The Gauhati High Court (HC) restrained BCCI from 'taking a final decision' on IPL tender

The Gauhati High Court (HC) today restrained the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) from “taking a final decision” on the tender floated on October 14 for selection of new teams for 2013 IPL tourney.

A single judge of the high court, B D Agarwal also sought a response of the Centre, BCCI and the Assam Cricket Association on a PIL filed by Ghisa Lal Agarwal, editor of a vernacular daily challenging non-inclusion of any team from Guwahati in the 12 teams short-listed for participating in the bids.

However, the court said BCCI may go ahead with the process for selection of teams which would be subject to it final orders.

The petitioner had submitted that Guwahati, despite being the gateway of north eastern states with better infrastructure and facilities, has not been included in the auction process for IPL teams.

It was submitted that exclusion of Guwahati from the new teams is an act of discrimination by BCCI which is recognised by the government of India as it is undertaking public duties and functions in the matter of cricket game.

The court, after holding that there was a prima facie case for entertaining the PIL, issued notices to the respondents for their replies by November 11.

Govt fixes maximum fare for passenger vehicles

The Government of Assam has issued directions to the State Transport Authority, Assam and the Regional Transport Authorities of Assam on fixing of maximum fare realizable for different categories of vehicles. The rates are inclusive of all taxes, an official press release said.

As per the schedule, the Government of Assam has fixed not exceeding Rs 0.79 per passenger per km for ordinary stage carriage; not exceeding Rs 0.86 per passenger per km for long distance Stage carriage, Express buses with limited stoppages; not exceeding Rs 1.06 per passenger per km for long distance Stage carriage, Delux Super Express, All Assam Tourist Omnibus, All India Omni bus (Night Service); not exceeding Rs 1.23 per passenger per km for Executive Class (A/C); not exceeding Rs 1.32 per passenger per km for Hill Areas; not exceeding Rs 0.75 per passenger per km for All Assam Omni tourist vehicles (TATA 407) Mini Bus; not exceeding Rs 0.75 per passenger per km for ordinary contract carriage bus and sub-urban buses.

On the other hand, for petrol operated tourist taxi and local taxi the rate is not exceeding Rs 30.00 for the first km and Rs 16.25 for every subsequent km; for diesel operated tourist taxi and local taxi the rate is not exceeding Rs 22.50 for the first km and Rs 10.00 for every subsequent km; for Tata Sumo Taxi/cab the rate is not exceeding Rs 1.50 per passenger per km and for Vikram Diesel three-wheeler etc with 7 passenger seating capacity the rate is not exceeding Rs 7.50 per passenger per first 3 km and Rs 2.50 for every additional km.

First annual shraddha of Dr. Bhupen Hazarika

The first annual shraddha of singer Dr. Hazarika was observed today. It was performed at Ashwaklanta temple in North Guwahati with full Vedic rituals by his family members including his wife Priyambada Hazarika and son Tez Hazarika.

Various cultural organizations and members from the general public also joined the occasion, which was also observed at the singer’s Nizarapar residence.

Representatives from Dr Bhupen Hazarika Literary and Cultural Forum, Deepak Sangha, and Akhat Athaba Silpa were among those who attended the shraddha ceremony at Ashwaklanta temple.

AGP Stages Demonstration Agsinst Mega Dams

AGP Protest Rally at Gerukamukh

Yesterday AGP (Asom Gana Parishad) demonstrated a massive protest against construction of mega dam in Arunachal Pradesh. The protest was organised against NHPC at Gerukamukh.

There were many senior leaders of AGP were present in that rally like Chandra Mohan Patowary, former Cheif Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta, Birendra Prasad Baishya and Kumar Dipak Das. More than 10 thousand people from Dhemaji, Dhakuakhana, Silapathar, Majuli, Lakhimpur, Jonai and other parts of assam took part in the rally. The rally started from Santipur stepped forward to near LSHEP dam and demanded for stopping the ongoing construction work

Rains paralyse Guwahati city life

Continuous rain since yesterday evening upset normal life in many parts of this premier city of North East India for the day today exposing yet again the indifference of the authorities in solving the city’s drainage system and the ill-effects of the rulers’ policy of placating the encroachers on the city hills. Experts here blame the situation to poor drainage system and the unabated encroachment and subsequent earth cutting in the city hills. The existing drainage system of the city has been made ineffective by the loads of silt generated by the bare hills and the garbage dumped by the irresponsible section of the Guwahatians. The indifference shown by the authorities concerned towards the issues has also added to the problem, said the experts.The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) here states that the city had received 72 mm of rainfall between 8-30 am of October 7 and 8-30 am today. It has also forecast that there is likelihood of a few spells of rain over the city with heavy downpours over some of its places during the next 24 hours. Moreover, the India Meteorology Department (IMD) website has forecast that there is possibility of moderate rain over the city