Page 12 - Himanta Biswa Sarma

Assam flood crisis: Death toll touches 56, 16 lakh affected in 29 districts

Incessant rainfall and flash floods in Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya have caused water levels in the Brahmaputra and its tributaries to rise, leading to severe flooding in Assam

Assam flood situation remains critical, over 1,150,000 people affected

Assam continues to grapple with a severe flood crisis, affecting 11.50 lakh people across 23 districts, as the water level of major rivers, including the Brahmaputra and its tributaries, flowing above the danger mark, an official report said. The death toll in this year's floods, landslides and storms has increased to 48. On Tuesday, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma visited Golaghat district following breach of embankments, inspected flood-hit areas, interacted with the suffering population and held meetings with officials to provide relief and rehabilitation to people reeling under the deluge. Sarma is scheduled to hold a cabinet meeting on Wednesday to review the flood situation prevailing in the various districts. The current second wave of floods have affected Barpeta, Biswanath, Cachar, Charaideo, Chirang, Darrang, Dhemaji, Dibrugarh, Golaghat, Jorhat, Kamrup Metropolitan, Karbi Anglong, Karimganj, Lakhimpur, Majuli, Morigaon, Nagaon, Nalbari, Sivasagar, Sonitpur, Tamulpur,

Over 26% Kaziranga forest camps submerged; Assam CM assures flood rescue

With worsening flood condition in Assam, rising water levels have impacted more than 26 per cent of the 233 forest camps at Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve, an official report said on Monday. As a significant portion of wildlife habitat is now submerged, scores of animals have started crossing the National Highway-715 in search of higher ground towards the southern direction in East Karbi Anglong district. However, no death of animals has been reported as of now due to the floods or accidents while crossing the highway. Floodwaters have submerged a total of 61 forest camps across Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve, according to a flood report. It said 22 camps in Agoratoli range, 10 in Kaziranga, eight in Bagori, five in Burhapahar range and six in Bokakhat are submerged. Besides, 10 forest camps in Biswanath Wildlife Division of the national park have been inundated, the report added. Meanwhile, the Golaghat district administration on Sunday evening issued ...

PM Modi speaks to Assam CM as flood situation deteriorates, promises help

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday enquired about the prevailing flood situation in Assam and assured of all support to handle the crisis, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said. The flood situation across the state continued to deteriorate with incessant rains inundating many districts, affecting lakhs of people. "Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi Ji called me a short while ago to enquire about the flood situation in Assam. I explained him that Assam is experiencing a second wave of floods this year due to heavy rains in Arunachal Pradesh and part of our upper Assam districts," Sarma said in a post on X. He also briefed Modi about the relief measures undertaken by the state government. Sarma said, "He assured me of full cooperation from the Government of India in this hour of crisis." The flood situation worsened in Assam on Sunday with two more persons losing their lives and over 2.62 lakh people reeling under the deluge across eight districts. Meanwhile, Union Min

Assam CM Himanta welcomes new criminal laws, seeks cooperation for rollout

Welcoming the implementation of the new criminal laws in the country, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday said the state has made "extensive preparations" for this day and appealed to all concerned to cooperate in this endeavour. The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA) have replaced the colonial-era Indian Penal Code, Code of Criminal Procedure, and Indian Evidence Act respectively, Sarma said in a post on X. "Today marks a watershed moment in Bharat's criminal justice system... With this, our republic has entered into a new system pivoted around modern technology and citizen-centric services," he added. The Chief Minister asserted that the new laws place utmost primacy on the safety of women, children, and the underprivileged. "Over the last many months, Team Assam has made extensive preparations towards the effective implementation of the new laws," he added. Sarma appealed to all ...

Development of Jharkhand, welfare of tribal people BJP's priority: Himanta

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who arrived here on Saturday to participate in a meeting of BJP leaders, said that the development of Jharkhand and the welfare of tribal people is the priority of the saffron camp. Sarma, who is BJP's election co-in-charge, would meet party leaders to discuss its strategies for the upcoming assembly polls in the state. "The party's priority is development of Jharkhand and the welfare of the scheduled tribe community here. There has been no government in the state for past five years. Atrocities on women and tribal people increased manifolds in the state in the past five years," he said. When BJP's manifesto comes out, one can see how much work the party has planned for tribal people in the next five years, Sarma said. Asked about the bail granted to former Jharkhand CM and JMM leader Hemant Soren, he said the "BJP does not keep accounts of who is going to jail and coming out on bail". Responding to a query about whether Soren's presence w

CM Himanta reviews fee-waiver education scheme for higher education

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday reviewed the working of Pragyan Bharti', a fee-waiver scheme for free admission in academic institutes under the state's Higher Education Department. According to the scheme, all students whose parental incomes are less than Rs 2 lakh per annum are eligible for free admission for pursuing higher education courses in the state. A total of 57,469 applicants have been found to be eligible for fee waiver in the 2024-25 academic session, an official release said. The number will go up as the second merit list for admissions to undergraduate courses will be published soon, it said. Sarma directed the education department officials to launch a widespread awareness campaign about Pragyan Bharti scheme so that maximum number of eligible students can apply for fee waiver under it. The chief minister also took note of the fact that owing to unavailability of income certificates, a certain number of applicants were finding it difficult to get

Flood situation continues to be grim in Assam, over 117,000 people affected

The flood situation in Assam continued to remain grim on Sunday with over 1.17 lakh people still reeling under the deluge across 10 districts of the state, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said. The flood waters have inundated 968 villages in 27 revenue circles in these districts, he said in a post on X. The authorities are presently running 134 relief camps and 94 relief distribution centres, where a total of 17,661 people are taking shelter currently, he added. Sarma also said that the Kushiyara river is at present flowing above the danger mark at Karimganj in the Barak Valley. On Saturday, the flood situation had improved marginally as the number of affected people decreased, though two more deaths were reported, according to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA). Cropland of 3,995.33 hectares was still under flood waters, while 2,20,546 animals, including 47,795 poultry, remained affected, it added. Damage to various infrastructures like houses, cattle sheds

Manipur CM to discuss security issues along Jiribam-Cachar with Himanta

Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh is in Guwahati to discuss security issues along the Jiribam-Cachar inter-state boundary with his Assam counterpart Himanta Biswa Sarma, an official said on Sunday. Following incidents of ethnic violence in Manipur's Jiribam in the first week of June, many people from the state have taken refuge in adjoining Cachar district in southern Assam. To discuss the security situation along the inter-state boundary, Singh, along with senior minister L Susindro Singh, left for Guwahati on Saturday evening, the official said. The two CMs are also likely to discuss coordination among police forces to effectively deal with militants active along the inter-state boundary, he said. Singh is likely to return to Manipur on Sunday, another official said. Sarma had on Saturday asked officials concerned to ensure there is no spillover of Manipur's ethnic violence into Assam and that all humanitarian aid is provided to the people seeking refuge from the neighbouring

Assam: Kamakhya temple's doors closed as annual Ambubachi Mela starts

The annual Ambubachi Mela at Kamakhya temple, atop Nilachal hills in Assam's Guwahati, commenced on Saturday with worship stopped for the next four days, coinciding with the ritualistic annual menstrual cycle of the goddess. Lakhs of devotees attend the mela and wait for the resumption of worship and pay obeisance to the goddess. Temple authorities said the doors were closed at 8.43 am with the start of 'prabritti' and worship will resume at 9.07 pm on June 25 after 'nribritti'. On June 26, the temple door will open for darshan after a ritualistic bath and daily puja, they said. Worship is stopped and doors are closed in the temple for four days annually, when the goddess is believed to undergo her menstrual cycle. Devotees from different parts of the country and abroad converge at the annual mela, which is held in the temple premises during the period. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, in a post on X in Hindi, welcomed the devotees to the mela. "On the occasion of Ambubachi M

In Assam, all public servants to pay their own power bills starting July

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and the chief secretary will start paying their power bills from July 1

Assam secretariat becomes India's 1st eco-friendly state govt headquarters

The Assam Secretariat on Sunday became the country's first green state government headquarters with the inauguration of a 2.5 MW solar power project on its campus, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said. Installed at a cost of Rs 12.5 crore, the grid-connected rooftop solar power plant will save Rs 30 lakh in electricity bills every month, he said while addressing the official programme here. "Today, we took a giant leap forward in our goal to become a Net-Zero Govt, as I inaugurated a 2.5 MW Solar Project in Janata Bhawan, making #AssamGreenSecretariat, India's first Green Secretariat," Sarma said in a post on X after the function. From now onwards, the secretariat complex will run entirely on solar power, resulting in savings of Rs 30 lakh every month on electricity bills, he added. The Chief Minister also said the government has decided that all official complexes will be fitted with solar panels, beginning with the medical colleges and universities across the state. The power

Assam CM reviews flood preparedness at Kaziranga, security deployed

Chief Minister Sarma also said that around 20 marine engine boats will be pressed into service in Kaziranga to help the forest department intensify its vigil in and around the park

Commando battalions to be deployed in Kaziranga to save animals: CM Himanta

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday said three commando battalions will be deployed in Kaziranga National Park to ensure that no animal is killed during the flood season. The battalions will ensure that no animal is killed in accidents while crossing the national highway and poachers do not take advantage of the flood situation to kill wild animals, Sarma said at a meeting of civil, police and park officials at Kaziranga. Around 600 personnel of a new forest battalion will also be pressed into service in Kaziranga National Park during the flood season, he said. The chief minister directed the officials to take all necessary steps and ramp up the response system for the protection of animals. Sarma also took stock of the loss of land in the Kaziranga National Park primarily due to swift flow of river water. A joint task force will be formed comprising experts from Forest department, Water Resources department and the Kaziranga National Park to study the phenomena a

Assam CM Sarma lays foundation stone for 25-MW solar power project

A joint venture between the Assam Power Generation Corporation and Oil India Limited, the project will span 108 acres and is expected to cost Rs. 115 crore

Assam announces monthly stipend to curb child marriage, support education

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday announced that his government would provide monthly stipends to all girl students from class 11 to post-graduation over the next five years, aiming to prevent child marriages. Addressing a press conference, Sarma said the scheme, 'Nijut Moina', was approved by the cabinet, which estimated that Rs 1,500 crore would be required in five years to give the incentives to around 10 lakh girls. "A married girl will not get the benefit. The only exception will be those married girls who are enrolled in PG courses, they will also benefit," he said. The sole aim of this scheme is to delay the marriage of a girl so that she can be financially independent and start earning for herself and her family, Sarma said. "The scheme will increase the gross enrollment ratio of girls substantially," he asserted. All girls studying in classes 11 and 12 will get Rs 1,000 every month, it will be Rs 1,250 for degree students and Rs 2,500 for girls doing .

LS polls: PoK will merge with India if BJP gets 400 seats, says Himanta

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma Wednesday asserted that if the BJP wins 400 seats in the Lok Sabha polls, Pakistan-occupied Kashmir will be "merged with India", and a Krishna Janmabhoomi temple and Gyanvapi temple will be built in Mathura and Kashi, respectively. Addressing an election rally in Jharkhand's Ramgarh, he said the BJP needs to secure over 400 seats to also implement the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) across the country. PoK will be merged with India if the BJP gets 400 seats in the Lok Sabha polls. The party needs that many seats to build the 'Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi temple' and 'Gyanvapi temple', just like when it crossed the 300-seat mark in 2019, it built the Ram temple in Ayodhya, Sarma said. Later, at a press conference in state capital Ranchi, the BJP leader also accused the Congress of suppressing Hindu sentiments. There is a Hindu awakening in the country after years and their voice cannot be suppressed amid this Modi tsunami across India, Sarma said. "Dur

Free pilgrimage to Ayodhya for 500,000 Odiyas if BJP wins: Himanta

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday said the BJP will ensure free pilgrimage of five lakh people from Odisha to Ayodhya's Ram temple if the party is voted to power in the eastern state. Addressing an election rally at Kalimela here, the senior BJP leader also took a swipe at the ruling BJD for naming villages with numbers in Malkangiri district. In Assam, I have decided to take one lakh people to Ayodhya, and the state government will bear the cost. As Odisha is bigger than Assam, 5 lakh people should get this facility. A new BJP chief minister will facilitate this pilgrimage if the party is voted to power in Odisha, Sarma said. Sarma also sought to connect with the large number of Bengali-speaking population in Malkangiri district, assuring the people that Bengali teachers will be appointed, among other promises. About one lakh Bengali-speaking people were rehabilitated in Malkangiri district after the 1971 Bangladesh war. On names of villages in the district bea

LS polls 2024: Priyanka, Rahul 'irrelevant' in Assam, says CM Himanta

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma claimed that Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra are "irrelevant" in this North Eastern state and they are "past expiry date". He dismissed Vadra's allegations that there is a 'mafia raj' in Assam and claimed that there was peace across the state and all welfare measures were reaching the people. He also hit back at the opposition party's 'washing machine' jibe at the BJP and alleged that the Congress has a "big, high voltage washing machine" which was used to cleanse Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal. "They (Congress) have a big washing machine. In which washing machine did they wash Arvind Kejriwal? I ask Priyanka Gandhi, four months ago she was saying Kejriwal has looted money through the liquor scam and now he is a good person, which high voltage washing machine she has?" Sarma said on Thursday, responding to the opposition leader's swipe at him. "Priyanka Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi are irrelevant in Assam. They are past expiry .

Lok Sabha polls: 77.35% turnout in second phase in 5 seats in Assam

An estimated 77.35 per cent of 77.26 lakh voters exercised their franchise in the second phase of polling in five Lok Sabha constituencies in Assam, election officials said on Saturday. The final polling percentage could be further revised as the compilation of figures is yet to be completed, an official said. Nagaon Lok Sabha constituency recorded the highest voter turnout of 80.56 per cent, followed by 78.41 per cent in Darrang-Udalguri, 75.97 per cent in Silchar (SC), 75.63 per cent in Karimganj and 73.11 per cent in Diphu, they said. Sixty-one candidates are in the fray in this phase. Assam Transport Minister Parimal Suklabaidya is pitted against Surya Kanta Sarkar of the Congress in Silchar, while BJP's Amarsing Tisso is contesting against Congress's Joyram Engleng in Diphu. Nagaon's sitting Congress MP Pradyut Bordoloi is contesting against BJP's Suresh Bora, while Karimganj's BJP MP Kripanath Malla is pitted against Congress's Hafiz Ahmed Rashid Choudhury. In Darrang-Udalg