Govt halts construction in Azara

The Kamrup metropolitan district administration has directed the Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority, Guwahati Municipal Corporation and the zilla parishad CEO to immediately stop issuing fresh no-objection certificates for any kind of construction in the greater Azara circle area.

Sources told The Telegraph that the order was issued after observing that unscientific filling of low-lying areas, blocking of natural drains and haphazard and unscientific construction in the greater Azara area had resulted in floods, persistent waterlogging and inundation of public and private lands.

“Such waterlogging has adversely affected important public institutions like the Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi Internatioal Airport, affecting flight operations and causing immense inconvenience to commuters,” the source said.

Alumni join hands for school facelift

Ex-students to approach Dispur to revive century-old institution’s past glory

The alumni of Sonaram HS School have decided to take the onus of revival of the institution’s infrastructure to facilitate a congenial atmosphere for the students.

Disclosing their plans to move Dispur in this regard shortly, the members of Sonaram HS School Alumni Association, formed in September last year, said they would do all they can to revive the century-old school’s past glory.

Indo-Thai event on hairstyles

Beauty experts from Thailand and the city have been showcasing the innovative hairstyles of both Indian and Thai cultures before the people here.

These artistes will showcase different concepts in popular hairstyles in a beauty show titled “Indo-Thai Beauty Concept” that will be held at Pragjyoti ITA Centre for Performing Arts on February 8.

The show has been organised by the local beauty clinic, D’Parloric. The audience will be able to view models walking the ramp, donning eye-catching Indian and Thai hairstyles and make-up. The show will also feature a musical programme.

Probe report shows excise rule flout

A senior state government official, heading an inquiry to find out who had illegally granted licences to open liquor shops in the city, today informed Gauhati High Court that since 2005, as many as 13 bar licences were converted into liquor shops, violating the norms in the Assam Excise Rule, 1945.

The inquiry report was submitted before the court of Justice Ujjal Bhuyan by Shantanu Thakur, commissioner and secretary (agriculture department). He was the commissioner of the excise department when the administrative inquiry was ordered by the court in August last year.

Tarun Gogoi moves CBI on rhinos

 

Dispur today formally moved the CBI to conduct an inquiry into rampant poaching of rhinos in the state.

“The government has sent a file to the CBI with a plea to conduct a probe,” chief minister Tarun Gogoi told reporters on the sidelines of a National Cadet Corps (NCC) event in Guwahati.

On Sunday, Gogoi said there was a political conspiracy behind the recent spate of rhino killings and decided to go for a CBI inquiry.

The Opposition, however, ruled out such a conspiracy and alleged that forest minister Rakibul Hussain was himself involved in the killings. The AGP said the government’s move was nothing but a farce and a ridiculous proposition.

Lady who fled home for Ulfa ‘dies’ in mishap

Jahnabi Mahanta Rajkonwar

Jahnabi Mahanta Rajkonwar, the schoolteacher from Naharkatia in Dibrugarh district who deserted her family to join Ulfa last year, died yesterday.

An email issued by Ulfa (Paresh Barua faction) today said Jahnabi, alias Rashmita Asom, died in an accident yesterday. While declaring Jahnabi a jatiya shahid (martyr) the Ulfa release issued by its self-styled assistant information and publicity secretary Arunadoy Asom, said the outfit was observing a three-day mourning from yesterday at all its camps in the state and abroad.

Love for rhinos brings UK teen to Kaziranga

Boy from Manchester travels to Assam to study animals

Callum Thomas Frazer (centre) takes an elephant ride at Kaziranga. Telegraph picture
 

A special attachment to rhinos has brought teenager Callum Thomas Frazer all the way from Manchester in UK to Kaziranga National Park to study these “beautiful animals” and how to help protect them.

Callum, 18, is currently at the Centre for Wildlife Conservation and Rehabilitation (CWRC) near Kaziranga National Park and trying to learn more about one-horned rhinos.

OIL launches ‘Dikhya’

Oil India Limited, Duliajan launched the Project ‘Dikhya’ to impart computer education and promote adult literacy in its operation areas in Dibrugarh, Tinsukia and Sivasagar districts in a phased manner. The project was inaugurated in Tinsukia district on Thursday at the Dakhin Tinsukia Anchalik Rangamancha, Bahadur Chariali by Kulendu Kumar Nath, Resident Chief Executive of OIL.

The inaugural function was also attended by Hemanta Das, ADC. As per the scheme, students of Class VI of the Mahakali Grant MV School and Navajagriti ME School in Tinsukia district will be provided computer education classes. Classes for adult literacy will also begin from February 11.

Abu to lead Assam in Vijay Hazare

Speedster Abu Nechim Ahmed will lead the 15-member Assam team in the East Zone limited over cricket tournament for the Vijay Hazare Trophy.

The championship will be held in Kolkata from February 14. Assam will open their campaign against Tripura on February 14 while in the next match they will face Odisha on February 16.

The team: Abu Nechim Ahmed (capt), Dheeraj Jadhav, Tarjinder Singh, Syed Mohammed, Pallav Das, Pritom Debnath, Rajdeep Das (wk), Amit Sinha, Arup Das, Sib Sankar Roy, Pritom Das, Gokul Sharma, Deepak Gohain, Samik Das, Sekharjyoti Barman.

Guwahati U-19 champs

Guwahati posted an innings and 113-run victory against Jorhat and lifted the JK Baruah Trophy in the U-19 Inter District Cricket Championship, organised by Assam Cricket Association.

On the final day of the 3-day summit clash at the ACA’s Barsapara stadium here today, requiring 188 in their second innings to make Guwahati bat again, after following on, Jorhat were skittled out for 75 resuming at the over night total of 18 for 2.

Jorhat batsmen failed miserably to tackle the Guwahati bowlers as Amit Boro wrecked their innings with a 5-wicket haul. Anchal Saikia and Abir Chakravorty were the other successful bowlers with 3 and 2 wickets respectively.

OIL launches ‘Dikhya’

Oil India Limited, Duliajan launched the Project ‘Dikhya’ to impart computer education and promote adult literacy in its operation areas in Dibrugarh, Tinsukia and Sivasagar districts in a phased manner. The project was inaugurated in Tinsukia district on Thursday at the Dakhin Tinsukia Anchalik Rangamancha, Bahadur Chariali by Kulendu Kumar Nath, Resident Chief Executive of OIL.

The inaugural function was also attended by Hemanta Das, ADC. As per the scheme, students of Class VI of the Mahakali Grant MV School and Navajagriti ME School in Tinsukia district will be provided computer education classes. Classes for adult literacy will also begin from February 11.

156 illegal NBFCs operating in Assam

The Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) on Thursday alleged that around 156 unauthorized non-banking financial companies operating in Assam were hoodwinking the people of their hard earned money and accused the government and the administrative machinery of patronizing such bogus companies.

Alleging that crores of rupees were being looted by the illegal financial companies, the KMSS said Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi had no moral right to continue and demanded the resignation of the Chief Minister.

Addressing mediapersons here, general secretary of KMSS Akhil Gogoi said that the 156 financial companies running in Assam, that included the names of many leading companies, were not included in the list of 271 non-banking financial companies authorized by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to accept public deposits.