KOHIMA

In the wake of outbreak of bird flu in the neighbouring States and countries, the Nagaland Government has banned import of all poultry products in the State. The State's Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Department has cautioned the public and traders alike not to bring any poultry or its products from any State, including West Bengal, Asom and even Manipur, official sources here today said.

Planning Commission yesterday fixed Nagaland's annual plan size for 2008 -09 at Rs 1,200 crore, including an additional Central assistance of Rs 150 crore for its special projects. The plan size was fixed at a meeting between State Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio and Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia at a meeting here, according to an official release.

Assam and Jammu & Kashmir received the highest allocation of additional funds for police modernisation during the last fiscal. Twenty-four States had demanded a total of Rs 537.91 crore additional funds but the Centre allocated Rs 346.28 crore only based in their utilisation of funds in 2006-07 and funds available at the revised Budget estimates. Assam got the highest allocation of additional funds of Rs 30.61 crore even as it demanded Rs 37.70 crore for modernising its forces in the fight against insurgency, a senior official said.

Resource-rich Nagaland is plagued by bio-piracy, with rare medicinal herbs, orchids and other endangered species being smuggled out of the State, NGOs have claimed. Many plants are being taken away by pharmaceutical companies through middlemen who engage locals to collect naturally grown species for paltry sums, Thomas Rengma, Media Secretary of Peoples Group, a Naga environment NGO, told PTI.

All the Naga associations in Manipur, opposing the Mapithel Dam (Thoubal Multi-purpose Project), today condemned the memorandum issued by the Cabinet on April 24. The United Naga Council (UNC), Naga Women Union, Manipur (NWUM), All Naga Students Association, Manipur (ANSAM) and Naga Peoples Movement for Human Rights were against the Cabinet's decision to deploy additional security forces at the dam so that it could be constructed without any problem.

DIMAPUR

Naga Hoho, the apex tribal body of all Naga tribes, has condemned encroachment of land at Rangapahar Zoological Park here. In a release Naga Hoho Vice-President Keviletuo Kiewhuo questioned the Nagaland Government as why the state machineries are unable to nip the buds of the encroachers. The body also urged the government to protect the Zoological Park and bring out policies and strategies towards its development.

27 Assam Rifles has dedicated a water storage tank with pipeline to Ghukhiye village under Zunheboto district in Nagaland, stated a press release.

The Second Administrative Reform Commission, headed by the senior Congress leader Veerappa Moily has recommended for dissolution of DoNER Ministry that has creatred political turmoil in the region. Before arriving at a final decision on this subject various issues and prevailing conditions need to be analysed to find the most beneficial alternative development approach for the North East.