Assam pavilion at Indian Science Congress reaps laurels

GUWAHATI, Jan 10 The Assam pavilion, planned and executed by the Assam Science, Technology and Environment Council (ASTEC), has been adjudged the best in the exhibition section of the 96th Indian Science Congress that concluded at the North East Hill University (NEHU) campus in Shillong on Wednesday.

There were 85 institutions, which took part in the exhibition section of the Congress, named the Pride of India Exhibition. The institutions included Department of Atomic Energy, ISRO, CSIR, DRDO and a host of other institutions and several states of the country.

ASTEC, an autonomous body under the Department of Science and Technology, Government of Assam, planned and executed the Assam pavilion that covered an area of 1,000 square feet.

The pavilion was designed as a prototype of the historical Rangghar. The pavilion included the stalls of the IIT-Guwahati— with the display of various designs the have produced so far, ASTEC— with the display of the Aryabhatta Science Centre activities and the GI on muga silk of Assam, Assam Energy Development Agency – with the various gadgets of non-conventional sources of energy and their activities, Centre for Plasma Physics—with real time generation of plasma for the common man’s knowledge with effective multi-media projections.

Many of the interesting and attractive innovations of Uddhab Bharali were also displayed in the pavilion.

Amtron –with their various IT-based services, Department of Handloom and Textile, Assam—with machines and natural dyes etc, Department of Sericulture – with the display of silk worm, life cycles of the worms, weaving machines, silk clothes with beautiful designs, Department of Fisheries—with the traditional system of fishing and with their latest activities, the Department of Tourism—with information on the existing and coming up tourism facilities of the State, also put up their stalls in the pavilion.

Besides, the Guwahati Planetarium – with the model of its own building, a prototype of a rocket and a satellite and two real telescopes, also put up their stall in the pavilion, said ASTEC sources.

It may be mentioned here that for the first time since its inception in 1914, the Indian Science Congress has held its congress in the NE region.

Dhemaji students’ body resents Govt failure

GUWAHATI, Jan 10 All Dhemaji District Students’ Union (ADDSU) on Monday resented the failure of the State Government to prevent implementation of the Lower Subansiri Hydroelectric Project by the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) without the completion of the study by the expert group engaged to study the downstream impact of the power project. The ADDSU is the Dhemaji district unit of the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU).

In an open letter to the members of the Assam Legislative Assembly, the ADDSU alleged that the State Government has been turning a blind eye to the developments concerning the said hydroelectric project.

It has warned that the implementation of the project without completion of the study undertaken by the expert group has every possibility of leading to a catastrophe much higher than what emanated from the Ranganadi Hydroelectric Project in Lakhimpur on June 14 last year.

The Lower Subansiri Project is much bigger than the Ranganadi Project, said the students’ body.

It has requested the members of the Assembly to raise the issue on the floor of the House so as to mount pressure on the NHPC authorities to put on hold the implementation of the project until the study of the experts on the downstream impact of the project is completed.

Boy who fled from Apna Ghar detained

The 17-year-old boy from Assam who had escaped from Apna Ghar, Merces, was detained on Friday morning near Vasco railway station.

The boy, a resident of Rupsi village in Dhubri district of Assam, escaped from Apna Ghar on Tuesday afternoon, police sources said. "He escaped as he was tired of being beaten up at the home," said Old Goa police sources.

The boys father who is now in Goa has filed a bail application before the Juvenile Justice Board.

It may be recalled that an offence of criminal trespass and intent to commit any criminal offense by entering the naval premises at Bogda, near Sada, was registered against the minor boy. He was sent to Apna Ghar, an observatory home for children in conflict with law.

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.

Teenager killed in quarry landslide

Guwahati, Jan 10 : A 13-year-old boy, Baboo Goala, was killed in a landslide while working at an illegal stone quarry on the Baleswar riverbed in Cachar district yesterday.

Cachar police were informed of the incident today.

The police said the accident happened when loose soil from an adjacent hillock crashed down on a group of a dozen labourers yesterday around 4.30pm.

The dead boy was a resident of the nearby Jelalpur tea estate.

The police today slapped a case of alleged negligent quarrying against the contractor, Dalim Vaishnav, for engaging under-aged children in such hazardous work.

Ranjit Goala, another worker, had a miraculous escape when he managed to crawl out of the mass of soil that had cascaded down in a landslide on the riverbed, burying the two boys under it.

The other children, numbering nearly 10, ran for safety when they saw the landslide.

The Cachar district administration today asked a magistrate to investigate the cause behind the boy’s death.

The office of the assistant commissioner of labour under the Assam government will also probe the mishap and the allegations of flouting the Child Labour Act.

A procession was taken out at the village of Jelalpur with Baboo’s body, which was dug out this morning.

Mita Nath, the president of the Kushiarkul gaon panchayat, under whose purview the quarries fall, expressed concern over the incidents of illegal quarrying in Kathigorah block.

She said the unauthorised contractors do not show any qualms in employing child labourers, who are each paid Rs 30 or Rs 35 for a day’s work.

She alleged that the district forest department had remained unmoved even as the attention of the authorities there had been drawn to the unauthorised quarrying.

The residents also alleged that the rampant quarrying had resulted in the gradual weakening of the nearby hills, causing the landslides.

Railmen ride easy - Bora’s 7-wicket haul fails to dampen hosts’ spirit

Senior cricket

A NF Railway southpaw plays a shot at the team’s home ground at Maligaon on Friday. Picture by Eastern Projections Guwahati, Jan 10 : Hosts NF Railway rode a century by former Ranji player Parag Das to pile up a commanding first innings total of 362 runs in 66.3 overs on the first day of their two-day senior inter-district cricket tournament’s elite group league match against Morigaon at the home ground in Maligaon here today. Put in to bat, the railmen rallied on to a challenging total even as Morigaon off-spinner Ranjit Bora ripped through the innings with a seven-wicket haul. Morigaon were 74 for three in 28 overs at the draw of stumps today. All-rounder Parag Das anchored the NF Railway innings with a 101-run knock, slamming 14 hits to the ropes and one over it. Opener Chandan Rawat also scored a breezy 64 with the help of three fours and a six. Pritam Debnath contributed 40 runs to the team’s total, hitting three fours and two sixes, while Krishanu Majumdar made 34. He hit three boundaries in his innings. Mrigen Talukdar made 30 runs with the bat. He hit four boundaries in his innings, while wicketkeeper-batsman Amjad Ali chipped in with a useful 22. Spinner Ranjit Bora hauled seven wickets conceding 128 runs in the 25.3 overs he bowled. For Morigaon, Anupam Deka made 39 runs and Rajmoni Ali 15, before literally donating their wickets to NF railway’s Arlen Konwar. Nitu Deka and Nazrul Hussain were at the crease on five and nought respectively at draw of stumps today. Ranji spinner Arlen Konwar scalped all the three wickets Morigaon lost this afternoon conceding 22 runs from the 10 overs he bowled.

HC upholds Assam Entry Tax Act

LAW REPORTER
 GUWAHATI, Jan 10 : A Division Bench of the Gauhati High Court comprising Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice BK Sarma by a judgment today upheld the constitutional validity of the Assam Entry Tax Act, 2008 by dismissing a batch of writ petitions.

The Government of Assam had enacted the Assam Entry Tax Act, 2008 to levy a tax on the entry of goods into Assam for consumption, use or sale therein for the purpose of providing the infrastructure and amenities to facilitate trade and commerce within the State of Assam. The government had enacted the Assam Entry Tax Act, 2008 after the earlier Assam Entry Tax Act, 2001 was held to be unconstitutional by a Division Bench of the High Court.

A batch of writ petitions were preferred before High Court challenging the constitutional validity of levy of entry tax under the Assam Entry Tax Act, 2008.

The effect of the judgment delivered today is that not only the constitutional validity of the levy has been upheld, the government is now not required to consider the cases of the assessees for refund as directed in the judgment passed by the Division Bench of the High Court in respect of the earlier Assam Entry Tax Act, 2001.

Oil strike hits Assam PSUs

A security guard stands in front of a deserted ONGC unit in Sivasagar on Wednesday. Picture by Eastern Projections

Dibrugarh, Jan 8 : Operations in all oilfields across Assam were hit hard today in the wake of the nationwide indefinite strike called by the Oil Sector Officers’ Association (OSOA) to protest against the failure of the government to implement its 11-point charter of demands, including higher salaries.

On the first day, the strike affected maintenance of rigs, exploration and drilling activities.

The strike that began at 6am affected production operations of PSUs like Oil India Ltd (OIL), Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Ltd (ONGC), Gas Authority of India Ltd, Indian Oil Corporation Ltd, Bongaigaon Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd and Numaligarh Refinery Ltd.

The general secretary of the Oil India Executive Employees’ Association — a constituent of the OSOA — Ajoy Borthakur said over phone from OIL’s field headquarters in Duliajan that around 700 officers and executives of the company had gone on strike since this morning.

“We have kept open certain very urgent operations so that gas supply to the power plants does not stop. For this, we have exempted 100 of our members so that the emergency services are not affected,” Borthakur, also the spokesman for the association, said.

The gas-based power projects play a crucial role for power generation during the winter since production from the hydro-based power projects decreases to a considerable extent.

“Our strike is against the government’s wrong policies; we, therefore, do not want the people to suffer. That is why we have decided to ensure uninterrupted supply of gas to the power plants,” Borthakur said.

Administrative work has been affected because of non-availability of officers in the offices at OIL’s field headquarters office in Duliajan.

Officers employed with the Assam Asset of ONGC have also joined the strike.

Nearly 3,500 officers, under the banner of the Association of Scientific and Technical Officers, , Assam Asset of ONGC (Asto), today stayed away from work. This is bound to affect Numaligarh refinery, gas-based power projects and numerous tea gardens in Upper Assam.

Sources said that transportation of crude from the fields was also affected and if the strike continues, the refineries may have to close down.

According to an estimate, Guwahati refinery alone could lose upto about Rs 3 crore a day.

OIL produced 2,076.54 million cubic metres from Assam fields

Guwahati , Jan 8 : Oil exploration major Oil India Ltd (OIL) had produced 2,076.54 million cubic metres from its Assam fields during 2007-08, state Mines and Mineral minister Kher Sing Engti said today.

During the year, 4881773 standard cubic metre (scm) was supplied to Assam Gas Company Ltd, 28037360 scm to AGCL Tea and Jorhat, Golaghat, 259652687 to Assam State Electricity Board, 38243736 scm to Assam Petro Chemicals Ltd, Engti told Rameswar Dhanowar (Cong) in the assembly.

As per agreements already signed he said, OIL was committed to provide natural gas to Brahmaputra Cracker, and Polyman Limited and Numaligarh Refinery (NRL).

Meanwhile, Assam&aposs natural resources include, 146.50 million metric tonne (mmt) crude oil, 89533 mmt natural gas, 652 mmt lime stones, 373 mmt coal, 10 mmt iron ore, 1 mmt cement, 346.50 mmt granite, 10 mmt glass stand and 80 mmt silimenite, Engti said.

Faces behind the blasts in Assam

20-yr-old Ulfa cadre Sanjib Talukdar, accused in the Assam blast

ULFA cadre Sanjib Talukdar, aged 20, was arrested by police three days after the serial blasts in Guwahati. According to police officials, Talukdar belongs to the 709 battalion of ULFA and is believed to have supplied the explosives used for triggering the three blasts that killed 5 people and injured more than 50.


Based on Sanjib's statements, a few more arrests have been made. However, the mastermind Pranjal Deka has reportedly escaped from Guwahati. Assam police had earlier released a passport-size picture of Pranjal. Police claim Deka is no longer in Guwahati and had escaped shortly after the blasts took place.


TIMES NOW has got exclusive footage of Pranjal Deka, the alleged masterminded the blasts.

TIMES NOW has also learnt that Deka allegedly came to Guwahati along with his accomplices, who were acting at the behest of the ULFA leadership based in Bangladesh and other countries. We have also learnt that the Guwahati serial blasts were masterminded by the 709 battalion of ULFA active in lower Assam, including Guwahati and the Indo-Bhutan border.


Assam police have so far arrested 18 suspects. However, they claim that Deka, who is the mastermind has managed to evade arrest and move out of Guwahati.


Union Home Minister P Chidambaram had admitted that there was prior intelligence input about the three bomb blasts in Guwahati, but just like a cat-and mouse chase, luck did not favour the Assam Police.


"On the evening of December 31, we had been informed about a possible attack, with a little bit of luck, we could have caught them," Chidambaram had claimed.


The finger of suspicion points towards the ULFA and the terror camps in Bangladesh. Sources indicate that renegade elements in Bangladesh's military intelligence, DGFI, are also being suspected.


After the proof, Chidambaram's first meeting with the Unified Command - the three-tier command structure of the Army, the Assam police and Central paramilitary forces - clearly had its impact.


"Anyone who threats the unity, integrity and is against sovereignty of the country will be dealt with by the security forces," Chidambaram had said.


So other than putting pressure on Bangladesh to dismantle terror camps, the message was clear that there should be zero political interference when it comes to dealing with terror groups to avoid similar attacks in the future.

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4.3 lakh birds culled in Assam: Minister

GUWAHATI: The bird flu situation in Assam was 'stable' and nearly 4.34 lakh birds, including commercial and backyard poultry were culled till December last, state Veterinary minister Kher Sing Engti on Wednesday.

No unusual mortality was reported from any part of the state since December 24 last, Engti told the Assembly in a written reply.

Of the total birds killed, 3.32 lakh were from 250 commercial farms and rest from backyard poultry farms, Engti said.

To combat spread of bird flu infection the government had taken steps as per action plan of the Centre and it included culling of poultry and ducks within the 3-km radius of epicentre where bird flu was detected, he said.

The Minister said that cleaning the poultry houses and areas around it was undertaken. He said public awareness was also created through print and electronic media.

To a query, Engti said, bird flu broke out in Kamrup (Rural) district and spread to nine other districts.

Ghose ‘killer’ resurfaces

Fugitive Ulfa rebel threatens doctor over Majuli contracts

Guwahati, Jan 7 : A key accused in the murder of Sanjoy Ghose, the social activist who was killed by Ulfa militants in 1997 for unearthing its nexus with contractors in Majuli, has resurfaced and is threatening a medical officer of the island to offer contracts to his candidates. Phatik Hatimota, one of the 11 Ulfa militants chargesheeted by the CBI for Ghose’s murder and among the four still most wanted in the case, allegedly called up medical officer Jayanta Bora a couple of days ago and threatened him with dire consequences if his candidates were not given contracts. He wants Bora to award the contract for the construction of a gynaecological ward in Majuli sub-divisional hospital for which the health department has released Rs 15 lakh and tenders were floated recently. Confirming the development, Majuli sub-divisional police officer N. Mahanta said Hatimota was still operating in the island. “He fled from the island soon after Ghose’s killing but has returned recently,” he added. Mahanta said six persons working for Hatimota were arrested yesterday and Ulfa letterheads recovered from them. “We are interrogating these persons who have been demanding money in the name of Ulfa on the island for some time now,” he added. Of the 11 Ulfa militants chargesheeted in the murder case, five — Amrit Dutta, Siraj Bora, Babu Saikia, Arup Baruah and Mrinal Hazarika — were killed in encounters with security forces. Two militants, Moni Neog and Kania Hazarika, are serving life sentences and four — Ulfa’s self-styled commander-in-chief Paresh Barua, Anjan Borthakur, Pradip Baruah and Hatimota — are still absconding. Sources in Majuli said contractors engaged in various projects on the island, especially flood control and social welfare departments, had allegedly been paying handsome amounts to the Ulfa coffer much before Ghose’s team of social workers landed there. “The trend stopped following a massive crackdown on the militants in the island soon after the killing of Ghose. It seems Ulfa is trying to renew its fund-collection drive in Majuli,” another police official said. “The outfit’s fund-collection drive slowed down after the Alpha and Charlie companies of its 28 battalion declared a unilateral ceasefire in June last year. The Bravo company is trying to do its bit for collection of funds,” he added. Majuli is under the jurisdiction of the B company which also operates in Sivasagar, Jorhat, Golaghat, Lakhimpur and Dhemaji districts. The outfit has already served extortion notices to tea gardens in Sivasagar, especially in the gardens located in Charaideo sub-division, bordering Nagaland.