Back issues - July '04 - vedanti News/… · Web viewNews on 31st July '04 . ... Mithias Tudu,...

Back issues - July '04

News on 31st July '04

Cong, AGP MLAs have doubts on Games:

Guwahati: Cutting across party lines, Congress and AGP MLAs today expressed grave concern on whether the National Games would be held on schedule in November next year. The doubts, expressed by the members in the State Assembly today, stem from the slow pace of construction

Water rises again, CM seeks more floods funds:

Guwahati: After a respite of three days , the floods situation in Assam turned bad again with water levels of Kopilli,Jiabharali,Dhansiri, and Brahmaputra rising following heavy rains since early today.

Dutta faces oil scam fire:

Guwahati: AGP and Congress members had a slowdown in the house today over the controversial connection between the oil theft scam accused Putul Gogoi and the ASTC's Nandanban resort>AGP members charged that Transport Minister Anjan Datta had shown undue favours towards Putul Gogoi in the agreement on the resort.

Oust -Mayor drive hits GMC meets :

Guwahati: Despite the hue and cry raised by the opposition councilors of Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) demanding Mayors, Kushal Kumar Sharma 's resignation the much awaited general meetings of the GMC, convened to discuss the matters, failed to yield any results on July 28.However a spirited opposition has owed to carry on with its " crusade." A united joint forum, headed by independent councilor Jayanta Boro, formed can be seen as a step towards that end .

Assam boats lose out to bridges:

Guwahati: For a State with so many rivers and water bodies the acute shortage of boats is simple : like Bishnu Khargoria's character in Jahnu Barua's Xagoraloi Bahu Dur, Assam's boatmen are fighting a losing battle to new bridges, and rising maintenance costs. They cannot earn a livelihood through their boats.

BJP alleges discrimination in flood relief :

Guwahati: The Bharatiya Janata Party has alleged widespread corruption, discrimination and irregularities in distributing relief material among the flood victims. Mr V Satish , in charge of the North -East of the BJP, said here that corruption, nepotism have taken place in the name ofg giving relief materials to the flood affected areas of the district.

Misappropriation of relief materials alleged :

Goalpara: The water level of the Brahmaputra which has flowing much above the danger levels in past two waves of floods, thereby causing a veritable deluge in Goalpara district , has now started recedings, much to the relief of the people of the district.

The Flood waters affected 3.95 lakh of people directly inn the district. A Total of 43,215 hactares of land have been submerged, destroying standings crops on 25,750 hectares of

land,roughly valued at Rs 19.54 crore.

News on 30th July '04

Anjan offers to quit over oil controversy:

Guwahati: Declaring that he had been hurt by continuing allegations about hids involvement in the oil theft scam, State Minister Anjan Dutta today offered his resignation from the cabinet, the State Assembly and the primary membership of the congress. Dutta's emotional declaration in the floor of the House came amid a high-voltage debate among ruling and the opposition members

Dutta also announced that his resignation would hold for next three years, and that he would would not return to politics until he was given a clean chit by the agencies investing the oil theft scam. On the other hand AGP members Zoiinath Sharma, who had been locked in a face-off since yesterday with Dutta over the scam, also gave a statement to the speaker that if it was proved that he had accepted the 25 Lakh donation from the scam Kingpin Putul Gogoi, he also would resign from the house.

Dropped Ministers Keep mum in House as colleagues brave Opp:

Guwahati: Senior ministers who were dropped from the Gogoi cabinet during the recent downsizing exercise appears to be resenting their "demotion " even now, judging by their behaviour in the House.

On July 29, when the House was rocked by allegations and counter-allegations between the ruling and opposition members took the government to task over the scam, none of the seniors ex-ministers present, including Ardhendu Dey, Sarat Barkataky, Devanand Konwa, Pankaj Bora, Mithias Tudu, Nur jamal Sarkar and Etuwa Munda offered a single word or gesture in support of their partymen . This Indicated that the resentment seen earlier when these Congressmen were dropped from the ministry continues to run.

Kalita takes over charge :

Guwahati: New President of Assam Pradesh Committee (APCC), Bhubaneswar Kalita officially took over the reins of the party this on July 29 morning in a simple ceremony attended by office -bearers at Rajiv Bhawan.

Assembly passes Appropriation Bill:

Guwahati: The State Assembly today unanimously passed the Assam Appropriation (No IX) Bill, 2004 . The Object of the Bill is to authorize payment and appropriation of Rs 25544,09,06,000 from and out of the Consolidated Fund of the State services of the financial year ending on March 31,2005.

Govt denies Fraud on PRC GMC bodies seek probe :

Guwahati: The teacher's association of Guwahati Medical College and the hospital fraternity too joined forces with the Guwahati medical College Student's Union (GMCSU) and the Junior Doctors Associations (JDA) today in voicing its concern over alleged irregularities in the ongoing MBBS admission process. They also threw in an ultimatum of 24 Hours to the State independent probe into the matter, at the end of which they threatened to resort "democratic measures to get justice"

Water recede, but diarrhea takes its toll :

Guwahati: Flood related deaths in Assam have slot up to 207 with 15 more people dying of diarrhea, even as the flood situation began improving in the State.

According to reports received from the districts during the past 24 Hours, 12 people died of diarrhea in Barpeta districts while Dhubri, Goalpara and Nalbari districts accounted for one death each from this disease.

Mayoral crisis : PCC to broker deal

Guwahati: Close on the heels of the unprecedented adjournment of the Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) general body meeting yesterday over the Opposition's vociferous demanded for the Mayor's resignation, the State Congress leadership has decided to mediate between the warnings factions to bring about an amicable settlement to the present impasse.

Crop insurance has no takers:

Guwahati: The lakh of farmers in Assam whose crops were destroyed in the floods would had not faced so much misery if they had been covered by insurance schemes. However, despite the existence of a complete crop insurance set up, the attitude of the State Government and the insurance mechanism itself have prevented the system from being accepted by the farmers across the State.

Officials leave for Delhi meet:

Assam to raise Bhutan dam issue :

Guwahati: Assam government will raise the issue of the devastating floods faced by the State due to burst of a "natural dam" in the upstream of the Kurichu Power Project in a Bhutan at a high technical meeting to be held in New Delhi on August 2.


Assam moves center for NECMs to head NEC:

Guwahati:The State Government has sent a proposal to the center that the chairmanship of the North Eastern Council (NEC), now held by the Governor of the states in the region, should be held by Chief Ministers of the States, on a rotation basis , to help boost the Council's programmes .This was stated by State planning and Development Minister Himanta Biswa Sharma in the State Assembly on July 27.On the other hand ,the State Government has also appealed to the Council to consider Assam's floods as a regional problem in the next meeting of the council.

Advani: B'deshi migrants a serious security threat :

Guwahati: Former Deputy Prime Minister L .K Advani on July 27 warned that the Center and the Assam Government Policy on the issue of illegal immigrants in the State would pose multi-dimensional threats not only to the region ,but to the whole country as well. Referring to the controversy arising out of the statements made by Union Minister for Home, Sriprakash Jaiswal in Parliament recently on illegal migrants in Assam , Advani said that the Union Government lacks a clear-cut policy on illegal Bangladeshies in Assam , which has become a "human problem "for the entire country.

Assam floods a national problem, says Advani:

Guwahati: Leader of opposition and Former Deputy Prime Minister LK Advani , on July 27 admitted that Assam was the worst flood -affected State in country ,and lent his support to the cause to declare Assam floods as a national problem.

Addressing a press conference at the LGB International Airport this afternoon, after an aerial survey of six flood -hit districts inn the Brahmaputra Valley, Advani stressed on finding out a solution to the perennial problem by using the the expertise of the `Brahmaputra Board, which set up in 1982 for this purpose. After an aerial survey of Kamrup ,Morigoan.Nalbari and Barpeta Districts Advani said that it was the most devastating floods in Assam.

Hmar -Dimasa clashes: inquiry term extended

Guwahati: The State Government , through a notification , has extended the term inquiry of the Justice PC Phukan (retd) Commission of Inquiry into ethnic clashes between Hmars and Dimasas in North Cachar Hills, Karbi Anglong and Cachar districts for a further period of two months upto August 31.

Fake PRCs for MBBS seats in Assam?

Guwahati: The admission process to the undergraduate courses of the three medical colleges in Assam currently on at the Guwahati Medical College was on July 27 rocked by allegations of producing fake Permanent Resident Certificates (PRC) by candidates of doubtful origin.

Brindaban heads AGP PAC, Mahanta not in team:

Guwahati: The Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) on July 27 demanded adjournment of the budget session of the Assembly after the Budget is passed on July 29because of the grim flood situation in the State. The party has also formed a political affairs committee with Brindaban Goswami as president. However, Former party president and two time Chief Minister , Prafulla Kumar Mahanta has not been included in the committee .

State gears up to battle disease, flood scene improves:

Guwahati: With recession of water levels in Brahmaputra and all other major tributataries in the State, the overall flood situation in all districts of Assam except Cachar is improving.

IAS officers donate to CM's relief fund :

Guwahati: Twenty -Five IAS and non IAS Secretary ranks officers of the State have donated a day's salary to the Chief Minister's relief fund. Chief Secretary JP Rajkhowa had appealed to al officers to donate the money for the flood -affected people.

Rs 10per flood -hit baby for food :

Guwahati: The State Government seems to have finally opened its eyes to the acute scarcity of baby food among the flood victims. At a high levels meetings on July 27, State Chief Secretary J.P Rajkhowa decided that Rs 10 would be allocated for each infant among the flood victims per day.

Tea tribes quota for MBBS course: Gogoi orders probe

Guwahati: Bowing to the concern expressed by the Assam Tea Tribes Students 'Association (ATTSA) and the Tea Cell of the Pradesh Committee over alleged irregularities in the reserved quota for the tea tribes students at the three medical college in the State, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi has called for a departmental inquiry into the matter .It has been alleged for , out seven reserved quota seats -six for MBBS and one for BDS- in the three medical colleges, at least four students from the nio-tea tribes community have managed to get admission in the current session.

Reach out, help Assam 's flood -hit:Sister

Guwahati: The Missionaries of Charity, which come to symbolize compassion and care for the destitute and the dying under Mother Teresa ,have appealed to people of the state and the region to "remember" their flood -affected brothers, and to reach out and share with them. "The Sisters of the orders themselves have been working for flood relief and caring for victims in parts of the state


Assam seeks global aid for infants:

Guwahati: Admitting the Government's failure to provide adequate supply of baby food in the flood-affected areas in the State, Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Dr Bhumidhar Barman on July 26th appealed to the international organisations and NGOs to extend their help in meeting up to the required diet for the flood-affected infants.

Dr Bhumidhar Barman said that over 3 lakh infants have been affected by this year's unprecedented floods. He said that although the Health department has instructed all the DCs to provide barley and sabudana in the relief camps, they are not too sure if the ration is adequate enough to meet with the huge number of infants in such shelters.

The services of 150 doctors from the three Medical colleges of the State and 23,00 Government doctors have been engaged in the 1869 relief camps set up across the State to meet any exigency.

Flood waters recede, boat capsize toll rises to 19:

Guwahati: The overall flood situation in Assam on July 26th further improved with all the major rivers, including Brahmaputra and its tributaries, showing signs of receding in all the flood affected areas.

Officials said on July 26th that the death toll in the current wave of floods has risen to 169.

Army and police personnel are continuing with the search as some members of HPC relief team are reported to be still missing.

Breach of privilege against CM:

Guwahati:A breach of privilege motion against Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi was introduced in the House on July 26th by Independent member Prabin Deka. Supported by the AGP and BJP, the motion questioned how the Finance Department, which is under the Chief Minister, could pass a notification to execute changes in tax structure as proposed in the State Budget, before the Budget had even been passed .

While the opposition took the government to task over this, Speaker Prithvi Majhi, while not allowing the motion to be raised, asked the State Government to "avoid such incidents in future."

B'deshi issue:

AASU raps Centre for U-turn:

Guwahati:The All Assam Students' Union (AASU) continued with its tirade against Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi over his reported questioning of the validity of Union Minister of State for Home Sriprakash Jaiswal's recent statement in Parliament that 50 lakh illegal Bangladeshis are living in Assam, and expressed fear that Assam may soon become a part of greater Bangladesh if the Centre and the State Government continues to take a lackadaisical approach to the issue.

Naga incursions on:Rockybul:

Guwahati:In order to work out an amicable solution to the boundary disputes between Assam,Ngaland and Arunachal Pradesh, a decision had been taken at the intervention of the Centre, to set up a Boundary Commission.The rules and regulations governing this commission were to be suggested by the three state governments concerned, and the Assam Government has already submitted its views on the matter to the Supreme Court.This was revealed by State Home Minister Rockybul Hussain in a written reply to AGP leader Prafulla Kumar Mahanta in the House on July 26th.

"There have been border disputes between Assam and Nagaland on one hand and Assam and Arunachal Pradesh and Assam on the other, since 1988-89,"the Home Minister said.

Minister spent Rs 1.10 crore on travel expenses in 3 years:

Guwahati:Assam's ministers have run up travelling expenses of RS 1.10 crore in the last three years, besides the expenses incurred by Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi in his 74 trips ouyside the State, as well the country.These figures were stated by Minister Wajed Ali Choudhury, replying to a question by AGP member Jagdish Bhuyan in the State Assembly on July 26th.

Govt awards ex-gratia to missing inspector's family:

Guwahati:The State Government has awarded an ex-gratia payment of Rs 5 lakh to the family members of CISF inspector M M Dinkar, who went missing after his boat capsized during a relief operation in Nalbari district last week.The Government has also recommended Dinkar's name to the Centre for a bravery award.

Hasibur Rajman Centre's new counsel in Assam:

Guwahati:The Centre has appointed senior advocate Hasibur Rahman as Senior Central Government Standing Counsel in Assam, official sources said here on July 26th.Rahman has been appointed to conduct all Central Government cases except of IT and Railway departments and the cases against public officers while in the service of Central Government before the Guwahati High Court here.


Boat sinks in Morigaon,several dead:

10 bodies recovered,Delhi team in State:

Guwahati:At least 10 people have died and several others are missing after a row boat carrying over 50 people, including a flood relief team,capsized and sunk in the high flood waters of the Killing river in Morigaon district around 5pm on July 25th, when they were returning from the flood -hit Amlighat Basti to Amlighat.

Among others, the boat had as its passengers around 10 youths, all children of Hindustan Paper Corporation employees from the company's Jagiroad unit.Manager(Recovery),HPC,Moloy Thakur, who is supervising the rescue at the accident site told that 10 bodies have been recovered. They all have been taken to the HPC hospital.

On the other hand, a nine member Central team led by K S Sugathan, Joint Secretary, Ministry of if Home Affairs arrived in Guwahati on July 25thto make an spot assessment of the damage caused by the floods in the State.

7,500 jobs vacant in Assam Police,CI ops affected:

Guwahati:At a time when Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi persistently keeps on requesting the Centre for additional paramilitary forces to counter the renewed rise of insurgency In the State, highly placed State police sources here have revealed that the Assam Police has at present 7670 posts lying vacant.

Police sources admit that the lack of adequate police force has not only hampered the counter insurgency operations in State, but normal maintenance of law and order has also become a difficult task to an increasingly understaffed and overburdened police force.Till July 1,over 5486 posts of constable were lying vacant.

Naga areas' merger:NSCN seeks Delhi's clarification:

Guwahati:The Isak-Muiva faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-IM) on July 25th asked the Centre to clarify its stand on merging Naga-inhabited areas in the region to take forward the floundering peace process.

The next round of peace talks between the NSCN-IM led by guerrilla leader Isak Chinsi Swu and Thuingaleng Muivah and the Indian Government's chief interlocutor K. Padnabhaiah is scheduled to begin in Bangkok on July 26th.

The NSCN leaders are, however agree over the new Congress-led Government in New Delhi mentioning in its common minimum programme of governance its commitment to preserve the territorial boundaries of state in the North-east.

Assam anti-AIDS drive affected:CAG:

20 out of 27 districts lack modern treatment facilities:

Guwahati:The alarming rise in detection of HIV positive cases in Assam has forced the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India to observe that the Assam State AIDS Control Society (ASACS) has lacked efficiency in perspective planning of targeted intervention projects , modernised treatment facilities and non-assessment of impact information, education and communication campaign, that have hit the aim and objectives of the National AIDS Control Programme in the State.

'Jail bharo' movement against AP Governor:

Guwahati:Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) will launch a "Jail Bharo" agitation soon to press for their demands for the removal of Arunachal Pradesh Governor B D Pandey and imposition of President's rule in the State. APCC spokesman Sanjay Takam said that they had informed Mrs. Sonia Gandhi in details about the present situation in Arunachal.

Crack CISF men on job, another squad coming:

Guwahati:A team of highly specialized search and rescue squad of Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) has been battling the vagaries of nature in lower Assam to provide flood-relief materials and medical care to the displaced victims .Only last week, they lost an officer during such a rescue operation in Nalbari district.

The 40 member disaster management team, officially termed, Collapsed Structure Search and rescue and Medical First Responders, arrived in the State in batches from July 14th.The team led by Deputy Commandant Z Zuo, also includes a doctor, along with and brought search-and-rescue equipment including rubberised boats, ropes,life-jackets,generators and medicines.

Chamber: food stock enough, don't panic

Guwahati: Even though road communication in the State has been severely disrupted by the current wave of floods, the Kamrup Chamber of Commerce (KCC) ,on July 23rd said that there is adequate stock of essential commodities and there is no cause for panic.

According to sources, there is no shortage of supply of essential commodities to the city." If the rail link is not disrupted , there will be no scarcity for at least a month." he said. Sources also said two rakes of grocery items from Delhi have reached the city on July 23rd.The carrying capacity of a rake is 25,000quintol.Another consignment of 80,000 tins of mustard oil is scheduled to reach Guwahati soon.

Highways flooded, toll rises to 130:

Guwahati: Assam's flood fury continued unabated on July 23rd and its tributaries flowing above the danger level throughout the state and showing no signs of receding, official sources said.

The death toll in the current wave of floods which began on June 24th has risen 130 and affected more than a crore population in 26 of the 27 districts.

National Highways remain overtopped in most places disrupting road communication while link between Lower and Upper Assam remains severed.


Epidemic breaks in Jorhat:

Jorhat:At a time when floods have wrought havoc in the rural areas of the district, including Majuli,malaria and encephalitis are spreading in an epidemic form in the district.

Official report said that the death toll rose to ten between July 7 to 21. However, unofficial

reports say that the toll might be much higher.

According to the Joint Director of Health,Kakojan, Titabor,Nakachari,Deberapur and Bagchung are the worst affected areas.

A group of medics have visited different areas and medicines have been provided to the affected people.Blood sample testes have also been conducted.

23 villages affected in Karbi Anglong:

Floods kill three, water level receding:

Diphu:The hill district of Karbi Anglong has been hit by unprecedented floods this year in which three people, including a woman and a child, died.

The worst hit areas include Kheroni, Sildubi, Jengkha,Taradubi, Satgaon,Tumpreng,Dayangmukh, in Hamren subdivision, Rangbang Ghat in Bokajan subdivision.

The flood waters have completely submerged 23 villages affecting more than 25,000 people.Property worth several crores of rupees has been destroyed in the floods.Flood relief is being provided by the district administration and the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council to the affected people.

Dibrugarh DC urges organisations for help:

Dibrugarh: A special meeting of NGOs, leading citizens, heads of government offices and organisations, bankers and other voluntary organisations was held on July 22nd at the conference hall of DC office.The meeting discussed at length about the relief operation for the flood victims in the district.

Mr Shamsher Singh,Additional Deputy Commissioner (Relief) addressing the meeting Spoke in detail about the relief and the rescue operation in the district.

The meeting also acknowledged suggestions offered by the leading citizens for providing relief to the flood-affected people and meet any challenge if there is another spate of floods.

90%of KNP areas under flood waters:

Golaghat:Fresh areas of Kaziranga National Park have been submerged by flood waters and a large number of wild animals have fallen prey to the calamity.

Almost 90 percent areas are still under waters and wild animals have taken shelter on high lands. Forest officials have been tirelessly working to safeguard the animals.

Indo-Uk exchange prog: Assam figures in UGC list:

Guwahati:The University Grants Commission (UGC) has selected Assam, along with the southern state of Kerala, for the Indo-Uk exchange programme on higher education. To convert knowledge into wealth, share new ideas and provide a platform for deliberations into numerous innovative concepts that can be linked with higher education in the 21st century, the UGC and the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE), the apex funding body for higher education in the United Kingdom, had agreed to collaborate on

higher education at a high level meeting held in February, 2004 in New Delhi.

We shall bring party, Govt closer: Kalita

Guwahati:New Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president Bhubaneswar Kalita on July 23rd admitted that there was a 'distance' between the party and the Government and called for greater coordination and communication between Janata Bhavan and Rajiv Bhavan to breach this divide and strengthen the party's organizational structure.

Expressing his happiness on donning the mantle of the PCC chief, the veteran Congress leader said that his immediate job would be to improve the communication between party workers and Congress legislators and urge the Congress leaders in the Government to carry out the party's organizational functions as well." Greater interaction would lead to greater understanding, "Kalita said, while talking at Rajiv Bhavan on July 23rd morning.


123 facing trial in kingdom:

22 Bhutanese found guilty of aiding ULFA:

Guwahati: At least 22 Bhutanese nationals have been found guilty of aiding and abetting Indian separatists and 123 more are facing trial on the same count in the Himalayan kingdom,.

Bhutan's Government-run newspaper Kuensel, quoting Prime Minister Lyonpo Jigmi Y Thinley said the penalties for the 22 people would be decided by the judiciary.

He said among the suspects and those convicted on charge of conspiring with Indian Militants were eight civil servants, 36 business people ,and 94 farmers, besides some government and private road construction workers.

Roads, bridges battered, Rs 470 cr needed:

All- party flood relief committees soon:

Gumi bundh gives way, hundreds displaced:

Guwahati: The flood situation in the State continued to remain grim on July 22nd, with road and communication networks snapped. The death toll climbed to 112, while in the worst affected district of Morigaon, the electricity supply system has collapsed, according to officials.

All vehicular traffic has been suspended between Jagiroad and Bebejia following topping over of the NH-37 between Deosal,Nellie,Dighaliati and Phulaguri areas by the Killing,Kopili and Kolong rivers.

The state government has released nearly Rs 74 crore to the administrations in the flood-affected districts. The Government agreed on July 22nd to set-up all-party relief committees from block levels upto State level. The proposal was mooted by the AGP at an all-party meeting here attended by the Chief Minister ,as well as leaders of the BJP,AGP,CPI,CPM and other parties.

The Palashibari-Gumi embankment, which was breached by the Brahmaputra 40km west of the city, is yet another example of the inadequate flood-control measures of the Government in the past. Thousands of people from more than 15 villages in the area have had to flee their homes after surging waters breached the embankment around 5pm on July 21st at Simina.

Kalita new PCC president:

Guwahati: Congress president Sonia Gandhi on July 22nd appointed Bhubaneswar Kalita as president of the Assam Congress Committee (APCC).Kalita said that he would strive to strengthen the party and added that it was time to help the authorities in relief and rescue operation in the flood hit areas of the State.

Assam Power Workers' Union calls for healthy solution to power crisis:

'Reforms must have human face'

Guwahati: State power sector workers have slammed the ongoing plans to reform the sector , calling for improvements with a human face. They have also charged that the current framework splitting up the ASEB would lead to increase in power supply rates, affecting consumers.

The Assam State Power Workers' Union on July 22nd joined forces with other workers' union to discuss proposed reforms in the power sector and called for a "healthy solution "to the current electricity crisis gripping Assam.

Rebel councilors may move court to oust Mayor:

Guwahati:The Independent and AGP councilors of Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) on July 22nd threatened to move court to oust Mayor Kushal Kr Sharma to make the GMC "corruption free and more efficient."

The dissident had demanded a "requisition meeting" within July 26 for the Mayor to prove his majority, said that they would go to court if Sharma does not quit within the stipulated time.


Red alert, Red River enters city:

Floods de-link upper and lower Assam:

Guwahati: For the first time in 16 years, flood waters of the Brahmaputra on July 21st swept into vast areas of the State's capital city, forcing residents to desert their homes and compelling authorities to sound a red alert and ask the Army to to remain on standby.Meanwhile ,communication likes and roadways from the city to upper and lower Assam remained critically affected, while the death toll has climbed to 86 , according to officials.

In Guwahati,the Brahmaputra has touched the 51.34 meters, mere centimeters away from overtaking the record high flood level of 1988.Flood waters swept further inland in the Noonmati and Uzanbazar areas,whereas traffic was affected along the MG road with the river entering Fancy Bazar.The Bharalu continued to enter homes in the Bharalumukh and Shantipur area.Affected citizens have sought refuge in hotels and other accomodation

elsewhere.

Floods put trains out of gear:

Guwahati:Rail communication between Guwahati and Lumding section of North East Frontier Railway remains disrupted due to heavy flooding of rail tracks with major trains cancelled and rescheduled.

New power tariff out,Rs22 crore extra for ASEB:

Guwahati:The Assam Electricity Regulatory Commission(AERC) on July 21st announced new tariff rates across the board for all slabs , from domestic to industrial electricity consumers.The new tariffs are 2.67percent higher than the existing rate, and while they are expected to net an additional Rs 22 crore to the ASEB, the Regulatory Commission authorities have assured that middle-class domestic consumers will not be affected.

Tax rollback if it serves State, says Gogoi:

Guwahati:Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi announced on July 21st in the State Assembly that his government might consider rolling back the proposed tax on biscuits ,poultry products,bamboo and some other items if imposition on cess on these items harms the interest of the State.

Replying to the Budget discussion in the House on July21st,Gogoi termed his budget as a development oriented budget with a definite direction.He said that the Government has levied tax on the class of citizens who can afford it.

Minority cell wants white paper on foreigners:

Adjournment on B'deshis:Speaker reserves ruling:

Guwahati:Assam Assembly Speaker Prithbi Majhi on July 21st reserved his ruling on an adjournment motion raised by the members of the Opposition Asom Gana Parishad(AGP)and Bharatiya Janata Party(BJP) to discuss the issue arising out of Union Minister of State for Home,Sriparakash Jaiswal's recent statement in Parliament that there are 50 lakh illegal Bangladeshi migrants in Assam.

Both Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and AGP leader Brindaban Goswami have agreed on the need to update the National Register of Citizens (NRC) to include all the people and their relatives who came to Assam before March 25,1971.

'NE colleges fail to tap UGC schemes'

Teachers have to be more professional: UGC vice chairman:

Guwahati:University Grants Commission (UGC) Vice-chairman, Prof Rajsekharan Pillai on July 21st said that colleges in the North -Eastern region have failed to exploit the various UGC schemes to strengthen higher education in the region and urged the region's teaching fraternity for greater professionalism to improve the standard of higher education.He was attending a workshop on "Towards Focused Development of Colleges in NE Region," organized by the North-east regional office of the UGC here on July 21st.

The UGC gas envisaged new objectives for higher education in the region by strengthening the self-learning process among students and greater professionalism

among teachers and students , the UGC vice-chairman said.

GMCH, ASACS differ on 'AIDS doctors':

Guwahati:Echoing global activities' claim that the ratio of AIDS/HIV patients and trained doctors in India is a mere 5000:1, Principal-cum-Chief Superintendent of Guwahati Medical College Hospital (GMCH) ,Dr M M Deka ,admitted that "there are no specialist doctors to treat this dreaded disease in Assam at present." This admission comes at a time when the number of HIV positive patients is rising at an "alarming rate" in this North-Eastern state.

"At present, only general physicians are tackling his disease. "Deka said. However the Assam State AIDS Control Society (ASACS) does not agree with Deka's views.

News on 23rd July '04

PM moots task force to tackle floods:

Gogoi seeks Rs1,200cr:

Guwahati: Indicating the possible initiation of pro-active measures by the Centre to solve the perennial flood problem in Assam,Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh said on July 2oth that the calamity had "defied solution for far too long", and assured all co-operation and assistance from the Centre to the State government in combating the calamity.

Dr Singh was in the state on 20th July amidst a tight security blanket thrown up for his one day visit. He made a one hour aerial survey of the flood-affected areas and reviewed the current situation with the Chief Minister and his senior cabinet colleagues.

The State Government has requested the Centre to release at least Rs1,200crore as interim Central Grant to deal with the post-flood situation in Assam.The State Government has also estimated the cost of restoration and renovation of infrastructure and property damaged by the floods at nearly Rs3,000crore.

PM's assurance on B'desh influx:

Guwahati:Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on July 20th said that he would take into the controversy regarding the presence of illegal Bangladeshi migrants in Assam. Interacting with media persons at the LGB International Airport here on July 20th afternoon ,Dr Singh, when his attention was drawn to this issue, said,"The Chief Minister has drawn my attention to it.Once I go back to Delhi I will look into it."

Manipur situation difficult:PM

Guwahati:Prime M,inister Manmohan Singh , on July 20th said a very difficult situation was prevailing in Manipur in the wake up of the alleged killing of Manorama Devi by the 17th Assam Rifles and large-scale protest over the incident.

He assured that law would take its own course and the guilty for the July 11 killing in Imphal would be punished.

Opp walkouts mark House meet:

Guwahati: The second day of the Budget session of the Assam Assembly saw angry ruling and opposition members engaged in heated exchanges on the flood situation

prompting the Speaker to make an emotional appeal to the members to preserve the dignity of the House.The day also saw two walkouts by the Opposition.

During Zero Hour, a chastened Opposition raised the issue of the grave flood situation in the state, especially after it received much flake from media for staring off the Assembly session with the oil-theft scam issue, ignoring the more immediate flood problem of the state.

Govt steps on pvt schools in August:

Guwahati: Succuming to opposition pressure on the exorbitant amounts of fees being charged by the private schools who are housing classes in unplanned buildings not suitable fir kids,etc.Assam Urban Area Development Minister Hem Prakash Narayan announced on July 2oth in the Assam Assembly that a circular would be issued within 11th August to debar the private schools from fixing tuition fees on their own, constructing unplanned school buildings, enhancing fees etc.

ATC loss put at Rs206 cr, House told:

Guwahati:The Assam Government told on July 2oth that the total loss of Assam Tea Corporation(ATC) has been registered at Rs206.25 crore. Replying to a question on July 2oth,Transport Minister Anjan Dutta , who has been entrusted to reply to industry related questions, in a written answer , said that production in the ATC gardens were 63.94 lakh kg,59.22lakh kg66.86lakh kg,62.11lakh kg,70.88lakh kg,61.64lakh kg,59.15lakh kg,17.01lakh kg,and 33.91lakh kg respectively during the years 1994-'95to 2003-'04.

Declare Assam a tribal State:Opp

Guwahati: The State Assembly on July 2oth discussed the issue arising out of Government's move to provide the Sixth Schedule status to the Missing, Rabha and Tiwa communities in the state. AGP member Dilip Kumar Saikia demanded a round table conference to remove the mis trust among the communities on the Sixth Schedule issue and said that Assam should be declared a tribal State for the uniform socio-economic development of all the ethnic groups.

Sonia to visit Assam on July 23:

Guwahati:United Progressive Alliance (UPA) convener and Congress president Sonia Gandhi will pay a one day visit to Assam on July 23rd to make on the spot assessment of the devastating flood situation of the state.

TADA court reserves judgment on Anjali abduction:

Guwahati:The TADA court here , on July 20th reserved its judgment till July 31 on abduction of Anjali Daimari, Subodh Daimari, Jones Mohalia and Jerry Mohalia who were later booked under the TADA, for their reported links with outlawed Bodo Security Force.

News on 22nd July '04

CM presents Rs 3,138 cr deficit Budget sans opp:

Guwahati:Introducing some new elements in the fiscal framework,Tarun Gogoi's Rs3,138.5crore deficit Budget for the state for 2004-2005 presented on 19th July ,stresses on agriculture and infrastructure development. It also looks at damage control measures following the floods and the condition of the tea industry. Whereas the agriculture sector

and the tea industry witness some relief, tax has been hiked on certain consumable items, liquor and construction material.

Presenting the Budget in the House on July 19th, amidst the absence of AGP and BJP members following a boycott, Gogoi announced a proposal to exempt the flood effected people from payment of land revenue for the current year.

The salaries ,wages and pensions head of the expenditure under the Consolidated Fund for this year will be 25percent ,11percent less than earlier. Expenditure under debt servicing will be 27percent,while development expenditure has been increased by 25percent to stand at 45percent .Non-development expenditure has gone down to 2percent,while other administrative expenses have been pegged at 1 percent.

Several new items have been brought under the entry text net such as bamboo,x-ray films,photographic paper,elevator parts,livestock,aluminium conductors etc.

Bedlam in House over oil scam,opp walks out:

Guwahati:The State Assembly today witnessed a furore with heated debate between the ruling Congress members and the Opposition led by AGP and BJP members.The unruly exchanges forced the speaker to adjourn proceedings for ten minutes, as the unrelenting Opposition held up proceedings for nearly 40 minutes.

The uproar resulted when AGP's Dilip Kumar Saikia wanted to know about the multicrore oil theft scam during question hour.The Opposition members also wanted to know what actions had been taken against the officials and minister whose involvement in the scam had been hinted at the Minister Anjan Dutta's letter to the Chief Minister.AGP member Zoiinath Sharma demanded the formation of a House Committee to probe the scam. Congress members responded that since the matter was already in the hands of CBI , there was no question of formation of a House Committee.This resulted in an uproar with the treasury benches pitted against the opposition.

FINER welcomes proposals:

Gogoi budget is anti-people:Opp

Guwahati:Assam's main opposition parties , the AGP and the BJP, have slammed the Gogoi Governments Annual Budget for the State ,presented on july 19th,terming in an "anti-poor"document.Meanwhile ,the BDLP has resented the low share of budgetary allocation for the BTAD."Although the Chief Minister has announced some measures for agriculture and other sectors, the budget does not hold any good news for the public. The direction taken by the Budget is anti-poor, and the measures are only for the benefit of the rich class."charged AGP leader Brindaban Goswami.

BJP legislature party party chief Bimalangshu Roy was equally critical of the Budget.

On the other hand , BDLP leader Pramila Rani Brahma , while welcoming the state government's move to increase revenue to develop the state , decried the low budgetary allocation for the BTAD.

PM arrives on July 20th,tight security in city:

Guwahati:Prime Minister Monmohan Singh's brief , maiden visit to Assam on 20th July after assuming the country's top office, has put the security agencies in the highest state of alert .In view of the recent insurgent activities carried out by ULFA , the security

agencies are not taking any chances.

CPM demands all-party meet:

Guwahati:The CPI(M) has demanded to the state government to hold an all-party meeting to discuss the devastating flood situation in the state and to take a decision demanding before Centres to declare the floods and erosion problems of Assam as a national problem immediately.

Liquor traders criticize levies:

Guwahati:The All Assam Bonders' Association has criticized the state budget provision ,which was presented by chief minister Tarun Gogoi at the State Assembly on july 19th.

Addressing a press conference here on July 19th, president Bhupindar Singh said that levies like enhancement of gallonage fees and sales tax on liquor would increase infiltration of stocks from the neighbouring states. He suggested to the government to adopt a uniform levy structure for the entire north-eastern region.The Assam Government should take the initiative in this respect so as to increase excise revenue by stopping infiltration.

Polio specter haunts refugee camps:

Guwahati:The heavy crowding of flood- effected people in relief camps in the lower Assam districts of Goalpara and Dhubri has fuelled fears of resurgence of polio cases in Assam. Despite the progress achieved by the Pulse Polio campaigns in previous years , the presence of the wild polio virus had been noted since a large number of the target age-group of children had not been sufficiently vaccinated.

1 km of Ril track under water:

Guwahati:Submerged railway tracks between the Jammunamukh and Jogijan railway stations under Lumding Division have forced NF Railway authorities on 19th July to cancel, short terminate, regulate and reschedule a few trains along that route in view of the safety of the traveling public, an NF Railway press release stated.


OIL to have exclusive force of 2,500 men:

OIL,NRL sign gas deal in New Delhi:

Dulaijan:The Numaligarh Refinery Ltd.(NRL) will receive 1MMSCMD of natural gas from Oil India Limited(OIL) for a period of 15 years.A memorandum of understanding(MoU) to this effect was signed by S Behuria,Chairman of NRL, and CMD, BPCL, and R K Dutta, CMD, OIL at a function in New Delhi recently, whereby it was decided that the gas will be delivered at Duliajan and will be transported by Assam Gas Co. Ltd. from OIL's off-take point at Duliajan.

NRL is also discussing with Assam Gas Co. Ltd. for finalization of the transportation of natural gas from Duliajan to Numaligarh.

The Group General Manager of OIL JK Talukdar told that the company has achieved a terminal production rate close to 3.20 MT in crude oil production and 51,510 tonnes of LPG

production.Talukdar said that on the corporate social responsibility front, OIL has entered into a joint venture with State Institute of Rural Development (SIRD) for training and facilitation of nearly 600 self-help groups to take up agro based activities. He also said that the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) , currently guarding the company's installation would be replaced by a new force with a strength of about 2,500 .

On the issue of OIL's agreement with Reliance Industries for supply of gas for the proposed Assam Gas Cracker project, Talukdar said that now OIL would supply the already- committed gas to Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL), which has agreed to take up the cracker project.

OIL's plan to enhance its stake in NRL , including its marketing network to 51percent is currently under active consideration of the Centre, with only formalities left.

ISI, Algerian, Sudanese ultras boosting Assam insurgency:

Silchar: When the then chief Minister of Assam, Mr Prafulla Kumar Mahanta, Stated on November 6, 2000 in the State Assembly that the police "has gathered sufficient evidence to prove that ISI of Pakistan has been actively involved in subversive activities in promoting fundamentalism and militancy among local youths and also using some madrassas and mosques", many eyebrows were raised but without any concerted voice for foolproof action. Now comes the latest evidence about a Bangladeshi, identified as Farooque Ahmed Talukdar (20) of Baralekha in Moulvi Bazar who crossed over this side in December, 2003, enrolled himself as a student in Ratanpur Koumi Madrassa in Hailakandi district in January to complete a postgraduate level course in Hadis. In fact, Farooque was arrested by Hailakandi Police on a tip-off recently, but to avoid the hassle of legal proceedings, he was handed over to the BSF for push-back. Intelligence sleuths of BSF, sensing something foul, thought it wise to grill him who came out with a story that could but raise many intriguing questions about our security system and Intelligence apparatus. According to his confession, Farooque was acting at the behest of ISI operatives based in his country as an active member of Chatra Jamiat, a student wing of the Jamiat-e-Islam of Bangladesh. He revealed that there were at least four madrassas close to Indian border where besides ISI, Algerian and Sudanese militant leaders have been "imparting training on fundamentalism and terrorism".


Opp wants CM booked, onus on Union Minister:

Guwahati:The major opposition parties in the state has taken a more strident posture against the state Government and has demanded the Chief Minister's resignation after he stirred a hornet's nest by challenging the recent statement made by Minister of State for Home ,Prakash Jaiswal in the Parliament about the presence of 50 lakh illegal Bangladeshi immigrants in Assam.

AGP general secretary, Hitendra Nath Goswami said that by writing to the Prime Minister and Union Home Minister seeking clarification to the figures stated by Jaiswal in the Parliament recently , the Chief Minister gas questioned the authenticity of the statement made in the floor of the Parliament , and by extension , has challenged the authority of the supreme institution of the country.The AGP also took a major swipe at the Chief Minister. The state BJP too attacked the Government on similar lines and termed the Chief Minister's letters to the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister as "anti-national" aimed with an eye to appease the Bangladeshi people.

AASU:Center's statement has vindicated our stand

Guwahati:The All Assam Students' Union said on July 18th that the Congress-led Union Government's own admission to the presence of 50 lakh illegal Bangladeshi immigrants in Assam has vindicated its six -year long Assam movement against the illegal influx from across the border, and has threatened to launch a similar movement if the State and the Centre did not detect and deport these illegal migrants within a certain time frame.

Loss put at Rs 2,000cr

Fresh floods in Tinsukia,IAF to rescue

Guwahati:The Assam Government on 18th july estimated the overall flood damage so far at around Rs 2,000 crore even as fresh flood in Tinsukia district has marooned thousands of people ,forcing the authorities to seek the help of the Indian Air Force for relief and rescue.

BSNL moves Assam for tight security net:

Guwahati:Assam Circle ,Chief General Manager B K Sinha has taken up the issue of the recent attacks on Chabua and Tengakhat telephone exchanges in Dibrugarh district by ULFA with the State Government , and has demanded armed security cover for all vulnerable telecom installation in the State.

Missing, others for council under tribal belts and blocks:

Guwahati:The Missing, Tiwa and Rabha communities have demanded of the authorities to create their respective autonomous councils under the provisions of the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution on the basis of the existing tribal belts, blocks and the sub-plan areas in Assam. The State Government has assured to provide autonomy to the Missing,Tiwa and Rabha communities under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.

State Congress issues whip:

Guwahati: The State Congress has issued a whip to all its MLA s to attend the rescheduled Assembly session from july 19th.This budget session was postponed on july 12, the first day ,due to devastating floods in the state.The latest whip has been issued especially since a very few Congress legislators attended the first day of the budget session.

Medieval settlement found in Jorhat:

Guwahati:The State Archeological Department has explored a historical site at Dumarbari Pathar in Rangdoi area near Jorhat.Official sources said that here today a team of experts from the Department had visited the site and conducted field work on registration of antiquities.

Assam budget presentation live on DD:

Guwahati: Doordarshan Kendra, Guwahati would telecast live the presentation of the annual budget in Assam for 2004-2005 from 10am on 20th july.Tarun Gogoi Assam Chief Minister ,who also holds the Finance portfolio, would present the budget at the Assam Legislative Assembly.


Flood fury in State far from over; Water crisis in Nagaon, no pay for absentee

doctors:

Nagaon: The Flood scene is going from bad to worse in Nagaon district. Surging waters from the Brahmaputra, the Kopili, the Barapani, the Jamuna and the Kolong rivers, which flow through the heart of the district, have inundated 465 villages and affected more than 5,88,000 people in the region. There is a major drinking water crisis in the flood-hit areas despite the fact relief operations are going on in full swing. Meanwhile, salaries of the Joint Director of the Nagaon Health Department, Usharanjan Bhattacharyya, Singimary Primary Health Centre doctor Arati Hazarika and Simonabasti hospital doctor Kalpana Gogoi have been withheld due to dereliction of duty. A departmental inquiry against another senior physician, Mukut Goswami is also on for allegedly disobeying official orders.


OIL's LPG plant shut down: Assam alert after serial bombings, more raid feared:

Guwahati: The State, reeling under massive floods, was rocked by a string of powerful and almost simultaneous bomb blast and grenade attacks by suspected ULFA militants on July 15 in the night. The target of the blasts, in which more than six people were injured, were public sector oil and natural gas installations and telecommunications centres in upper Assam and Bongaigaon. On the other hand, two people were injured in a bomb explosion in the city in night on July 15. Two persons were injured when a bomb exploded in a public toilet at Machkhowa at 8:30 on July 15 in the night. Investigation into the blast is on and no arrests have been made so far, according to police officials. Six persons were injured when suspected ULFA men lobbed a grenade at a police patrol at 8 p.m. near the Civil Hospital. The injured included two policemen and a Home Guard. Upper Assam witnessed another bomb blast at nearly 1 a.m. last night, at the telephone exchange of the BSNL on Chabua College Road in Chabua. The impact of the powerful blast destroyed BSNL on Chabua College Road in Chabua. The impact of the powerful blast destroyed BSNL property worth nearly Rs 10 lakh, although no casualties have been reported.

PM to visit deluged 'home':

5 doctors suspended, State moves UNICEF:

Guwahati: To make a first-hand assessment of the devastating flood situation in Assam, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will pay a day-long visit to the State on July 20. This has been confirmed by official sources here. On the other hand, the State Government has suspended five doctors so far in Nalbari and Kamrup districts due to negligence of duty. Health Commissioner Biren Dutta told that Maniram Baro, Padmini Mahanta, SK Das, Brajendra Nath Sarma and Dipankar Gogoi have been suspended for their negligence of duty in the flood-hit areas.

AASU: Delhi can give us oil fields for flood funds:

Guwahati: The AASU on July 16 urged the Centre to declare floods as a national problem immediately, and simultaneously to solve the problem. Moreover, the students' body has suggested that is the Centre pleads inability to provided the right to the oil and natural gas fields of the State, so that they can manage the funds for flood control on their own.

More rains in 48 hrs: MET

Guwahati: While Assam as well as vast areas of the north-eastern region are reeling under severe floods, the Regional Meteorological Centre here has forecast more rainfall in the entire region in the next 48 hours.

Waterlogged city, town planners' nightmare:

Guwahati: while Assam is grappling with floods, residents in the city continued to combat extensive waterlogging and overflowing waters from the Bharalu and other rivers. While residents vented their ire on the authorities for not finding a solution to the perennial waterlogging problem, architects and town planning experts have suggested urgent remedial measures on the entire face of the city, in order to solve this problem permanently.

Disaster experts arrive in Assam:

Guwahati: A team of para military divers and experts in disaster management has flown into flood-hit Assam for rescue and relief operations, officials said here on July 16. The 20 member team of experts belonging to the Disaster Management wing of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) arrived here from Hyderabad.


Scarcity of essentials, epidemics add to woes; Demand for declaring flood a national problem raised again; No let-up in Assam flood scene: Declare flood as a national problem: NESO, AASU

Guwahati: The North Eastern Students' Organisation (NESO) and the All Assam Students' Union (AASU) have faxed a message to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to declare flood and erosion as a national problem and find a permanent solution to the twin problem. The two student bodies said that the floods render lakhs of Assamese people homeless, destroy standing crops and ruin the state economy every year. They also asked the State Government to provide adequate relief to the flood-hit people. Dr Samujjal Bhattacharya, president, NESO, Mr NSN Lotha, general secretary, NESO, Mr Prabin Boro, president, AASU and Mr Amiyo Kumar bhuyan, general secretary, AASU, in a message, said that the people of Assam will not be assured by the political parties. The need of the hour is a permanent system to combat flood and erosion, they said. The student leaders said that the Central Government must recognise flood as a national problem under the provision of Clause 7 of the Assam Accord. As the Congress party is ruling both at the Centre and the State, there is no way that this cannot be done, they added. The press release also alleged that the Central Government has not accorded any importance to the flood problem of the State and is only interested in exploiting the natural resources. Such discriminatory behaviour on the part of the Centre against the State and the north-eastern region is not acceptable, it added.

Army seeks information, opens helpline across State; ULFA eyeing Bhutan again:

Guwahati: The ULFA is trying to re-start its camps in Bhutan after they were destroyed by the Royal Bhutan Army (RBA) in massive operations late last year. Several top-rung ULFA leaders have already entered the Himalayan kingdom and have set about re-organising logistics and cadre strength, according to Intelligence sources. Meanwhile, as a part of its efforts to seek the co-operation of the people in combating militancy, the Army has set up helplines in upper and lower Assam.

Flood toll rises to 34:

Guwahati: The flood situation continued to grim in Assam as 24 districts were submerged affecting 50 lakh people as a central health team toured the affected areas. Twenty-four of the 27 districts in the State have been affected in the worst-ever flood which has so far claimed 34 lives, official sources said. Meanwhile a five-member central team of health

officials on July 14 toured the worst-affected lower Assam areas to take stock of the situation.

Assam river embankments have crossed lifespan:

Guwahati: The Water Resources Department has declared the entire 4,459-km long embankment system in the state as vulnerable. All the embankments have crossed their life-span more than two decades back. Though the Department has repeatedly been informing the matter to the successive governments, due to paucity of fund and lack of interest on the part of political leaders, no measures have been taken so far. Only some damage repairing work gets done every year.

Aids bomb: 23 HIV + in GMCH tests in 5 months:

Assam may have sounded the AIDS alert sometime back, but the detection of 23 HIV positive alert sometime back, but the detection of 23 HIV positive cases out of 6032 blood samples tested in the Guwahati Medical College Hospital (GMCH) alone during the first five months of the current year has led to alarm bells ringing. However, the confirmation tests for the positive samples are awaited, GMCH sources said.

AASU, NESO: congress pro-Bangladeshi:

Guwahati: Renewing its invective against the Congress, the All Assam Students' Union (AASU) and North East Students' Organisation(NESO) on July 15 termed the latest move by the Congress-led UPA Government to reverse the Centre's earlier stand on the repeal of the IM(DT) Act as "anti-Assamese" and "pro-Bangladeshi" and said it only "exposed the true colours of the Congress party".


Hillside resident urged to vacate homes; Landslide havoc in city; 12 die, 16 hurt:

Guwahati: Twelve people were killed and 16 injured in massive landslides in six different places in the city, following torrential overnight rains. Meanwhile, the district administration has ordered an immediate evacuation of hillside settlements on July 15, even as normal life in the city was hit by waterlogging and inundation by the Bharalu river. Five persons were killed when loose soil and boulders fell down on six houses in the Durga Sarobar hillside area at 1:30 a.m. on July 15. Singhasan Paswan (45) and his daughter Puja Kumari Paswan (12) died when they were flung by the impact of the landslide 200 metres to the road at the bottom of the hill. Biplab Thakuria (20), Rabin Kalita (22) and Abani Sarma (32), who were outside clearing a passage after the torrential rains, were buried alive. Their bodies were recovered by the local residents, Army and the police in the afternoon on July 15. Four injured persons were rescued later, according to officials.

Assam floods a national problem soon, says Dasmunshi:

Guwahati: Union Water Resources Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunshi said that the Centre has already started the paperwork to declare flood as a national problem and a Cabinet decision to that effect is expected by December this year.

Infrastructure damage by floods out at Rs 398 crore:

Guwahati: The extensive damage to infrastructure caused by this seasons's

unprecedented floods will cost the State an estimated Rs 398 crore as permanent repair works expenditure. PWD authorities, however, say that Rs 72 crore will do for now as emergency repair work of all the damaged roads, bridges and buildings all across the State. About 2,000 km of roads have been damaged and over 23 bridges have been washed away so far. And as the flood scene shows no signs of a respite, this figure is expected to shoot up, they say.

ACMS threatens stir for 'rights':

Guwahati: If no solution emerges out of the consultation with the State Government, the Assam Chah Mazdoor Sangh (ACMS) would go ahead with its agitational programme in support of its demands. This was stated by ACMS president Paban Singh Ghatowar, who is also the Pradesh Congress president.

Leopard problems: Schemes do not cover city cats!

Guwahati: As the city expands into the hills and nearby forests, citizens are beginning to increasingly face a new contender in the urban jungle: the leopard. With several incidents of leopard sightings and attacks in Guwahati in the last few months, Forest Department officials are now chalking out plans on how to tackle the problem. Surprisingly, despite several wildlife projects and schemes in the State, not a single one provides the scope to tackle the leopard.


13 members from Guwahati to NE Bar Council:

Guwahati: Senior advocate of Gauhati High Court Hafiz Rashid Ahmed Choudhury has secured the highest "vote of preference" in the recently concluded election of the Bar Council sources said. Out of 20 newly-elected members of the Council, 13 are from Guwahati, sources said. According to the sources, a total of 42 candidates from the seven north-eastern states were in the fray. The ex-officio members of the Council are the Advocate Generals of five states, including AK Phukan of Assam, also having voting rights. Sources said, the election for the prestigious posts of Council chairman, vice chairman and one member-representative for the All India Bar Council is expected to be held in the last week of August.

1,82,000 people of 271 villages affected in Darrang dist, 541 relief camps established; Flood fury on, relief operation continues; Havoc in Darrang:

Mangaldai: In the devastating flood that created havoc in Darrang and Udalguri districts since July 9, a total population of 1,82,000 of 217 villages of Darrang district have been affected while 541 relief camps have been set up. Though the Army has been pressed into service for relief and rescue operation, relief materials could not be transported to several worst affected places due to non-availability of any communication system. In Patharighat and Dipila area, the relief materials have been transported in the Army boats.

Situation worsens in Rangiya:

Guwahati: The flood situation of Rangiya subdivision was aggravated further due to breach of dam at Bhutan and new areas were inundated. Rangiya town was reeling under flood for the fourth day causing serious concern to the people. Altogether 148 villages under Rangiya, Goreswar and Kamalpur revenue circles were submerged and about two lakh people rendered homeless. Army was pressed into rescue operation and seven boats were used to shift stranded people to safer places. All road and rail communications to and from Rangiya were completely cut off. Normal life of the subdivision was partially

paralyzed. Bhubaneswar Kalita, MLA visited the affected areas.

Damage in 'worst floods' Rs 1,000 cr: CM

11,000 houses washed away, 18 dists hit:

Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi has said that the total damage to the State in the current wave of floods will be at least Rs 1,000 crore. Flood waters have already washed 10,678 houses while over 4,00,000 houses have been partially damaged, affecting at least 2 million people of the State, the Chief Minister said.

Army rescues 700 flood-hit in Sonitpur:

Guwahati: the Army has rescued more than 700 marooned people from two affected villages of Samdhara district since in the morning on July 11, official sources said on July 11. River Jiabhoroli was flowing above the danger level and since last night the water entered the villages of Samdhara and Kulkami and continued to rise at an alarming rate. The Sonitpur civil administration requisitioned the Army's help to rescue the marooned people from the two villages. A column of 10 Engineer Regiment, 5 Assam Rifles and Gajraj Corps lowered six boats and has so far evacuated 700 of the marooned people.

ULFA has nexus with ATTF, B'desh base: Tripura DGP:

Guwahati: Tripura DGP, G M Srivastav, on July 11 disclosed that the nexus between ATTF and the ULFA which has come to light, points to a growing coordination among the extremist organisations in the north-eastern States in carrying out insurgent activities, while neighbouring Bangladesh provides a safe haven to these groups. In view of the latest revelation, additional BSF troops have been deployed along the Tripura-Bangladesh border while special commando forces are patrolling the interior areas of Tripura, he said.

Bhutan to build wall to check Assam ultras:

Guwahati: Bhutan may soon erect concrete walls along its border with India to prevent infiltration of Indian separatists into the Himalayan kingdom. "there are plans to construct walls along the border areas considering the concerns expressed by the people living in such areas", Bhutan's home Minister Lyonpo Jigmi Thinley was quoted as saying in the government newspaper Kuensel. The Minister said this while addressing the National Assembly on July 10 in Thimpu. Bhutan shares a 380-k.m unfenced border with Assam and West Bengal.

Assembly from July 11, may break over floods:

Guwahati: The Budget session of the Assam Legislative Assembly begins on July 12. However, due to the devastating flood situation in the State, the Assembly may be adjourned for four days after initial proceedings of the House. A discussion on the present flood situation in the State is expected to be held on July 12 on members' request by cancelling the question hour.

Quality tea holds the key: report

Guwahati: The Jayanta Madhab Committee on Tea has suggested various measures for re-invigorating the tea industry in Assam, while calling on all the stakeholders in the industry, including the management, labourers, government and marketers, to join forces in these efforts. The 12-member Committee, which went into the condition of the industry in Assam and also studied the situation in other tea-producing States, submitted the report

in May, and a discussion on the recommendation was held last month.

Charu Mahanta no more:

Guwahati: Noted journalist and a front-ranking, leader of the consumers' movement in Assam, Mr Charu Mahanta, passed away at his Geeta Nagar residence in the city in the morning 0n July 11. He was 71.

World Population Day promise: no to sex determination:

80% hospital births is Assam's target:

Guwahati: On the occasion of the World Population Day on July 11, the State Government has targeted to achieve 80 per cent institutional delivery in Assam by proper implementation of the ongoing Reproductive and Child welfare scheme and the National Population Health Scheme and the National Population Health Policy, 2002. Less than 40 % of the expecting mothers in the State give birth to children in hospitals and first referral units due to lack of health awareness and facility.

Assam doubles ex-gratia to victims of killer elephants:

Guwahati: The State Forest Department has doubled its ex-gratia payment to the next of kin of people killed by marauding elephants. Meanwhile, for the first time ever, the department has also announced specific compensation packages for crop and property damage, following increasing man-animal conflict in Assam.


3 die in Hajo raft capsize, Nalbari SP shifted; Assam SOS to Red Cross:

Guwahati: The Assam Government has sent an SOS to the Indian Red Cross Society for food and relief materials even as 23 of the state's 24 districts have been affected by floods, with more than 6.9 lakh hectares inundated and nearly 50 lakh people hit, official said. Meanwhile, a woman and two infants lost their lives when a banana raft carrying them capsized at Monahkuchi near Hajo in the morning on July 13. Whereas the body of the woman has been recovered, the bodies of the two infants have not been recovered so far.

Ghatowar: flood in TEs along Bhutan critical:

Guwahati: Assam Pradesh Congress president Paban Singh Ghatowar has expressed grave concern over the grim flood situation in the State, including several tea garden areas in particular, and urged the State Government for immediate measures to cope with the situation on a war footing. He has discussed the situation in detail during a meeting with Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on July 13 and appealed to all frontal organisations of the party to assist the ongoing relief and rehabilitation work in the flood-affected areas.

Meet in city to bridge Mising, non-Mising divide:

Guwahati: To remove the misunderstandings on the Sixth Schedule status among various ethnic groups in Assam, the Takam Mising Porin Kebang (TMPK), in association with the All Tai Ahom Students' Union (ATASU), will organise a convention of all the students' bodies of Assam on August 1 here. It may be mentioned here that the non-Mising organisations in upper Assam have opposed the proposed Sixth Schedule status to the Misings, fearing that their political and land rights might not be protected in the new political set-up.

Group clashes between some non-Misings and Misings broke out on June 13 when the members of the Cabinet sub-committees on tribal affairs visited Gogamukh in Lakhimpur district.

OIL to boost aging fields, Australian firm hired:

Guwahati: Crude oil production in the North-east is expected to double with two premier exploration companies engaging foreign experts and upgrading facilities to strike new reserves in aging oil fields. Assam produces five million tonnes of crude oil annually, with production by State-owned Oil India Limited (OIL) remaining stagnant at about 3.5 million tonnes for the past decade. The Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) produces about 1.5 million tonnes of crude annually in Assam.

Statistical jugglery: OIL, ONGC owe Assam Rs 38 cr:

Guwahati: A huge amount of Rs 38.26 crore remains to be paid by OIL and ONGC to the State Government because of incorrect formula used by the two PSUs to determine natural gas royalty. This amount has been piling up steadily over the years, according to official sources. From available figures, it appears that both the PSUs had been under-declaring their production figures to pay less royalty on crude oil production as well.

AHRC awards compensation, IPS officer under scanner:

Guwahati: The Assam Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has awarded interim compensation of Rs 50,000 to the next of kin of ULFA cadre Ananta Roy, after confirming that he had died in the custody of Kokrajhar police in 1999. The commission has also recommended to the State Government to prosecute the guilty police personnel. It may be mentioned here that Ananta Roy was arrested in connection with Kokrajhar PS Case No. 251/1999 on October 22, 1999 and was sent on five days' police remand. On October 22, he was sent for medical check-up and found physically fit by the doctor. The same day, around 7 p.m., the Deputy Superintendent of Police DSB Hareshwar Basumatari interrogated Roy at the police station.

Veteran CPI leader Phani Bora ill:

Guwahati: Octogenarian CPI leader, Phani Bora, one of the doyens of the communist movement in this part of the country, is seriously ill at his residence at Senapati Road in Silphukhuri here. He is suffering from cardiac ailment since the past several days. Last year, he had undergone a cardiac surgery at the AIIMS, New Delhi and recovered. But his condition deteriorated recently. A large number of party workers, leaders, friends, well-wishers have visited him to wish him early recovery.


State not fully equipped for flood response: CM

'Permanent anti-flood measures launched only now':

Guwahati: Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on July 12 admitted in the state Assembly that most of the multi-crore flood control schemes taken up in the past had been nothing more than temporary measures, and had no permanent effect in solving the problem. He said that since permanent measures, launched now, would take a decade to be effective, the people of Assam would have to bear with the problem for some more time.

Enough food for 24 days, State warns hoarders:

Guwahati: DC Kamrup(Metro), A K Absar Hazarika, on July 12 allayed fears of any scarcity of essential commodities in the State in the wake of the reported disruption of surface communication caused by the devastating floods. The DC said that there is adequate stock of essential commodities in the State to last at least 20-24 days and warned the whole-sellers and the retailers against hoarding of essential commodities and creating an artificial demand, forcing panic buying by consumers. Hazarika said this after separate meetings with the Kamrup Chamber of Commerce and the zonal manager of Food Corporation of India (FCI). He said Food and Civil Supplies officers in the city have been instructed to keep a close watch on the whole-sellers and retailers against hiking price of essential commodities.

Embankment burst brings 246 Nagaon villages under water; Centre releases Rs 181 crore:

Guwahati: The Centre has released a total of Rs 181 crore to Assam as a relief package to tackle the grim flood situation in the State which has affected nearly 20 lakh people. Stating this at the LGB International Airport on July 12, after an aerial survey of the flood-affected areas, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said that Rs 54 crore has been sanctioned from the Calamity Relief Fund (CRF), Rs 46 crore from the National Calamity Fund (NCF) and another Rs 81 crore released by the Water Resources Ministry. Meanwhile, even as flood waters inundated newer areas in the State, the absence of a centralised information system has prevented the media from obtaining an accurate overall picture of the flood situation.

City cancer hospital gives Govt Rs 50-cr master plan:

Guwahati: after traversing through rough weather for a couple of years due to mismanagement, the Dr B. Borooah Cancer Institute (BBCI), a regional centre for cancer treatment and research here, is limping back to normalcy during the past one year with a remarkable rise in the number of patients, and also coming up with better facilities. In accordance with the third tripartite agreement between the Assam Government, the Centre and the North Eastern Council, a master plan amounting to Rs 50 crore has been submitted to the authorities by the BBCI for implementation in the next five years.

Several tribal belt land transfer deals cancelled:

Guwahati: Twelve land transfer deals, involving 62 bighas of tribal belt land in Sonapur, have been cancelled, as per the Kamrup (Metro) DC's report to the Assembly Public Accounts Committee, investigating the land transfer scam. However, no action has been taken on transfer of a further 153 bighas, according to local residents of area. According to the DC's report, purchase of four bighas in Karchia village under Rehabari mouza by NN Dutta, chairman, Downtown Hospital, under Dag No. 164 and Patta No. 23, has been set aside on May 25, 2004, and subsequent action has been initiated. However, according to the Greater Dimoria Land Transfer Observation Committee, a group compromising local residents, no action has been taken so far on Dutta's purchase of another four bighas in Karchia.

Assam approves 368 joint forest management committee projects: Afforestation push to combat floods:

Guwahati: As part of the Centre's plan to increase the forest cover throughout the country substantially, the State Forest Department is encouraging the newly-formed Joint Forest Management Committees (JFMCs) to include afforestation in their local development

schemes, keeping in mind the devastation caused by floods.

Mising body demands dam project for NE:

Guwahati: The Takam Mising Porin Kebang (TMPK) and Mising Mimang Kebang(MMK) under All Mising Students' Union have demanded abandonment of the construction of large dam project undertaken in the North-east and Bhutan. Ranoj Pegu, spokesman of the MMK, reiterated that to avoid any disaster multiple small projects taken up instead.


ABSU criticizes ASDC, CPI-M(L); to plan strategy to fulfil demands:

KAAC draws flak over 'apathy' towards Bodos:

Lunghin Tiniali (Karbi Anglong): The Karbi Anglong District Committee (KADC) of the All Bodo Students' Union (ABSU) has flayed the Autonomous State Demand Committee (ASDC) and the CPI-M(L) for their "monopolistic activities" in the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council(KAAC) and decided to adopt a political strategy to raise its long-standing demands in the next round of Assembly elections.

UPA started on negative note, says Venkaiah:

Guwahati: BJP president Venkiah Naidu on July 10 came down hard on the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre for, what he alleged, choosing the path of the confrontation on various issues, including the one about the tainted ministers in the Manmohan Singh Cabinet and dismissal of the NDA-appointed Governors.

Bhutan breach threatens deluge in lower Assam:

Guwahati: While a red alert has been sounded in all the lower Assam districts following breach in a reservoir at Bhutan, the State government has released Rs 50 crore from the Revenue department for relief and rehabilitation work for the flood-effected people. Meanwhile, in an emergent meeting tonight, the Assam council of ministers, considering the grim flood situation of the State, decided to request the Governor to postpone the ensuing budget session of the State Assembly, slated to start from July 12, after consultation with all the parties, government sources said.

Imbroglio over Pr in Arunachal on: Sack Governor Pandey: Mithi

Guwahati: Arunachal Pradesh Congress president and former Chief Minister Mukut Mithi on July 10 demanded the dismissal of the Governor of that State, V C Pandey, charging that the latter is not in good health and suffered from loss of memory. Demanding imposition of President's rule in Arunachal Pradesh, Mithi also voiced fears of widespread electoral malpractices if Assembly elections there were held under the caretaker government of Gegong Apang.

Blast in Nagaon cinema, 1 killed:

Nagaon: Yet again, suspected ULFA militants triggered a grenade blast- this time in Krishna Cinema in Nagaon on July 10. The blast left many people injured, three of them seriously. They have been identified as Abdul Khalek (44), Abdul Kalam(25) and Moinul (a baby). According to Zee TV, one died in the blast.

NH-31 bridge washed out in Kokrajhar:

Kokrajhar: Due to heavy rains over the last 72 hours, a number of PWD roads, including parts of NH-31(C) have been washed away, thereby severely affecting transportation in the district. Nearly 6,000 families have been rendered homeless. The 31/1 bridge at NH-31(C)under Garubhasa police outpost was washed away. The NH-31(C) was also breached at Kolabari near Helbridge under Serfanguri PS. Another wooden bridge over Gangia river at Angthihara on the Kokrajhar-Gossaigaon road was completely washed way by flood waters.


Flood scene grim: Marooned school kids airlifted in Rangiya:

Guwahati: The flood situation in Assam turned grim on July 9 with surging waters trapping around 350 students of a Rangiya school, forcing the authorities to requisition the Indian Air Force to evacuate them to safety, officials said. DC Kamrup, Samir Sinha, said that two MI-17 helicopters swung into action to evacuate the marooned students of Jawahar Navadaya Vidyalaya following a request by him to the Army Eastern Command at Shillong. The air evacuation operation was carried out after attempts to rescue the stranded students by Army boats apparently failed because of torrential rains and strong currents.

Cabinet panel's autonomy report next month:

Guwahati: Welfare of Plains Tribes and Backward Classes (WPT & BC) Minister Bharat Chandra Narah has said that the Cabinet sub Committee on Tribal affairs, headed by Dr Bhumidhar Barman, will submit its report within August. He made this announcement at a day-long convention of all the tribal groups in Assam held here to discuss the tribal problems. The convention was organised by the All Assam Tribal Sangha and participated by more than 15 tribal organisations.

Bengali groups give CM 30-day ultimatum:

Guwahati: A united platform of half a dozen Bengali Hindu organisations in the Brahmaputra Valley has given a 30-day ultimatum to the Tarun Gogoi Government on July 9 for finding an immediate solution to various problems being faced by the community, including formation of the Linguistic Minority Development Board, the 'D' voter issue, and sufficient representation of the community in the State Assembly by allocating more tickets to Congress members of the community. Besides, the banner group has called for a 6-hour fast on July 12, on the opening day of the ensuing Budget Session of the State Assembly, to protest against the non-inclusion of any representative from the linguistic minority community in the ministry after the recent downsizing exercise.

Students begin 100-hr fast, House to discuss border row:

Guwahati: The 100-hour fast by the Assam-Nagaland Border Coordination Students' Union (ANBCSU) got under way this morning in Golaghat district while the Assam Government has decided to bring up a resolution in the forthcoming Budget Session to pressurize the Centre for an amicable solution to the vexed Assam-Nagaland border dispute. A total of 22 members participated in the hunger strike.

APCC leaders defend Gogoi on downsizing:

Guwahati: APCC general secretary (administration), Dr Haren Das came to the defense of the Chief Minister and said that Tarun Gogoi was constitutionally obliged to reduce the size of his ministry, even as he denied any resentment among the 16 ministers dropped

from the ministry, in the wake of the recent downsizing exercise.

City admin, GMC flout CM's orders on garbage lifting:

Guwahati: It appears that even the most powerful person in Assam has not been able to get the city fathers to clear filth littering Guwahati, Despite chief Minister Tarun Gogoi's express ordered to the GMC and the Kamrup district administration to get the garbage piled up over the last few weeks cleared away, the authorities have flouted his orders and not done much.

City students eye colleges outside State:

Guwahati: Signaling the arrival of the new-age youth, several hundred aspirants for undergraduate seats in colleges in Delhi and Pune Universities had discussed career prospects with consultants in the city before leaving for these cities. Meanwhile, more than 3,700 students accessed admission forms and information provided by students organisations for Arts and Commerce courses according to sources.


'NE must gear up to corner devp funds':

Guwahati: Financial and trade bodies as well as political leaders in Assam have welcomed the provisions of the Union Budget, while stressing that the onus was now on the State governments in the region to corner the funds slated for development. Predictably, there were mixed reactions in political circles.

Highest-ever Budget outlay for NE: Gogoi

Guwahati: Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on July 8 welcomed the provisions of the Union Budget, remarking that it would benefit the rural poor and the agriculture sector, both important in the context of the State. Gogoi also expressed satisfaction with Assam and the North-east's share in the budget outlay, even though the state has not received any special packages. "It is a good budget and is on the lines of the promises in the Common Minimum Programme (CMP)", Gogoi told. "It lays adequate thrust on the agriculture sector and the rural economy, as well as irrigation. People below poverty line and rural households will benefit, as will agro-based industries. These are the proper steps, specially for Assam," Gogoi added.

Assam move to de-reserve Doyang RF:

Guwahati: The State Government has decided to send a proposal to the Centre seeking its approval to 'de-reserve' the Doyang Reserve Forest, Pradyut Bordoloi, Minister of State for Home Rockybul Hussain and Tourism Minister and local MLA of Golaghat, Ajanta Neog, in a joint press conference at the Janata Bhavan on July 8 said that the proposal would seek the Centre's permission to legalise the inhabitants who had settled in the 28,500 hectare reserved forest land before the cut-off date of 25 October, 1980, when the Indian Forest Law was implemented.

Regional Science Centre park will have moving, roaring models

Dinosaurs to greet city soon:

Guwahati: With the arrival of all the mechanised parts for the Dinosaur Park at the Regional Science Centre (RSC), students and citizens are now a step closer to experiencing the marvels of the planet's evolution through life-like science models. The dinosaur park, over several acres behind the Science Centre, will contain models of several dinosaurs, other reptiles, early mammals and other creatures of

the "dinosaur era"- the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods. Moreover, the park, to be operational early next year, will also contain detailed studies of human evolution, itself a vast topic and of considerable interest for students and citizens.


Ministry reshuffle later this year with eye on polls

No more bandh by axed ministers' men: CM

Guwahati: In the wake of rising notes of discord among ministers dropped in the downsizing exercise, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on July 7 declared that he would reshuffle his ministry shortly. He also announced that he would deal firmly with any further calls for bandhs, made by supporters of the disgruntled Congress leaders. Gogoi told here that the planned reshuffle, coming up later this year, would be carried out with the 2006 Assembly elections in mind. About the bandh calls given by supporters of dropped ministers Dr Ardhendu Dey and Sarat Barkataky, Gogoi said that he would deal firmly with any further bandh calls from July 8.

Ardhendu revolts, says groups for bandh soon:

Guwahati: A joint platform of at least half a dozen organisations are going to call for a "Assam bandh" next week in protest against the alleged government apathy towards the interests of the linguistic minority community. This was stated by Dr Ardhendu Kumar Dey, who had been dropped from the Assam ministry in the recent downsizing exercise. Signalling an open revolt against Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, Dey alleged, "Gogoi has done nothing for the interest of the Hindu minorities".

OIL ready to pay for security, Govt mum:

Guwahati: Oil India Limited (OIL) has mounted pressure on the State Government for an early approval to the proposed deployment of security personnel in OIL establishments in the State, especially after the oil pilferage scam came to light and insurgent activities in Upper Assam saw an upswing in the last few weeks. OIL authorities say that the inordinate delay by the state Government is jeopardizing the security of their installations despite OIL's assurances to bear all costs in maintaining the security force.

City master plan: report submitted to GMDA

Guwahati: The Consulting Engineering Service, the firm that has been assigned to prepare a master plan for the city, has submitted a report to the Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA). Highly placed sources at the GMDA said that the report was submitted last month by the consulting firm and was being scrutinised to make it public shortly for debate. The report has included the satellite imageries of the greater Guwahati area, problems of the city, causes and solution to the problems.

NEEPCO makes Rs 208 cr profit, has mega plans:

Guwahati: NEEPCO (North Eastern Electric Power Corporation Ltd) has emerged as a profit making company, netting a profit of rs 208 crore during 2003-2004 from a loss of Rs 408 crore incurred during 2002-2003. The company will develop a design support office in Guwahati which will also help the other power generating companies in the region.

Don't restrict SSIs to select zones: AASSIA

Guwahati: Hemmed in by the alleged apathetic attitude of the State Government and incentives which benefit large industries, the All Assam Small Scale Industries Association (AASSIA) has sent a proposal to the Union Finance Ministry, ahead of the Budget, a to have location specifications removed for setting up small-scale industries in the State.

Value of food concession to be taken into account in PF deduction, workers to benefit:

Boost for tea workers' Provident Fund:

Guwahati: For the first time after Independence, the Provident Fund for tea labourers will include a portion of the pay they receive in kind through subsidised food, the deduction of PF contribution on the value of food concession will be with retrospective effect from June 1, 2001, according to officials. The PF accruing to each labourer will thus increase by a substantial amount.


Gogoi: I shall tolerate resentment up to a limit:

Guwahati: To pre-empt any possible revolt in the party, post-downsizing, Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on July 6 struck a note of caution to the dropped legislators that their resentment will be tolerated only up to a certain limit. Gogoi said, "resentment among those who were dropped is natural. In fact it is unnatural not to have resentment. But the downsizing exercise was carried out as per a constitutional obligation, and I had to comply with it. The selection of the new team was done in consultation with the party high command. Therefore, to go against the decision is to go against the decision of the high command". He downplayed any possible revolt in the party and said that resentments, if there were any, would subside in a day or two.

Dey to expose 'corrupt' ministers, Sarat to quiz CM:

Guwahati: The first murmurs of revolt against Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi are beginning to be heard within the Congress, after senior party leaders including Dr Ardhendu Dey, Devananda Konwar and Sarat Barkataky got dropped from the ministry in the downsizing exercise which ended on July 5. Whereas Dey has declared his intentions of rising in the Gogoi Cabinet, Barkataky is planning to demand an explanation from Gogoi. Meanwhile, supporters of these Congress leaders have taken to the streets in their constituencies.

NEDFi boost to medicinal, aromatic plant cultivation:

Guwahati: A movement in the cultivation of medicinal and aromatic plants is slowly building up in Assam with the initiative and support of the North Eastern Development Finance Corporation (NEDFi). While Patchouli cultivation has already become popular among many unemployed youths in different parts of the State, Vetiver- another plant which is easier to grow than Patchouli and the oil of which is several times costlier too- has become the main attraction for the farmers. Recently, the Morigaon district authorities have taken up project vetiver, and declared the district as a vetiver district.

Don't include Deori villages in Mising Council: AADSU

Guwahati: The State Government's move in providing Sixth Schedule status to the Mising community has been hit with the All Assam Deori Students' Union (AADSU) on July 6 demanding the exclusion of the Deori villages from the proposed Mising autonomous council area. The AADSU has alleged that several Deori villages had been included in the proposed Mising autonomous council. The organisation also vowed to launch a mass

movement to press for a Deori autonomous council in upper Assam. The student body, which has launched a 72-hour hunger strike at the Dispur Last Gate from July 6, protesting against the role of the Cabinet sub-committee on tribal affairs, headed by Dr Bhumidhar Barman, said that it would prevent the government's bid to include Deori villages in the Mising autonomous council. It has also demanded the recognition of the Deori language so that it could be included so that it could be included so that it could be included in school curricula.

40% of electricity produced is lost, consumers face burden:

'ASEB fails to reduce T & D losses':

Guwahati: The ASEB's attempts to scale down its transmission and distribution (T and D) losses over the coming financial years have received flak from industrial bodies, who have pointed out that the losses, even after the Board's plans to control them, will be too high, and that the Board should be made to bring down its losses further.

GMC Mayor in a soup:

Guwahati: Three associate councillors of the Congress-led Guwahati Municipal Corporation, rup Kumar Das(TGP), Brajen Das and Asadullah Sheikh (both Independent) withdrew from the Council Body on July 6 in protest against the City Mayor Kushal Sharma's alleged corrupt practices and frequent intervention in the normal functioning of the Corporation.

Truckers strike enters day 9:

Jorhat: With the trucker's strike entering the ninth day on July 6, Tuensang, Mokokchung and Zunhebuto districts of Nagaland, facing an acute scarcity of essential commodities, have taken up alternative arrangements to tide over the crisis. The Deputy Commissioner of Mokokchung said that essential commodities will now be brought from Dimapur via Kohima.

Ensure security to commoners: AGP to Govt

Kokrajhar: Along with the rest of the State, the Kokrajhar district committee of Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) staged a demonstration in front of DC office, Kokrajhar recently in protest against the total failure of the State Government on all fronts. The demonstrators shouted slogans against the Tarun Gogoi-led congress Government in Assam for failing to control the law-and-order situation in the State, increasing rate of atrocities on common people, hike in prices of petrol, LPG, diesel etc. The organising secretary of the AGP's central committee, Mr Karna Mahan Roy, said before the media persons that during the tenure of the present Congress government in the State, altogether 1,505 people have lost their lives because of the worsening law and order situation.


ONGC plans Rs 1,000 cr investment in Assam:

Sivasagar: The ONGC will invest more than Rs 1,000 crore to revamp facilities and upgrade its technologies in Assam. "There is an urgent need to revamp the facilities and upgrade the technologies in Assam as ONGC's operations in the State is more than 45 years old and the facilities used are old and the facilities used are old and obsolete", ONGC's Executive Director SC Upadhya told here on July 2. ONGC's operations have to be carried out for 365 days on a 24-hour basis and this severely hampered due to bad roads

and poor site conditions.

ACS officers' body condemns killing of EAC: Red alert along Assam-Nagaland border:

Jorhat: Security personnel have been put on red alert in Sivasagar, Golaghat, Jorhat and Karbi Anglong districts, which share border with Nagaland, following the killing of EAC Dipankar Das and a policeman in Dhansiri subdivision in Karbi Anglong district during an eviction drive which was carried out by the district administration, the police and CRPF to evict Naga encroachers on July 1.

Rs 4.09 cr development project submitted to NEC:

Boleros, Gypsys not enough, Scorpios a must: BTAD bosses

Kokrajhar: At a time when the people of the BTAD area are crying for proper medical facilities, pure drinking water, education, etc., it seems that the authorities of the BTAD have some other ideas for development of the region. After receiving 12 Boleros, 30 Gypsies and five Ambassador cars during April and May, the BTAD top brass have directed the Principal Secretary of BTAD to arrange for another consignment of vehicles-13 Boleros (GLX) for the executive members and two Scorpios (GLX) for the Chief and Deputy Chief of the BTAD respectively. The roads under the BTAD area are in deplorable condition due to the failure of authorities to repair them since the past several years and this new directive of the authorities of the BTAD has understandably become a common topic of discussion in the district these days. There seems to be an indication that, if not the development of roads, at least the new luxurious vehicles would keep the members of the BTAD in good humour.

Army asked to rein in NSCN: Assam DGP

EAC dies in border battle with NSCN:

Diphu: An Extra Assistant Commissioner (EAC) was killed and at least three security personnel were injured in a fierce gun battle between the police and paramilitary forces on the Assam side and NSCN (IM) ultras in the afternoon on July 1 at the Dhansiri reserve forest area in Karbi Anglong district. Unconfirmed reports say that another security man was also killed in the encounter. Tension brewing in this Assam-Nagaland border area took a turn for the worse on July 1 after the Assam Police and CRPF personnel attempted to evict the fifty-odd Naga families who occupied 2500 hectares of land in the Dhansiri reserve forest. On 1st July's incident is reminiscent of the Assam Nagaland border dispute at Merapani in 1985 which culminated in a bloody firefight where 20 security personnel were killed.

State-wide agitation against power tariff hike on the cards:

Gogoi-Subhash Project nexus to ruin ASEB: AJYCP

Guwahati: The Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuba Chatra Parishad (AJYCP) has expressed serious concern over the failure of the State Government to improve the power scenario of the State. Criticizing the Tarun Gogoi-led Congress Government, the AJYCP, has alleged that 'Mr Clean' Tarun Gogoi has been maintaining a cordial relation with the authorities of Subhash Project in the name of completing the Karbi-Langpi project for reasons best known to him. Terming Mr Gogoi as an agent of the Subhash Project, the AJYCP alleged, "even after being aware of the intention of the Subhash Project to swindle Rs 60 crore from the State ex-chequer, the State Government is playing the role of a silent spectator in this regard." The AJYCP also criticised the Government's move to increase power tariff in

the State. Threatening the Government of severe consequences if the Government failed to withdraw the move, the AJYCP has decided to launch a State-wide movement soon.

I haven't done the vanishing trick, says Konwar:

Sivasagar: Assam Power and Law Minister Devanand Konwar has expressed surprise over press reports stating that he had gone underground. Konwar, while talking at the Sivasagar Circuit House in the morning on June 28 has termed the reports published in a section of the press as mere "rumour-mongering". He said that there was no need for him to go underground. "I am not a criminal. I was at Dispur till 4 p.m. on June 25 and arrived at Sivasagar at about 10pm the same say and on June 27 I was busy at my home constituency at Thawra. On June 28, I will leave for New Delhi via Dibrugarh", he said. Konwar also denied reports that he had refused to submit his resignation. "As a disciplined party-man since my school days, I am bound to obey my leader and the party high command", he said and added that the process of resignation of ministers en masse was in fact first suggested by him. "I have been criticised and my actions have been described as anti-party by some vested quarters within the party", he said. Konwar has since submitted his resignation.

'ULFA problem can be solved through negotiation only': Gogoi Govt has lost moral right to stay in power: Sonowal

Dibrugarh: The State Government has lost its moral right to stay in power following killing of more than 10 persons and injury to more than 30 in a series of bomb blasts and grenade attacks in upper Assam districts of Dibrugarh, Tinsukia and Sivasagar. This was stated by MP from Dibrugarh parliamentary constituency and general secretary of the Asom Gana Parishad, Mr Sarbananda Sonowal while reacting sharply on the fast deteriorating law-and-order situation of the State. Lambasting the Tarun Gogoi-led Congress Government in the State, Mr Sonowal said that it has miserably failed to provide "security to life and property of the people". Mr Sonowal, who is at present on an official tour of his constituency, visited the bomb blast sites of Tinsukia and Dibrugarh and met the injured persons. He alleged that the state Government, failing to control the unabated violence in the State, had deployed the Army in maintaining the law and order. As a result, the students, youths and peasants of rural Assam have become the victims of Army's atrocities and high-handedness, he alleged. Vehemently opposing the Army's deployment in Upper Assam, Mr Sonowal said that the vexed ULFA problem could be solved only through negotiation, not by deploying Army.


Heavyweights out of team, Gogoi unfazed over dissent: Barkataky says statement after Dey, Konwar's return from Delhi:

Guwahati: Ending more than a month of hectic political manoeuvring and lobbying, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi announced the ministers who will remain in his downsized ministry, in a list which leaves out grizzled Congress veterans including Devenanda Konwar, Sarat Barkataky, Ardhendu Dey and Bhubaneshwar Kalita. Although none of the ministers left out raised any objections immediately, murmurs of discontent are being heard over the surprise exclusions, as well as non-inclusion of any new faces. On July 5, after a week of discussions with the AICC scanning committee and the party high command in New Delhi, Mr Gogoi declared the list of 18 chosen ones after arriving here. He also forward the resignations of the 16 ministers who were left out to the Governor. Gogoi also declared that those who had been left out would be engaged in posts within the party or the government. Sources revealed that some of the dropped ministers might be appointed as Parliament Secretaries, which are equivalent to Cabinet rank.

Buses crashes into truck, 1 killed near Khetri:

Guwahati: In yet another high-speed accident on the outskirts of the city , 11 people were killed and 39 injured when a Hojai-bound bus collided head on with a Guwahati-bound truck at Nalgathara near Khetri on NH-37 at 7am on July 5.

Karbi hills encroachers backed by NSCN: DHD

Guwahati: The Dima Halam Daoga (DHD) has refuted the allegations levelled against it by the 'deputy kilonser' of NSCN (IM), K Chawang on July 4 that the DHD was involved in the inter-State border shoot-out with the security forces on July 1. The publicity secretary of DHD, Dao Raja Dimasa, termed the allegations made by the NSCN(IM) as a "cock and bull story" which will not hide "the reality that occurred in Dhansiri Reserve forest". It said that the encroachers were Nagas backed by the NSCN(IM). The NSCN(IM) had earlier blamed the Assam Police and certain non-Naga rebel groups for the firing incident in Karbi Anglong and termed it as a greater conspiracy to sabotage the Naga peace talks.

ASEB tariff plan opposed by FINER:

Guwahati: The Federation of Industries and Commerce of North Eastern Region (FINER) has opposed ASEB's proposal to revise its electricity tariff rates, contending that the high employees' cost and administrative costs of the electricity board need to be addressed before "burdening the consumers with new tariff rates".

Sat link from city to Delhi atomic clock:

Guwahati: Along with Shillong and Itanagar, citizens here would be able to access the accurate Indian Standard Time (IST) of the atomic clock located at the National Physical Laboratory in New Delhi. The Department of Science and Technology, under its project to popularise science and to provide easy accessibility of accurate time from the nook and corner of the country, has set up the centres with IST dissemination facility through satellite signals.

Lack of awareness makes facility useless, litigants not even aware of office:

Assam legal aid cell has no takers:

Guwahati: Lack of awareness drives among the public and the alleged apathetic attitude of a section of the legal fraternity has resulted in very few citizens accessing the facilities provided by the Assam state Legal Aid Cell. It may be mentioned here that the Cell is a statutory body on the lines of other cells in States across the country. Set up a decade ago, the body was intended for providing free legal aid to scheduled castes, tribes, poorer sections of society, women and minors, who otherwise might not possess monetary capacity to fight long-drawn court cases at the fees charged by advocates.


Desperados kill one more in Karbi Anglong:

Karbi Anglong tension refuses to die down:

Guwahati: The tension in Karbi Anglong district in the aftermath of the killing of EAC Dipankar Das and a policeman on July 1 during an eviction drive in Dhansiri subdivision, refuses to die down as a fresh attack on a Karbi village, allegedly by armed miscreants from Nagaland, was reported on July 4. One person was killed and three others were

critically injured when they were attacked by miscreants at Deigrun Teron village in upper Deopani area under Bokajan police station in Karbi Anglong district in the wee hours on July 4.

No berth for Borkataky?:

Guwahati: To prepare the new final list of ministers, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on July 4 held two rounds of discussions with AICC president Sonia Gandhi. The first round of discussion was held this morning and the other at 6:30pm. The new ministry is expected to be sworn in on July 6. Though APCC chief Paban Singh Ghatowar, MP Silvius Condpan, APCC vice president Chittaranjan Patowari, APCC general secretary Dr Haren Das and Sailen Bora have mounted pressure on the high command to include Sarat Borkataki in the new Ministry, Chief Minister gogoi is reported to have rebuffed all pressure. On the other hand, the fate of Bhubeneswar Kalita is still uncertain. He has been offered the post of the APCC chief, instead of a berth in the ministry. However, Kalita has expressed his lack of interest for the post of APCC president. For the rehabilitation of Ghatowar, the high command has been urged to make him as one of the AICC secretaries.

Call to update hotel law, body of girl identified:

Guwahati: Police on July 4 identified the body of the girl found in hotel Prag Continental under Panbazar police station as Pampi Das of Teresiya village of Nalbari district. Pampi was missing since June 27, when she had left for Nalbari. She was staying at her brother's residence here for a few days. Her body was found inside a bathroom of the hotel on July 3. Meanwhile, due to outdated law of the land in the matter of keeping control over the hotels and inns, city hotels have become safe heavens for criminals and escape crimes to flee from the law. On 3rd July's incident at Hotel Prag Continental under Panbazar police station, where a girl was strangulated to death, is the second crime case in luxury hotels in the city within 16 days. In an earlier incident on June 17, two officers of the Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL) were manhandled by a SULFA toughie Monaj Hazarika for hours in Hotel dynasty and made an abortive bid to kidnap them for a ransom of Rs 5lakh.

GMC, Kamrup Metro administration in nasty blame game:

Streets stink as city fathers wrangle over garbage:

Guwahati: God is in his heaven, our Chief Minister is in Delhi and nothing's well with the Guwahatians! Well, that just about sums it all. A helpless municipal corporation and an indifferent administration are pushing Guwahati city to the brink of a disaster. Guwahati, much touted as the Gateway to South-east Asia, is fast turning into a hellhole of obnoxious proportion, thanks to the ongoing tussle between the Guwahati Municipal Corporation and the Kamrup Metro Administration.

ASDC irked over encroachment:

Guwahati: Meanwhile, ASDC president Haliram Teron, KSA general secretary Pankaj Teron and KNCA president Sema Ronghangpi, in a joint statement issued on July 4, said that the encroachment of a vast reserve forest area in Dhansiri subdivision in the district was a forcible occupation with an ulterior motive to disturb the territorial integrity of Karbi Anglong.

Assam flood situation improving:

Guwahati: With the recession of water levels of the Brahmaputra and its tributaries in several districts, the overall flood situation in Assam is gradually improving even as 15 persons have reportedly died so far in the current flood. Official sources on July 4 informed

that though the flood situation has improved in some districts, the Brahmaputra was still flowing above the danger level.

Bomb Blast in Upper Assam; Gogoi has no right to stay in power: NCP

Dibrugarh: The Dibrugarh unit of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has criticised the Tarun Gogoi-led Congress Government in the State for the recent spurt of violence that lashed the upper Assam districts of Tinsukia, Dibrugarh and Sivasagar. It may be recalled here that as many as eight people were killed and 54 injured during the recent incidents of violence. Mr Barua further stated that the outlawed ULFA is taking advantage of the State machinery's failure to tackle insurgency problem, and has carried out bomb attacks at various places in upper Assam during last couple of days. Mr Barua also demanded resignation of Chief Minister Gogoi by taking moral responsibility for the loss of innocent lives. The NCP leader also condemned the incidents of bomb blast by the ULFA.

Handique asks Army to help Assam seal AP, Naga border:

Sivasagar: Union Minister of State for Defence and Parliamentary Affairs Bijoy Krishna Handique on June 27 visited Majgaon under Mathurapur Police Station where an IED explosion inside a private passenger bus killed six persons and injured 17 others, 12 of them seriously. The Union Minister arrived in an army helicopter from Jorhat. He also inspected the badly damaged passenger bus now kept at the Mathurapur Police station compound. Later, Handique reviewed the situation with top army, police and civil officials at the Mybella ASEB Guest House. The minister also spelt out the strategy to contain the subversive activities of the ULFA militants. The directed the Army officials to extend its helping hand to the civil and police authorities in sealing the inter-state border with Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland which have turned into heavens for the militants to continue their subversive activities inside Assam. The minister also visited the house of Prabin Gogoi who died in Thursday's bus blast.

SSA office at Kokrajhar ransacked:

Kokrajhar: The All Bodo Students' Union (ABSU) on June 26 ransacked the office of the District Mission Coordinator of the Sarba Siksha Abhijan Mission (SSA) and destroyed official property worth over Rs 2 lakh besides burning down 14 official documents. The included five computer set, telephones and a steel almirah. The student body, led by its president Rabiram Narzary attacked the office for the question papers of the second periodic evaluation examination for the students of class I to class VII conducted by the SSA, Kokrajhar, which began from June 25.


Gogoi meets Sonia to finalize list:

Guwahati: Bringing to a close the hectic activities and lobbying by Assam legislators at AICC headquarters, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, accompanied by AICC Assam observer Digvijay Singh, met Sonia Gandhi in the morning on July 3 to finalise the list of 18 ministers who will form the new Cabinet after the downsizing exercise. He held another meeting with Ms Gandhi in the evening.

Rs 4lakh looted in city:

Guwahati: In a daylight robbery, five youths snatched away Rs 4 lakh at Birkuchi under Noonmati PS in the city on July 3. The youths, who came in a Tata Sumo, took away the cash which was brought from SBI, Bamunimaidam towards payment of salaries to the employees of Assam Carbon. Dispur police later arrested the driver and seized the

vehicle.

Admission blues, courtesy SEBA, AHSEC: Hand-written certificates hit Assam students:

Guwahati: Students from the State aspiring to study in Delhi colleges had to undergo bureaucratic hassles once again, with Delhi University (DU) authorities refusing to accept hand-written HSLC certificates and Higher Secondary marksheets. At a time when the State Government has been harping on It development and e-governance, the low-tech systems of the SEBA and the AHSEC have compelled students to run from pillar to post to get admissions. Students ultimately managed to get certified by the Resident Commissioner of Assam in New Delhi. Admitting that this problem had occurred for second year in a row, SEBA chairman Prof. DN Barman told that HSLC pass and certificates would be issued together from the next year, and that certificates would be printed so that other universities would accept them.

Police outpost in Karbi Hills to foil Naga forays:

Guwahati: The Assam Government has decided to set up a full-fledged border outpost (BOP) at Missibilung village in Dhansiri subdivision in Karbi Anglong district to prevent Nagas from encroaching Assam land. The Karbi Anglong Autonomous District Council (KAAC) has, on the other hand, agreed to release Rs 50 lakh for the setting up of the camp, the work of which, according to official sources, will begin within this week.

Blood policy norms not followed, patients at risk:

Guwahati: Nearly eight years after a Supreme Court verdict prompted the setting up of the National Blood Policy, some of its broad outlines, meant for making the blood transfer system safer and more efficient, are yet to be followed in the State. With incidents of blood transfusion-related HIV infections on the rise, the hundreds of patients in Assam's hospitals who have to undergo transfusions face a major risk.

NGO cadres seize up to 60 guns; Manas drive to restore park to old glory:

Guwahati: The Manas National Park authorities have teamed up with the All Bodo Students' Union (ABSU) to crack down on poachers and timber smugglers by sensitizing the people in the vicinity, an effort that is fast turning into a people's movement. "The idea is to restore Manas to its past glory, and with the help of the ABSU and few other NGOs, we are bent on achieving our goal", Abhijit Rabha, Director of the Manas National Park said.

Bihar VIPs grab city's Rajdhani seat quota:

Guwahati: Amidst considerable discontent among the local student and youth organisations here against the Railway Ministry, an allegation of "encroachment" in Guwahati's due share of the reservation quota for the Rajdhani Express by the Bihar VIPs has came to the light. The MPs from Bihar in particular are often availing Guwahati's quotas of reservation, "which goes against the interest of local passengers", railway sources, on condition of anonymity, revealed.

News on 3rd July '04

Assam asks MHA to dismantle NSCN camp: Army moves in, aerial survey by truce panel:

Guwahati: The Assam Government on July 2 made it clear that nobody will be allowed to upset the territorial integrity of the State through the use of force. After 1st July's gun battle between security forces and NSCN (IM) ultras at Dhansiri reserve forest in Karbi Anglong district, the State government has requested the Ministry of Home affairs (MHA) to immediately order dismantling of the Hebron designated camp of the NSCN(IM), situated close to the Assam-Nagaland border from where rebels allegedly provided covering fire in the shoot-out that killed an EAC from Assam on duty, Dipankar Das.

Pattas for border people: students call 100-hr strike:

Guwahati: After the expiry of the deadline set by the Assam-Nagaland Border Co-ordination Students' Union to provide land rights to the indigenous people along the border to the state Government, the organisation has decided to launch a 100-hour hunger strike from July 9 to mount pressure on the authorities. The organisation, constituents of which are the All Assam Students' Union, All Bodo Students' Union, Assam Tea tribes Students' Association and the All Assam Gorkha Students' Union, on July 2 alleged here that the State Government had totally failed in solving the border problem with Nagaland and on 1st July's incident in the Dhansiri Reserve Forest was the result of its negligence in solving the matter over the years. Cadres of the NSCN (IM) had fired upon the State Government officials and police personnel on July 1 in which an Extra Assistant commissioner was killed, and several others injured.

Nagaland probe over NSCN role in attack:

Guwahati: The Nagaland Government on July 2 said that it would take action against the National Socialist council of Nagaland (NSCN-IM) if it was found guilty of an attack in Assam that caused the death of a magistrate.

SLET delayed, hundreds hit in NE: SLET commission blames UGC for not giving go ahead:

Guwahati: Even as an unprecedented delay in conducting State Level Eligibility Test (SLET) has held up lecturership prospects of several hundred postgraduates from different universities in the North-east, pressure is mounting from these universities on the SLET Commission for North-east region to clear up the communication gap with the University Grants Commission (UGC). It may be mentioned here that the SLET system was set up three years ago after academic circles in the region felt that the NET (National Eligibility Test) system had not adequately enabled post-graduates here to qualify for lecturership posts. Although SLET was conducted for two years in succession, the exam has been held up this year. SLET Commission (NER) officials have charged that the UGC has not given the requisite go-ahead, with at least four letters passing between the two bodies earlier this year. This has held up lecturership prospects for nearly 800 post-graduates from different north-eastern universities, as well as salary increments and other perks for nearly 200 lecturers who have been appointed subject to clearing SLET.

Focus NE from December 17: Assam Govt pressed for multiplex policy:

Guwahati: The entertainment industry in the State is pressing for a multiplex policy which is yet to be announced by the Assam Government. The policy, if announced will allow a number of entrepreneurs who are ready to go ahead with their plans to set up multiplexes in the city.

Ministers absence to delay State Budget:

Guwahati: Absence of key ministers including the Chief Minister and Finance Minister, who are camping in New Delhi due to the Ministry downsizing exercise, will delay the

presentation of State Budget for 2004-05 that was scheduled for July 13. The finance Department has requested the Speaker to have the tabling of the Budget deferred either to July 17 or 18.

News on 2nd July '04

Self-help schemes to be promoted: New Assam rehab policy for ex-rebels:

Guwahati: The State Government is drafting a new rehabilitation package for surrendered militants. Interestingly, the package, which will be submitted to the Union Home Ministry, will try to ensure that the shortcomings in earlier similar packages are weeded out. It may be mentioned here that there are no concrete schemes for the rehabilitation of the 7,200 militants of different outfits who have laid down arms. This has created headaches for the State Government, with those ultras who have, already joined the mainstream, now in a fix with no provisions to be completely rehabilitated.

Ministers award contracts worth crores before quitting:

Guwahati: It's a matter of making hay while the sun shines. Even as most of the just-resigned State ministers are in Delhi, lobbying hard to ensure berths in the downsized ministry, highly placed sources in Dispur have revealed that a few of them had signed "backdated" files, awarding contracts worth crores just before they tendered their resignation letters to the Chief Ministers. Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi had "advised" his ministerial colleagues to resign en masse by June 28 to enable him to prune his ministry before the Constitutional deadline ends on July. Therefore, a lot of "file-signing" activity took place on June 24 and 25, since the next two days were Government holidays.

Oil field handover stopped by bandh:

Guwahati: Due to widespread public protest and "total success" of the 24-hour ONGC bandh called by the ONGC Workers' Federation, the proposed handover of the Amguri oil field in Sivasagar district to a Canadian company, CANARO, could not take place on July 1, claimed president of the two workers' union Promode Gogoi.

Now, 'green clubs' in NE schools:

Guwahati: The Assam Science Society (ASS) has come up with a massive educational campaign to develop scientific awareness and a humane feeling for nature and environment among school children across the North-east. The Ministry of Human Resource Development has appointed ASS as the nodal agency to implement the project on "environment orientation in the schools of North-east India" in all the eight north-eastern States, including Sikkim.

OIL becomes first NE company to be upgraded to Schedule 'A' status: Rs 500-cr OIL plan to help NRL:

Guwahati: Oil India Limited(OIL) has been upgraded to Schedule 'A' status and has thus become the first North-east based company to be given Schedule 'A' status. This will provide the company with higher investment power and greater autonomy to the management, Petroleum Ministry officials said on July 1. The main focus of OIL remains the North-east, where the company has further intensified its exploration and development efforts, particularly in frontier areas in order to enhance crude oil and ags production in the near future. During the year 2003-04, OIL recorded highest ever production and sale of natural gas. As per the trend of crude oil production during the current year, the company is expected to record highest ever crude oil production and

sale during the year.

Govt halts postings, transfers and promotions:

Guwahati: the Assam Government has banned all kinds of appointments, transfers and promotions till further order, a notification issued on July 1 by Chief Secretary JP Rajkhowa said. The move has been taken in the wake of the downsizing of the Tarun Gogoi Ministry, official sources said.

Secretary cloaks Gogoi team pruning process:

Guwahati: Cloaked in unprecedented secrecy, the AICC scanning committee is meeting in the night on July1 in New Delhi to decide the fate of the ministers in the Tarun Gogoi Government. The scanning committee comprises Chief Minister Gogoi, AICC general secretary and in-charge for Assam Digvijay Singh, Sonia Gandhi's political adviser Ahmed Patel, AICC treasurer Motilal Vora and general secretary Ambika Soni.


Army to make way for SSB: India, Bhutan revamp security along border:

Guwahati: In a bid to pin down Assam militants and halt their re-organisation efforts, the foreign ministers of India and Bhutan have begun the process of re-organising the border security setup between the two countries, following the RBA operations late last year and flushing out of north-eastern militants from their camps in south Bhutan. On the other hand, moves have also begun to eventually replace the all-encompassing presence of the Army at the Assam border with the Special Services Bureau (SSB). The State Government has sent detailed information about the five districts bordering Bhutan-Kokrajhar, Bongaigaon, Nalbari, Barpeta and Darrang- to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) as per Central directives. Moreover, district administrators from Assam will be holding periodic meetings with their counterparts in the border districts of Bhutan, to share information and Intelligence reports on reorganisation and movement of militants in the area. Significantly, these reports will be closely monitored by the MEA, with DCs and SPs of the five districts reporting directly to the Union Ministry.

APCC minority cell meet:

Condpan exposes Gogoi, brings out rift in state Cong:

Guwahati: The executive committee meeting of the APCC Minority Department held at the Rajiv Bhavan here on June 30 brought out indications of an apparent rift among the party legislators. While Barpeta MP and chairman of the Minority Department, Golam Osmani and RS MP Silvius Condpan were present in the meeting, held ostensibly to felicitate the newly-elected minority MPs from Assam, veteran Congress leader and newly-elected RS member and Gogoi-layalist, Syeda Anowara Taimur was conspicuous by her absence.

Hand pump scam in PHE: Delhi firm dupes Assam of Rs 75 lakh?:

Guwahati: The manner in which a company supplying drinking water pumpsets for a rural development scheme in Assam allegedly skinned the public exchequer of more than Rs 75lakh raises the question of what the top PHE officials and the PHE Minister Dinesh Prasad Goala were doing over the past one year, and whether they were involved, unknowingly or otherwise, in the scam. It may be mentioned here that the Chief Engineer, PHE, Assam had floated a tender in December 2002 for purchase of hand pumps to supply drinking water to rural areas and weaker sections of society under the PM Assurance Scheme. M/S Ajay Industrial Corporation, a Delhi-based firm, bagged the contract to

supply the 13,003 pumps required. The rates quoted by the firm of their "Direct Action Hand Pumps" then included excise duty of 8 per cent. However, in the Union Budget of 2003-04, hand pumps were exempted from excise duty under notification no. 37/2003 dated April 30, 2003.

GTAC trading: E-auction has a glitch, resumes on July 1:

Guwahati: The newly-installed online auction system at the Guwahati Tea auction Centre (GTAC) malfunctioned on the very second day of bidding, leaving buyers fuming at the technical glitch and raising a question mark against the reliability of the multi-crore rupees system. It may be recalled here that the online system started off on June 21. In this system, the buyers, sellers and brokers can visit the auction part of the India Tea Portal website, in order to place bids. The first day had seen the GTAC selling 29,250 kg of CTC tea worth more than Rs 24 lakh.

ONGC bandh on July 1 over Canadian takeover of field:

Guwahati: A last ditch effort to avert the proposed ONGC bandh on July 1, called by the ONGC Workers' Association against the reported move to hand over the Amguri oil field in Sivasagar to a Canadian company, CANARO, has failed to yield any result. The president of the All India Petroleum Workers' Federation and the ONGC Workers' association, Promode Gogoi said, "the proposals put forward by us through the Regional Labour Commissioner (TLC) were not agreed to by the ONGC authorities. We will go along with our agitational programme as declared earlier". The Amguri oil field is to be handed over to the foreign company on July 1 by the ONGC (Assam Asset) authorities of Nazira, against which the bandh has been called. Organisational preparation for the proposed bandh has been completed, he said.

Ripun asks for more Central assistance:

Guwahati: Minister of State for Panchayat and Rural development, Ripun Bora has asked the Centre to provide Rs 100 crore as infrastructural assistance to strengthen the panchayati raj institutions in the state. He also asked for an additional Rs 5,718 crore for the completion of the PMGSY road projects in the State.

Elephants give city troops torrid time:

Guwahati: Troops at the Army's 51 Sub-Area Cantonment in Narengi here have sought the Forest Department's help to end the havoc created by wild pachyderms. Army sources told on June 30 that three wild elephants come every night to the cantonment from the nearby Amchang forests and destroy their foodstuff. This has been almost a routine for the past two decades, the sources said and added that the intensity of the damage had been increasing during the past three years. It may be mentioned here that the cantonment is located between two forests- Amchang and South Amchang- and was set up immediately after the Chinese invasion in 1962. The distance between the two forests will be hardly a kilometre and the forest areas are separated by the Sub-area, tea gardens and human settlements.

Assam train drivers pray to keep jumbos away:

Guwahati: As hundreds of passengers jostled with one another to broad a train at the station here, rail driver S. Das was busy invoking the gods for a safe journey- protected from separatists and wild animals. For about 10 minutes, Das was in deep meditation inside the engine, totally oblivious of the din and bustle in the station at Guwahati. "After all, we need the blessings of the almighty so that nothing untoward happens on the way", Das said as he smeared some sandalwood paste on his forehead after the prayers.

Back issues - July '04 - vedanti News/… · Web viewNews on 31st July '04 . ... Mithias Tudu,...

Documents

Transcript of Back issues - July '04 - vedanti News/… · Web viewNews on 31st July '04 . ... Mithias Tudu,...