alleged by the MLA. “Such practice should not be performed in a democratic set up”, opined the Congress leader.
Source: Tripura Times
MCI to visit TMC on Jan 19, positive hopes
We are 100 percent ready: MS
Times News
Agartala, December 22: Tripura Medical College is most likely to have its final affiliation during the Medical Council of India (MCI) visit to be conducted early next month. It has been learnt that last preparations are running on full fledge in the institute including all three crucial parts namely strengthening of faculty, clinical materials and infrastructure.
The top level MCI team is supposed to come for a visit at Agartala Government Medical College and Tripura Medical College on January 19, 2011. Speaking over the preparations of the institute ahead of the decisive body visit, Dr. Jiban Nag, Medical Superintendent of Tripura Medical College and Dr. BR Ambedkar Teaching Hospital expressed his positive hopes saying, “We are 100 percent prepared for the visit”. “I have personally faced four MCI visits till today as Medical Super here. The last MCI visit with new national body was quite positive about the activities of this institute. We are hopeful that the next visit will also give us positive outlook”, he added.
There is a series of developmental works going on the college including construction of new building for OPD with a ground floor plus five storey construction. The existing OPD is supposed to be expanded, a super specialty block is likely to be set up and a central laboratory will be coming up shortly. The Medical Super of the college Dr. Nag informed that the existing ICU having 12 bedded facility is also expected to see some development with expansion of service.
Though some resident faculty problem still exists in the college, the college authorities are expected to overcome the same, thanks to the relaxation of faculty age limit till 70 years from the erstwhile limit of 65 years.
It is mentionable here that a meeting was held recently over the TMC issue in presence of Health Minister Tapan Chakraborty, administrative and health department officials, TMC authorities and Principal Secretary for Health Department Mr. YP Singh. All the persons present at the meeting conducted visits in all aspects covering faculty, civil infrastructure et al and expressed satisfaction over the state of affairs.
Meanwhile, the institute has presently turned hyper active with examination fever as the theory exams of final batch students are all about o commence from January 10 and the practical exams are supposed to start from January 19, 2011.
Source: Tripura Times
No water: Khowai Sub Div hospital turns dry
Seventy two hrs past, no remedy
Times News
Khowai, Dec 22: Patients of Khowai Sub-divisional Hospital are experiencing a real pathetic condition due to the total absence of safe drinking water in the hospital premises of water in the hospital since last three days.
Local sources informed that all the patients, counting ones from the locality and others coming form distant blocks have to depend on the local tube well for necessary water to meet scarcity of water in the hospital.
“There is no provision of water in the hospital since last 72 hours while there is a 1.5 lakh gallon capacity water tank at a mere distance of 10-12 km from here. The main victims of this situation are innocent and helpless patients like us. We have to drink water from the tube-well and if possible, we try to buy a water bottle from outside which is almost impossible for most of the poor patient parties. The doctors and nurses don’t have enough time to know our condition though there are only 25-30 patients in the hospital. We don’t know how long we have to suffer from the crisis?” says Mr. Dhirendra Debbarma, a patient admitted in the hospital. The hospital, as reported earlier, is lacking genuine doctors as only three doctors regularly remain present in the hospital excluding four others.
The general sanitation status of the hospital is also in a very deplorable condition as patients are reportedly witnessing unhygienic health condition. “Sweepers forget to clean the patient wards for days at stretch; there is no water for three days, excluding the infrastructure facility,” he added. It is being alleged by localites that several broken water filters are occupying the place with absolutely no eagerness to replace them. No complaints have been lodged since last two-three month for the stolen motor geyser and patients are well managing without it in the chilly winter. However, Sub-Divisional Medical Officer Dr. Samir Das brushed aside all the allegations saying that all the complaints from patients are baseless and false. Similarly, the SDO of Drinking Water Supply Department S. Debbarma hummed the same tune saying that no complaints have been made till date regarding scarcity of water in the hospital. It is mentionable here that NRHM is going to organize a two-day health fair in Khowai Sub-division starting from tomorrow.
Source: Tripura Times
Oath taking ceremony held amid Opp boycott
Times News
Amarpur/ Teliamura, December 22: Amidst boycott of the Opposition, altogether seven elected members of Left Front took oath of office for Amarpur Nagar Panchayat today at Amarpur Town Hall. Additional Sub-Divisional Magistrate Mr. Nirmal Adhikari administered the oath of office to the members.
Later, Ms. Sima Bhattacharjee was selected as Chairperson for the first time while Mr. Ratan Kumar Goswami was nominated as her deputy. However, two of the elected Congress members did not take the oath of office today for belated invitation to the members, said Block Congress President Mr. Pranesh Saha.
After the swearing-in-ceremony, a victory rally was also organized in the Town Hall premises. Speaking at the rally, Mr. Keshab Majumder, Vice-Chairman of the State Planning Commission, stated that the elected representatives would work for the people with clarity.
He also sought time to correct the corruptions. The usual partisan approach was also allegedly voiced in his tune. Among others, MLA Manoranjan Acharjee was also remained present at the programme with outgoing Chairperson Apu Sarkar. Hundreds of the party supporters participated in the victory rally. It is learnt that the remaining two elected Congress members will take oath on December 24.
The newly elected members of the Nagar Panchayat election took oath today at the Chitrangada Town Hall in Teliamura around 1 PM. The oath-taking ceremony was initiated by the participation of elected members followed by Chairman Sukhendu Bikash Das and Vice-chairman Animesh Gope. Subsequently, a victory rally of the Left Front headed with the initiative of Teliamura CPI (M) Divisional Committee was held around 3 PM under the chairmanship of Mr. Jiten Das. MLA and Chief Whip Mr. Samir Deb Sarkar and Secretary of Teliamura Divisional Committee Mr. Sudhir Sarkar were also present at the rally. “Citizens have enhanced the responsibility. We will discuss with people of every Ward about their views regarding the developmental activities,” said Mr. Deb Sarkar.
Source: Tripura Times
Rural tourism centre opened
NTFP
Times News
Agartala, Nov. 23: Forest department has decided to promote eco and rural tourism to boost the economy of the ‘poor’ forest dwellers.As part of the plan, a rural tourism centre has been opened at Chindraipara, a tribal hamlet of Barmura range in Teliamura subdivision today. Twenty forest officials from 20 Forest Divisions, who have come Teliamura to attend a train programme on Non Timber Forest Products, will stay at the village for next five days. Members of Chindraipara JFM will offer hospitability to their guests- twenty forest officials. The move is aimed to acquaint the local people on how rural tourism works.“We have opened it on experimental basis and if the move is clicked, the department will implement it throughout the state”, said an official of forest department.According to him, the department has already established some Eco Parks in some areas. “Of which Eco Parks at Barmura, Atharamura and Tapania are doing well in terms of footfall of tourists”, he said.
He further opined that the rural tourism would not only bring prosperity for forest dwellers but will also assist to protect the forest wealth of the state.Asserting that protection of wealth is need of the hour keeping in mind of the rampant tree felling in reserved forest areas, the official said that this would also encourage the forest dwellers to join the save forest movement.Meanwhile, a five-day training of trainers of NTFP value addition of broom sticks and bamboo was inaugurated by Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Tripura JICA project GS Raju at NTFP Satellite Value Addition Centre at Barmura in Teliamura subdivision today.
A total of 20 forest department officials from all the divisions took part in the training.Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Teliamura Rajat Kanti Das gave welcome address. BS Mishra, a high official of Tripura JICA project in his address expressed concern over the negative impact of massive rubber cultivation on the ecology. He made it clear that the ‘unplanned’ rubber cultivation would appear as disastrous move in the days to come. It has been experienced that Reserved Forest areas being used for rubber cultivation but the local administration keeps blind eye on the issue.
Source: Tripura Times
