BSF seizes 23700 contraband bottles
Nischintapura (West Tripura), February 3 (ANI): Acting on a tip from the intelligence wing of the Border Security Force (BSF), security forces, along with customs and police officers, conducted a joint operation and seized huge quantity of banned contraband bottles meant for smuggling across the border. Led by inspector Arun Yadav of BSF (G), the joint operation was conducted in the forest area of Jirania in which a truck (with registration number HR 69-1977) was impounded. During the search, about 23700 contraband bottles were retrieved. The Bangladesh-bound contraband consisted of 4500 bottles of Phensdly and 19200 bottles of Escuf. They were hidden under sacks of potatoes that had been loaded in Punjab. The driver and co-driver of the truck have been detained and are being interrogated. The total cost of the seized goods is said to be an estimated Rs. 35,77,500. The seized items are now in the possession of the state anti-narcotics department.
AP Governor's advisor resignation accepted
NEW DELHI/ITANAGAR, February 3 (PTI): The resignation of Y S Dadwal as an advisor to the Governor of Arunachal Pradesh has been accepted. Dadwal, appointed as advisor to the Governor J P Rajkhowa after imposition of President's rule in the state, had initially applied for leave due to health ground and it was granted by the Governor. However, Dadwal changed his mind and sent his resignation letter to the Home Ministry and it was accepted by Rajnath Singh, Home Ministry spokesperson K S Dhatwalia said. Earlier, a report from Itanagar said, quoting a statement of Arunachal Pradesh Raj Bhawan, that Dadwal has gone on leave for ten days on health grounds with permission to avail holidays for another four days as requested. Dadwal, a former Commissioner of Delhi Police, was appointed on January 26 as advisor to the Governor. B D Sharma, who recently retired as chief of SSB, has been appointed as advisor to the Governor in place of Dadwal. G S Patnaik, an IAS officer of 1980 batch, who was appointed along with Dadwal, would continue to discharge his duties as advisor to the Governor.
January 2016 coldest in 30 years in Mizoram
Aizawl, February 3 (PTI): This January recorded the coldest month in Mizoram in the past 30 years with average minimum temperature of 6.37 degrees celsius. The lowest temperature of 3.7 degrees celsius recorded on January 24. The average minimum temperature was just 6.37 degrees celsius, said R K Lallianthanga, Chief Scientific Officer, Directorate of Science and Technology today said. According to the data collected by scientists since 1986, the temperature of the state has been rising gradually during Janurary every year, barring this year. Lalthanpuia and James Lalnunzira Hrahsel, project scientists in State Climate Change Cell said the range of maximum and minimum temperature widened considerably year after year during January. They said though Mizoram has the highest forest cover in the country, climate change has not spared this hilly tiny north eastern state. "The daily average increase in temperature during January was estimated at 0.026 degrees celsius," they said. The State Climate Change Cell was established last year under National Mission for Sustaining Himalayan Eco-system Project.
Modi to inaugurate 10,000 Cr gas cracker project In Assam
NEW DELHI, FEBRUARY 3 (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to inaugurate on Friday the Rs.10,000 crore gas cracker project in Assam. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to inaugurate the Assam gas cracker project on Friday. He will be accompanied by the Fertiliser Minister Ananth Kumar and Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan," a source said. This is the first ever petrochemical project in entire North East India and was a part of the historic Assam Accord signed on 15th August, 1985 to promote overall socio-economic development of the region. In 2007, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had laid the foundation for the project at Lepetkata near Dibrugarh in Assam. For establishing this project, a joint venture company called Brahmaputra Crackers and Polymers Ltd has been formed. GAIL is the main promoter with 70 per cent stake, while Assam government, Oil India Ltd and Numaligarh Refinery have 10 per cent stake each in the company. The project is established with an investment of Rs. 10,000 crore, out of which Rs. 5,000 crore has been provided in form of subsidy by the Central government. The project will manufacture high quality of polymers with annual capacity of 2.80 lakh tonnes per annum including 2.20 lakh tonnes of polyethylene and 60,000 tonnes of Polypropylene per annum.
