Mining of uranium in Meghalaya is crucial for India's future nuclear programmes, stated Union Minister of State for Power Jairam Ramesh. Aware about the opposition to uranium by NGOs and other environmental groups in the State, Ramesh told newsmen in Shillong today, "Our nuclear programme will not be able to expand, if uranium deposits in Meghalaya are not extracted,' adding, "Our nuclear plants cannot even carry 50 per cent of its capacity because the uranium deposit in Meghalaya could not be extracted'.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has underlined the need for accelerating development of the North Eastern Region and assured a delegation from Meghalaya that the Centre would support all round development of the State. The Prime Minister expressed this view when Meghalaya Chief Minister Donkupar Roy, Deputy Chief Minister Timothy D Shira along with former Lok Sabha Speaker and now chairman of State Planning Board Purno A Sangma called on him in New Delhi yesterday, an official release said here today.

Famine caused by bamboo flowering is an indirect phenomenon that happens in 30 to 40 years depending on the species of the bamboo. Senior Congress legislator and NEHU Head of Department of Botany Dr RC Laloo told The Sentinel that bamboo flowering does not directly lead to famine but it occurs after rats have shortage of food. He said when rats feed on the high-protein seeds of bamboo, flowers start to reproduce while their population doubles leading to shortage of seeds. Therefore, the rats are left with no option but to attack the paddy fields, Dr Laloo said.

Meningococcal meningitis continues to increase in the State with five other cases being detected at the region's premier institute, the North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (NEIGRIHMS).

As parts of efforts to improve air connectivity in the Northeast, the government is upgrading 10 airports in the region at an estimated cost of Rs 50 crore, reports PTI. The North Eastern Council has entered into an MoU with the Airports Authority of India for funding of 10 airports in the ratio of 60:40, the government said in a report tabled in Parliament. Works on seven airports has since been completed and is continuing in three other airports. An amount of Rs 50 crore has been earmarked for ongoing upgradation works of airports in the region in the annual plan during 2007-08.

The Union Health Ministry has convened a meeting with the health directors of all the northeastern states at Guwahati on April 9 to discuss the outbreak of malaria in East Garo Hills district even bef

Meghalaya Mining and Geology Minister Donkupar Massar has said that the mining policy would have to be strictly implemented to regulate unscientific mining in the state.

A transition period is essential for people to adopt the mooted mining ideas under the State's mining policy, feels Meghalaya Minister in-charge of Geology and Mining Donkupar Massar.

A review meeting is scheduled to take place on April 9 between Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry officials and Health Directors of northeastern States at Guwahati to discuss the recent outbreak

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