Page 42 - Assam

Mizoram CM to meet Assam counterpart this month to discuss border issues

Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma is likely to meet his Assam counterpart Himanta Biswa Sarma this month to discuss border issues between the two states, an official said here on Monday. A discussion between them is expected during the North Eastern Council (NEC) plenary session to be held in Meghalaya's capital Shillong on January 19, he said. "The two leaders will discuss the border issues to resolve the long-standing dispute between the two states," the official said. The proposed NEC plenary session will be chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Mizoram shares a 164.6 km-long border with Assam. The dispute had taken an ugly turn in July 2021 when police forces of the two states exchanged fire along the inter-state boundary, leading to the death of six policemen and a civilian from Assam. More than 60 people were also injured in the violent clash that took place in the disputed area near Mizoram's Vairengte village. The two states have held several rounds of talks since the

Assam declares Jan 22 as dry day to mark Ayodhya's Ram temple consecration

The Assam government has declared January 22 as a "dry day" as the consecration of Ram temple will take place in Ayodhya on that day, a minister said. Addressing a press conference after a cabinet meeting chaired by CM Himanta Biswa Sarma here on Sunday, Tourism Minister Jayanta Malla Baruah said, "To commemorate the inauguration of Ram temple, the Assam government has decided to declare January 22 as a dry day." Prime Minister Narendra Modi, scores of chief ministers from NDA-ruled states and more than 6,000 people are scheduled to attend the ceremony in Ayodhya. The cabinet also decided to increase the financial and administrative powers of three development councils for Mising, Rabha Hasong and Tiwa communities. "We will send a proposal to the Centre to secure more funds for these councils," Baruah said. The government also approved a financial package under an existing scheme for women registered under self-help groups (SHGs). "This will be a support to entrepreneur women for

Assam's 'Super 30' to get trained by Army for recruitment as officers

Over 30 students from across Assam, selected through a rigorous process, will start preparing from Monday to join the armed forces as officers under an initiative led by the Indian Army, officials said. This will be the second such program to be rolled out in the state, with another started late last year, they said. The 'Super 30' program to motivate youths from the state to enroll as officers in the armed forces is supported by the state government and undertaken in collaboration with NGO National Integrity and Educational Development Organisation (NIEDO), defence spokesperson Lt Col Mahendra Rawat said. While the first program was started in Dibrugarh in November last year, the second one will begin in Tamulpur on Monday. "There is a sizeable presence of youths from Assam in the lower ranks but officer-level personnel are very few. This program has been conceptualised by the Eastern Command of the Indian Army to motivate and enable talented students to join the armed forces as .

Rhinos return to Assam's Laokhowa-Burachapori sanctuaries after 40 years

Rhinos have returned to Laokhowa and Burachapori wildlife sanctuaries of Assam, 40 years after the population of pachyderms in the area was wiped out due to poaching, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said. These protected areas had also witnessed human encroachment over the years, which was cleared by the authorities last year, a forest official said. "Happy to share that after 40 years our iconic Rhinos have returned to Laokhowa and Burachapori. They have returned within 1 year of our successful anti-encroachment operation in the region," Sarma wrote on X. A total of 51.7 sq km of forest cover has been retrieved through eviction drives in 2023, he said on Friday. Kaziranga National Park (KNP) Director Sonali Ghosh said two rhinos have been spotted in the Laokhowa-Burachapori wildlife sanctuaries, which are part of 'Greater Kaziranga', after almost a gap of 40 years. She said the Laokhowa-Burachapori forest in Nagaon district had a population of 45-50 rhinos till 1983. "They we

Vehicles to stay off roads in Assam as 48-hour transport strike begins

Commercial vehicles and other modes of public transport stayed off the roads in most parts of Assam on Friday, owing to a 48-hour strike called by a joint forum of transporters' unions to protest against the new penal law on hit-and-run cases. Office-goers had a difficult time reaching their workplaces as buses, taxis and app cabs didn't ply, abiding by the strike call. "The government only wants to blame drivers for any unfortunate incident even if they may not have committed the crime. Instead of improving road conditions, they are penalising the poor drivers," said Ramen Das, the convenor of Assam Motor Worker Associations' Joint Platform. "The new law on hit-and-run cases is anti-drivers and is against owners of vehicles. We call for a strike of all vehicles from 5 am on Friday to 5 am on Sunday to press for our demand for withdrawal of the legislation," Das said. Talks with officials of the state government on Thursday night failed to make any headway, he added. Under the ...

Assam got record investment proposal of over Rs 11,000 cr in 2023: CM Sarma

Assam received a record investment proposal worth over Rs 11,000 crore in 2023 through which more than 10,000 jobs are expected to be created, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has said. The chief minister said here on Thursday that a conducive environment for investment was created in 2023 and during the "landmark year", the state's industrial landscape changed under the Industrial and Investment Policy of Assam (Amendment), 2023. "In 2023, Assam saw a record investment proposal of over Rs 11,000 crore with proposed generation of more than 10,000 jobs due to our path-breaking customised incentive policy," Sarma said. Under the new industrial policy, customised incentives were offered for mega projects which have a minimum investment of Rs 100 crore and a minimum of 200 permanent employees. The highlights of the scheme in 2023 are a total of 17 investors, a proposed investment of Rs 11,753.7 crore, a proposed capital investment of Rs 8,775.5 crore and proposed generation of 10,906

Assam: Transporters calls 2 day strike against new laws on hit-and-run

Movement of all commercial vehicles in Assam is likely to come to a halt as a joint forum of all transporters' unions called for a strike for 48 hours from Friday to protest against the new penal law on hit-and-run cases. Multiple associations of public transport, including buses, cabs and autos, goods carriers and fuel tankers, have joined hands and announced their participation in the agitation. "The government only wants to blame drivers for any unfortunate incident even if they may not have committed the crime. Instead of improving road conditions, they are penalising the poor drivers," said Ramen Das, the convenor of Assam Motor Worker Associations' Joint Platform. He said no driver intentionally commits a fatal accident and many times, the fault is of others involved in mishaps. "The new law on hit-and-run cases is anti-driver and is against owners of vehicles. We call for a strike of all vehicles from 5 am on Friday to 5 am on Sunday to press our demand for withdrawal of the

12 killed in bus-truck collision in Assam, PM Modi condoles deaths

At least 12 people were killed and around 30 others injured on Wednesday in a head-on collision between a coal-laden truck and a bus in Golaghat district of Assam, police said. The accident took place at Balijan near Dergaon this morning when the bus with 45 people on board collided with the goods vehicle, Golaghat Superintendent of Police Rajen Singh told PTI. The bus was heading towards Upper Assam when the incident occurred. "As of now, 12 people have been killed. The injured have been sent to a hospital," he said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the loss of lives in the accident, and announced an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh each to the next of kin of the deceased, and Rs 50,000 each for the injured people. "Pained by the loss of lives due to a road mishap in Golaghat, Assam. Condolences to the bereaved families. May the injured recover at the earliest. The local administration is providing all possible assistance to those affected," the Prime Minister's Office said in a post

Best of BS Opinion: A difficult mandate, Accord and discord & more

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Centre to exempt Aadhaar-payment to MGNREGA workers in some cases

Work demand drops for a second month in Dec

Assam CM flags off 200 green buses from Guwahati to curb pollution

State Transport Minister Parimal Suklabaidya also attended the flag-off ceremony of 200 AC E-buses

ULFA signs peace accord with Centre, Assam govt to join mainstream

The pro-talks faction of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) on Friday signed a peace accord with the central and Assam governments agreeing to shun violence and join the mainstream. The agreement, signed in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, came after 12 years of unconditional negotiations between the ULFA faction led by Arabinda Rajkhowa and the government, officials said. The peace pact is expected to end decades old insurgency in Assam. However, the hardline faction of the ULFA headed by Paresh Baruah is not part of the agreement. Baruah is believed to be residing at a place along the China-Myanmar border. The ULFA was formed in 1979 with the demand for a "sovereign Assam". Since then, it has been involved in subversive activities that led to the central government declaring it a banned outfit in 1990. The Rajkhowa faction joined peace talks with the government on September 3, 2011, after an agreement for Suspens

Assam invites applications for over 10000 vacancies in education sector

The education ministry of Assam releases an advertisement for about 14,223 school teacher posts across the state. Assam CM says state creating over 1 lakh jobs in the sector

NPP forming govt, border issues, ethnic strife sum up 2023 for Meghalaya

Electoral activities dominated the early part of 2023 in Meghalaya, where the National People's Party formed government with support of the BJP, as the year also remained witness to an MLA's defiant fast over a reservation policy, interstate border issues and ethnic strife. Led by its charismatic young leader Conrad K Sangma, the NPP bagged 26 seats in the 60-member House, seven more than what the party had managed in the 2018 assembly polls. The NPP got another shot in the arm in May, when the People's Democratic Front (PDF), along with two MLAs, merged with it, increasing the ruling party's tally to 28. Despite Prime Minister Narendra Modi and top central ministers campaigning for the BJP, the saffron party could only retain the two seats it had won in 2018. The Opposition Congress and the TMC secured five seats each, while the newly floated Voice of the People Party (VPP) won four. Within months of formation of the new government, VPP chief Ardent Basaiawmoit began a fast that

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Earthquake of magnitude 3.4 jolts Assam's Tezpur, no casualties reported

An earthquake of 3.4 magnitude hit Assam's Tezpur in the early hours on Wednesday, said National Center for Seismology.The earthquake occured at 5:55 am IST (Indian Standard Time) at a depth of 20km. The epicentre of the quake was located at 42km east of Tezpur."Earthquake of Magnitude:3.4, Occurred on 27-12-2023, 05:55:35 IST, Lat: 26.70 & Long: 93.22, Depth: 20 Km ,Location: 42km E of Tezpur, Assam, India", the National Center for Seismology posted on X.No casualties were reported in the earthquake.Earlier this month, an earthquake of magnitude 3.5 hit Assam's Guwahati.

Tripartite peace accord between ULFA, Centre, Assam govt likely on Dec 29

A tripartite accord is likely to be signed on December 29 between the pro-talks faction of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), and the central and Assam governments, aiming to bring a lasting peace in the northeastern state, sources said on Tuesday. Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and over a dozen top leaders of the pro-talks faction of the ULFA, headed by Arabinda Rajkhowa, will be present at the signing of the peace agreement here. The accord will take care of a host of long-standing political, economic and social issues concerning Assam, besides providing cultural safeguards and land rights to the indigenous people, the sources privy to the development said. The hardline faction of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), led by Paresh Baruah, will not be part of the agreement as he has been consistently rejecting the olive branch offered by the government. Two top leaders of the Rajkhowa group -- Anup Chetia and Sashdhar Choudh

Accelerated development in Assam due to govt initiatives: CM Himanta

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has asserted that the state is witnessing accelerated development, with government initiatives fueling the growth. He expressed confidence that Assam will be among the top states in the country within a few years if this pace of development is maintained. Sarma was speaking after inaugurating projects worth Rs 114.17 crore in Jagiroad in Morigaon district on Sunday. Addressing a public gathering, he said the government was on track to fulfilling its promises, including providing jobs to one lakh youths. Among other measures are providing loan without mortgages to youths under the Chief Minister's Atmanirbhar Asom Abhijan. With the aim of ushering in a movement of inclusive financial empowerment, an amount of Rs 10,000 each shall be credited to the accounts of the 40-lakh members of self-help groups, the CM added. He said the accelerated development is also owing to an environment that keeps strifes and strikes at bay. "Another 10 years wi

Assam cabinet approves township policy to ensure planned urban development

The Assam cabinet has approved the state township policy for ensuring systematic and planned urban development in the state. The policy will regulate and guide the growth of urban areas in an organised manner, thereby cutting down exploitation of resources, Health and Family Welfare Minister Keshab Mahanta said at a media briefing after the cabinet meeting on Thursday. The council of ministers gave its nod to the notification of the Assam State Township Policy, 2023 for "implementation across the state for ensuring systematic and planned urban development", he said. The policy will ensure that essential services such as roads, healthcare facilities and others are adequately planned and implemented through private capital investment. It will also address the need for affordable housing within the townships with provisions for regulation and incentivisation of such projects, he said. The cabinet also green-lighted the draft Guwahati Central Area Local Area Plan (LAP) within the ...

130,000 CM Awas Yojana houses to be built in rural areas: Ashok Singhal

The state cabinet has decided to conduct a comprehensive socio-economic assessment of Assam's indigenous minorities