Some like it loud, some quiet

Uruka in full swing in towns and villages

A girl shows off a giant fish she bought for uruka feast in Tezpur on Tuesday. Picture by Eastern Projections Guwahati/Dibrugarh, Jan 14 : Flames from bonfires leapt into the skies as Magh Bihu festivities began across the state tonight with traditional community feasts and singing and dancing to Bollywood tunes. Though a large number of towering mejis and elegant bhelaghars no longer dot the city in a manner they did a decade back, the younger generation tried to organise community feasts. Some bhelaghars were built on the outskirts such as Sonapur, Chandrapur, Jalukbari and Garigaon. Rows and rows of mejis were also lit along the banks of the Brahmaputra in Uzan Bazar and Kharghuli in Guwahati. But there were many who preferred to celebrate the night indoors in the company of friends and family. Pranjal Mahanta, a city-based orthopaedic, said he stayed home as he was on call. Governor Shiv Charan Mathur and chief minister Tarun Gogoi wished the people on the occasion but did not forget to remind them about being vigilant. Gogoi in his Bihu greetings said: “This is a time for reflecting on how violence has affected this peaceful state and our lives. I appeal to you all to please cooperate and help make Assam a peaceful and safe state.” Mathur, on the other hand, wished that with the strength of character and infallible will, “we shall acquire the three facets of success — purity of mind, patience and perseverance”. The revelry began quite early in the day. With markets chock-a-block with last-minute shoppers, prices of all items — fish, chicken, mutton, duck, pork — that make the feasts, soared. The riverside fish market at Uzan Bazar looked like a mela with hundreds of Guwahatians thronging to buy the freshest. The rush was such that policemen had to be deployed to maintain order. The prices of fish such as rohu, borali, chital and bhokua soared. The situation was similar at Ulubari, Beltola and Ganeshguri. “I purchased a chitol (fish) at Rs 550 a kg but did not mind paying so much since uruka comes only once a year. I then bought a duck,” said Prasanta Dowerah, a government employee, at the riverside fish market. Traffic ground to a halt on the stretch of GNB Road at Ambari since morning as a large number of people dropped in at NEDFi Haat to buy Bihu delicacies. “Being the last day of pre-Bhogali mela at NEDFi Haat, the rush was more. The footfall since Saturday was around one lakh,” a NEDFi official said. In Upper Assam, villagers in Tinsukia district’s Kakopathar celebrated Bihu in a traditional manner. While the men fetched firewood to light the sacred meji, the women made pitha, pona and other traditional delicacies. “My friends and I made the meji and prepared a feast for 60 people. The menu included duck, mutton and borali fish,” said Mineswar Tamuli, a youth of 1 Dirak village. In other towns, people preferred to spend the night with family and friends. “We made the delicacies ourselves and did not buy from outside,” said Paromita Kalita, a housewife in Sivasagar town.

Japan Bank gives Rs 1,200-cr loan for GMDA scheme

GUWAHATI, Jan 13 – The State is receiving a loan of around Rs 1,200 crore from the Japan Bank for a drinking water scheme for the Guwahati Metropolitan Development Area. The State will have to repay only Rs 180 crore of the loan from a Japan Bank, while the Central Government will bear the burden of Rs 1,080 crore of the loan. The total amount the State will get for the purpose will stand at around Rs 1,500 crore, if the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewable Mission (JNNURM) allocation for the purpose is also taken into account.

The conditions for getting the JNNURM and Japan Bank for International Cooperation, which is now known as the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) loan are—there should be a single authority to manage the scheme, the board of the authority – Guwahati Metropolitan Drinking Water and Sewerage Board – should be run by an IAS officer as the managing director – the functional head of the Board.

The State would have to pay interest at the rate of 1.2 per cent on its loan share, said Guwahati Development Department (GDD) Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma in the State Assembly today. He was replying to a debate on The Guwahati Metropolitan Drinking Water and Sewerage Board Bill, 2009.

He also informed the House that the State Government had also proposed to earmark an amount of Rs 16 crore to acquire the land in and outside the Ramsar site wetland Deepor Beel to free it from pollution.

The Government is also going for a sewage treatment plant for the city. This will help recycling most of the used water for various purposes. Sewage generated by the city will not be released to the wetlands and other water bodies of the city where even the ground water is facing the threat of contamination. The Government has prepared a detailed project report (DPR) for the purpose and the Japan Bank has shown interest to finance this project too, he said.

Opposing the suggestion of the Opposition members like Dr Alaka Sarma (AGP), Dr Aditya Langthasa (AUDF) and Uddhav Barman (CPI-M) to send the bill to the select committee, he said that it would delay the entire process of securing the Japan Bank loan. Many states are hankering after the loan. If the bill is sent to the select committee, this may send a wrong signal to the Government and this will finally deprive the State of the said loan, said the Minister.

Agencies like the Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC), North Guwahati Municipality and Panchayats of the Azara-Dharapur areas are sought to be amalgamated to create the new authority for running the scheme, as per the suggestions of the MLAs of the Greater Guwahati area, he said.

He, however, accepted a suggestion of Dr Sarma to induct a representative from the State Pollution Control Board in the authority, but, in a later phase.

Commenting on the water tax proposed in the bill, the Minister said that the amount of tax would be determined by the board proposed to run the scheme as per the approval of a regulatory body—Guwahati Water Regulatory Authority. This body will include a representative from the consumers. If more representatives of the consumers are required to be inducted into this authority that would also be done with the approval of the Finance Department, he said.

To enter into any contracts with any agency on water supply etc, he said, only the board had been authorised, he said.

Pranab Kalita (Independent) also took part in the discussion suggesting several amendments. But Dr Sarma and Kalita withdrew their suggestions and the House passed the bill through a voice vote.

Centre to step up anti-ULFA operations

NEW DELHI, Jan 13 – Angered by the growing belligerence of outlawed ULFA, the Centre today decided to further intensify operations against the outfit, shoving the peace talk process into the cold storage for now.

The Centre has firmed up plans to go after the ULFA, at a high-level security review meeting on Assam chaired by Union Home Minister, P Chidambaram here today.

The meeting attended by National Security Adviser, MK Narayanan, Union Home Secretary, Madhukar Gupta, Director General of Military Operations (DGMO), Director, Intelligence Bureau, Directors General of Border Security Force (BSF), Seema Suraksha Bal (SSB) and CRPF, among others.

Besides, Inspectors General (IGs) of various Central Forces operating in Assam, including chief of the Tezpur-based 4 Corps also joined the meeting. DGP, Assam Police, GM Srivastava, secretary, Home, Rajiv Bora and IGP Special Branch, Khagen Sarma represented Assam Government.

Stung by the series of blasts in Assam, Chidambaram left none in doubt that gone are the days of soft approach to ULFA. The militant outfit is now likely to face renewed heat from security forces. The officials were told that violence in Assam leading to losses of life and property was totally unacceptable.

After lying low for a while after the surrender by its crack 28th Battalion, ULFA has unleashed fresh round of violence including the serial blasts in Assam on October 31 and January1 before rounding it up by another blast last week in Guwahati.

Unhappy as it is with the lack of initiative with the Assam Police, the Home Ministry has also prodded it to swing into action to take on ULFA head on. The swift action to neutralise the perpetrators of the recent blasts by the local police was also noted.

Apart from sustained operations against ULFA, whose lower Assam-based 709 Battalion is now likely to come on cross-hair of the security agency, the meeting today decided to plug the gaps and escape routes.

Security Forces particularly BSF and SSB have been asked to step up vigil along the international border with Bangladesh and Bhutan to seal the escape routes, sources said.

Sources said that the meeting discussed the entire gamut of security issues ranging from militancy in Brahmaputra Valley to stalling of the national projects in North Cachar Hills.

Another significant decision was that the security forces have been asked to crack down on extortions. Assam Police has been asked to beef up intelligence gathering and mount anti-extortion drives in the State.

This came after Centre received reports of massive extortions in the State by not only ULFA but also those outfits with which the government has ceasefire pacts.

The security forces are also expected to mount special operations in NC Hills where a number of development projects including the gauge-conversion project, East-West corridor have been hit.

The Centre is also yet to take a final decision on the plea of the DHD (J) to sign a ceasefire pact. Though Assam Government is keen on signing such an agreement, the Centre is reluctant and has instead advised the State Government to crack down on the militants with the high level of forces deployed in the Hill district.

Meanwhile, the meeting also deliberated on the reports of influx of jehadi elements from Bangladesh. With the Home Minister yesterday seeking to send a tough message on illegal influx, the BSF is now likely to step up vigil along the international border.

Sources said that today’s meeting was follow up action of the review meeting at Guwahati, which was chaired by the Home Minister.

Assam has become a focus area for the new Home Minister and the spate of blasts in the State has opened Centre’s eye, said sources.

The Home Ministry has already announced plans to set up a regional security coordination centre at Guwahati for the North-east to boost intelligence sharing mechanism among the North Eastern States.

Sources said that the entire North-east has been accorded top priority, with the Home Minister proposing to visit all the States in the Region to understand the problems of each of the eight States.

ULFA, NDFB active in State: Govt

GUWAHATI, Jan 13 – The United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) and National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB) are carrying out subversive activities in Assam under the influence of foreign powers and the top leaders of the outfit are staying abroad, said Forest Minister Rockybul Hussain, who was replying to questions by Chandra Mohan Patowary and Keshab Mahanta of the AGP in the state Assembly today.

Hussain, who was replying on behalf of the Chief Minister, said the Government has already entrusted the job of investigating into the serial blasts in the state on October 30 to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). He said that the investigations by the police found involvement of NDFB chairman Ranjan Daimary and a few other members of the outfit.

“As Ranjan is in Bangladesh and is maintaining close links with ULFA commander in chief Paresh Baruah and Islamic militant outfits like the HUJI, the police suspects involvement of those outfits in the blasts,” he added.

Hussain said that the Government has adopted a multi-pronged strategy to deal with insurgents. He said that sustained operations against the insurgents are continuing while, the Government has also kept its doors open for talks. He said that efforts are also on to bring back the militants to the mainstream and to rehabilitate them.

The Minister informed the House that steps have been taken to prevent movement of militants to Bangladesh and Bhutan with deployment of BSF and SSB along the borders with the countries. He revealed that the counter-insurgency operations paid dividends as last year 124 militants were killed and more than 1300 were nabbed. The security forces also recovered 203 bombs and 202 grenades.

Hussain said that eight militant groups are active in the state. These are- ULFA, KLNLF, DHD(J), AANLA, KRA, HUM, MULTA and HMC(D). He said that activities of the Pakistani Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) were also noticed in the State and 11 suspected ISI operatives and agents were arrested. However, of them, eight were released and two are in jail, while, one managed to escape from West Bengal. One Harkat ul Mujaahideen activist Nurul Amin managed to escape from Guwahati medical college hospital.

In reply to a question by Ramendra Narayan Kalita (AGP), the Minister said that during the period from 2001 to 2008, as many as 406 persons were killed and 3248 were injured in bomb blasts in the State. He said that as many as 1345 persons were killed by militants and 355 were abducted.

Giving an account of the crime graph, Hussain said that during the same period, the state recorded 48630 theft, 2978 dacoity and 8452 vehicle theft cases. He said that 637 dowry death cases were reported during the same period, while, 317 persons lost their lives in ethnic clashes.

Kokrajhar varsity Bill passed

GUWAHATI, Jan 13 – The State Assembly today passed the Bodoland University Bill, 2009 which is meant to set up a teaching and affiliating university at Kokrajhar in the Bodoland Territorial Administrative District (BTAD) area.

The statement of objects of the bill stated that the State Government decided in principle to upgrade the campus Gauhati University at Kokrajhar into a full-fledged separate university.

Replying to the debate on the bill, Education Minister Gautam Bora said that the bill was drafted in line with the legislations prepared for the universities of Gauhati University and Dibrugarh.

The academic council of the university will determine the area of its academic focus, said the Minister.

The Assembly also passed The Assam Entry Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2009, The Assam Taxation (Liquidation of Arrear Dues) (Amendment) Bill, 2009, The Assam Professions, Trades, Callings and Employments Taxation (Amendment) Bill, 2009, The Assam Taxation (On Specified Lands) (Amendment) Bill, 2009, The Assam Agricultural Income Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2009, The Assam Value Added Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2009, The Assam Amusements and Betting Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2009, The Registration (Assam Amendment) Bill, 2009.

Floodlights along border fencing, BOPs increased

GUWAHATI, Jan 13 – The threat posed to the security of the nation by illegal migration from Bangladesh dominated the proceedings of the Question Hour in the State Assembly today and Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi sought the cooperation of all sections of people including the political parties to deal with the problem. Meanwhile, the Leader of the Opposition, Chandra Mohan Patowary pointed out to news reports that Bangladesh Government was spending huge sums of money to teach Assamese language to students in a bid to encourage fresh infiltration to Assam.

The question was raised by independent legislator Pranab Kalita and legislators of both ruling and opposition parties took part in the discussions that followed. The Chief Minister admitted that illegal migration is a matter of serious concern and said that the Government was taking all possible measures to check the menace. He said that cooperation of all sections of people including the political parties is required to deal with the problem. He said that all the legislators should help the Government in identifying suspected illegal migrants in their respective constituencies. However, at the same time, he lamented that most people preferred to stay away from the district and police station-level committees constituted by the Government for detection of foreigners.

The Chief Minister said that the Government is planning to make birth and death registration mandatory, while, process of updating the National Register of Citizens (NRC) of 1951 is on. He sought the opinion of the House on whether identity cards could be given to the citizens of Assam even before the process of updating the NRC is completed to reduce fresh infiltration. However, this suggestion was turned down by the Opposition members.

Gogoi further alleged that the AGP Government did not take any positive step to seal the Indo-Bangla border and only the present Government took up the issue seriously with the Centre. He said that the number of tribunals has been increased to expedite the process of identification of foreigners.

Earlier, raising the question, Pranab Kalita alleged that the Government was protecting the Bangladeshi nationals and certain of his remarks, which were expunged by the Speaker brought angry reactions from the ruling party members.

Chandra Mohan Patowary assured that the AGP would extend all support to the Government to deal with the problem of illegal migration. He said that according to reports, the Government of Bangladesh is spending 15 million Dollars to teach Assamese to students to encourage infiltration to Assam and a reward is given to anyone who helps Bangladeshi nationals to sneak into India. He said that during the tenure of the AGP Government in the State, the Illegal Migrants (Determination by Tribunals) Act was a major hurdle in the way of detection and deportation of foreigners, but the Act was scrapped by the Supreme Court following a case filed by AGP MP Sarbananda Sonowal.

Jiten Gogoi (Ind) said that even after spending crores of Rupees, the border with Bangladesh has not been sealed.

Girindra Kumar Baruah (AGP) pointed out that even the Union Home Minister, P Chidambaram admitted the threat posed by illegal migration. He said that a small country like Bhutan disfranchised more than one lakh Nepali citizens and started the process of deporting them. It is unfortunate that a country like India has not been able to deport the foreigners living illegally in the country.

Drupab Borgohain (CPI) said that identity cards to the citizens should be given only after updating the NRC.

The Forest Minister, Rockybul Hussain informed the State Assembly that from time to time, the State Government has been taking up the issue with the Centre and central teams visited Indo-Bangla border 14 times during the period from 2001 to 2008. The Chief Minister and Union Home Minister visited the border in 2006 to assess the situation on the ground and the State Government would welcome a visit by the Prime Minister. He also said that during January to November last year, as many as 2870 Bangladeshi nationals were nabbed by the police.

Hussain said that because of the efforts of the State Government, the fencing constructed along the international border in the first phase is being replaced with better quality fencing and the Centre also agreed to install floodlights along the fencing. The number of border outposts of the BSF has also been increased, he added.

Indo-Kazakh trade, IT ties set to get major boost during Nazarbayev’s state visit

By Ashok Dixit

With just about a fortnight left for the state visit to India of Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev, bilateral ties between the two countries is being firmed up not only in the crucial energy sector, but also in non-energy sectors.

Disclosing this in an exclusive interview to ANI Thursday evening, Zhanar S. Aitzhanova, Kazakhstan’s Vice Minister of Industry and Trade and her country’s chief negotiator at World Trade Organisation (WTO) accession negotiations, confirmed that Kazakhstan has sought India’s assistance in setting up of industrial clusters in textiles, besides cooperation in areas of hi-technology and financial services.

Aitzhanova, who arrived in New Delhi on Wednesday and is returning to Astana today, revealed that her talks with Minister of State for Commerce Jairam Ramesh and Commerce Secretary G.K. Pillai on Thursday had been “very positive” on the above issues, as also on the issue of raising the level of cooperation in the energy sector.

She also said that in the wake of India getting clearance from the 45-nation Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) to conduct civilian nuclear commerce with other countries, Kazakhstan, which possesses the second largest uranium reserves in the world after Australia, is actively considering a proposal to offer uranium to India.

When asked whether there were any obstacles from the Indian side to Kazakhstan’s accession to the WTO, Aitzhanova told ANI: “We (Kazakhstan) have completed bilateral (WTO-related) talks with 22 countries so far.

We have four countries left - India, the United States, the European Union (which has 27 member states) and Saudi Arabia (which is a new entrant).

India has been very positive and fully supports our endeavor for accession to the WTO. We are very much looking forward to bilateral relations between India and Kazakhstan being further strengthened during the forthcoming visit of our President Nursultan Nazarbayev (between January 23 and 26).”

While accepting India’s need for energy security, and the significant role that Kazakhstan could and is playing in this regard, Minister Aitzhanova said a “key long-term” goal of her country’s bid for accession to the WTO was “diversification of the economy” and introduction of a “liberal regulatory framework” in the services sector.

She revealed that the Kazakhstan Government is actively reforming its economic policies as per existing WTO guidelines, and has “intensified negotiations with other countries in the last three to four years.”

The country, she said, is enjoying an annual GDP growth of between nine to ten percent (aggregate GDP pegged at 135 billion USD), and has so far attracted foreign direct investment (FDI) of 72 billion US dollars.

To emphasize how this robust growth is benefiting the people of Kazakhstan, Aitzhanova said that among the 15 former Soviet states (Now known as CIS), “Kazakhstan enjoys the highest FDI per capita (about 8000 USD)”, and added that 80 percent of the FDI attraction is due to the country’s “open economic policies and its decision to explore external economic interaction beyond CIS boundaries”.

In the context of trade ties with India, she told ANI that a sign of progress could be seen in the fact that in 2004, trade between the two countries was valued at 80 million dollars, and by the first ten months of 2008, this had gone up to a mammoth 232 million dollars. Of this, she said oil and allied exports have contributed 100 million dollars, asbestos has contributed 15 million dollars and metal exports have contributed 20 million dollars.

Talks between the two governments were now focused on cooperation in the agricultural/dairy sector, medicine and health-related accessories, meat products, textiles and information technology-related skills and services, Aitzhanova added.

She said that during the forthcoming visit of President Nazarbayev, India and Kazakstan would be signing three Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs), including one on bilateral cooperation on technical standards and services, an agreement for the protection of intellectual property rights and geographical indications (GI) for products such as Basmati Rice, Alphonso Mangoes and Darjeeling Tea.

“We have had very fruitful, constructive and mutually beneficial discussions today (Thursday). No problems between the two countries on terms of trade and economic cooperation We are discussing terms under which qualified specialists from India will be providing services in Kazakhstan. Both countries and their respective governments are in agreement over recognizing safety standards on technical regulations for products that are imported from India to Kazakhstan and from Kazakhstan to India,” said Aitzhanova

“We have agreed on future cooperation in various fields like textile products, textile companies to visit India. We also have talked about cooperation in the IT sector, and we have agreed to an Indian proposal to set up an IT training school in Kazakstan, as we believe that foundations and skills have to be taught first before they can applied to larger schemes. We will also be signing an agreement on concession on services, where we will be stipulating very clearly terms under which Indian companies can provide their services, particularly in interesting spheres like IT, construction and architecture. We hope and look forward to concrete outcomes of these negotiations, and they are taking place these days, and will continue during the visit,” she added.

She concluded by saying that Kazakhstan is keen to give Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status to India, as it sees New Delhi as a close ally and an emerging economic giant. (ANI)

Railway peon hangs self

Maligaon blast trauma may have prompted rail worker to commit suicide

A STAFF REPORTER

Manoj Prasad Rai’s sister, Usha, breaks down at Maligaon on Saturday and (inset) Rai. Picture by Eastern Projections Guwahati, Jan 11 : The death of railway employee Dhiren Kumar Kakoty in last evening’s blast was followed by a suicide at the Northeast Frontier Railway headquarters at Maligaon. There was no suicide note, but those who knew Manoj Prashad Rai, 25, a bungalow peon at the residence of railway doctor Anjan Saikia, feel a visit to the blast site could have traumatised him into taking his own life. Manoj returned to the outhouse — where he used to stay — around 8pm yesterday. Half an hour later he was found hanging by Saikia’s young sons, Ronnie, 8 and Bonnie, 9. “I cannot say if Manoj committed suicide because of the shock he went through after visiting the blast site. But he was a very caring and gentle soul who always avoided violence. He did not watch TV channels when there were news of blasts and killings,” Saikia said. He said that Rai hanged himself with a dog’s leash from the ceiling of the outhouse. The Saikias have three pet dogs. The youngest of six siblings, Manoj was recently appointed as a regular railway employee. “His father, Phulen Prashad Rai, was a gardener at my residence and Manoj had lived with me since childhood,” Saikia said. Yesterday, Manoj drove Saikia’s wife from Railway Officers’ Club to the bungalow when the blast took place about 200 metres from the doctor’s official residence. “He parked the car in the garage and then went to the blast site. He returned an hour- and-a-half later and immediately went to his room,” Saikia said. Manoj was popular with the teachers and the students of Skylark Public School owned by the Saikias in Maligaon. Manoj’s elder brother, Gopal, said he was happy with his job. A police officer at Jalukbari said preliminary investigations had revealed that it was a case of suicide. “We have registered a case of unnatural death. Investigations are on,” he added.

Assam gets more teeth to curb terror

GUWAHATI: Stung by frequent terror attacks, the assembly on Saturday passed the Assam Preventive Detention (Amendment) Bill, 2009, allowing the government to detain any person for two years if he or she poses a threat to security.

The amendment was made to the Section 13 of the Act framed in 1980. The Act until now allowed preventive detention of a person for only six months. The Bill will be sent to President Pratibha Patil for assent.

Forest minister Rockybul Hussain moved the motion on behalf of chief minister Tarun Gogoi. He said though security forces arrest insurgents, they "manage to get bail and continue with their subversive activities''.

Hussain said the two-year detention period would help police gather evidence against an arrested person. He added that there were enough safeguards in the Bill to prevent human rights violations.

Assam United Democratic Front legislator Athahur Rahman Majar Bhuyan opposed the passage of the Bill saying the six-month detention period was "good enough'' and there was no need for the amendment.

He, however, withdrew his opposition after the state government said the Act would not be misused.

Taking part in the debate, AGP legislator Keshav Mahanta and BJP leader Mission Ranjan Das asked the government to assure the House that there would be no misuse of the Act.

Indira Gandhi museum turns an educational centre

MYSORE: The renowned national museum— the Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya (IGRMS) in Mysore— dedicated to propagating Indian art and culture, after seven years, has literally transformed into an educational centre for India's traditions, with numerous art works on display.

Set up in October 2001 by the ministry of tourism and culture, with a mission to preserve traditional paintings and art forms, folk arts, tribal art and craft, IGRMS, which is the Southern region centre located at Wellington House on Irwin Road, is realizing its dream by holding various workshops, seminars, cultural and education programmes, to introduce and promote the richness of Indian culture among the locals.

Several education programmes like embroidery works of Gujarat, Madhubani painting of Bihar, Nimadi painting of Madhya Pradesh, Patachitra of Orissa and Zardosi works of Madhya Pradesh, were held, covering all the Indian states, in 2008. Over 300 persons here have benefited from the 10-day education programmes.

In the previous year, an open air exhibition— "Janapada Kathe"— on folk beliefs of India, was organized in which artists from different states worked on their folk stories and displayed their works permanently at the Wellington premises. The outdoor exhibition is an added attraction to the museum as it is drawing visitors, including foreigners every day.

The display of art works, such as, iron and other murals, paintings, terracotta works, stone sculptures and photographs, tells the story of local traditions and rituals practised by people in a particular area, including the tribals. With all these, IGRMS is turning out to be an educational centre on Indian society.

"Ghotul" or the youth dormitory of the Muria tribal people (Bastar, Chattisgarh), a traditional institution for learning music, dance, and games, is depicted in the iron mural. Lillari Kothi of Madhya Pradesh has an interesting story. Inspired by an anthill, the Gond tribal women made the Kothi (mud granary) to store the grain safely. The depiction of snakes in the Kothi, indicates that snakes are allowed to stay inside the granary as it brings health and prosperity to the family and also prevents rats. Almost every member of the Gond community has a granary. There are also terracotta works from Tamil Nadu, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa and Bihar, displayed at the out-door expo.

IGRMS in-charge officer Vijaymohan told this correspondent that they conduct workshops, seminars and cultural events, regularly to preserve and revitalize India's rich cultural traditions. IGRMS was conceived as a museum to highlight India ancient and rich heritage through its initiatives, such as, education programmes under the "Do and Learn" series, cultural performances and exhibitions on various indigenous ways of life and practices and educate people.

"Our goal is to create a general awareness among the people on the validity of different local art forms across India. This also boosts the morale of traditional artisans in the country," he added.

Amguri thermal plant to be functional by ’11

GUWAHATI, Jan 10 – Industry and Commerce Minister Pradyut Bardoloi today told the Assembly that the State Government was committed to make the 750-MW Amguri thermal plant functional by 2011.

prepare a DPR, agreement would be made with OIL and ONGC for supply of gas. Citing gas linkage as a constraint, Bardoloi said that the problem should ease with the discovery of a new gas field of OIL near the site and that a gas pricing negotiating committee had been formed for ensuring that the project did not lose its cost-effectiveness following the escalation in the prices of gas.

Earlier, AGP legislator Pradip Hazarika said that the project, conceived under the Assam Accord of 1985, was languishing even after the Centre had cleared the decks due to the apathy of the State Government.

No OIL survey in Brahmaputra

GUWAHATI, Jan 10 – Forest and Tourism Minister Rockybul Hussain today said that Oil India Ltd (OIL) had not conducted any drilling or survey so far in and around the Brahmaputra river, and therefore, there was no question of any damage caused to the river ecology or the environment.

Replying to a question from AGP legislator Girindra Baruah at the Assembly, Hussain said that OIL wanted to explore the prospects of oil and natural gas on the Brahmaputra and adjoining areas but drilling was not on its agenda.

He said that no new NoC was given to OIL by the Pollution Control Board Assam (PCBA) after it had sought for a second NoC as it could not start its work on time after getting the first NoC on February 2, 2000. When it sought the new NoC, the PCBA conducted a public hearing in Dibrugarh on October 30, 2006 after obtaining a report from OIL on the possible adverse effects from the proposed exploration.

Besides, the Minister said, the Gauhati High Court had asked OIL to abide by the recommendations of the Multi-Disciplinary Advisory Group formed under the advice of the Wildlife Institute of India. A monitoring committee was also formed by the high court to ensure that the survey did not cause any environmental problem.