GUWAHATI, Dec 29 – Peasant organisation Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) today announced that it would hold a massive rally at Dispur Last Gate on January 10 next in support of its demands in connection with the multi-crore-rupee scam in the NC Hills Autonomous Council.
The peasant organisation has been demanding resignation of Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi for the alleged involvement of his Government in the NC Hills (Dima Hasao) District Autonomous Council scam. It has also been demanding the arrest of former Governor Ajai Singh and Ministers Himanta Biswa Sarma, Khorsing Ingty, Gautam Roy and Rokybul Hussain for their alleged involvement in the scam.
The KMSS said in a press release here that through its proposed January 10 rally, it would be making an attempt at issuing a warning to the Union Government and the All India Congress Committee (AICC) to punish the guilty. It would also ask the AICC general secretary in-charge of Assam Digvijay Singh not to shield any of the guilty persons, said the peasant organisation.
Noted RTI activist Arvind Kejriwal and convenor of the National Alliance of People’s Movement Dr Sandip Pandey are also expected to participate in the rally, the KMSS said.
The peasant organisation alleged that Chief Minister Gogoi has been misleading the people with his wrong assertions on the NC Hills Council scam. The Chief Minister is making assertions contrary to the findings of the Government agencies, which reveal the involvement of his Government in the scam, said the peasant organisation.
Why this tiger's death has Assam worried
Guwahati: More evidence of why we need to come together to save the tiger.
Disturbing photographs show a five-year-old female Royal Bengal Tiger who was found dead near the Panchnoi river bordering the Rajiv Gandhi Orang National Park in Assam.
The tigress had not been injured. She was discovered less than a kilometer from the Park's boundary.
The entire area was searched for clues to her death, but so far, there has been no breakthrough in the investigation.
The post-mortem report states that she may have been poisoned, but further tests will be conducted.
A high-alert has been sounded in the entire National Park, believed to house 14 tigers.
In order to stop villagers nearby from killing tigers to protect their cattle, Orang National Park Management had introduced a spot-compensation for each cattle lost to a tiger. That policy seemed to be helping. But this latest incident has forest officials worried about whether villagers are really prepared to cooperate in new schemes to save the tiger.
Writer takes up cudgels on behalf of Assamese-Chinese
Durba Ghosh
Guwahati, Dec 28 (PTI) Eminent Sahitya Akademi winning Assamese writer Rita Chowdhury''s untiring effort to give voice to the Assamese Chinese community, who formed the backbone of the tea industry here, has found expression in her latest work of fiction ''Makam''.
Makam, or The Golden Horse, which became the best-selling book of the year in Assam, portrays the pain, suffering and alienation of a community who were brought by the British to work as labourers in the then fledgling tea industry.
The community by the sheer dint of their hard work and capacity to assimilate with the local community went on to carve a niche for themselves in the most prominent industry as well as in other spheres in the state.
"The book is very close to my heart and I am very possessive about it. I am overwhelmed by the enthusiastic response to my book by not only readers here, but also those in other parts of the country and abroad," Chowdhury said.
She said she was not content with the fact that the book had been received so well by the people. "I want justice for the members of this community who have suffered immensely in the land of their birth. Above all, we want the ignominy of them being branded a spy be wiped out permanently," she said.
The world of Assamese Chinese went topsy turvy in November, 1962 on the eve of the signing of the Indo-Chinese treaty after the hostilities when 1,500 of them were picked up from Upper Assam town of Makum and taken to a detention camp in Deoli, Rajasthan, Chowdhury pointed out.
The story of the Assamese Chinese is a tragic tale of how in one day they were rounded up and told that they are being taken temporarily to a place for their own safety as the war was on, put into jail, stripped of all their wealth and belongings.
Guwahati, Dec 28 (PTI) Eminent Sahitya Akademi winning Assamese writer Rita Chowdhury''s untiring effort to give voice to the Assamese Chinese community, who formed the backbone of the tea industry here, has found expression in her latest work of fiction ''Makam''.
Makam, or The Golden Horse, which became the best-selling book of the year in Assam, portrays the pain, suffering and alienation of a community who were brought by the British to work as labourers in the then fledgling tea industry.
The community by the sheer dint of their hard work and capacity to assimilate with the local community went on to carve a niche for themselves in the most prominent industry as well as in other spheres in the state.
"The book is very close to my heart and I am very possessive about it. I am overwhelmed by the enthusiastic response to my book by not only readers here, but also those in other parts of the country and abroad," Chowdhury said.
She said she was not content with the fact that the book had been received so well by the people. "I want justice for the members of this community who have suffered immensely in the land of their birth. Above all, we want the ignominy of them being branded a spy be wiped out permanently," she said.
The world of Assamese Chinese went topsy turvy in November, 1962 on the eve of the signing of the Indo-Chinese treaty after the hostilities when 1,500 of them were picked up from Upper Assam town of Makum and taken to a detention camp in Deoli, Rajasthan, Chowdhury pointed out.
The story of the Assamese Chinese is a tragic tale of how in one day they were rounded up and told that they are being taken temporarily to a place for their own safety as the war was on, put into jail, stripped of all their wealth and belongings.
Tigress ‘poisoned' to death in Assam National Park
Carcass detected by staff in a dense patch of vegetation
A Royal Bengal tigress of the Rajiv Gandhi Orang National Park, about 150 km from here, is suspected to have been poisoned to death by miscreants.
Mangaldai Wildlife Divisional Forest Officer Sushil Kr. Daila told The Hindu on Monday that the five-year-old tigress was found dead near the Panchnoi river under Camp No.2 of the Park around 4 p.m. on Saturday.
The carcass was detected by the camp staff in a dense patch of tora vegetation while patrolling on foot. It bore no injury marks and nothing unusual was noticed at the spot, less than a kilometre from the Park boundary.
Area searched
The entire area was searched using elephants and on foot but nothing was found, he added.
The carcass was brought to the Range headquarters and the post-mortem and disposal was carried out in accordance with the protocol.
The post-mortem report cited suspected poisoning as the cause of death but has recommended forensic examination for confirmation.
Samples of vital organs have been collected and will be sent to the State Forensic Science Laboratory in Guwahati on Tuesday.
Alert sounded
“A high alert has been sounded in the entire National Park following the death,” Mr. Daila said.
The post-mortem team comprises Mr. Daila, Range Officer Salim Ahmed, representative of the National Tiger Conservation Authority Firoz Ahmed, representative of the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau Kishore Sarma, government veterinary surgeon Govinda Kalita and local NGO Otters.
Buffalo calf
Around 4 a.m. on Monday, the Park staff arrested a person from Nichlamari village for keeping captive in his house a wild buffalo calf born a couple of days ago just outside the Park boundary.
A Royal Bengal tigress of the Rajiv Gandhi Orang National Park, about 150 km from here, is suspected to have been poisoned to death by miscreants.
Mangaldai Wildlife Divisional Forest Officer Sushil Kr. Daila told The Hindu on Monday that the five-year-old tigress was found dead near the Panchnoi river under Camp No.2 of the Park around 4 p.m. on Saturday.
The carcass was detected by the camp staff in a dense patch of tora vegetation while patrolling on foot. It bore no injury marks and nothing unusual was noticed at the spot, less than a kilometre from the Park boundary.
Area searched
The entire area was searched using elephants and on foot but nothing was found, he added.
The carcass was brought to the Range headquarters and the post-mortem and disposal was carried out in accordance with the protocol.
The post-mortem report cited suspected poisoning as the cause of death but has recommended forensic examination for confirmation.
Samples of vital organs have been collected and will be sent to the State Forensic Science Laboratory in Guwahati on Tuesday.
Alert sounded
“A high alert has been sounded in the entire National Park following the death,” Mr. Daila said.
The post-mortem team comprises Mr. Daila, Range Officer Salim Ahmed, representative of the National Tiger Conservation Authority Firoz Ahmed, representative of the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau Kishore Sarma, government veterinary surgeon Govinda Kalita and local NGO Otters.
Buffalo calf
Around 4 a.m. on Monday, the Park staff arrested a person from Nichlamari village for keeping captive in his house a wild buffalo calf born a couple of days ago just outside the Park boundary.
Jawans arrested in arms loot case
Nagaon, Dec. 23 : Seven jawans of 9 Assam Police Battalion (APBn) were arrested in connection with the arms lifting case from Bokajan police station barracks on Monday.
They were produced in Diphu court this morning and remanded in judicial custody.
Karbi Anglong police said investigations had begun yesterday under the supervision of superintendent of police Anurag Agarwal.
The police, however, are still clueless about the missing arms.
“We suspect the involvement of criminals and militants in the case. However, the battalion members may have helped bring arms from the barracks. It is very unfortunate and shameful to say that they are not above suspicion,” said a high-level source in Karbi Anglong police.
The 9 APBn commandant, Mihir Goswami, rushed to Bokajan yesterday from the battalion headquarters in Borhampur after the incident came to light.
“The incident is under investigation by the district police. We hope their investigation will reveal the true picture,” Goswami said.
“We have 16 personnel in our battalion, of whom one died on Sunday. The remaining 15 comprise one sub inspector, two lance naiks, two havildars and 10 constables. Of them, two were on leave, one had gone to Silchar with the body of the dead jawan, one had gone to the headquarters, three were on patrol duty and one was in the police station. The remaining seven were sleeping inside the barracks. Today, all seven were arrested on suspicion of their involvement in the arms lifting case,” Goswami said.
All the 15 jawans were deployed in Bokajan 10 days back from their battalion headquarters.
Arms and ammunition lifted from the police station included one SLR with seven magazines and 100 rounds of ammunition, two rifles with two magazines and 140 rounds of ammunition, a bayonet and two mobile handsets.
The arms were lifted from the battalion barracks at night when the arrested jawans were apparently sleeping. The incident came to light when jawans on duty returned to the barracks the next morning.
This is the first such incident of arms lifting from a police station campus in Karbi Anglong district.
They were produced in Diphu court this morning and remanded in judicial custody.
Karbi Anglong police said investigations had begun yesterday under the supervision of superintendent of police Anurag Agarwal.
The police, however, are still clueless about the missing arms.
“We suspect the involvement of criminals and militants in the case. However, the battalion members may have helped bring arms from the barracks. It is very unfortunate and shameful to say that they are not above suspicion,” said a high-level source in Karbi Anglong police.
The 9 APBn commandant, Mihir Goswami, rushed to Bokajan yesterday from the battalion headquarters in Borhampur after the incident came to light.
“The incident is under investigation by the district police. We hope their investigation will reveal the true picture,” Goswami said.
“We have 16 personnel in our battalion, of whom one died on Sunday. The remaining 15 comprise one sub inspector, two lance naiks, two havildars and 10 constables. Of them, two were on leave, one had gone to Silchar with the body of the dead jawan, one had gone to the headquarters, three were on patrol duty and one was in the police station. The remaining seven were sleeping inside the barracks. Today, all seven were arrested on suspicion of their involvement in the arms lifting case,” Goswami said.
All the 15 jawans were deployed in Bokajan 10 days back from their battalion headquarters.
Arms and ammunition lifted from the police station included one SLR with seven magazines and 100 rounds of ammunition, two rifles with two magazines and 140 rounds of ammunition, a bayonet and two mobile handsets.
The arms were lifted from the battalion barracks at night when the arrested jawans were apparently sleeping. The incident came to light when jawans on duty returned to the barracks the next morning.
This is the first such incident of arms lifting from a police station campus in Karbi Anglong district.
Same conditions being applied for all: Gogoi
GUWAHATI, Dec 23 – Asserting that insurgency was on the wane in Assam, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today said that the State Government was applying the same conditions for talks with the ultra outfits desirous of having a dialogue.
“There is no discrimination on the conditions for talks for different militant outfits. The same conditions apply for all," Gogoi said at a press conference.
Expressing confidence that the anti-talk faction of the NDFB would join the peace process, Gogoi said that indications were there that its chief Ranjan Daimary, too, would join the peace process for a negotiated settlement of its grievances.
“We have indications that Daimary would also join the peace dialogue. The Bodo National Conference is also trying to get the anti-talk faction involved in the peace process,” Gogoi said.
Claiming that insurgency had taken a backseat following “sincere peace efforts” by the Government, the Chief Minister said that it used to be the State’s number one problem, but it’s no longer so.
“We have been able to bring the level of insurgency down through since we assumed power. This reflects our sincerity in addressing the vexed issue," he said.
Gogoi said that on the economic front too, the State made substantial improvements more so when compared to the situation during the AGP’s regime. “Our tax collection now stands at Rs 23,623 crore in nine years as compared to AGP's Rs 4,213 crore,” he said.
Terming infrastructure development as a major objective, Gogoi said that the Government had laid special stress on improving rural connectivity. "Today a hundred new buses have been introduced meant for rural areas across the State, and we intend to increase the number," he said, adding that another 250 buses were also introduced under the JNURM for the city.
“There is no discrimination on the conditions for talks for different militant outfits. The same conditions apply for all," Gogoi said at a press conference.
Expressing confidence that the anti-talk faction of the NDFB would join the peace process, Gogoi said that indications were there that its chief Ranjan Daimary, too, would join the peace process for a negotiated settlement of its grievances.
“We have indications that Daimary would also join the peace dialogue. The Bodo National Conference is also trying to get the anti-talk faction involved in the peace process,” Gogoi said.
Claiming that insurgency had taken a backseat following “sincere peace efforts” by the Government, the Chief Minister said that it used to be the State’s number one problem, but it’s no longer so.
“We have been able to bring the level of insurgency down through since we assumed power. This reflects our sincerity in addressing the vexed issue," he said.
Gogoi said that on the economic front too, the State made substantial improvements more so when compared to the situation during the AGP’s regime. “Our tax collection now stands at Rs 23,623 crore in nine years as compared to AGP's Rs 4,213 crore,” he said.
Terming infrastructure development as a major objective, Gogoi said that the Government had laid special stress on improving rural connectivity. "Today a hundred new buses have been introduced meant for rural areas across the State, and we intend to increase the number," he said, adding that another 250 buses were also introduced under the JNURM for the city.
Rising silk yarn prices hit weaving industry
SUALKUCHI, Dec 23 – The continuous rise in the prices of essential raw materials of pat and tasar fabrics has been posing a serious threat to the livelihood of the weavers of Sualkuchi since the month of August. They have expressed dismay at the alleged inaction and indifference of the authorities concerned to take steps to check the price hike of these items. The rise in prices of the raw materials has led to rise in the prices of finished products which are not finding many purchasers. So the weavers and master weavers are feeling the pinch of hike in prices of raw materials and are resorting to distress sale of their products. At this critical juncture, the preservers of the cultural heritage of Assam are fearful of losing ground in the absence of their handlooms. Finding no way out, the people of the silk village meet frequently to discuss among themselves to find a solution to the problem which threatens to jeopardise their livelihood.
In response to a call for a public meeting given by the Sualkuchi Tant Shilpa Santha, the only weavers’ association formed in 1972 and affilated to CITU, the people irrespective of political affiliations gathered at the Gandhi Maidan recently and voiced their fears about the security of their lives. Addressing the meeting chaired by Kanak Kalita, former CITU leader and the adviser of Sualkuchi Tant Silpi Santha, Tapan Sarmah, secretary, CITU, Kamrup district committee, criticised the Government’s alleged apathy in checking price hike of the raw materials of silk products and said that CITU has always stood for safeguarding the local industries. He said that Sualkuchi is the pride of Assam as it has preserved the handloom industry which has generated employment opportunities to the residents of the area as well as the people from different places for their livelihood.
He reiterated that the price hike of the silk yarns is due to the direct effect of the globalisation and liberalisation policies of the Government and the people of the village should join hands in the anti-economic policy movement being launched by the Centre of Trade Unions of India. In this connection, Sarma called upon the people to take part in the proposed rally of the CITU, Assam at Guwahati on January 4. The trade union leader also stressed the need of presenting a white paper on the problems of the handloom sector and the remedial measures to be taken for resolution of the problem to the parliamentary standing committee. For this purpose, Sarma called upon the people to prepare a white paper for safeguarding the silk industry.
Addressing the meeting, Tirtha Nath Kakoti, president of the Santha, narrated the woes of the weavers and the master weavers of the village. He said that price hike and the distress sale of the products have created dangers for handloom owners. On an average, 10 weavers are losing their jobs every day and consequently these loomless weavers are losing their means of livelihoods. If such a situation is allowed to continue, starvation among the weavers will emerge in the village.
In his address, Phanidhar Das, assistant editor, Asomiya Pratidin and a resident of Bansar, demanded that the issue of providing protection to the silk industry of Sualkuchi should be discussed in a special session of the Assam Assembly. Dulu Chaudhury, an Asom Gana Parishad worker, put emphasis on setting up an auction market for selling and purchasing silk yarns at Sualkuchi while Dr Atul Das stressed the need of a united move to compel the Government to take early action to save the industry from any further deterioration. Ganesh Kalita, former president, Paschim Sualkuchi Gaon Panchayat and Bhrigu Ram Das, secretary of the Santha, demanded of the Government to provide immediate relief to the weavers of the village.
After a threadbare discussion, the meeting resolved to demand yarns at cheap rates for the weavers and master weavers through government agencies. The meeting also decided to give memorandums to the Central and State governments to curb the price hike of the silk yarns and establish an auction market at Sualkuchi. The meeting resolved to launch an agitational programme if the Government fails to address the problems.
In response to a call for a public meeting given by the Sualkuchi Tant Shilpa Santha, the only weavers’ association formed in 1972 and affilated to CITU, the people irrespective of political affiliations gathered at the Gandhi Maidan recently and voiced their fears about the security of their lives. Addressing the meeting chaired by Kanak Kalita, former CITU leader and the adviser of Sualkuchi Tant Silpi Santha, Tapan Sarmah, secretary, CITU, Kamrup district committee, criticised the Government’s alleged apathy in checking price hike of the raw materials of silk products and said that CITU has always stood for safeguarding the local industries. He said that Sualkuchi is the pride of Assam as it has preserved the handloom industry which has generated employment opportunities to the residents of the area as well as the people from different places for their livelihood.
He reiterated that the price hike of the silk yarns is due to the direct effect of the globalisation and liberalisation policies of the Government and the people of the village should join hands in the anti-economic policy movement being launched by the Centre of Trade Unions of India. In this connection, Sarma called upon the people to take part in the proposed rally of the CITU, Assam at Guwahati on January 4. The trade union leader also stressed the need of presenting a white paper on the problems of the handloom sector and the remedial measures to be taken for resolution of the problem to the parliamentary standing committee. For this purpose, Sarma called upon the people to prepare a white paper for safeguarding the silk industry.
Addressing the meeting, Tirtha Nath Kakoti, president of the Santha, narrated the woes of the weavers and the master weavers of the village. He said that price hike and the distress sale of the products have created dangers for handloom owners. On an average, 10 weavers are losing their jobs every day and consequently these loomless weavers are losing their means of livelihoods. If such a situation is allowed to continue, starvation among the weavers will emerge in the village.
In his address, Phanidhar Das, assistant editor, Asomiya Pratidin and a resident of Bansar, demanded that the issue of providing protection to the silk industry of Sualkuchi should be discussed in a special session of the Assam Assembly. Dulu Chaudhury, an Asom Gana Parishad worker, put emphasis on setting up an auction market for selling and purchasing silk yarns at Sualkuchi while Dr Atul Das stressed the need of a united move to compel the Government to take early action to save the industry from any further deterioration. Ganesh Kalita, former president, Paschim Sualkuchi Gaon Panchayat and Bhrigu Ram Das, secretary of the Santha, demanded of the Government to provide immediate relief to the weavers of the village.
After a threadbare discussion, the meeting resolved to demand yarns at cheap rates for the weavers and master weavers through government agencies. The meeting also decided to give memorandums to the Central and State governments to curb the price hike of the silk yarns and establish an auction market at Sualkuchi. The meeting resolved to launch an agitational programme if the Government fails to address the problems.
Assamese film maker set to enter record book
GUWAHATI, Dec 17 – A young, unheralded filmmaker from the State has come up with an extraordinary effort that could propel him into the hallowed pages of the Guinness Book of World Records.
The filmmaker, Ashok Sarma’s accomplishment lies in directing what he claims to be the world’s longest one-take feature film.
The 93-minute film – That Night – In Quest of His Beloved – is longer than the current record holding Uruguayan movie The Silent House by Gustavo Hernandez which has a duration of 79 minutes.
That Night – In Quest of His Beloved narrates the experience of a person who, after the mysterious disappearance of his beloved, sets about investigating the incident. The theme is woven around a murder mystery, with a haunted bungalow and roaming spirits accentuating the weird effect.
“I was inspired by Alfred Hitchcock’s Rope, and had been planning to do a long single-take movie – quite a challenging task as the filmmaker has to express the story without dialogue and with no cut between the shots — since 2008. After completing the script, I sat with actor Pradeep Nisith discussing all the nitty-gritty. I had to plan meticulously on every aspect of the shooting since there could be no retake,” Sarma said.
The direction, concept, story, screenplay, art direction, and direction of photography have all been done by Sarma himself. “I selected Pradeep Nisith because he has vast experience in the field of drama acting. He is a sensitive artiste and very intelligent,” Sarma said.
The actor, too, has found the experience to be different. “It has been a great experience and I consider myself to be lucky to be associated with this movie. I discussed with the director several times the nuances of characterization, movement, emotion, etc., and was soon at ease with my role,” Nisith said.
Sarma, a resident of Guwahati and a businessman by profession, is also a short-story and script writer. An electrical engineer by qualification, he has an uncanny knack for doing things unusual – the remarkable ability to draw four different pictures with both hands and feet at the same time being one of those gifted attributes.
The young filmmaker intends to screen the film in January next year. He has also approached the Guinness authorities for getting his feat recognized in the coveted record book.
Another noteworthy feature of the film is that several children played a key role in the making of the movie. While Gitarth P Sarma (11) and Raj Narayan Medhi (12) are the chief assistant director and the assistant director respectively, nine-year-old Sunayana Devi is the make-up assistant.
A host of acclaimed filmmakers such as Scorsese, Kubrick, PT Anderson, De Palma, Altman, Welles, Cuaron and Hitchcock had experimented with the genre of single-take films. The advent of digital filmmaking made it possible to shoot a feature film without a single cut, i.e., in one take. Earlier, visual moves were used as a transition between shots as was done by Hitchcock in Rope.
The filmmaker, Ashok Sarma’s accomplishment lies in directing what he claims to be the world’s longest one-take feature film.
The 93-minute film – That Night – In Quest of His Beloved – is longer than the current record holding Uruguayan movie The Silent House by Gustavo Hernandez which has a duration of 79 minutes.
That Night – In Quest of His Beloved narrates the experience of a person who, after the mysterious disappearance of his beloved, sets about investigating the incident. The theme is woven around a murder mystery, with a haunted bungalow and roaming spirits accentuating the weird effect.
“I was inspired by Alfred Hitchcock’s Rope, and had been planning to do a long single-take movie – quite a challenging task as the filmmaker has to express the story without dialogue and with no cut between the shots — since 2008. After completing the script, I sat with actor Pradeep Nisith discussing all the nitty-gritty. I had to plan meticulously on every aspect of the shooting since there could be no retake,” Sarma said.
The direction, concept, story, screenplay, art direction, and direction of photography have all been done by Sarma himself. “I selected Pradeep Nisith because he has vast experience in the field of drama acting. He is a sensitive artiste and very intelligent,” Sarma said.
The actor, too, has found the experience to be different. “It has been a great experience and I consider myself to be lucky to be associated with this movie. I discussed with the director several times the nuances of characterization, movement, emotion, etc., and was soon at ease with my role,” Nisith said.
Sarma, a resident of Guwahati and a businessman by profession, is also a short-story and script writer. An electrical engineer by qualification, he has an uncanny knack for doing things unusual – the remarkable ability to draw four different pictures with both hands and feet at the same time being one of those gifted attributes.
The young filmmaker intends to screen the film in January next year. He has also approached the Guinness authorities for getting his feat recognized in the coveted record book.
Another noteworthy feature of the film is that several children played a key role in the making of the movie. While Gitarth P Sarma (11) and Raj Narayan Medhi (12) are the chief assistant director and the assistant director respectively, nine-year-old Sunayana Devi is the make-up assistant.
A host of acclaimed filmmakers such as Scorsese, Kubrick, PT Anderson, De Palma, Altman, Welles, Cuaron and Hitchcock had experimented with the genre of single-take films. The advent of digital filmmaking made it possible to shoot a feature film without a single cut, i.e., in one take. Earlier, visual moves were used as a transition between shots as was done by Hitchcock in Rope.
Centre sanctions 470 Cr rupees for road projects in Assam
New Delhi, Dec 15 : In Assam, the Centre has sanctioned over 470 crore rupees for implementation of several road projects in the State.
This has been informed by the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Mr. Kamal Nath in a letter written to the State Chief Minister Mr.Tarun Gogoi.
The major road projects to be taken up included double laning of connecting roads between Lumding-Diphu-Manja, Haflong-Jatinga, Baska-Bamara, Morigaon-Jagiroad, Kokrajhar-Karigaon and Uldalguri-Rowta.
The State Public Works Department will be executing agency for the new road projects.
This has been informed by the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Mr. Kamal Nath in a letter written to the State Chief Minister Mr.Tarun Gogoi.
The major road projects to be taken up included double laning of connecting roads between Lumding-Diphu-Manja, Haflong-Jatinga, Baska-Bamara, Morigaon-Jagiroad, Kokrajhar-Karigaon and Uldalguri-Rowta.
The State Public Works Department will be executing agency for the new road projects.
Expert group for discussing seismic issues on Subansiri dam
‘Detailed geological map of the site needed for a fruitful discussion'
Guwahati: The Expert Group that went into the downstream impact of the 2000 MW Subansiri Lower Hydro Electric Project being constructed by the NHPC at Gerukamukh on Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border has written to the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) on Hydropower and River Valley Projects that the proposed discussion on seismological issues relating to the river dam should be held at the project site to facilitate any necessary explanation or field verification of the reality at the site itself.
Members of the Expert Group told journalists here on Monday that the EAC meeting held in Delhi on December 11 decided that a meeting of smaller group of experts would be held on January 7 in Delhi to discuss the seismological aspects of the Subansiri Lower HEP project. Members of the Expert Group also attended and deliberated in the EAC meeting.
The Expert Group in a letter to Dr. R. Nath, Chairman, Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) on Hydropower and River Valley Projects, on Sunday also insisted that the proposed discussion on seismic issues should include all members of the expert group to avoid any ambiguity regarding collectiveness of any decision that comes through.
The Expert Group also stated in their letter that before holding any more discussion the detailed geological map of the site and area of influence, micro-seismic data and results of two-dimensional seismic survey and paleo-seismic study were needed to be furnished by the NHPC as without these documents a meaningful and fruitful discussion is unlikely. The Expert Group claimed that while all technical arguments of the group were by and large supported by a range of documents, those arguments made by others including those by the NHPC were mostly not supported by documents.
The Expert Group reiterated its stand that various seismic parameters considered by the NHPC for designing the dam were not correct and they needed to be corrected and accordingly the dam structure be redesigned to ensure safety and stability.
Guwahati: The Expert Group that went into the downstream impact of the 2000 MW Subansiri Lower Hydro Electric Project being constructed by the NHPC at Gerukamukh on Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border has written to the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) on Hydropower and River Valley Projects that the proposed discussion on seismological issues relating to the river dam should be held at the project site to facilitate any necessary explanation or field verification of the reality at the site itself.
Members of the Expert Group told journalists here on Monday that the EAC meeting held in Delhi on December 11 decided that a meeting of smaller group of experts would be held on January 7 in Delhi to discuss the seismological aspects of the Subansiri Lower HEP project. Members of the Expert Group also attended and deliberated in the EAC meeting.
The Expert Group in a letter to Dr. R. Nath, Chairman, Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) on Hydropower and River Valley Projects, on Sunday also insisted that the proposed discussion on seismic issues should include all members of the expert group to avoid any ambiguity regarding collectiveness of any decision that comes through.
The Expert Group also stated in their letter that before holding any more discussion the detailed geological map of the site and area of influence, micro-seismic data and results of two-dimensional seismic survey and paleo-seismic study were needed to be furnished by the NHPC as without these documents a meaningful and fruitful discussion is unlikely. The Expert Group claimed that while all technical arguments of the group were by and large supported by a range of documents, those arguments made by others including those by the NHPC were mostly not supported by documents.
The Expert Group reiterated its stand that various seismic parameters considered by the NHPC for designing the dam were not correct and they needed to be corrected and accordingly the dam structure be redesigned to ensure safety and stability.
Blow to NDFB, deputy chief nabbed
Samudra Gupta Kashyap
The anti-talk faction of the outlawed National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) has suffered a major blow with security forces arresting its deputy commander-in-chief B Jwangkhang alias George Boro in Mizoram.
Jwangkhang, the main accused in the October 2008 serial blasts in Assam that had left nearly 100 people dead, had last month stated that the outfit would kill 20 “Indians” for each of its cadre killed by security forces. The outfit did go on to kill 22 people, most of them Hindi-speaking settlers, in a series of attacks on November 8 after one of its cadres was killed.
The CBI, which had earlier chargesheeted Jwangkhang for the serial blasts, had also announced a cash reward for information leading to his arrest.
Sources said Jwangkhang was recently in Bangladesh and had sneaked into India and reached Aizawl. Security forces, who were tracking him, zeroed in on him after he checked into a hotel in the Mizoram capital. He will be handed over to the Assam Police in a couple of days.
The anti-talk faction of the outlawed National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) has suffered a major blow with security forces arresting its deputy commander-in-chief B Jwangkhang alias George Boro in Mizoram.
Jwangkhang, the main accused in the October 2008 serial blasts in Assam that had left nearly 100 people dead, had last month stated that the outfit would kill 20 “Indians” for each of its cadre killed by security forces. The outfit did go on to kill 22 people, most of them Hindi-speaking settlers, in a series of attacks on November 8 after one of its cadres was killed.
The CBI, which had earlier chargesheeted Jwangkhang for the serial blasts, had also announced a cash reward for information leading to his arrest.
Sources said Jwangkhang was recently in Bangladesh and had sneaked into India and reached Aizawl. Security forces, who were tracking him, zeroed in on him after he checked into a hotel in the Mizoram capital. He will be handed over to the Assam Police in a couple of days.
Assam eyes baseball at grassroots
The Assam senior girls baseball team at Cuttack. File picture
Guwahati, Dec. 9: The Assam Baseball Association is eyeing the grassroots to promote baseball — considered by some as the American version of cricket — in the state.
“We have introduced the game, which is similar to cricket, in two city schools — Delhi Public School and National Public School — to start with. We plan to promote the sport in two other schools here — Sarla Birla Gyanjyoti and Hindustani Kendriya Vidyalaya — as well,” Ashma Begum, the secretary of the association, told The Telegraph.
“We will be holding a training camp in the oil township of Duliajan in February, for which we have had discussions with Oil India Ltd. Physical instructors of schools from across the state will be trained by coaches from the across the country at the camp. This will help spread the game at the grassroots level,” she said.
The association is optimistic about the state excelling at the national level, even as the junior boys’ and girls’ teams returned to the city from Calcutta on Tuesday without a win in their kitty. Thirty-two players, 16 each in the boys and girls’ squads respectively, took part in an under-17 national meet in the Bengal capital from December 1 to 5.
Apart from the walkover against Orissa, the boys lost their matches against Madhya Pradesh and Jharkhand while the girls lost to Punjab, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.
The state association, formed in November last year, however, is hopeful that the younger generation would take up the game in the right earnest.
“In about a year’s time, the state has taken part in four national meets and already made a mark in two of them. The girls’ team sprung a pleasant surprise by reaching the quarter-finals at the senior nationals in Cuttack in January. We had clinched third position at the East Zone championship in the city last April, which augurs well for the game,” Ashma, a former state hockey player, added.
The state team primarily comprises players from Delhi Public School.
“We have left no stone unturned in promoting the game in DPS. The authorities have provided the requisite infrastructure and even installed floodlights for the students to practise after class,” Bibek Acharya, sports teacher of DPS and coach of the Assam baseball team, said.
“The future of baseball in the state looks bright given the performance of the state team at national meets. We have been allotted space at Nehru Stadium for training. However, we intend to use the facilities at the Sarusajai stadium soon,” Acharya said.
Asked about the cost involved in the game, he said baseball, like cricket, requires funds. “A player has to shell out a whopping Rs 50,000 for a kit bag. Hence, sponsorship, be it corporate or government, will play a key factor in how the sport takes shape here,” Acharya said.
Financial mismanagement due to deficiencies in rules
GUWAHATI, Dec 8 – Serious deficiencies in the North Cachar Hills District Fund Rules (DFR) is one of the main reasons for total financial mismanagement in the NC Hills Autonomous Council and over the years, no serious effort has been made by the State and Central governments to remove those. There is need for amending the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution to prepare a proper DFR.
The special audit of the NC Hills Autonomous Council, carried out by the Office of the Accountant General (AG), pointed out the deficiencies of the DFR. As per the provisions of the Sixth Schedule, the financial affairs of the Council should be regulated by the DFR as approved by the Governor. The draft fund rules were proposed to be amended several times but it could not be done as the Sixth Schedule was not amended. However, it may be mentioned here that the Government of India has now proposed to amend the Sixth Schedule to make the financial rules more stringent.
The report of the special audit said that several deficiencies in the DFR remained unattended for years. There should be detailed procedure showing allotment of fund, exercising control over expenditure as per Budget, opening of bank accounts, system of placing of requirement of funds, etc., should have been introduced. The report pointed out that other inadequacies like lack of procedures to be followed and maintenance of records in case of re-appropriation of funds from one scheme to another, lack of proper procedures for making adjustments of advances, lack of accountability of withdrawal of money, etc., should de dealt with immediately.
The AG said that the DFR is inadequate on several issues in maintaining strict financial discipline. Paragraph 7 of the Sixth Schedule provides for laying of audit report to the Council but the DFR is silent about the procedure to be followed for discussion, remedial measures and submission of action taken reports. The time frame within which the annual accounts of the Council should be submitted for audit is not mentioned in the DFR. The AG also pointed out several other shortcomings of the DFR, which need to be addressed immediately.
The report said that the Council is required to submit its accounts in the forms prescribed by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India and subject the same to be audited. The CAG reports should be placed in the Council. But the Council is irregular in preparation of the accounts and as such the annual accounts only up to the year 2005-06 could be audited and submitted to the Governor of Assam. Audit reports only up to the year 2001-02 were laid before the Council, the report added.
The special audit of the NC Hills Autonomous Council, carried out by the Office of the Accountant General (AG), pointed out the deficiencies of the DFR. As per the provisions of the Sixth Schedule, the financial affairs of the Council should be regulated by the DFR as approved by the Governor. The draft fund rules were proposed to be amended several times but it could not be done as the Sixth Schedule was not amended. However, it may be mentioned here that the Government of India has now proposed to amend the Sixth Schedule to make the financial rules more stringent.
The report of the special audit said that several deficiencies in the DFR remained unattended for years. There should be detailed procedure showing allotment of fund, exercising control over expenditure as per Budget, opening of bank accounts, system of placing of requirement of funds, etc., should have been introduced. The report pointed out that other inadequacies like lack of procedures to be followed and maintenance of records in case of re-appropriation of funds from one scheme to another, lack of proper procedures for making adjustments of advances, lack of accountability of withdrawal of money, etc., should de dealt with immediately.
The AG said that the DFR is inadequate on several issues in maintaining strict financial discipline. Paragraph 7 of the Sixth Schedule provides for laying of audit report to the Council but the DFR is silent about the procedure to be followed for discussion, remedial measures and submission of action taken reports. The time frame within which the annual accounts of the Council should be submitted for audit is not mentioned in the DFR. The AG also pointed out several other shortcomings of the DFR, which need to be addressed immediately.
The report said that the Council is required to submit its accounts in the forms prescribed by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India and subject the same to be audited. The CAG reports should be placed in the Council. But the Council is irregular in preparation of the accounts and as such the annual accounts only up to the year 2005-06 could be audited and submitted to the Governor of Assam. Audit reports only up to the year 2001-02 were laid before the Council, the report added.
Elephant electrocuted in Assam
Forest Department officials believe he was part of a herd of 100 elephants who can currently be seen in the paddy fields of Nagaon, 120 km from Guwahati.
Electric cables in this area are hanging dangerously low, said officials.
In September this year an elephant was electrocuted inside a house in a tea garden in the same district. In October another elephant died in the same way in Sonitpur district of Assam.
Images in this video could be disturbing for some viewers and are not suitable for children.
Mega dams would kill Brahmaputra: Bahuguna
SHILLONG, Dec 9 – Noted environmentalist Sunderlal Bahuguna today warned that mega dams would kill Brahmaputra river and people living in its lower reaches of Assam and Bangladesh.
“Dams are a temporary solution to a permanent problem. After sometimes these dams will stop the natural flow of the river and destroy its ecology,” Bahuguna said at the sidelines of an international conference on ‘Sustainability: Management and Beyond’ organised by the IIM-Shillong here. He said that construction of such dams would have an adverse impact not just on the river basin but also on the eco-geological balance of the Himalayan range.
The Chipko Movement leader suggested that large-scale plantation of trees along the Himalayan ranges was the only solution to dams. “Make the Himalayas as a continuous dam by planting trees. Trees will attract more rains and give more water,” he advocated.
Brahmaputra is 2,906-km long and is one of Asia’s largest rivers that traverses 1,625 km in Tibet, 918 km in India and the rest 363 km in Bangladesh before entering into the Bay of Bengal.
Urging people to oppose construction of dams in Arunachal Pradesh, he said these dams “would devastate the environment and uproot people for short-term benefits”.
Various organisations in Assam have opposed the construction of 2,000 MW Lower Subansiri Hydro Electric Power Project in Arunachal Pradesh pointing out the serious repercussions it would have on ecology and the people.
The environmentalists further warned that apart from environmental disaster such dams would be an easy target for China to attack as Arunachal Pradesh shares a 1,030-km unfenced border with the neighbouring country.
“At any point China can attack these dams as these are so close to the international border. They can bomb them anytime at times of war. The risk from the security point of view is therefore immense,” he added.
“Dams are a temporary solution to a permanent problem. After sometimes these dams will stop the natural flow of the river and destroy its ecology,” Bahuguna said at the sidelines of an international conference on ‘Sustainability: Management and Beyond’ organised by the IIM-Shillong here. He said that construction of such dams would have an adverse impact not just on the river basin but also on the eco-geological balance of the Himalayan range.
The Chipko Movement leader suggested that large-scale plantation of trees along the Himalayan ranges was the only solution to dams. “Make the Himalayas as a continuous dam by planting trees. Trees will attract more rains and give more water,” he advocated.
Brahmaputra is 2,906-km long and is one of Asia’s largest rivers that traverses 1,625 km in Tibet, 918 km in India and the rest 363 km in Bangladesh before entering into the Bay of Bengal.
Urging people to oppose construction of dams in Arunachal Pradesh, he said these dams “would devastate the environment and uproot people for short-term benefits”.
Various organisations in Assam have opposed the construction of 2,000 MW Lower Subansiri Hydro Electric Power Project in Arunachal Pradesh pointing out the serious repercussions it would have on ecology and the people.
The environmentalists further warned that apart from environmental disaster such dams would be an easy target for China to attack as Arunachal Pradesh shares a 1,030-km unfenced border with the neighbouring country.
“At any point China can attack these dams as these are so close to the international border. They can bomb them anytime at times of war. The risk from the security point of view is therefore immense,” he added.
‘Truth’ drive by Cong, govt
Guwahati, Dec. 7 : Under sustained attack from the Opposition over the Rs 1,000-crore NC Hills scam, the Congress and the party-led Assam government today decided to mount a joint multi-pronged campaign to convey the “truth” to the people as well the “good work” that Dispur has been doing for almost 10 years.
As part of the counter-offensive, government spokesperson Bharat Narah and chief minister’s press adviser D.K. Bora had a sitting with party spokespersons at the Assembly on how to go about their task.
They decided to meet every Tuesday and hold a conclave of block and district spokespersons here by the end of this month to educate party spokespersons about the government’s stand on various issues and development initiatives so that it promptly reaches the masses.
The move mirrors a similar initiative by the party high command on beefing up its media team and having senior cabinet ministers interact with the media to effectively counter the Opposition propaganda on graft in wake of the 2G spectrum scam that continues to paralyse Parliament.
The meeting here followed interaction between PCC leaders headed by president Bhubaneswar Kalita and chief minister Tarun Gogoi, both at Rajiv Bhawan and Gogoi’s residence at Koinadhara yesterday, reflecting their concern over the relentless Opposition attack months ahead of the Assembly polls.
Soon after the meeting, Narah said the Opposition’s charges based on the CAG’s inspection report would fall flat after December 15, by when chief secretary N.K. Das will give his report on the excess allocation and irregularities in the council.
He also went on to predict that the Congress would comfortably win the polls because the Gogoi government had done much more than the Nitish Kumar government in Bihar and Narendra Modi’s in Gujarat but somehow it has not got due publicity.
He was, however, less than convincing when asked about the lack of action on last year’s R.K. Manisana Commission inquiry report into the militant-official-politician nexus in NC Hills, saying he would have to go through the minutes of the cabinet meeting.
Opposition leader Prafulla Kumar Mahanta has opened another flank for Dispur to counter by accusing the Gogoi government of being involved in a Rs 180-crore NREGA scam in NC Hills. He also reiterated his demand for action against those who violated the cabinet decision on funding to NCHAC. “Dispur is trying to divert attention from the scam. What is the need of Assembly debate after the CAG inspection report which has many conclusive remarks?” he asked.
The day also saw AGP president Chandra Mohan Patowary launch a party website, www.asomganaparishad.in, to “educate” the masses on why they need a regional party such as the AGP. This is an indication that the Opposition plans to match the Congress on the propaganda front.
As part of the counter-offensive, government spokesperson Bharat Narah and chief minister’s press adviser D.K. Bora had a sitting with party spokespersons at the Assembly on how to go about their task.
They decided to meet every Tuesday and hold a conclave of block and district spokespersons here by the end of this month to educate party spokespersons about the government’s stand on various issues and development initiatives so that it promptly reaches the masses.
The move mirrors a similar initiative by the party high command on beefing up its media team and having senior cabinet ministers interact with the media to effectively counter the Opposition propaganda on graft in wake of the 2G spectrum scam that continues to paralyse Parliament.
The meeting here followed interaction between PCC leaders headed by president Bhubaneswar Kalita and chief minister Tarun Gogoi, both at Rajiv Bhawan and Gogoi’s residence at Koinadhara yesterday, reflecting their concern over the relentless Opposition attack months ahead of the Assembly polls.
Soon after the meeting, Narah said the Opposition’s charges based on the CAG’s inspection report would fall flat after December 15, by when chief secretary N.K. Das will give his report on the excess allocation and irregularities in the council.
He also went on to predict that the Congress would comfortably win the polls because the Gogoi government had done much more than the Nitish Kumar government in Bihar and Narendra Modi’s in Gujarat but somehow it has not got due publicity.
He was, however, less than convincing when asked about the lack of action on last year’s R.K. Manisana Commission inquiry report into the militant-official-politician nexus in NC Hills, saying he would have to go through the minutes of the cabinet meeting.
Opposition leader Prafulla Kumar Mahanta has opened another flank for Dispur to counter by accusing the Gogoi government of being involved in a Rs 180-crore NREGA scam in NC Hills. He also reiterated his demand for action against those who violated the cabinet decision on funding to NCHAC. “Dispur is trying to divert attention from the scam. What is the need of Assembly debate after the CAG inspection report which has many conclusive remarks?” he asked.
The day also saw AGP president Chandra Mohan Patowary launch a party website, www.asomganaparishad.in, to “educate” the masses on why they need a regional party such as the AGP. This is an indication that the Opposition plans to match the Congress on the propaganda front.
Plight of Umrangso people remains unheard
Umrongso, the only industrial township 110 km from the district headquarters of Haflong in N. C. Hills district has been the prime source of income of every organizations be it Government or non-Government, but has failed to draw the attention of all the developmental departments and agencies, alleged the conscious citizens of Umrongso.
The North Eastern Electric Power Corporation was established during the 1994 at the cost of local people’s sacrifice. They had to fight for a long time for the compensation for loss of their land but the NEEPCO never thought for the proper rehabilitation for the displaced people of their own, all the time the people had to move for. Many organizations came up to fight for the cause of these people but remained silent after few approaches to the authority concerned for the reasons best known to them only. And still people of Umrongso were forced to remain isolated, off course there were no such attempts from the NEEPCO people to assimilate with the local people. If any one visits Umrongso, will find there is a line of division in between the NEEPCO people and the local people, which is named as the security wall.
Then comes the establishments of Cement factories in Umrongso area during the year 1988 named Vinay Cement Ltd. then in the year 1999 R. C. L. and again during the later part of 2007 another one, Calcom has come. Though the management has made some agreement with some people but the local populace was always ignored following which there has been hue and cry among the locals regarding the pollution. An organization was also formed under the name and style Action Committee Cement Dust Control Cum Social Welfare Forum, Umrongso long back, and has been raising voices against the pollution following which the management had to come down for talk with representatives of the organization, but time and again the managements of Cement factories were making promises after promises to install the pollution control device even within a time frame. Then again it is learnt that one Jaypee Cement Ltd is also setting a cement plant in Umrongso area very soon. Now, again another organization has come up in the name of Cement Plant Affected Village Welfare Committee (CPAVWC) with Thong Teron as the President and Harvest Kathar as the Secretary and has already submitted its charter of demands to the AGM, Jaypee Cement Ltd recently. One S. Hojai of Umrongso had also approached the court in the matter of Cement pollution by the Cement factories but till date nothing has come out in practical.
The people of Umrangso who have been suffering a lot due to cement dust of the existing cement plants are of the opinion that their grievances would neither be considered nor addressed because none is genuinely raising voices to stop the cement pollution they raise voice for the reasons best known to them only. The entire populace has lost the confidence on such movements.
The North Eastern Electric Power Corporation was established during the 1994 at the cost of local people’s sacrifice. They had to fight for a long time for the compensation for loss of their land but the NEEPCO never thought for the proper rehabilitation for the displaced people of their own, all the time the people had to move for. Many organizations came up to fight for the cause of these people but remained silent after few approaches to the authority concerned for the reasons best known to them only. And still people of Umrongso were forced to remain isolated, off course there were no such attempts from the NEEPCO people to assimilate with the local people. If any one visits Umrongso, will find there is a line of division in between the NEEPCO people and the local people, which is named as the security wall.
Then comes the establishments of Cement factories in Umrongso area during the year 1988 named Vinay Cement Ltd. then in the year 1999 R. C. L. and again during the later part of 2007 another one, Calcom has come. Though the management has made some agreement with some people but the local populace was always ignored following which there has been hue and cry among the locals regarding the pollution. An organization was also formed under the name and style Action Committee Cement Dust Control Cum Social Welfare Forum, Umrongso long back, and has been raising voices against the pollution following which the management had to come down for talk with representatives of the organization, but time and again the managements of Cement factories were making promises after promises to install the pollution control device even within a time frame. Then again it is learnt that one Jaypee Cement Ltd is also setting a cement plant in Umrongso area very soon. Now, again another organization has come up in the name of Cement Plant Affected Village Welfare Committee (CPAVWC) with Thong Teron as the President and Harvest Kathar as the Secretary and has already submitted its charter of demands to the AGM, Jaypee Cement Ltd recently. One S. Hojai of Umrongso had also approached the court in the matter of Cement pollution by the Cement factories but till date nothing has come out in practical.
The people of Umrangso who have been suffering a lot due to cement dust of the existing cement plants are of the opinion that their grievances would neither be considered nor addressed because none is genuinely raising voices to stop the cement pollution they raise voice for the reasons best known to them only. The entire populace has lost the confidence on such movements.
Black panther captured in Assam
Big cat wounded worker, killed cattle in Maijan garden
The black panther in Dibrugarh on Saturday.
Dibrugarh, Dec. 6 : A full-grown male black panther was captured today by officials from the forest department with assistance from the management of the Maijan tea estate on the outskirts of this Upper Assam town today.
The divisional forest officer of Dibrugarh forest division, Anurag Singh, said the big cat was captured with the help of a trap set up in the tea estate.
“We had reports of the panther creating trouble in the garden for quite some time now. Only on Friday it had injured a garden worker who is in hospital now, besides the panther had also killed a few heads of cattle reared by the workers of the garden and villagers,” Singh said.
The black panther in Dibrugarh on Saturday.Dibrugarh, Dec. 6 : A full-grown male black panther was captured today by officials from the forest department with assistance from the management of the Maijan tea estate on the outskirts of this Upper Assam town today.
The divisional forest officer of Dibrugarh forest division, Anurag Singh, said the big cat was captured with the help of a trap set up in the tea estate.
“We had reports of the panther creating trouble in the garden for quite some time now. Only on Friday it had injured a garden worker who is in hospital now, besides the panther had also killed a few heads of cattle reared by the workers of the garden and villagers,” Singh said.
The black panther is an endangered species and is very rarely sighted in the jungles of Upper Assam these days. It belongs to the leopard family and is a Schedule I species, protected under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
According to environmentalists, the number of black panthers, considered smarter and more agile than leopards, has gone down considerably in the forests of the state because of massive destruction of ecology and depleting green cover.
“Because of continuous depletion in the green cover, these black panthers have almost become extinct. Therefore, the capture of the black panther is good news for environmentalists and nature lovers,” Nakul Khound, the co-ordinator of IRAB-KIRAB, an environment NGO, said.
An official of the tea estate said the panther had been creating trouble for quite some time along with some other leopards.
“The presence of the leopards and the panther in the tea estate created a lot of trouble, cattle of our workers and even dogs are being hunted by these leopards and the panther. Therefore, we requested the forest department to do something after which the cage was set up,” the official said.
On December 29 last year, another full-grown male black panther was captured by the forest department officials from Ethelwood tea estate, another adjacent tea garden. The animal was later released in the Joypur reserve forest in Dibrugarh district.
The forest department had planned to release the black panther, captured today, after a medical examination in the same reserve forest later this afternoon.
However, it could not be released as planned since it had suffered some minor injuries during the capture.
After examining the animal in Dibrugarh, the veterinary surgeon from Wildlife Trust of India, Abhijit Bhawal, said it would be better if the animal was given a few days’ time for the bruises, which it sustained after it got trapped in the cage, to heal.
“Although the panther is totally fit and healthy, it will be better if it is released on Monday or the day after, so that the wounds are healed,” Bhawal said.
The range officer of Dibrugarh forest range, Jiten Bora, said there was a possibility of more black panthers in the tea gardens and nearby bushes in the tea estates of Upper Assam.
“Since December last year, we have been able to capture eight leopards, mostly from the tea garden areas. Two black panthers have been caught, including the one captured today. We do hope that this is a good achievement in terms of conservation,” Bora said.
No excess money released: Govt
GUWAHATI, Dec 6 – State Government spokesperson Himanta Biswa Sarma today claimed that no excess money was released to the NC Hills District Autonomous Council without any budget provision.
Justifying his statement, he stated that the ‘excess fund’ which is being shown released comes under the non-planned and so was not accounted in the budget allocation.
Sarma, quoting the State Principal Secretary (Finance) said that the report of office of the Comptroller and Auditor General for the year 2008 and 2009 which had already been placed in the floor of the House has shown that no excess money was disbursed by the State Government during the period.
“In fact, in some cases, the report has shown savings. The excess fund which is being talked about is the fund released under non-planned heads like salaries, 12th Finance Commission and the Additional Central Assistance, which will have to be reconciled,” Sarma claimed while talking to mediapersons.
“The matter should be sorted out in the next 10 days when the Chief Secretary submits his report,” he asserted.
“The Chief Secretary who has been directed to examine the genuineness of the excess amount released would soon send all the relevant replies to the queries,” he said.
Sarma claimed that the special audit report of the Accountant General was partially leaked as the forwarding letter where the State Government’s reply was sought was retained by the person concerned, as a result of which a complete and clear picture could not come out.
Justifying his statement, he stated that the ‘excess fund’ which is being shown released comes under the non-planned and so was not accounted in the budget allocation.
Sarma, quoting the State Principal Secretary (Finance) said that the report of office of the Comptroller and Auditor General for the year 2008 and 2009 which had already been placed in the floor of the House has shown that no excess money was disbursed by the State Government during the period.
“In fact, in some cases, the report has shown savings. The excess fund which is being talked about is the fund released under non-planned heads like salaries, 12th Finance Commission and the Additional Central Assistance, which will have to be reconciled,” Sarma claimed while talking to mediapersons.
“The matter should be sorted out in the next 10 days when the Chief Secretary submits his report,” he asserted.
“The Chief Secretary who has been directed to examine the genuineness of the excess amount released would soon send all the relevant replies to the queries,” he said.
Sarma claimed that the special audit report of the Accountant General was partially leaked as the forwarding letter where the State Government’s reply was sought was retained by the person concerned, as a result of which a complete and clear picture could not come out.
Proud Jorhat village showcases its young entrepreneurial talent
The Naobishi village in Assam's Jorhat District has acquired fame in the northeast region for its young entrepreneurial talent.ere, the safety of government jobs is looked down upon, as dynamic youngsters are very keen to start their own ventures.
Take the example of 29-year-old Ankur Saikia. He started a paddy collection and distribution center nine years ago.
The collection was initially limited to farmers in the village, but today, Ankur collects paddy from neighbouring villages and stores at his private warehouse. He later distributes the paddy in cities and towns like Jorhat, Majuli, Sivasagar and Dibrugarh.
Ankur now wants to set up a small rice mill, provided the government gives him financial assistance.
"I earn between Rs.30, 000 and Rs.40, 000 every month. This helps me to look after my family. I am now trying for a loan from the government to expand my business. In my opinion, youth should work instead of sitting home. They should also focus on development of the village so that others can also grow with them," said Saikia.
His venture provides employment to eleven other people in the village.
"I have been working with Ankur for the past eight years. I am now able to feed my family well and educate my children. I earn Rs.7000 per month and I am very happy," said Mridula Saikia, an employee.
Mahipal Majhi adds: "I get a good salary from Ankur. And with his help I am able to educate my children."
The handloom and textiles sector in Assam provides employment to many.
Twenty-one-year-old Nevidita Das from Naobaishya village has successfully taken up weaving as a profession to support her education.
She earns Rs.5000 every month and believes that youth should engage themselves in constructive work.
Das said: "I weave clothes with the help of my family members and other fellow villagers. I sell them to local tailor and earn good money. I use the money to buy books."
Many youngsters have taken up handicrafts as full-time profession.
Twenty-five-year-old Pankaj Borah has been engaged in woodcarving for his livelihood since 2004 after he completed his graduation. Today he earns Rs.10, 000 a month.
Borah said: "I want to buy a machine to expand my work that will help me bring down the cost of my products."
Naobaishya has about 600 people who are primarily engaged in agriculture. The village is going through a transformation of sorts with young entrepreneurs showing the way. (ANI)
Take the example of 29-year-old Ankur Saikia. He started a paddy collection and distribution center nine years ago.
The collection was initially limited to farmers in the village, but today, Ankur collects paddy from neighbouring villages and stores at his private warehouse. He later distributes the paddy in cities and towns like Jorhat, Majuli, Sivasagar and Dibrugarh.
Ankur now wants to set up a small rice mill, provided the government gives him financial assistance.
"I earn between Rs.30, 000 and Rs.40, 000 every month. This helps me to look after my family. I am now trying for a loan from the government to expand my business. In my opinion, youth should work instead of sitting home. They should also focus on development of the village so that others can also grow with them," said Saikia.
His venture provides employment to eleven other people in the village.
"I have been working with Ankur for the past eight years. I am now able to feed my family well and educate my children. I earn Rs.7000 per month and I am very happy," said Mridula Saikia, an employee.
Mahipal Majhi adds: "I get a good salary from Ankur. And with his help I am able to educate my children."
The handloom and textiles sector in Assam provides employment to many.
Twenty-one-year-old Nevidita Das from Naobaishya village has successfully taken up weaving as a profession to support her education.
She earns Rs.5000 every month and believes that youth should engage themselves in constructive work.
Das said: "I weave clothes with the help of my family members and other fellow villagers. I sell them to local tailor and earn good money. I use the money to buy books."
Many youngsters have taken up handicrafts as full-time profession.
Twenty-five-year-old Pankaj Borah has been engaged in woodcarving for his livelihood since 2004 after he completed his graduation. Today he earns Rs.10, 000 a month.
Borah said: "I want to buy a machine to expand my work that will help me bring down the cost of my products."
Naobaishya has about 600 people who are primarily engaged in agriculture. The village is going through a transformation of sorts with young entrepreneurs showing the way. (ANI)
Japanese Encephalitis finds a new target: adults
Traditionally regarded as a disease of children, it is spreading among 25 to 40-year-olds
The increasing number of Japanese Encephalitis (JE) cases among adults has become a cause of concern for health experts in the country. The cases are being reported from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Assam and some other states in the north-east.
JE has traditionally been regarded as a disease of the children and before mid-2009, the proportion of adults among JE patients rarely exceeded 2 per cent.
Assam first reported a big jump last year — as many as 70 per cent of patients were above 15 years old. In UP too, the number of adult patients has been increasing since last year, although it has not yet reached the proportions it has acquired in Assam.
While counting JE cases, anyone above 15 is considered an adult, but the new patients, at least in UP, are mostly between 25 and 40 years old.
An official in the Union Ministry of Health said in view of this new trend, the Centre is examining the possibility of introducing JE vaccination for adults in selected high-risk areas. Three years ago, Nepal had undertaken JE vaccination f adults. Since children had already been vaccinated, and JE vaccination is given once in life, there was no need to continue with it.
The official said Centre will also take steps to identify the reasons behind the virus affecting more and more adults.
But without waiting for the Centre's decision, the Assam government has decided to undertake vaccination of adults in its high-risk areas in the first quarter of 2011.
Unlike Assam, however, the UP government does not want to start vaccination of the adult population, hoping that the problem would not rise to the magnitude of Assam.
"The age shift in UP is not so sharp as in Assam, so there is no plan to start vaccination of adults as of now," said Dr VS Nigam, Joint Director, Vector Born and Communicable Disease wing of the Uttar Pradesh Health Department.
Regarding the situation in UP, Dr KP Kushwaha, Head of Pediatrics Department at Gorakhpur's BRD Medical College, said: "It is true that in our record, we have noticed this trend that the number of JE as well as Acute Encephalitis Syndrome cases among adults is increasing since last year. About 700 AES cases have been reported among adults this year — of these around 100 were JE."
Last year, the number of JE patients among adults was only 30, the number of AES patients was not immediately available.
Gorakhpur is located in the area worst hit by JE in eastern UP. So, the patients are invariably taken to the BRD Medical College. Since JE is, so far, regarded as a disease of the children, Kushwaha's department handles them. Whenever a patient arrives, it is registered as a case of AES, which could be caused by various viruses which are similar to JE. After tests, JE patients are listed separately.
Kushwaha said some parts of the increase could be "because the total number of AES cases has increased from about 2,100 last year to about 3,000 cases this year".
But there is another disturbing trend: while the mortality rate of the disease among children has been around 13.7 per cent, the mortality rate among adults was close to 16 per cent this year, he said.
Health Department officials said the trend has been noticed mainly in Gorakhpur and Kushinagar districts. The other JE affected district in eastern UP are Deoria, Siddharthnagar, Basti, Maharajganj, Sant Kabir Nagar, Balrampur, Mau and Azamgarh.
IndianExpress
The increasing number of Japanese Encephalitis (JE) cases among adults has become a cause of concern for health experts in the country. The cases are being reported from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Assam and some other states in the north-east.
JE has traditionally been regarded as a disease of the children and before mid-2009, the proportion of adults among JE patients rarely exceeded 2 per cent.
Assam first reported a big jump last year — as many as 70 per cent of patients were above 15 years old. In UP too, the number of adult patients has been increasing since last year, although it has not yet reached the proportions it has acquired in Assam.
While counting JE cases, anyone above 15 is considered an adult, but the new patients, at least in UP, are mostly between 25 and 40 years old.
An official in the Union Ministry of Health said in view of this new trend, the Centre is examining the possibility of introducing JE vaccination for adults in selected high-risk areas. Three years ago, Nepal had undertaken JE vaccination f adults. Since children had already been vaccinated, and JE vaccination is given once in life, there was no need to continue with it.
The official said Centre will also take steps to identify the reasons behind the virus affecting more and more adults.
But without waiting for the Centre's decision, the Assam government has decided to undertake vaccination of adults in its high-risk areas in the first quarter of 2011.
Unlike Assam, however, the UP government does not want to start vaccination of the adult population, hoping that the problem would not rise to the magnitude of Assam.
"The age shift in UP is not so sharp as in Assam, so there is no plan to start vaccination of adults as of now," said Dr VS Nigam, Joint Director, Vector Born and Communicable Disease wing of the Uttar Pradesh Health Department.
Regarding the situation in UP, Dr KP Kushwaha, Head of Pediatrics Department at Gorakhpur's BRD Medical College, said: "It is true that in our record, we have noticed this trend that the number of JE as well as Acute Encephalitis Syndrome cases among adults is increasing since last year. About 700 AES cases have been reported among adults this year — of these around 100 were JE."
Last year, the number of JE patients among adults was only 30, the number of AES patients was not immediately available.
Gorakhpur is located in the area worst hit by JE in eastern UP. So, the patients are invariably taken to the BRD Medical College. Since JE is, so far, regarded as a disease of the children, Kushwaha's department handles them. Whenever a patient arrives, it is registered as a case of AES, which could be caused by various viruses which are similar to JE. After tests, JE patients are listed separately.
Kushwaha said some parts of the increase could be "because the total number of AES cases has increased from about 2,100 last year to about 3,000 cases this year".
But there is another disturbing trend: while the mortality rate of the disease among children has been around 13.7 per cent, the mortality rate among adults was close to 16 per cent this year, he said.
Health Department officials said the trend has been noticed mainly in Gorakhpur and Kushinagar districts. The other JE affected district in eastern UP are Deoria, Siddharthnagar, Basti, Maharajganj, Sant Kabir Nagar, Balrampur, Mau and Azamgarh.
IndianExpress
Bodo team calls on Home Secy
NEW DELHI, Dec 2 – An eight-member delegation of Bodo National Conference (BNC) led by its co-convenor, Khampa Borgiary, who is also the BTC Deputy Chief called on Union Home Secretary, GK Pillai at North Block this afternoon.
The delegation included State Minister, Chandan Brahma, Rajya Sabha MP Biswajeet Daimary, pro-talk faction leader, Govinda Basumatary, Bodo Women Justice Forum chief, Anjali Daimary and vice president of Bodo Sahitya Sabha, Biseshwar Brahma, Peoples’ Forum for Peace Initiative, Dr Bijoy Daimary, amongst others.
Later talking to this newspaper, Biswajeet Daimary said that they have pressed for expediting the ongoing dialogue with NDFB (pro-talk faction) and also initiate dialogue with the anti-talk faction.
Daimary said they impressed upon the Centre to involve all factions in the peace process to avoid bloodshed in the future. Until and unless the outfits are not engaged, the guns cannot be silenced and peace would continue to elude the BTC area, he said.
He said they have conveyed to the Home Secretary the circumstances under which the BNC was formed. “We have urged the Central Government to take fresh initiative and the civil society would also help in convincing the reluctant militants including Ranjan Daimary to come for talks,” he said.
The Union Home Secretary, welcoming the latest initiative reportedly urged them to press the anti-talk faction to join the peace process. He also reportedly assured to look into their demand for fast tracking the ongoing dialogue with NDFB. The Centre has already appointed P C Haldar as its interlocutor.
When asked if they raised the demand for a separate Bodoland, the Rajya Sabha MP denied it, stating that it is not in their agenda and the purpose of the visit was to talk about the ongoing dialogue and the urgent need to restore peace in the area by silencing the guns.
The BNC was formed as a non-political platform to undertake peace initiatives and for overall development of the Bodoland area.
The conference is also trying to convince the separatist NDFB anti-talk faction chairman, Ranjan Daimary to come forward for peace parleys and also to ensure peace and unity among the Bodo people and also with those living in the area.
Meanwhile, in a Rajya Sabha reply, Minister of State for Home Affairs, M Ramachandran said that Assam Government has been asked to strengthen security in the vulnerable areas including gearing up of intelligence agencies and chalking out an operational action plan to deal with the situation.
The delegation included State Minister, Chandan Brahma, Rajya Sabha MP Biswajeet Daimary, pro-talk faction leader, Govinda Basumatary, Bodo Women Justice Forum chief, Anjali Daimary and vice president of Bodo Sahitya Sabha, Biseshwar Brahma, Peoples’ Forum for Peace Initiative, Dr Bijoy Daimary, amongst others.
Later talking to this newspaper, Biswajeet Daimary said that they have pressed for expediting the ongoing dialogue with NDFB (pro-talk faction) and also initiate dialogue with the anti-talk faction.
Daimary said they impressed upon the Centre to involve all factions in the peace process to avoid bloodshed in the future. Until and unless the outfits are not engaged, the guns cannot be silenced and peace would continue to elude the BTC area, he said.
He said they have conveyed to the Home Secretary the circumstances under which the BNC was formed. “We have urged the Central Government to take fresh initiative and the civil society would also help in convincing the reluctant militants including Ranjan Daimary to come for talks,” he said.
The Union Home Secretary, welcoming the latest initiative reportedly urged them to press the anti-talk faction to join the peace process. He also reportedly assured to look into their demand for fast tracking the ongoing dialogue with NDFB. The Centre has already appointed P C Haldar as its interlocutor.
When asked if they raised the demand for a separate Bodoland, the Rajya Sabha MP denied it, stating that it is not in their agenda and the purpose of the visit was to talk about the ongoing dialogue and the urgent need to restore peace in the area by silencing the guns.
The BNC was formed as a non-political platform to undertake peace initiatives and for overall development of the Bodoland area.
The conference is also trying to convince the separatist NDFB anti-talk faction chairman, Ranjan Daimary to come forward for peace parleys and also to ensure peace and unity among the Bodo people and also with those living in the area.
Meanwhile, in a Rajya Sabha reply, Minister of State for Home Affairs, M Ramachandran said that Assam Government has been asked to strengthen security in the vulnerable areas including gearing up of intelligence agencies and chalking out an operational action plan to deal with the situation.
AG report on NC Hills Council not final
GUWAHATI, Dec 1 – Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi has directed the State Chief Secretary to inspect whether the excess fund released to the NC Hills Autonomous Council without any budgetary provision was utilized genuinely or misapp-ropriated.
The Chief Secretary has been directed to submit the report by December 15.
He said an inquiry into the leak of the AG's confidential inspection report will also be ordered.
Gogoi, quoting from the AG report during a press conference here today, conceded that Rs 11.46 crore has been found to be given to the autonomous council without any budgetary sanction.
Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today sought to dismiss all the corruption charges leveled against him by the Opposition in the alleged Rs 1000-crore NC Hills scam claiming that no report by the Auditor General (AG) has so far unearthed ‘misappropriation of funds’ in the autonomous district.
“The AG report which the Opposition is referring to is not the final one. It is just the inspection report of North Cachar Hills (Dima Hasao) Autonomous Council that has sought the views of the Council and the State Government. “The report has only pointed to risk of misappropriation, but nowhere has it stated of any corruption," Gogoi said during a press conference here.
"We from our side will reply to all the queries of the AG report and the final report will be compiled only at a later stage," he stated.
It needs mention here that the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) has been mounting pressure demanding resignation of the Chief Minister alleging that excess money was given to NC Hills without necessary sanction.
"It is a fact that the corruption has taken place and if any irregularity is detected in the final report, it would be immediately referred to the CBI," Gogoi said.
Stating that such excess expenditure over budget happened on several occasions, Gogoi said excess payment of Rs 13,645 crore was recorded during AGP's second tenure between 1996-2001, which was later regularized by Gogoi's Government.
“If any irregularity is detected at any level, the guilty, be it any Minister or anybody, will not be spared," Gogoi said, adding that the discrepancy of Rs 27264.23 lakh between the records of the Hill Areas Department of Government of Assam and the North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council has been pointed out by the AG report, reconciliation process for which has already started.
He, however, said that the non-audit of NC Hills accounts by the AG after 2005-06 is a matter of concern.
Gogoi claimed that the Opposition was carrying out a ‘baseless, false and politically motivated’ campaign to malign him in the eyes of the people in view of the ensuing State Assembly elections.
The Chief Secretary has been directed to submit the report by December 15.
He said an inquiry into the leak of the AG's confidential inspection report will also be ordered.
Gogoi, quoting from the AG report during a press conference here today, conceded that Rs 11.46 crore has been found to be given to the autonomous council without any budgetary sanction.
Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today sought to dismiss all the corruption charges leveled against him by the Opposition in the alleged Rs 1000-crore NC Hills scam claiming that no report by the Auditor General (AG) has so far unearthed ‘misappropriation of funds’ in the autonomous district.
“The AG report which the Opposition is referring to is not the final one. It is just the inspection report of North Cachar Hills (Dima Hasao) Autonomous Council that has sought the views of the Council and the State Government. “The report has only pointed to risk of misappropriation, but nowhere has it stated of any corruption," Gogoi said during a press conference here.
"We from our side will reply to all the queries of the AG report and the final report will be compiled only at a later stage," he stated.
It needs mention here that the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) has been mounting pressure demanding resignation of the Chief Minister alleging that excess money was given to NC Hills without necessary sanction.
"It is a fact that the corruption has taken place and if any irregularity is detected in the final report, it would be immediately referred to the CBI," Gogoi said.
Stating that such excess expenditure over budget happened on several occasions, Gogoi said excess payment of Rs 13,645 crore was recorded during AGP's second tenure between 1996-2001, which was later regularized by Gogoi's Government.
“If any irregularity is detected at any level, the guilty, be it any Minister or anybody, will not be spared," Gogoi said, adding that the discrepancy of Rs 27264.23 lakh between the records of the Hill Areas Department of Government of Assam and the North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council has been pointed out by the AG report, reconciliation process for which has already started.
He, however, said that the non-audit of NC Hills accounts by the AG after 2005-06 is a matter of concern.
Gogoi claimed that the Opposition was carrying out a ‘baseless, false and politically motivated’ campaign to malign him in the eyes of the people in view of the ensuing State Assembly elections.
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