Page 63 - Assam

Assam court summons Manish Sisodia in CM Himanta Sarma's defamation case

Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia was on Tuesday summoned by a court in Assam to appear in person before it on September 29 in a criminal defamation case filed by the northeastern state's Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. The Chief Judicial Magistrate of Kamrup, Monmee Sarma, issued the summons to Sisodia for allegedly making defamatory statements against Sarma. Sisodia, referring to media reports at a press conference in New Delhi on June 4, had said that while the Assam government procured PPE kits for Rs 600 a piece from other companies, Sarma gave urgent supply orders to the firms of his wife and son's business partners for Rs 990 a piece. Riniki Bhuyan Sarma, the wife of the Assam chief minister, had on June 21 filed a Rs 100-crore defamation case against the Delhi deputy CM, who had alleged corruption in giving PPE supply contracts at above market rates. The chief minister had on August 5 recorded his statement before the court regarding his case against Sisodia.

World Bank, Assam govt discuss ways to fast track externally aided projects

Assam government and the World Bank have decided to fast track the completion of ongoing projects and expedite the approval procedure for those in the pipeline, an official release said. A meeting of delegates of World Bank and state governemt delegates chaired by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma was held here on Monday night during which the ongoing external aided projects (EAPs) and the proposed projects to be financed by the international financial institution was discussed, it said. ''The two sides have agreed upon fast-tracking the completion of the remaining portions of the ongoing projects and expediting the approval procedure for launching those on the pipeline,'' the release said. The World Bank delegation was led by its South Asia regional vice-president Martin Raiser and also included its India country director Auguste Tano Kouameheld. Sarma praised the World Bank for its wholehearted support in realising the growth potential of Assam and hoped that the relationship ..

Internet suspended in 25 Assam districts to prevent malpractices in exam

Mobile internet services across 25 districts of Assam have been suspended for four hours on Sunday in order to prevent possible malpractices during written examination for Grade-IV posts of various state government departments. Besides, prohibitory orders under Section 144 have also been promulgated in the districts where the examinations are being conducted, a top government official said. More than 14.30 lakh candidates are expected to appear for nearly 30,000 Grade-III and -IV posts, with the examinations scheduled for August 21 and 28, and September 11. While the Grade-IV examinations took place on Sunday in two shifts, tests for Grade-III posts will be held on the other two dates. All examinations are being conducted by the Board of Secondary Education, Assam (SEBA). Senior officials of private telecom operators Airtel and Jio told PTI that internet services have been suspended in 25 districts for four hours as per directions of the Assam government. "Dear customers, as per .

Assam Khagorijan oil field resumes operations after nearly 15 yrs

After almost 15 years, state-owned Oil India Limited's (OIL) Khagorijan oil field in eastern Assam's Dibrugarh started operation on Saturday

BJP will do better in 2024 if Kejriwal becomes opposition face: Assam CM

People in many states do not know Kejriwal and his party. It would be very good for the BJP if Kejriwal is Opposition's face for the 2024 election as most people have not even heard his name, he said

Assam CM launches DBT to give rehabilitation grant for flood-damaged houses

The Assam government on Saturday launched a direct benefit transfer (DBT) programme to extend rehabilitation grants to beneficiaries whose houses were damaged by this year's flood. Under the initiative, the affected families will receive the grant to their bank accounts for reconstructing their houses. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma ceremonially launched the programme at the state secretariat here, while ministers and senior officials attended similar programmes in districts during the day. Addressing a press conference on the occasion, Sarma said, "A list of 2,04,348 houses, which were either severely or partially damaged in this year's flood, has been compiled. The rehabilitation grant to be paid to these families who have lost their homes will be transferred directly to their bank accounts." He said Rs 119.11 crore has been sanctioned for the purpose. Altogether 5,185 houses have been severely or fully damaged, while there are 34,924 partially damaged pucca houses and 1,53,

Assam govt to provide Rs 250 more to EWS families for electricity bill: CM

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday said his government will provide an additional amount of Rs 250 to economically-weak families to help them pay their monthly electricity bills. The fixed additional amount will be given from October to beneficiaries of the 'Orunodoi' scheme, a flagship programme of the state government that currently covers nearly 20 lakh families, he said. The government provides monthly monetary assistance of Rs 1,000 to the beneficiaries under the programme. Launching 'Orunodoi Month', Sarma said, "From October, the Orunodoi beneficiaries will get Rs 1,250 monthly. The additional Rs 250 will be provided to pay their electricity bills. He said the government could have paid the amount directly to the power corporation but it "wants to instil responsibility among the people to make the payment themselves". Sarma also said the beneficiary list of the scheme will be updated in the next two months. Student volunteers will visit households for upd

Assam to spend Rs 300 cr to upgrade judicial infra in districts: CM

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday said that his government will spend Rs 300 crore in the next three years for developing and upgrading the infrastructure of the district and sub-divisional courts in the state. He also urged people to move courts only for serious matters and not overburden the judiciary with frivolous cases. The state government will spend a total of Rs 300 crore in the next three years to develop and upgrade the infrastructure of the district and sub-divisional judicial courts, Sarma said at the inauguration of the newly constructed court building of Barpeta district. Gauhati High Court Chief Justice R M Chhaya was present on the occasion. Sarma appealed to the people to opt for out-of-court, traditional system of solving disputes through mediation by family elders in less serious matters so that the formal judicial system can dedicate its workforce and time to issues of serious nature such as murder and rape. Cases of less serious nature are ...

Assam: 3 arrested for rhino horn smuggling near Kaziranga on Thursday

Poachers chopped off the horn without killing a sub-adult rhino in the national park

Assam reports 174 new COVID-19 cases, positivity rate at 3.62%: NHM

Assam reported 174 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday, as per the National Health Mission (NHM). The state's positivity rate decreased to 3.62 per cent as the new cases were detected after testing 4,808 samples, it said in a bulletin. Kamrup Metropolitan district, which primarily comprises Guwahati city, reported 26 fresh cases, followed by Dibrugarh where 16 cases were detected and Lakhimpur where 15 people tested positive. There are 2,976 active cases in the state at present. The toll remained at 8,026 with no new deaths reported in the last 24 hours. Assam has so far reported 7,43,222 cases. A total of 7,32,218 patients have recovered, including 185 people on Wednesday.

Assam CM asks officials to ensure smooth conduct of govt recruitment exams

No candidate will be allowed to re-enter the examination centre after the end of the examination of that particular shift

Assam to send 1,000 students to Andaman & Nicobar to study Cellular jail

The Assam government would send 1,000 students from the state as a study tour to Cellular jail in Andaman and Nicobar Islands

Assam registers over 8-fold jump in infections with 202 new Covid-19 cases

Assam has registered an over eight-fold jump in fresh Covid-19 cases with 202 more people testing positive for the virus, raising the tally to 7,43,048, the National Health Mission said in a bulletin.

Assam to withdraw 100,000 minor cases: CM Himanta on Independence Day

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday announced that his government will withdraw one lakh minor cases, including for social media posts, to reduce the burden on the lower judiciary

India's lawn bowls pioneers: How a team of four bowled over a nation

After 2007 National Games, Assam and Jharkhand emerged as hubs of a fringe sport now capturing eyeballs thanks to the Commonwealth Games glory

Interim wage hike likely to hit margins of West Bengal tea estates: Icra

The impact would be lower for producers of quality tea, given the price premium they enjoy over the average market realisations, Icra said in a report.

Mizoram, Assam to hold CM-level talks in Delhi to resolve border dispute

Mizoram and Assam will hold chief minister-level talks in New Delhi later this month or early September to find an amicable solution to the inter-state border dispute

Assam government launches 1st drone school of northeast in Guwahati

The northeast has got its first remote pilot training school in Guwahati, as part of the central government's quest to make India a hub for drone technology, officials said.

Assam, Mizoram govts sign joint statement on resolving border dispute

Both states have agreed to promote and maintain peace to prevent any untoward incident along the borders

Assam: One more person with 'links' to Bangladeshi terror group arrested

One more person with alleged links to Bangladeshi terror outfit Ansarul Islam has been arrested in Assam's Barpeta district, police said