Page 45 - Assam

PepsiCo to invest Rs 778 cr in Assam to open first food manufacturing plant

Leading beverage & food maker PepsiCo on Wednesday said it will invest Rs 778 crore to set up its first food manufacturing plant at Nalbari, in Assam. Spread over 44.2 acres, the plant is proposed to be operational in 2025 and aims to provide direct and indirect employment opportunities to 500 people from Assam, said a statement from PepsiCo. This is the first investment in the North Eastern region by the company with portfolio of beverages and food brands, including Pepsi, 7UP, Mountain Dew, Slice, Tropicana, Mirinda, Lay's, Kurkure, Uncle Chips and Quaker Oats. PepsiCo India has signed a tripartite MoU with Assam Skill Development Mission and Directorate of Employment & Craftsman training for fostering women empowerment and creating a safe and supportive work environment to enhance women employability in the region. "The plant targets to intake 100 per cent diverse talent and aiming atleast 75 per cent women representation and intends to set up its first Community Learning ..

PFC inks pact to provide Rs 1,229 cr term loan to Assam Petrochemicals

State-owned Power Finance Corporation (PFC) on Monday signed a pact to provide Rs 1,229 crore term loan to Assam Petrochemicals to implement a 500 tonnes per day methanol plant at Namrup and 200 tonnes per day formalin plant at Boitamari in Assam. "PFC and Assam Petrochemicals Ltd (APL) signed a loan agreement on September 4, 2023, for extending a term loan of Rs 1,229 crore for the implementation of 500 Tons Per Day (TPD) Methanol Plant, including their 11 MW Captive Power Plant (CPP) at Namrup and 200 TPD Formalin Plant, including their Captive 0.90 MW power plant at Boitamari in Assam at an estimated Project Cost of Rs 1,827 Crore," a PFC statement said. The 500 TPD Methanol Plant, including 11 MW CPP, was inaugurated by the Prime Minister on April 14, 2023, on completion. The project, including the 200 TPD Formalin Plant, is scheduled to commence commercial operation by March 31, 2024. The APL is a state public sector undertaking of the Government of Assam (GOA), comprising GOA

Assam CM meets Shah to discuss roadmap for complete withdrawal of Afspa

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday met Union Home Minister Amit Shah at his residence in New Delhi to discuss the roadmap for the complete withdrawal of Afspa

Assam to advertise 22,000 govt jobs in two months, says CM Himanta

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has announced that 22,000 posts will be advertised within the next two months in order to recruit one lakh people for government jobs under the present BJP-led regime. At an official function, Sarma distributed appointment letters to 514 candidates of the last Assam Direct Recruitment Examination (ADRE) to fill up vacancies in Class-III and Class-IV posts under various departments. The total number of government jobs offered till date during his term as the chief minister stands at 87,402, Sarma said. "Within a month or two, advertisements for recruitment to fill another 22,000 vacancies will be published. That will take the total number of recruitments to well above the 1-lakh promised earlier," he said on Sunday. The BJP had promised to provide one lakh government jobs in Assam during the campaigning of the 2021 assembly polls. Sarma said the decision to offer one lakh jobs to unemployed youths of Assam was ratified by the state cabinet i

Assam govt to introduce bill in state assembly to ban polygamy: CM Sarma

"We will finalize the Bill in the next 45 days. I think I will be able to introduce the Bill in the assembly in December this year", said Himanta Biswa Sarma, CM, Assam

Except Assam, north-eastern states lag CMVR implementation: Dealers' body

Barring Assam, other northeastern states are "lagging" in implementing rules about paperless and online registration of vehicles, an automobile dealers' body claimed on Saturday. It urged all states in the regions to expedite the implementation of the Central Motor Vehicle Rules (CMVR) for these online services aimed at easing the procedure for customers as well as dealers. While some states like Assam are doing commendable work in implementing CMVR, others are still lagging. It should be understood that the rules are framed to make it convenient for customers as well as for dealers, Federation of Automobile Dealers' Associations CEO Saharash Damani said at a press conference here. Sharing the status of CMVR implementation in six northeastern states, he said Assam has achieved it in all six parameters, from online issues of registration marks to digitally granting trade licences to doing away with the need for vehicles to be inspected or documents to be sent to regional transport ..

Assam flood worsens as over 300,000 people affected in 21 districts

The flood situation in Assam deteriorated on Tuesday as over three lakh people were affected by the deluge in 21 districts of the state, an official bulletin said. Several major rivers, including the Brahmaputra, continued to flow above the danger level in different parts of the state. The Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) bulletin said the number of affected districts has gone up to 21 from 17 districts the previous day. The flood-hit population has also increased to 3,07,489, with Lakhimpur district the worst-affected as 71,889 people are reeling under flood waters in the district. The other worst-hit districts are Majuli where 47,163 people have been affected and Golaghat with 40,921 affected population. The number of flood-affected people in the state was 1,90,675 on Monday. The death toll in this year's flood remained at 15 with no new casualties reported. Altogether 698 people are taking shelter in four relief camps, while another 87 relief distribution cen

SJVN gets letters of award to build 3 solar projects of 320 MW in Assam

State-owned SJVN Ltd on Tuesday said it has received letters of award for three solar projects worth Rs 1,900 crore from Assam Power Development Corporation. These projects, with a cumulative capacity of 320 MW, will be developed by an SJVN arm, SGEL, on a build, own and operate basis. "The SJVN has received separate Letter of Awards (LoA) for executing three solar projects of 320 MW of cumulative capacity from Assam Power Development Corporation Ltd (APDCL)," a company statement said. According to the statement, the SJVN participated in three separate tariff-based competitive bidding tenders of APDCL for 50 MW, 70 MW and 200 MW solar projects. The 50 MW and 70 MW solar projects have been allotted at a tariff of Rs 3.92 per unit and will be developed under the solar park category. The third solar project of 200 MW capacity has been allotted at a tariff of Rs 3.90 per unit and will be developed anywhere in Assam. All the projects shall be developed by SJVN through its wholly-owned

NIA files chargesheet against 2 members of Al-Qaeda-linked terrorist group

The National Investigation Agency has filed a supplementary charge sheet against two members of an Assam-based module of an Al-Qaeda-linked terrorist group conspiring to spread terror and violence in the country, officials said Tuesday. The supplementary charge sheet has been filed against Akbar Ali and Abul Kalam Azad who were arrested on April 5, they said. They were part of the Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT) based in Assam's Barpeta which was led by Bangladeshi national Saiful Islam who operated under the cover of an Arabic teacher at 'Shaikhul Hind Mahmadul Hasan Jamiul Huda Islamic Academy' and Imam at the Dhakaliapara Masjid, officials said. The agency is on the trail of Bangladeshi handlers of the module, they said. The NIA has invoked various sections of the Indian Penal Code and the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in its supplementary charge sheet against the duo, officials said. The central agency had filed the first charge sheet against eight other accused

Assam flood situation worsens, over 191,000 people affected in 17 districts

On the other hand, the water levels of several other rivers are also rising. The ASDMA flood report said that a total of 522 villages under 42 revenue circles were affected by the flood

Flood situation in Assam grim, over 190,000 affected, toll rises to 15

The flood situation in Assam turned grim on Monday with over 1.90 lakh people affected by the deluge and one person dying, according to an official bulletin. Incessant rains in the higher altitudes have led to an increase in water levels of most rivers with many flowing above the danger mark in different parts of the state, it said. Ferry services on the Brahmaputra river have been suspended in Guwahati, and at Nematighat in Jorhat due to the rising water levels. The Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) said one death was reported from Demow in Sivasagar district, taking the toll to 15 in this year's flood. As many as 17 districts are currently reeling under the deluge, affecting 1,90,675 people, it said. The worst hit is Lakhimpur district where 47,338 people have been affected, followed by Dhemaji with 40,997 affected population. Altogether 427 people are taking refuge in two relief camps, while 45 relief distribution centres are functional. Local administration a

Flood situation in Assam turns grim again, 53,000 marooned in six districts

According to the Central Water Commission (CWC), incessant rainfall led to an increase in the water level of the Brahmaputra and its tributaries, inundating surrounding areas

Direct export of fruits from Assam to Singapore successful: Officials

The trial exercise of directly exporting fresh fruits and vegetables from Assam to Singapore under the supervision of the island country's Ministry of Trade and Industry was successful, officials said on Saturday. The cargo included coffee plum, star fruit, jackfruit, Assam lemon, and pineapple, the exporter Achintya Kumar Das, the Founder of KADlien Innovations and Export Centre, told PTI. The 24-kilogram cargo was carried by Druk Air on August 23. The project is a collaborative effort of Singapore's Ministry of Trade and Industry and India's Ministry of Commerce and Industry, with support from the Federation of Indian Export Organisation (FIEO), APEDA, and KADlien, he said. "Singaporean authorities have expressed satisfaction after visiting and witnessing the fruits at the importer's site," Das stated. Singapore High Commissioner to India Simon Wong also took to X (formerly Twitter) to congratulate the team behind the project. "I am happy to announce the first air cargo shipmen

Mudslide blocks Sonapur tunnel, traffic to Tripura, Mizoram cut off

A mudslide caused by incessant rainfall blocked the Sonapur tunnel on NH 6 in Meghalaya's East Jaintia Hills district on Saturday blocking traffic movement to Tripura, Mizoram and Assam's Barak valley, police said. The mudslide was caused by incessant rainfall in the state in the past 24 hours. Two vehicles were stuck in the mudslide, Superintendent of Police, Jagpal S Dhanoa told PTI. He said the NHAI was informed for necessary clearance and to make sure traffic on the important NH 6 connecting to three other north eastern states flow normally. Earthmovers and personnel were put to work to clear the debris and the stuck vehicles, an NHAI official said.

People in Assam's Biswanath celebrate after getting district status

Earlier, on December 31 last year, the Assam cabinet had decided to merge four districts with their parent districts

Assam Cabinet approves creation of 4 new districts, 81 sub-districts

The Assam Cabinet has decided to create four new districts and 81 sub-districts following completion of the delimitation process, to improve administrative efficiency, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said Friday. The districts to be created are Hojai, Biswanath, Tamulpur and Bajali, Sarma said at a press conference, after presiding over the 100th cabinet meeting of his government. "We have reconstituted the four new districts, and it is co-terminus with assembly constituencies declared by the Election Commission under delimitation, he said. Assam will now have a total of 35 districts after creation of the new ones.

Assam Govt issues notification banning plastic water bottles below 1 litre

"It is observed that the use of packaged drinking water bottles up to 1000 ml volume and their pollution potential is higher than packaged drinking water bottles of larger volume"

Explore potential of handloom, fisheries in Assam's Bodo areas: Guv

Assam Governor Gulab Chand Kataria has suggested framing of strategies to explore the handloom, sericulture and fisheries sectors in the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) areas so that the products could be taken to the markets across the country. While reviewing various development schemes at the administrative headquarters of the BTC at Kokrajhar on Monday, Kataria advised the departmental heads of the BTC to ensure equitable development in all its four districts, according to an official release. The BTC, an autonomous elected authority, was created under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution for the tribal Bodo community in Assam. The governor emphasised the potential of the handloom, sericulture, tourism and fisheries sectors in the BTC areas and suggested framing of marketing strategies so that the products could be taken to the country-wide audience, the release said. Kataria took stock of the sector-wise physical and financial progress of central and state flagship scheme

Unhappy Central Assam BJP leader Rajen Gohain resigns from cabinet post

Gohain had been representing the Nowgong constituency of Central Assam since 1999 and secured four consecutive terms until 2014

Assam Forest Minister hands over appointment letters to 6 appointees

Assam Environment and Forest Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary on Thursday handed over appointment letters to six candidates at his conference hall at Janata Bhawan in Guwahati. The candidates have been given appointments on compassionate grounds in Environment and Forest Department."The six appointees who received their appointment letters today are Helen Aman as Forest Guard, Rajen Sinha as Forest Guard, Sowaiba Sultana as Forest Guard, Manas Jyoti Gogoi as Constable AFPF Bn, Mohan Basfor as Constable AFPF Bn and Debraj Sarma as Constable AFPF Bn," the Environment and Forest Department said.Minister of Environment & Forest Patowary extended his congratulations to the new appointees and said, "The present state government under the leadership of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has been striving to fulfil its commitment of providing employment."He urged the new recruits to dedicatedly work in the department and contribute to the process of making Assam one of the top states in .