Month: February 2012

Aizawl, Feb 22NNN : It just happened that the proprietors of an industry are non-Mizos, an influential youth body in Mizoram has asked the government to cancel the permit allocation for sites to set up the industry.
Lalruatkima, president of Mizo National Youth Front, the youth wing of Mizo National Front (MNF), has asked the Mizoram government to cancel allocation of sites for Mizoram Ispat Industries in Lengte Export Promotional Industrial Park. Mizoram Ispat Industries is planning to set up a New Steel Project at Aizawl in Mizoram .The project involves Manufacturing Of Billets / Bars & Rods & Tmt.
Lalruatkima after visiting the Export Promotional Industrial Park yesterday with some MNF Youth leaders, asked that for what motive the government of Mizoram could make land lease agreement for 99 years covering land measuring 15,000 square metres for establishment of the Steel Re-rolling Plant which practically belonged to non-indigenous traders. He alleged that the Industry is being setup by RK Agarwal, Roshan Agarwal and Pawan Baid who shared 99 percent of the ownership. The fourth person C.Lalduhawma of Chaltlang, working in ABCI Company has only 1 percent of the ownership. It is learnt that the cost of the project is Rs 30 crore 40 lakh. It will require 4 megawatts of power to run the industry. Meanwhile, the Director of Industries asserted the allocation of Industrial site for Mizoram ISPAT Industries for establishment of Steel Re-rolling Plant.
The press release issued in this connection today clarified that go ahead signal was given to the Industry Director by Mizoram Public Investment Board which carefully examined the case. The Mizoram Public Investment Board is headed by the Chief Secretary and the members are Secretaries, the Principal Adviser and Secretary of Mizoram State Planning Board. Further, the ruling Congress party also admitted that the site for establishment of Steel Re-rolling Plant was alloted to Mizoram ISPAT Industries under the new Industrial Policy of Mizoram 2002. The Congress Media Cell leader, Lalrozara further said, under the same Industrial Policy, the Govt. of Mizoram and Venus Bamboo Products Private Limited, W.Bengal and The Bamboo Development Agency Mizoram signed agreement during the term of the previous government.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/business-at-mizoram/

Srinagar , Feb 22 (ANI): In a bid to promote heritage tourism, authorities have begun renovation work of historical shrines and to equip tourists with better facilities in Jammu and Kashmir .
The shrine of Hazrat Sheikh Syed Abdul Qadir Jeelani, also known as the Dastgeer Sahib, which holds immense importance among Muslim devotees as well as other faiths across the country, is getting a face-lift as the renovation work is progress.
The state authorities decided to extend the area of the shrine in order to accommodate large numbers of devotees.
Kashmir Divisional Commissioner Asgar Samoon said every possible effort is being made to provide better facilities to the tourists visiting the shrine and to conserve the heritage sites.
“We are trying to protect our heritage structures, the heritage shrines in the down town areas. There are interventions at the considerable level, like the decongestion plan, second is to improve the infrastructure and to improve the quality of life of people, living in near by areas and to improve the utilities, parking facility, water supply and electricity and to extend accommodation,” said Samoon.
The newly constructed walls of shrine and traditional walnut wood carving on the windows and doors have added to the elegance and grace of the edifice.
Appreciating the step taken by the state government, residents said this would help generate business opportunities for them.
“This will benefit us; people from different religions, Hindu and Muslim visit the place, so they will get facilities. The government has taken good steps by initiating the construction work and every year, devotees throng this place in huge numbers and they go back disappointed. So, this is a good step and beneficial for us,” said Muzzaffer Ahmad, a resident. The authorities would try to provide basic civic amenities like toilets and better parking facilities, at every historical site for the convenience of the visitors. Brochures and booklets with historical background of the monuments would also be made available to the visitors, which would serve as a source of knowledge.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/renovation-work-of-historical-shrines-begins-in-kashmir-valley/

New Delhi , Feb.22 (ANI): The Indian Government has reportedly decided to withdraw additional charges slapped by a TADA court against underworld don Abu Salem.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) decided to withdraw the charges after holding consultations with home ministry and external affairs ministry officials. The charges are expected to be withdrawn in about a week.
The charges go against the terms and conditions under which the underworld don was extradited from Portugal .
The government, however, said it will continue to oppose Salem ’s extradition to Portugal . The Supreme Court had while staying the TADA proceedings had observed that the Portugal court’s order has to be respected. Out of the two TADA cases, one is related to 1993 Mumbai serial blasts.
The court has refused to stay proceedings in other five cases and issued notices to the CBI and the government on Salem ‘s plea to quash all criminal cases against him.The apex court bench has asked the CBI and the Ministry of External Affairs to file their replies within a month. It also asked Attorney General G E Vahanwati to assist it in deciding Salem ‘s plea.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/india-to-withdraw-additional-tada-charges-against-ex-don-abu-salem/