Bhogdoi Drinking Water Supply Project: A serious health hazard

Bhogdoi Drinking Water Supply Project: A serious health hazard

(Woes of Bhogdoi Part-2)

British era filters still in use

From our Correspondent

JORHAT, July 29: Bhogdoi Water Supply Project of Jorhat Municipal Board (JMB), the oldest water supply project of the town, has turned into a serious health hazard. Thanks to human interference, the Bhogdoi river located at Puja Dubi area of the town has been polluted beyond limits.

According to information received from JMB authorities, the Bhogdoi Water Supply Project was constructed during the British colonial rule in the country and is currently using the same age-old filter. The project provides drinking water to more than 1,200 people of the town, sources said. But, surprisingly, no major renovation project have been taken up so far.

This apart, thousands of people residing on the bank of the river have been throwing their garbage to the river since decades. As a result, the siltation of the river is on the rise for the last few years and the breadth of the river is also decreasing. Moreover, many people residing on the embankment have fixed their toilet outlets to the river at a very short distance from where the drinking water project lies right under the very nose of the district administration as well as the JMB authority.

Therefore, questions are being raised as to how the concerned authorities can allow such unhygienic water supply to provide potable water to the people living here? Why the Water Resources Department and the district administration have been playing the role of a mute spectator on these illegal activities?

It has been alleged that, thousands of people including a large number of suspected illegal migrants have been residing illegally at Puza Dubi on the bank of the river. JMB chairman Prasanta Bora also admitted to the facts and said many people are illegally residing on the bank of Bhogdoi river and have been polluting it.

THE SENTINEL

AGP hits back at BJP

AGP hits back at BJP

By our Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, July 27: At a time when the AGP-BJP electoral understanding in the 2011 Assembly elections in the State is under cloud, the AGP today hit back at the national party and asked it not to make any comment on the regional party vis-a-vis the issue of Bangladeshis living illegally in the State.

Two BJP leaders — P Chandra Shekhar and Tapir Gao — said at a rally at Golaghat yesterday that the AGP took a stand in favour of Bangladeshis illegally staying in the State. Reacting to the statement made by the two BJP leaders, AGP chief spokesman Atul Bora today said: “The two BJP leaders have no knowledge on the history of Assam and the Assam Agitation, and as such they have no right to make any comment against the AGP on the issue of illegal Bangladeshis. When the BJP-led NDA was in power at the Centre, the AGP was in power at Dispur. However, due to lack of support from the Central Government, the State Government couldn’t implement the Assam Accord.” THE SENTINEL

Former minister likely to be reinducted in Tripura Cabinet

Former minister likely to be reinducted in Tripura Cabinet

Agartala, July 26: Former Tripura Food and Minority Affairs Minister Sahid Chowdhury, who resigned in April 2008 following a controversy over his alleged links with a Bangladeshi arms dealer, is likely to be included in the cabinet, party sources said here today.

“The court has not found any proof against Chowdhury about so-called links with a Bangladeshi arms dealer. Hence, there is no bar on inducting him in the cabinet,” Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) State secretary Bijon Dhar told IANS.

However, Dhar, also a member of the CPI-M Central Committee, said: “No decision was yet taken to include Chowdhury in the ministry headed by Chief Minister Manik Sarkar.”

Chowdhury, a prominent CPI-M Muslim leader, was elected to the State Assembly in the last Assembly polls on February 23, 2008 from the Boxanagar assembly constituency in west Tripura for the third time and became cabinet minister in March in that year for the first time.

A court in Tripura on May 24 this year sentenced Bangladeshi arms dealer Mamun Mian (49), arrested in March 2008 for suspected links with terrorists, to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 1,00,000 on him for forging identity-documents.

The court found Mamun guilty of forging voter’s identity card, ration card, PAN card, driving licence and other documents used for identification. According to police, a resident of Pallabi on the outskirts of the Bangladesh capital, Dhaka, Mamun entered India along with two associates in 2007 and was staying with forged documents as Suman Majumder at a rented house in Agartala.

Mamun was arrested for his involvement in anti-India activities and trafficking arms and explosives. “I had resigned from the council of ministers for the investigation to take place smoothly and to uphold the moral values of politics,” Chowdhury said, adding that all allegations against him about links with Mamun were totally baseless and unfounded. (IANS)

Naga peace talks today

NEW DELHI: A day before resuming formal talks with the Centre, general secretary of the Naga insurgent group NSCN(IM), T Muivah, on Friday met home minister P Chidambaram and discussed with him issues related to the Naga peace process.

Muivah, who met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday, is also understood to have apprised Chidambaram about his nearly one-and-a-half-month long peace mission across Nagaland and its outcome.

The issue of his failed trip to his ancestral village in Manipur is also said to have figured in the nearly hour-long meeting.

"A crucial round of talks between NSCN(IM) and Centre's interlocutor R S Pandey will begin here on Saturday to carry forward the peace process. A few rounds of informal talks had taken place last week," said an official.

Undertaking the peace mission that began in the first week of June, Muivah visited all the districts of Nagaland except Mon and called for reconciliation and understanding among the Nagas based on the principle of "forget and forgive" to present a unified voice before the central government.

So far, over 60 rounds of peace talks have been held between the two sides during the course of the 13-year-long peace process initiated in August 1997.

TOI

‘Congress fomenting communal trouble to retain its vote bank’

‘Congress fomenting communal trouble to retain its vote bank’

By our Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, July 23: Taking a serious note of the recent Barpeta incident, noted lawyer Nekibur Zaman has alleged that the ruling Congress is trying to keep its Bangladeshi vote bank intact by creating communal disturbance over the issue of update of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in the State.

Talking to The Sentinel today, Zaman said the State Government was even using district administration to foment communal disturbance for its narrow political gains.

At least four persons were killed and over 50 injured in Barpeta town on Wednesday when the police opened fire on activists of the All Assam Minority Students’ Union (AAMSU) when they went berserk in protest against the NRC update exercise.

“If updating of the NRC is completed, the issue of Bangladeshis who came to the State after 1971 will be settled and the Congress will not get their votes. So the Congress is trying to create communal disturbance in order to stop the work on the NRC update. Since these migrants are drifting towards AIUDF and other regional parties, the Congress is desperate to retain its traditional vote bank. By creating such disturbance as in Barpeta, the Congress would try to give the impression that the party is with them and they need not worry,” said the lawyer.

Zaman said, “In fact, the State Government can’t stop the update of the NRC that takes place under the supervision of the Centre.’’

“During the recent rally organized by the Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) in Guwahati, barricades were set up in different places and security personnel deployed on the roads. The KMSS protesters were kept at a distance from the office of the Kamrup Deputy Commissioner. Why weren’t similar security arrangements made for the AAMSU rally in Barpeta?” asked Zaman.

He said, “The Barpeta district administration did not take any step to control the AAMSU rally that covered seven kilometres from Howli to Barpeta. Why were the AAMSU activists allowed to come near the office of the Barpeta Deputy Commissioner? Why did the district administration wait till the situation went out of control?”

THE SENTINEL

Stray violence mars AAMSU Assam bandh

GUWAHATI, July 22 – Incidents of firing and road blockades were reported today from minority-dominated areas of lower Assam during a state-wide bandh called by minority students to protest the death of four activists in a police firing, reports PTI.

During the 12-hour bandh called by the All Assam Minority Students Union, armed protesters attempted to block a road connecting Sonitpur district with upper Assam and fired at the police at Poruwa Chariali area in Tezpur, police said.

Police picked up some bandh supporters who attempted to close shops at Baruah Chowk and Garowaripatty areas in Tezpur.

The Army was alerted to assist the administration in minority-dominated areas in Sonitpur district if the situation worsened, officials said.

Our Correspondents add:

BARPETA: The call for Assam bandh today in protest against the killing of four persons in firing by the security forces yesterday in Barpeta during an agitational programme evoked partial response in Barpeta district.

Though the shops and business establishments in some minority-dominated areas were closed, there was no effect at all in other areas. The bandh did not have any influence in Barpeta town where all thebusiness establishments were open and State Government offices functioned normally.

However, communication in the district came to a grinding halt as all types of vehicles were off the road. Bandh supporters blocked the road in several places harassing the commuters. One Kamal Deka of village Byaskuchi was attacked by the bandh supportes in Khongra on the Barpeta-Daulashal road when he was going to Guwahati by motorcycle . He was injured in the attack requiring hospitalisation and the motorcycle was also badly damaged.

In another incident a police vehicle was attacked in Goroimari on the same road under Sarthebari Police Station by the bandh supporters . The police had to open fire in the air to disperse the violent mob. Though there is tension in all over the district, there is no any further untoward incident till filing of this report.

Meanwhile in yet another incident, a group of AAMSU activists burnt effigies of Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, MP Ismail Hussain, Congress leaders Sukur Khan and Abdul Khalek and SP of Barpeta Debajyoti Mukharjee at Bahari Bazar alleging failure of the government and theadministration.

Mangaldoi: The 12-hour Assam bandh called today by AAMSU in protest against the Barpeta police firing evoked partial response in Darrang distrct.

The bandh was total in minority-dominated Dhula, Kharupetia end Dalgaon areas but failed to have impact in other parts of the district including district headquarters Mangaldoi.

Vehicles on the NH-52 were seen plying under police escort. There have been no reports of any untoward incidents till filing of this report.

Srirampur: The 12-hour Assam bandh called by AAMSU in protest against the killing of four AAMSU activists at Barpeta yesterday, passed off peacefully in Gossaigaon subdivision.

However, in a stray incident of violence the bandh supporters set ablaze a motorcycle (WB-70B-0744) at Padmabil under Gossaigaon PS. Gossaigaon police later arrested four bandh supporters.

Kalgachia: Called in protest against the unprovoked killing of four AAMSU supporters by the police at Barpeta the 12-hour Assam bandh was widely observed in and around Kalgachia area.

During the bandh, government offices, financial institutions and shops remained closed. However, there were no reports of any untoward incidents.

On the other hand, effigies of Barpeta DC, SP and AASU adviser were burnt at Balagaon Chariali by the supporters of AAMSU today at 10.30 am.

Assam Tribune

Shillong 'safe haven' of Myanmarese smuggling arms

Shillong 'safe haven' of Myanmarese smuggling arms

Shillong, July, 23 (IANS): Myanmarese nationals have made Shillong as their "rendezvous point" for arms transaction with Northeast rebels, a top intelligence official said on Thursday.

A central intelligence agency has recently alerted the Meghalaya Police of former 'captain' of Chin National Army (CNA), Tialkulhtang, of smuggling arms and ammunition from Mandalay in Myanmar. Chin are an ethnic group of Myanmmar.

"Tialkulhtang, a known arms smuggler, is in the process of smuggling consignment of arms and ammunition meant for some rebel groups operating in the region," the intelligence official told IANS on condition of anonymity.

Tialkulhtang is believed to be operating from somewhere here in Shillong.

The arms are likely to enter India through Mizoram via Siakhumphaivaphai area of Champai district, he added.

India shares a 1,600-km unfenced border with Myanmar. The porous international borders, thick with forests, along the northeastern States of Assam, Mizoram, Nagaland, Manipur and Tripura have been used by the illegal weapons syndicate to smuggle small and mediumarms and ammunition, besides explosives, to northeastern militant groups.

"These Burmese Mizo (read Myanmarese ethnic Chin) have made Shillong as their safe haven taking advantage of tribal Indian Mizo identity who have settled here," a senior Meghalaya Police requesting anonymity, said.

The police official, however, claimed that a number of Myanmarese Chin arms smugglers have been arrested from Shillong.

When IANS asked, Inspector General of Border Security Force (BSF) R.C. Saxena said that there are some "elements of CNA hiding here in Shillong" and the security agencies are on their look out.

"We are trying to find out if any of the members are hiding here in the region," Saxena said.

An intelligence official said: "Many of these militants from Myanmar maintain a good relation with northeast groups and they are getting protection for procurement ofarms and ammunition."

The official further added that although it is unclear where the arms and ammunition would land it is certain that talks are on for a possible transaction in this regard.

Most of the weapons, including AK-47 and AK-56 assault rifles, mortars, 40 mm rocket launchers, pistols, revolvers and grenades come via the Arakans - a mountainous area in Myanmar - from parts of Thailand and Cambodia, he added.

The arms consignments are often routed by sea through the Bay of Bengal to its destination in the Arakan forest in Myanmar, which is across Mizoram, before making their way to rebel groups active in the northeast.

The area is controlled by Arakan insurgent groups opposed to the military junta in Yangon.

Intelligence officials in the region have confirmed the presence of sophisticated range of weapons with militant groups in the northeast, including surface-to-air missiles.

AASU demands 100% quota for locals in Group C, D posts

AASU demands 100% quota for locals in Group C, D posts

Lack of definition of ‘indigenous people of Assam’ resented

By our Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, July 20: The Centre today assured the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) of considering its demand for constitutional and political safeguard to the indigenous people of the State. The AASU leaders resented the State Government’s failure to define “indigenous people of Assam” at the meeting. The Assam Government team that took part at the meeting, however, said that the definition would be finalized soon.

Tripartite talks involving leaders of the students’ union and top-level officials of the Centre and the State Government were held in Guwahati today.

After the three-hour-long meeting, AASU advisor Samujjal Bhattacharya said: “We raised the demand for 100 per cent reservation of all Group C and D posts in all boards and Central and semi-central agencies that have offices in the State for indigenous candidates. There should be reservation for indigenous people of the State. We, however, don’t want to disturb the existing SC and ST reservation pattern in the State. We want reservation for local candidates only in places where there are no reservation for ST and ST candidates.”

The AASU leader said: “We have raised the demand for 100 per cent reservation of jobs for indigenous candidates in the Brahmaputra Cracker and Polymer Limited (BCPL), and the demand has received a response from the Central team. The Central team assured us that both the BCPL and the Bogibeel Bridge would be completed by 2012.”

The AASU leader further said that they had raised the demand for preservation of all xatras and other historical monuments of the State. “All encroachers of xatra lands should be evicted soon, and this demand got a positive response from the Central team,” he said, and added: “We have raised the demand for revival of Ashok Paper Mill, and the State Cabinet will take a decision in this regard within two months. We also raised the demand for double railway tracks in the State, and the Central team assured us of taking up the matter with the Railway Ministry.”

On the demand for according national problem status to floods and erosion in the State, Bhattacharya said: “We have raised the matter yet again. The Central team assured us that they would take up the matter with the Ministry of Water Resources. They also gave an assurance on our demand for visit to erosion-affected areas of the State by a Central team. They also agreed to take up the release of water by Bhutan from its Kurichu dam without any prior information.”

According to the AASU leader, they also submitted the expert committee report on mega dams to the Central team.

While the students’ body was represented by its president Sankar Prasad Rai, general secretary Tapan Kumar Gogoi, advisor Samujjal Bhattacharya and Professor Basanta Deka, the Central team was headed by Joint Commissioner of Home Affairs Navin Verma and the State Government by Home Commissioner Jishnu Baruah.

The Sentinel

AICC worried over Akhil’s allegations

AICC worried over Akhil’s allegations

From our Correspondent

NEW DELHI, July 19: The All India Congress Committee (AICC) is worried over the latest political developments in Assam. Top AICC leaders are of the view that the Tarun Gogoi-led Congress-BPF government in Assam is a popular government and that the Congress is all set to make it to Dispur yet again, but the latest developments pertaining to the multi-crore-rupee NC Hills scam and the startling revelations made by Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) general secretary Akhil Gogoi against State Health and Family Welfare Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has disturbed the party high command.

An anti-Tarun Gogoi lobby has always been active in New Delhi, and the latest developments in Assam, including the NC Hills scam and Akhil Gogoi’s allegations against Himanta Biswa Sarma, has made the lobby resume its tirade against the Chief Minister and his trusted lieutenant Himanta Biswa Sarma. A section of Congress leaders from Assam has already met party president Sonia Gandhi’s political secretary Ahmed Patel on the latest situation in Assam. According to sources, some leaders belonging to the anti-Gogoi lobby have also been sending reports of day-to-day developments in Assam, ranging from NC Hills scam to the KMSS’ revelations against Himanta Biswa Sarma, to party general secretary Rahul Gandhi.

Senior AICC leader Motilal Vohra said: “The AICC continues to keep itself informed of the day-to-day happenings in all Congress-ruled States, and what is happening in Assam is in the knowledge of the AICC.’’

A lobby against Tarun Gogoi has been active from Dispur to Delhi, and that lobby is very active now. The lobby includes former MP Kirip Chaliha, Dwijen Sarma, Bishnu Prasad, Sarat Barkataky, Ardhendu Dey, Bhubaneswar Kalita and MP Silvius Condpan, sources said.

“Preparations for Assam Assembly elections will be started after the polls in Bihar. The AICC had the notion that the Tarun Gogoi-led government in Assam would be able to make it to Dispur again, but the latest developments in the State where the Opposition has put the ruling party in an awkward position is a disturbing development and the AICC is worried,’’ Vohra said.

The main Opposition parties, on the other hand, are ready to raise the issue of corruption in Assam and the allegations brought against Himanta Biswa Sarma in the summer session of Parliament. “The issue of corruption in Assam and the allegations brought by KMSS leader Akhil Gogoi against a minister will be raised in Parliament. We will put pressure on the government to bring corruption in Assam and the allegations of Akhil Gogoi under the purview of a CBI probe,” CPI(M) parliamentary party leader Basudev Acharya said.

Naga students in Manipur force shutdown

Naga students in Manipur force shutdown

Senapati (Manipur), July 15: A 72-hour shutdown called by the All Naga Students’ Association of Manipur (ANSAM) in protest over alleged suppression of their rights by the Manipur Government brought normal life to a halt in Manipur’s Senapati district.

“We take up this on-going agitation in protest against the arrest warrant issued against the Naga leaders by the Manipur Government for no fault of theirs. The way and the manner in which the government treated our leaders like criminals is very unfortunate. We feel the only option is to demonstrate our resentment,” said Apem, General Secretary, ANSAM.

The locals are supporting the shutdown call and complaining that the attitude of the state government is step-motherly towards the Naga people. “We totally support the shutdown, because we are against the communal government, which is of Manipur, and their attitude towards the Naga

Nagaland to mobilize communities to boost education

Nagaland to mobilize communities to boost education

Kohima, July 14: The Nagaland Government has communitised all elementary schools, under the Department of School Education, in both rural and urban areas from February 4, 2004 following the enactment of the Nagaland Communitisation of Public Institutions and Services Act on April 15, 2002.

According to the official report of the Department of School Education after the enactment of the Act, initially the Department had communitised a total of 205 elementary schools covering 90 villages in 2002 as a pilot project. In the second phase, 197 schools covering 128 villages were communitised in 2003.

Buoyed by positive response of the community, the Nagaland government had communitised all elementary schools from February 4, 2004. Altogether there are 1,778 communitised elementary schools covering both rural and urban areas under the management and supervision of 118 Village Education Committee (VEC), constituted by selecting members from the area where the school is situated.

Under the initiative of VEC, the community had been taking an important part in academic and development works by sponsoring additional private teachers to solve the problem of shortage of teachers. Some of the VEC had set up free coaching and remedial classes to help weak students. The report said initiatives had been taken by the VEC in imparting vocational training to school children by engaging them in folklore, folksongs and dances and customary law practices.

To ensure active participation of the community in the implementation of communitisation and Sarva Shikshya Abhiyan (SSA) programme, the department had formulated an action plan for community mobilisation. As part of the first step towards implementation of the action plan on community mobilisation programme, the department imparted resource persons training on communitisation of elementary education, the report said. (UNI)

21 of 116 IAS officers in State have cases

21 of 116 IAS officers in State have cases

Twenty-one of the 116 IAS officers in the State have cases against them from 2002 to 2010, and inquiry is going on against them. Replying to a question from Independent MLA Pranab Kalita, Administrative Reforms Minister Dr Bhumidhar Barman said: “The State has 116 IAS officers, and 67 of them are from outside the State. Twenty-one of the 116 IAS officers have cases for corruption, violation of rules,

BJP preparing vision document on highways in Northeast

BJP preparing vision document on highways in Northeast

Agartala, July 12: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will prepare a vision document for the appropriate management and use of national highways for better connectivity in the mountainous northeastern region, a party leader said here today.

“Mismanagement and inapt linking between the national highways and State highways caused rise in prices of all commodities and misery among the people of the northeastern region,” BJP’s northeast regional organizing secretary P Chandrasekhar Rao told reporters.

1 killed, 12 injured as NDFB rebels blow up rail track

1 killed, 12 injured as NDFB rebels blow up rail track

NDFB warns of more blasts

From our Correspondent

Gossaigaon July 8: A six-year-old child was killed and twelve others were injured, two of them seriously, when the engine and five coaches of the Kolkata-bound Garib Rath Express, a passenger train, jumped the rails after rebels from the anti-talk faction of the NDFB triggered off a blast on the railway track at Babubil under Gossaigaon subdivision in Kokrajhar district today.

Sikkim to have EVM monitoring by CCTV

STAFF WRITER 0:25 HRS IST

Gangtok, July 7 (PTI) Sikkim would be the first state to have round-the-clock CCTV monitoring of electronic voting machines (EVM) in the strong rooms after polls.

"This will be possible with a system being put in place by the end of July to have a month-long video recording facility of the EVMs using CCTV," Chief Electoral Officer V B Pathak told reporters yesterday.

It will ensure protection against tampering of EVMs and bring more transparency to the electoral system, he said.

Pathak said that EVMs have now been kept at the strong rooms of State Election Office and district headquarters at Namchi, Geyzing and Mangan in Sikkim.

Nagaland ministers join World Cup party in SA

Nagaland ministers join World Cup party in SA

Kohima, July 7: Soccer fever has struck Nagaland with half of the council of ministers led by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio already in South Africa and are all set for the World Cup finals in Johannesburg July 11.

Of the 12 council of ministers, six of them are on a 10-day holiday to South Africa –– Rio, Home Minister Imkong L Imchen, Planning, Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Minister TR Zeliang, Health and Family Welfare Minister Azo Nienu, Power Minister Doshehe Sema, and Agriculture minister Chumben Murry.

Besides the ministers, Parliamentary Secretary for Rural Department Pangnyu Phom and press secretary to the chief minister Abu Metha are also in the South African safari team from Nagaland. The team would make the most of the junket by visiting places of interests in South Africa apart from being at the Soccer City Stadium for the finals.

“After all the ministers are taking a break for few days,” a close aide of the chief minister told IANS requesting not to be named. But the trip has come under attack from the opposition Congress party who accused the ministers of enjoying a ‘holiday’ when the state is reeling under an acute financial burden and the budget session due later this month.

NF Rly mulls boost to train patrolling by RPF

Staff reporter

GUWAHATI, July 4 – The Northeast Frontier Railway is contemplating to increase the patrolling strength of Railway Protection Force (RPF) inside the trains running through the region.

This comes after a gang of dacoits on Saturday robbed passengers in a train in the Sivasagar district.

A meeting of the top officials of the NFR is likely to take place tomorrow where the security issue would be reviewed.

Various other issues are also expected to be discussed in the meeting.

“We had recently increased the patrolling strength and if required we would further increase the number,” sources in the NFR said.

Sources further informed that at present around four to five RPF personnel remain on duty round the clock in every train.

A senior Government Railway Police official, when asked, informed that it is high time the security arrangements not only in trains but also in railway stations were reviewed and corrective measures taken.

“At present manpower shortage is an issue that might expose the security system any time. An overhaul even in the infrastructure is needed, which should not be confined to a few stations like Guwahati,” the official pointed out.

Left keeps out of bandh in Tripura

Agartala, July 5 (IANS): The ruling Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) in Tripura did not observe a strike today against rising fuel prices, saying it had already done so June 28.

"We are not supporting or opposing Monday's strike as the Left parties have protested against the fuel prices hike through a 12-hours strike June 28," CPI-M central committee member Bijon Dhar told reporters here.

Dhar, also the CPI-M's Tripura state committee secretary, said: "Considering people's misery and various other troubles, we would not observe the strike again on the same issue within a week."

Elsewhere in India, the Left parties joined the shutdown also backed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

In Left-ruled Kerala, the response to the strike was complete while normal life was hit hard in West Bengal. However, the ruling Left parties organised demonstration across Tripura on Monday.

The BJP, which has no substantial base in the state, is the main party observing the 12-hours shutdown, which evoked a mixed response in urban as well as semi-urban areas but poor response in rural areas of Tripura.

According to an Air India official, the airline operated their flights on the Agartala-Kolkata-Guwahati-Silchar routes as usual. "But private airlines cancelled their flights," the official added.

China projects won't affect Brahmaputra water flow'

New Delhi, July 5 (IANS): China has told India it will only carry out 'run-of-the-river' projects on the Brahmaputra that will not affect the flow of water, says Water Resources Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal.

"There is intimation from China that it will only carry out run-of-the-river projects, which would not affect the flow of water from the Brahmaputra in India," Bansal told IANS in an interview.

Asked about reports of China constructing a dam over the Brahmaputra, the minister said imageries do not suggest it is building a major dam on the river. "Imageries show some activity...but it cannot be inferred that some major dam construction is under way for the purpose of diverting or impounding water," he said. The minister said China was sharing with India hydrological information concerning the Brahmaputra during the flood season.

"China is sharing hydrological information during the flood season in respect of three stations - Nugesha, Yangcun and Nuxia on the Yaluzangbu or Brahmaputra from June 1 to Oct 15. The hydrological information includes water level, discharge and rainfall and it is supplied by China twice daily," he said.

The minister said India needs intense water conservation efforts as its per capita availability has declined due to population growth and the demand for water has increased to meet the challenge of food security.

"Population growth coupled with industrialization and urbanization - the average annual availability of water resources for the country as a whole remaining unchanged - we face the challenge of meeting increased demand for water for various purposes, particularly food security," Bansal said.

He said reduction in the per capita availability of water was due to population growth and added that climate change presents yet another serious challenge. "Most studies indicate that climate change could impact waterresources in many ways such as intensification of extreme events with likely increase in intensity and frequency of floods and droughts."

The per capita availability of water in the country was 5,177 cubic metres in 1951 and fell to 1,820 cubic metres in 2001. Bansal said the government was taking steps to increase reservoir storage capacity in the country.

Bansal, who is the MP from Chandigarh, said a decline in the groundwater table was a serious concern not only in Punjab but also in other parts of the country.

Citing the results of a survey by the Central Ground Water Board in cooperation with the state governments, he said 839 out of 5,723 assessed blocks were overexploited where the stage of development of groundwater was more than 100 percent. "The overexploited blocks are spread over Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand. About 13.6 percent of the blocks are at a critical or semi-critical stage."

Bansal said his ministry was promoting rainwater harvesting, groundwater recharge and better management and regulation of water resources. Eleven states and union territories have implemented legislation to regulate groundwater, he added.

Asked about the standing committee recommendation for bringing all water- related issues under a single ministry, Bansal said a Group of Ministers (GOM) has been set up under the chairmanship of Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar for evolving an integrated strategy for water management .

Ministers of power, urban development, rural development and panchayati raj, housing and urban poverty alleviation, science and technology, earth sciences, micro, small and medium enterprises, environment and forests, water resources and the deputy chairman of the Planning Commission were its members.

On the proposed Dam Safety Bill, the minister said it had been approved by the cabinet. He hoped the bill will be introduced in the monsoon session of parliament.

Normal life affected by bandh in Assam

STAFF WRITER 14:4 HRS IST

Guwahati, July 5 (PTI) Senior BJP and CPI(M) leaders were today arrested for blocking rail and road traffic in Assam where train services were badly hit due to protests as part of the Bharat Bandh.

Markets, shops, private offices, banks and educational institutions remained closed, while attendance in government offices and secretariat here was thin, official sources said.

All privately-operated long distance and city buses kept off the roads, while the state-run Assam State Transport Corporation plied with very few passengers.

Trains were either rescheduled, controlled or regulated in view of the bandh, North-east Frontier Railway sources said.

Bandh supporters blocked train tracks and stalled Guwahati-Delhi Rajdhani Express for five hours at Rangiya railway station. Manas Express, Rhino Passenger and Rangapara Passenger were also stalled, the sources said.

Akhil Gogoi questions, Himanta replies and Riniki issues press release

Akhil Gogoi questions, Himanta replies and Riniki issues press release

Disclose details of cash, Akhil dares Himanta

By our Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, July 4: Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) secretary Akhil Gogoi today caught Assam Health and Family Welfare Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on the “wrong foot” in the manner of payment he had made while purchasing two luxurious cars costing Rs 40 lakh in the name of his five-year-old daughter Sukanya Sharma in March and April, 2008. Gogoi, also an RTI activist, dared the minister to disclose within 24 hours facts like from which bank or banks and when he had withdrawn the amount to make cash payment to two car dealers — Ghosh Brothers Automobiles and Gargia Auto Limited — or a public apology failing which he (Gogoi) would disclose all his corruption in social, political and financial spheres within two months. The RTI activist also claimed to have acquired all information regarding the misdeeds of Himanta Biswa Sarma from his political colleagues, persons whom he was protecting, and various other sources.

Akhil Gogoi questions, Himanta replies and Riniki issues press release

Disclose details of cash, Akhil dares Himanta

By our Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, July 4: Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) secretary Akhil Gogoi today caught Assam Health and Family Welfare Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on the “wrong foot” in the manner of payment he had made while purchasing two luxurious cars costing Rs 40 lakh in the name of his five-year-old daughter Sukanya Sharma in March and April, 2008. Gogoi, also an RTI activist, dared the minister to disclose within 24 hours facts like from which bank or banks and when he had withdrawn the amount to make cash payment to two car dealers — Ghosh Brothers Automobiles and Gargia Auto Limited — or a public apology failing which he (Gogoi) would disclose all his corruption in social, political and financial spheres within two months. The RTI activist also claimed to have acquired all information regarding the misdeeds of Himanta Biswa Sarma from his political colleagues, persons whom he was protecting, and various other sources.

Sikkim zoo designated for captive breeding

Correspondent

GANGTOK, July 2 – The Himalayan Zoological Park here has been carrying out captive breeding of red panda since 1999. It is learnt that the Darjeeling zoo is the coordinating zoo in respect of breeding of snow leopard. So far as red panda is concerned the Himalayan Zoological Park in Sikkim is the participating zoo under the Central Zoo Authority.

Three red panda cubs have been born in captivity at the park taking the total of red pandas in the park to an impressive eleven.

The cubs were born on June 3 and June 30, said the park’s additional director Gut Lepcha.

These pandas could hit the dozen mark with one pregnant red panda expected to deliver soon, zoo authorities informed.

Red panda, the State animal of Sikkim, figures in the Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act because of its dwindling population both in wild and in captivity.

But for the moment, the park is having an abundance of red pandas and has placed the animals in three separate enclosures. Earlier, the red pandas were kept in one single large display enclosure spreading across 1,440 sq metres.

Three male and one female red pandas have been kept at the display centre while the other red pandas and the cubs are housed in other two temporary enclosures.

“We will develop two more enclosures”, said the additional director.

“We are having good results lately. Last year, two cubs were born”, said Lepcha. He informed that the captive breeding had started with a pair of red pandas in 1999. Later, two more red pandas who had been rescued from the wild had joined the captive breeding programme.

Meghalaya faces food shortage

Correspondent

SHILLONG, July 2 – Meghalaya has sought an additional 5,500 metric tonnes of foodgrain from the Centre to meet the food shortage in the State, especially in Garo Hills districts.

Food and Civil Supply Minister Augustine D Marak admitted of acute shortage of foodgrain in the State and added: “We have sought an additional 5,500 MT of rice and wheat from the Centre”.

The Garo Hills, he added, is facing acute food shortage this year due to failure of Rabi crops due to flood.

The Minister warned hoarders and black marketeers of strong penal action for creating an artificial shortage in the State. “Stern action would be taken against those who indulge in illegal activities,” the Minister said. He said his department would have a three-tier committee for monitoring price rise in the State.

“We have a shortage of manpower in the department and therefore we are having difficulty in controlling price rice,” he added. He further urged the public to file complaint against black marketeers and hoarders.

Meghalaya has been allocated 10,843 tonnes of rice and 1,430 tonnes of wheat by the Department Food and Civil Supplies under Targeted Public Distribution System for April 2010 to March 2011. The State has to lift the food grains within 50 days of every month and furnish the mandatory utilisation certificate.

There have been allegations of pilferage of wheat in the State. Most of the fair price shops don’t supply wheat to the public under the TPDS system. The Minister said the government was in the process of computerising the TPDS system for transparency and accountability.

source:http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=jul0310/oth05

GU TDC III results declared

Staff reporter

GUWAHATI, July 2 – The results of BA, BSc, BCom part III examinations, 2010 of Gauhati University has been declared today.

While the Commerce stream got the highest pass percentage of 86.95, Science and Arts streams recorded total pass percentage of 76.79 and 62.38 respectively.

Out of total 22,312 students appearing in BA Part III (Final) examination, 13,919 were successful. 322 got first class in major subjects and 5 got first division in general subjects.

Arindita Goswami of Arya Vidyapeeth College secured highest aggregate marks amongst the successful candidates in the major course as per the result sheet from the GU authorities.

In BSc Part III examinations, 1,568 students were successful among the total 2,042, who appeared in examination. 491 students got first division in major courses, while 18 students secured first division in the general courses.

Among the major course candidates of Science stream, Sahana Bhattacharjee of Cotton College secured the highest marks.

Rajat Bhattacharjee, student of the Gauhati Commerce College got the highest aggregate marks among the major course students of Commerce stream. 2,658 students were successful from among the 3,057 students who appeared in the final examination. Among the major course students, 317 secured first division while one student got first division in the general course.

The results are available at the university websites www.gauhati.ac.in and www.idolgu.org. The results can also be obtained through SMS for which one has to type idolguroll coderoll no and send it to 56070, a press release from the office of Controller of Examinations, Gauhati University mentioned.

source:http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=jul0310/city07

Minibus operators call off stir

Staff reporter
GUWAHATI, July 2 – Following a discussion with the Transport Department on Friday, the Sadou Asom Motor Paribahan Santha, the Greater Guwahati Minibus Owners’ Association and all other associations of commercial vehicle owners have temporarily withdrawn their strike that started this morning in support of the demand for a hike in fares. Representatives of the associations attended a meeting in which Transport Commissioner Swapnanil Barua, DC, Kamrup (Metro) Prattek Hajela and SP (traffic) Bibekananda Das were present.

The associations have also decided to ply the city buses and Trekkers at the old fares till August 10, the deadline for the government to find an amicable solution to the grievances of thetransport associations.

Central executive member of Sadou Asom Motor Paribahan Santha Ajit Choudhury said that the decision to temporarily withdraw the strike of thetransport associations was taken in public interest. “The Government has assured us that all issues, including bus fare, would be resolved by August 10,” said Choudhury.

It needs to be mentioned here that private commercial vehicles went off the city roads this morning over the issue of a hike in their fares. This put the unsuspecting commuters great inconvenience.

A senior official of the Police Department informed that an ASTC bus driver was beaten up by some youths allegedly engaged by the protesting bus owners’association at the Six Mile area this morning following which the driver was admitted to a hospital.

“In areas like Adabari and Khanapara, too, some sporadic incidents were reported though the situation was brought under control due to timely intervention of the police and paramilitary forces,” he stated.

Scuffles between ASTC bus employees and passengers and the youths, allegedly engaged by the transport associations, were also reported.

Since yesterday, the city buses had been charging Rs 5 as the minimum fare in a unilateral move. The commuters had been insisting on paying Rs 3 as the minimum fare and that led to some untoward incidents between the passengers and the city bus employees.

The sudden strike by the private transporters forced many commuters, particularly the office goers, to hire auto-rickshaws at exorbitant rates. The auto rickshawoperators also were not found to be generous by the commuters. The auto-rickshaw operators took full advantage of the situation.

Ajit Choudhury said that since 2008, the associations have been submitting memorandums to the Government to consider their demand for enhancing the bus fare in view of the hikes in the prices of petroleum products. But the Government has been turning a deaf ear to the pleas of thetransport associations, Choudhury alleged.

“The minimum city bus fare was fixed in 2004. Since then the prices of petrol and diesel have been hiked several times. In 2004, the price of diesel was Rs 21.66 per litre, at present its price is Rs 38.40 per litre. The prices of all the accessories of the vehicles too have increased over these years,” said Choudhury, in his bid to justify the demand for enhancing private city buses.

Choudhury also said that the associations had served June 30 as the deadline to the Government to address its demand. “As the government did not respond, we were compelled to increase the minimum fare,” he said adding that instruction was issued to all the employees of the city buses not to get involved in altercation with the passengers if they disagreed to pay the fares at the enhanced rate.

Transport Commissioner Swapnanil Barua said that the associations have been asked to come to the fare revision committee with proper justification for their demand.

The Assam State Committee of Socialist Unity Centre of India (Communist) has condemned the act of unilateral fixation of city bus fare by the transport associations and the incidents of scuffle between the public and the transport associations’ ‘goons’.

AJYCP demands probe on Rs 3.5-crore anomalies

AJYCP demands probe on Rs 3.5-crore anomalies

From our Correspondent

JORHAT, July 1: Members of the Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuba Chatra Parishad (AJYCP), Titabor subdivision unit, took out a protest rally and staged a dharna in front of Titabor SDO office today. The parishad is demanding immediate probe on the alleged misuse of government funds worth Rs 3.5 crore released for the embankment strengthening works of Saraipani river in the Chief Minister’s home constituency, Titabor.

The organization has also submitted a memorandum addressed to the Jorhat Deputy Commissioner to take immediate steps in this regard. Titabor subdivision unit AJYCP president Debojit Hazarika and secretary Ashim Saikia said due to poor quality of construction works by the department concerned, water of Saraipani river has breached the embankment in three parts posing serious threat to hundreds of people of villages like Birinasayak, Mandalgaon, Sekuria and Madhabpur under Titabor subdivision.

Pointing at the shortsightedness and negligence on part of the officials concerned, the organization also alleged that due to inferior quality of construction work, the complete embankment strengthening fund has gone down the drains. They further alleged that the government officials have misused crores of government funds with tawdry construction work of the Saraipani bridge and reportedly siphoned off lakhs of fund money meant for the work.

They also warned the authorities concerned as well as local MLA and Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi of rigorous agitation if their demands are not met immediately.