Youths detained for setting15-year-old friend on fire

A 15-year-old boy died on Wednesday after being set ablaze by three friends in a remote area at Dhekiajuli in Assam's Sonitpur district, police said.

Rajesh Kurmi (15) of Bherveri village was dragged out from his house on Tuesday night and set on fire, they said.

The boy in his dying declaration named three children, who he alleged set him on fire, they said. The boy died on Wednesday morning at the Kanaklata Civil Hospital in Tezpur, they said.

Police said Rajesh Kurmi was dragged out from his house on Tuesday night and set on fire.

Ghatowar call for tech use

PRANAB KUMAR DAS

DoNER minister Paban Singh Ghatowar today said science and technology play a critical role in the process of development and its application can help in transformation of the natural resources of a region into a real economic resource.

Speaking at the inaugural function of TechXetra, the annual technical-cum-cultural festival of Tezpur University at Kalaguru Bishnu Rabha auditorium here, the minister urged the students to work for society.

Ghatowar also said the students should come forward to deal with problems and facilitate all-round development of the Northeast.

“Universities and institutions of higher learning have a great responsibility to develop science and technology tools and strategies. They should also create the much-needed human resource as well. This university has a well-developed school of science, which focuses on both fundamental and applied aspects of the subject,” the minister said.

Tezpur Medical college hits the Eco hurdle

An expert panel of the environment and forests ministry has found that construction of Tezpur Medical College and Hospital has begun without obtaining the mandatory environmental clearances, which is in “violation” of the Environment Impact Assessment Notification.
The issue came up for discussion at the 116th meeting of the expert appraisal committee for building construction, coastal regulation zone, infrastructure development and miscellaneous projects that was held from September 19 to 21 at New Delhi.

“The committee after discussion (has) concluded that since construction has already begun, this is a case of violation,” the committee report stated. According to the details of the meeting, an executive engineer of the public works department revealed that construction for the above project had already begun.

Environmental clearance for certain developmental projects has been made mandatory by the ministry of environment and forests through its notification issued on January 27, 1994 under the provisions of Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.