Page 11 - Tripura

Tripura CM Saha seeks investment to explore state's natural resources

Asserting that Tripura has immense opportunities, Chief Minister Manik Saha on Monday urged investors to invest in exploring the state's natural resources. Addressing the National Conference on Agri-Horticultural Crops at Pragna Bhavan here, Saha said Tripura has a lot of potential for rubber-based industries as it produces 94,000 mt of natural rubber annually, the second highest after Kerala. "Tripura has already begun exporting rubber thread which has a great demand in Bangladesh. We are trying to promote rubber-based industries by roping in tyre manufacturers," he said, adding that the state could also export furniture made of rubber, which is economically viable. The state government has taken several steps to produce quality rubber sheets, he said. Stating that Tripura has huge reserves of natural gas, Saha urged businesses to invest in the sector. The chief minister said the state grows as many as 21 species of bamboo. "Bamboo tiles made in the state were used in the new ..

Tripura sets tax collection target of Rs 3,000 cr this fiscal: State FM

Tripura has set a revenue target of Rs 3,000 crore this fiscal, state Finance Minister Pranajit Singha Roy said on Saturday. The state's tax collection has doubled after the introduction of the Goods and Services Tax (GST), he said. "Initially, there were doubts on GST introduction in the country. People even faced difficulties after the new tax regime kicked off, but over the years all the bottlenecks have been addressed. Our tax collection has more than doubled under the GST regime," he told reporters on the sidelines of a GST programme at Town Hall. He said the tax collection, which was around Rs 1,300 crore before GST rollout, increased to Rs 2,765 crore in the last fiscal. "Now, we have set a target of over Rs 3,000 crore for the 2023-24 FY. We are trying to connect new tax payers who still remain outside the GST ambit. In a state like Tripura, GST means a lot to carry out development work and welfare activities," he said. Roy said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been workin

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Odisha CM Patnaik expresses grief over Tripura's Ulta Rath Yatra mishap

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Thursday expressed grief over the death of seven people when a Rath or ceremonial chariot of Lord Jagannath came in contact with a high tension wire in Tripura's Unakoti district during the 'Ulta Rath Yatra' or return car festival. The incident happened on Wednesday when thousands of people were pulling the chariot, made of iron and heavily decorated came in contact with a 133 kv overhead cable in Uttar Pabiacherra in Kumarghat. Parts of the Rath immediately caught fire and people fell on the road with their bodies on flame, Patnaik in a statement said Wednesday's Tripura incident was very unfortunate and he expressed condolence to the bereaved families. He wished speedy recovery of the injured persons. While six persons died due to electrocution on the spot, one died while being taken to hospital. Sixteen other people were injured in the incident.

Ulta Rath Yatra mishap: CM Manik Saha announces compensation for victims

Seven people died and 16 others sustained severe burn injuries after being electrocuted during the Ulta Rath Yatra in Tripura's Unakoti district on Wednesday

Tripura's Rath Yatra mishap: PM Modi announces compensation for victims

Seven people died and 16 others sustained injuries after being electrocuted during the Ulta Rath Yatra in Tripura's Unakoti district on Wednesday

Tripura to implement NEP in general degree colleges from current session

Tripura is set to implement the National Education Policy (NEP) in all the general degree colleges from the current academic session, an official said. The northeastern state has 25 general degree colleges under Tripura University, a central institute, and Maharaja Bir Bikram University, a state-run varsity. Admission in all the general degree colleges will be based on NEP-2021. Under the policy, students will be offered a four-year degree programme with exit window, said higher education director Nripendra Sharma on Wednesday. According to him, students who wish to opt for a three-year UG programme will be awarded a UG degree in the major discipline after successful completion. A UG Honours degree in the major discipline will be given to those who complete the four-year programme successfully, he said, adding vocational courses have also been introduced in all the degree colleges. As many as 49,662 students have applied for admission in the colleges against 28,342 seats. Out of

Tripura to release prisoners who have completed 66% of jail time: Official

: The Tripura government will release prisoners who have completed two-thirds of their jail term under the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav scheme to celebrate 75 years of Independence, an official said on Wednesday. Earlier, five prisoners including dreaded criminal Amit Saha were granted special remission and released from the central jail in West Tripura in two phases. We have taken up a process for special remission of convicted persons who have completed 66 per cent of their jail term and maintained good conduct. This is being done following an instruction from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on the occasion of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, Apurba Kumar Chakraborty, OSD to department of prisons, told PTI. Chakraborty, however, declined to reveal how many convicts lodged in different jails of the northeastern state have completed two-thirds of their prison time whose names have been taken up for the special remission which is scheduled to get completed by August 15. The special remission

Tripura to rechristen 75 border villages after names of freedom fighters

The Tripura government has decided to rechristen 75 border villages in the state after the names of freedom fighters who had sacrificed their lives during the country's independence movement, a senior official said on Sunday. The project to rename 75 border villages will be taken up as part of the 'Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav', an initiative to celebrate and commemorate 75 years of the country's independence and the glorious history of its people, culture and achievements. The programme to recall the contribution of freedom fighters to the country's independence will commence in July and is scheduled to be completed by August 15 this year. Seventy-five border villages spreading across all the eight districts will be identified by the district-level committees. The administration had already prepared a list of freedom fighters from the state and their contribution to the country's freedom struggle, Information and Cultural Affairs Secretary PK Chakravorty told PTI. Statutes of the 75 ..

Nadda to address BJP's mega rally in Tripura to mark 9-years of Modi-govt

BJP president J P Nadda will address a mega rally at Santirbazar in South Tripura district on Saturday to mark the completion of nine years of the NDA government at the Centre. Nadda arrived here on Friday. Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha, BJP state president Rajib Bhattacharjee and Rajya Sabha MP Biplab Kumar Deb received him at the airport. "BJP national president JP Nadda arrived in the state to address a rally to be organised to mark Prime Minister Narendra Modi's nine years in power in Santirbazar of South Tripura district. We welcomed Nadda-ji," Saha said in a Facebook post. BJP's northeast coordinator Sambit Patra on Friday and held a meeting with the chief minister over the party's programme on Saturday. Security arrangements have been beefed up in the entire Santirbazar sub-division as part of precautionary measures, a senior police officer said, adding that more policemen are being deployed around the venue.

Nadda's rally in Tripura on June 17 to mark beginning of LS poll campaign

BJP president J P Nadda will address a rally in Santirbazar area of Tripura on June 17, party state president Rajib Bhattacharjee said on Monday. His rally will mark the beginning of the party's campaign for the Lok Sabha elections next year. The event is being organised as part of the countrywide campaign of the BJP to celebrate nine years of the NDA government at the Centre. "Nadda ji will arrive in the state on June 16 and he will have a meeting with senior party leaders including Chief Minister Manik Saha. He will address the rally on June 17 and leave the state the same day," he said. Saha and Bhattacharjee held a meeting with ministers and senior party leaders on Sunday to prepare for Nadda's visit. The northeastern state has two parliamentary constituencies -- West Tripura and East Tripura -- both held by the ruling party.

CPM leader Jitendra Chaudhury slams BJP on law and order in Tripura

Expressing concern on Tripura's law and order, senior CPI(M) leader Jitendra Chaudhury said the northeastern state had recorded 16 murders after the BJP returned to power for the second time in March. Chaudhury told reporters on Sunday, besides the killings, the state had also witnessed 78 deaths by suicide, 12 rapes and 137 molestation cases since March 10. The CPI(M) leader said 17 cases of domestic violence had also been recorded in the last three months. The crime chart during BJP's second innings reflects the state's overall law and order situation. This is the true picture of the party's good governance claims, he said. He said the number of government employees had dipped from 1.50 lakh during the tenure of Left Front government to less a lakh now. Chaudhury, who is the leader of the party in the Assembly, said people living in rural areas were facing difficulties because of prolonged dry spells and reduction in MGNREGA works.

Vistara to start flight service on Agartala-Bengaluru route on Aug 1

Vistara will introduce a flight service between Agartala and Bengaluru on August 1, an official said on Wednesday. At present, Indigo and Akasa operate three flights on the Agartala-Bengaluru route, he said. "Vistara is scheduled to operate a flight on the Agartala-Bengaluru route from August 1. The flight will arrive here directly from Bengaluru, and on its return journey from Agartala, it will go via Guwahati. It will benefit flyers immensely," director of Maharaja Bir Bikram Airport KC Meena told PTI. Chief Minister Manik Saha had urged Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia for the introduction of more flights on the route. Meena said SpieceJet is ready to kickstart services between Agartala and Chittagong in Bangladesh but the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is yet to notify the immigration centre. "We are hoping to get all the relevant protocols cleared from the Centre by mid-June. Once the process is complete, international flight service will start at the earliest," h

Tripura benefitted most in north east from Act East policy: CM Saha

Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Monday asserted that his state has benefitted the most in the Northeast from the Centre's Act East policy. He said the Maitri Setu, which connects Tripura with Chittagong Port and was inaugurated two years ago, will soon be fully operationalised, and the Agartala-Akhaura rail link will be opened by year-end. "Be it connectivity boom or infrastructure building or welfare activities, Tripura benefitted the most among the northeastern states since 2014," he said at a programme marking the nine years of BJP government at the Centre. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended broad gauge railway services to the frontier state, Today, 12 express trains and four local trains run from Agartala," he said. Stating that the survey for constructing another railway line in Tripura is underway, he said that of the target of constructing 888 km of national highway, 374.04 km have already been built. "At least 12-13 flights are operating from the Maharaja Bir Bikr

Gas price increase by 196%, Tripura electricity corp seeks tariff hike

Tripura State Electricity Corporation Ltd has submitted a representation to the state regulatory commission, seeking a hike in power tariff to bridge its revenue gap, a senior official said on Saturday. There has been no tariff increase in Tripura since 2014, causing a huge loss to the state government-run power corporation, he said. There has been an average 196 per cent increase in natural gas price in the past one year and the introduction of uniform transmission cost has hit the corporation's fiscal position. While the uniform transmission cost appears good for big states like Assam, it harms small states such as Manipur, Tripura and Mizoram, TSECL Managing Director Debasish Sarkar told PTI. The corporation will have a revenue gap of Rs 1,100.60 crore if the tariff remains unchanged for the 2023-24 financial year, he said. Projected revenue stands at Rs 868.04 crore for 2023-24, while TSECL needs to spend Rs 1,968.64 crore for the current fiscal, leading to a gap of Rs 1,100.6

BJP-IPFT alliance will rule Tripura for next 40-50 years: CM Manik Saha

Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha has asserted that the BJP-IPFT alliance will rule the northeastern state for the next 40-50 years. The CPI(M)-led Left Front had ruled the state for 25 years in a row till 2018. "People have reposed full faith in the BJP-IPFT government, giving us a second term. Our alliance will rule the state for the next 40-50 years as we are focusing on development and growth," Saha told reporters on the completion of one year in office as the chief minister on Tuesday. Saha, who became the CM replacing Biplab Kumar Deb last year, asserted that the BJP-led government has been "pushing development on top gear". Saha said his government is maintaining law and order. "There might be some problems but we are leaving no stone unturned to address those issues," he said. The CM said the state government is focusing on improving connectivity highways, railways and air besides healthcare and agriculture.

NTPC to start feasibility study for 130-MW floating solar plant in Tripura

The National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) Ltd will begin a feasibility study for a 130-MW floating solar power plant on Dumbur Lake in Tripura's Gomati district, an official said on Monday. In the past five years, the northeastern state has increased solar power energy from 4.07 MW to 7.21 MW with the government trying hard to increase renewable energy in a big way. Tripura Renewable Energy Development Agency (TREDA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the NTPC to carry out the feasibility study for the floating power plant. NTPC operates a 100-MW floating solar power project at Ramagundam in Telangana. Under the study, the NTPC will examine the area of the waterbody required to be taken up for the plant, identification of local transfer stations and forest clearance for setting up the state's first renewable energy plant, TREDA Joint Director Debabrata Sukladas said. He said the NTPC is expected to complete the feasibility study which will cost Rs 450 crore in

Last batch of stranded Tripura students returns; 239 airlifted from Manipur

The last batch of Tripura students stranded in strife-torn Manipur returned home on Monday, an official said. Sixteen students landed at Maharaja Bir Bikram Airport here along with the Tripura government team sent for evacuating the stranded residents of the state. With this, a total of 239 students from Tripura have been evacuated from Manipur in five batches, he said. Meanwhile, air fares to all routes connecting Agartala have skyrocketed due to the ethnic flareup in Manipur. An office-bearer of a private agency said air fares between Imphal and Agartala, which hovered at Rs 3,000 to Rs 3,500, has increased to Rs 9,000-Rs 10,000. Air fares from Agartala to Guwahati and Kolkata have also increased from around Rs 2,700-Rs 3,500 to over Rs 10,000. Moreover, there is no ticket available on the Kolkata-Agartala route for the next two days, he said. The reason behind the exorbitant increase in rates is due to people leaving Manipur in panic, he added. Ethnic clashes broke out in Ma

Funds to self-help groups helped BJP secure more women votes in Tripura: CM

The Tripura government provided huge funds to self-help groups, which helped the BJP get more votes from women in the last assembly election, Chief Minister Manik Saha said on Sunday. Addressing a programme of the BJYM in Rabindra Bhaban, Saha said the party's Mohila Morcha did "wonders" in the last elections in mobilising female voters. "The BJP-IPFT government provided huge funds to women through self-help groups (SHGs). It resulted in 3 percentage points more female voters casting their votes for the BJP in comparison to male voters," he said. Saha also praised the BJYM's role in the last assembly elections. "The Yuva Morcha has always been a fighting force for the party -- be it elections or the pandemic. We feel secure as Yuva Morcha is always behind the government and the party," he said. Maintaining that Tripura has a bright future, the chief minister said new industries were coming up in the state. "A new unit of rubber thread manufacturing has been set up at Bodhjungnaga

CM Biren assures safety of Tripura students stuck in violence-hit Manipur

Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha held a meeting with the parents of the students who are stuck in violence-hit Manipur on Saturday