Pawan Hans helicopter services suspended for nearly 15 months after the death of Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu in a crash resumed in Meghalaya today. Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma who returned from New Delhi, flew by Pawan Hans chopper from Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport, Guwahati to Shillong.

Speaking to the media after landing at Advanced Landing Ground in Upper Shillong, Sangma said that he is happy to mark of the resumption of Pawan Hans helicopter services in State. He said that according to technical and financial bid, all safety measures would be strictly followed and the state government will pay a Fixed Monthly Charge of 62 lakh 96 thousand ruppes and Hourly Flying Charges of over 63 thousand rupees only.

He informed that the air service would attract more tourists to the State. Speaking at the resumption of helicopter service, Meghalaya Transport Minister, Mr.A.T. Mondal informed that the State Government would set up a helicopter terminal in Shillong within two months. The CMD of Pawan Hans Helicopters Limited , Mr. Anil Srivastav said that helicopter service would also be extended to Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh very soon.

In Arunachal Pradesh, state government sounded red alert in view of the devastating flood caused by torrential rain during last few days. The Chief Secretary of the state has issued orders to all administrative officers including Deputy Commissioners and Police in the districts to remain alert and assess the situation immediately and submit their reports. 
To meet the situation, as an immediate measure the Government has allotted 10 lakh rupees to all the Deputy Commissioners and 5 lakh rupees each to Additional Deputy Commissioners. Disaster management and mitigation cells have been constituted in the districts to monitor the situation and launch rescue and relief operations as and when needed. Tuki has appealed the civil society organizations, student and youth bodies to voluntarily help the administration in lending a helping hand to the unfortunate victims of nature's fury. He called upon the people, especially those residing in vulnerable areas, to remain alert and adopt immediate preventive and safety measures. To those who are residing in lowland areas, which are dangerously prone to inundation or landslides, he urged them to shift to safer places. Meanwhile, flood situation is still same in Anjaw, Lohit, Changland, Dibang Valley, East Siang and Upper Siang districts.

Madhya Pradesh has the maximum area under forest cover among all the states in the country, an RTI query has revealed.

According to the latest India State of Forest Report 2011, 11.24 per cent of the total forest land in the country is in Madhya Pradesh.

Ministry of Environment and Forest in reply to an RTI query said that Arunachal Pradesh with 67,410 kms under forest cover stood next to Madhya Pradesh, while Chhattisgarh stood at third position with a forest cover of 55,870 kms.

World Bank is to give 13,000 crore rupees for infrastructure development of power generation facilities in the North East .

Stating this in Silchar on Thursday, Power Grid Corporation of India (PGCIL) Chairman-cum-Managing Director R N Nayak said that the company was keen to improve the power scenario in the region and is executing several long term and short term projects in it.

Mr. Nayek added that the PGCIL was building a 800 KV substation in Arunachal Pradesh and another substation at Byrnihat in Meghalaya which was nearing completion.
 

Former Arunacahal Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu was fondly remembered on his 1st death anniversary today. Dorjee Khandu along with four other persons were killed in a helicopter crash near Tawang on April 30 last year while on way to Itanagar from Tawang. 


The people of Tawang paid rich tribute to their beloved leader Late Dorjee Khandu, on his first death anniversary by conducting a homage march of 7 kms from Tawang Monastery to his cremation ground at Famla. About nine thousand people gathered at Tawang monastery to participat in the march. The number swelled as the march passed from different points in Tawang Township.

Earlier at the Monastery, the abbot of Tawang monastery, His Eminence Guru Rimpoche addressed the mammoth gathering and urged them to remember the visionary deeds of Late Dorjee Khandu. Besides the family members of Late Khandu, Ministers, Parliamentary Secretaries, MLAs and district administration official participated in the march and paid their homage to the departed soul of Late Dorjee Khandu at his cremation ground at Famla.

The Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission, Montek Singh Ahluwalia said, the thrust of the 12th Plan will be to ensure better surface and air connectivity in the eight North-Eastern states. He said, the works of road connectivity will continue despite geographical odds and natural impediments.

Possibilities of waterways are also being explored. Speaking to newsmen at Jorhat in Upper Assam, Mr. Ahluwalia assured that there will be at least one airport in each state of the North-East during this plan period. Presently Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh does not have airports. He said, the Planning Commission focused on infrastructure creation and connectivity during the 11th Plan and this will be continued in 12th plan period.

The Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh who visited Guwahati last week, has also said that the key to development in the north-eastern region is better educational and services infrastructure and connectivity.

The Union Home Ministry has approved the demand for deployment of 2000 additional Central and paramilitary forces to maintain law and order in Arunachal Pradesh. This was announced by Chief Minister Nabam Tuki after his arrival from New Delhi. This approval came when the CM had called on Home Minister P Chidambaram in New Delhi and submitted a memorandum for additional security forces.The Chief Minister further said that state police is working hard to maintain law and order across the state. Deployment of additional paramilitary forces will increase their efficiency and also put to rest concerns over maintenance of law and order in the state, he added. Chief Minister also informed that the Union Ministry of Cultural Affairs approved 36 crore rupees for creation of a regional Cultural Centre at Itanagar.

In Arunachal Pradesh, state capital Itanagar will have a branch of Reserve Bank of India soon. H.R. Khan, Deputy Governor of RBI, yesterday said that steps would be taken for establishment of Reserve Bank of India Branch at Itanagar soon. 

The proposed RBI Branch would be the fourth branch in North East after Shillong and Agartala where the offices are soon to be opened besides the existing Guwahati Branch, the Deputy Governor added. On the occasion of financial outreach camp of RBI at Kimin in Papumpare district, Khan underlined the importance of widening banking facilities in all parts of the country especially in North-East Region in order to enhance the region’s economy and living standard