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Alert sounded in State TEs:
Tezpur: An alert has been sounded in tea gardens of Assam's Sonitpur district due to fear of eruption of violence over the payment of Durga Puja Bonus to the workers, official sources said here on September 21. Police with para-military forces were on alert in the surrounding areas of the tea gardens and round-the-clock patrolling has been ordered with security in the entire district being beefed up.
ONGC clarifies stand on employment issue:
Sivasagar: ONGC Assam Asset, reacting to press statements by Promod Gogoi, former Flood Control Minister and president of ONGC Workers' Association published recently in a section of dailies including The Assam Tribune, clarified through a release at Nazira that various resources required for carrying out the activities including manpower resource depend on the activities which are linked with the expected results.
Tea major sticks to stand on bonus:
Dibrugarh: Private sector behemoth Hindustan Lever Limited recently met the general secretary of the Assam Chah Mazdoor Sangha and stuck to their earlier stand of giving 8.33 percent as bonus to the labourers. The company's tea division whole time director, H S Sidhu and personnel manager S D Lahkar were told by the ACMS leader that the latter would "settle for nothing less than 15 percent". The matter remained unresolved.
Indigenous Muslims demand OBC status:
Sipajhar: The Muslim Yuva Parishad, Assam, has strongly demanded the government to include the indigenous Muslims of the State in the list for Other Backward Clases (OBC) in the better interest and the all-round development of the community. A largely attended citizens meet held at Bordoulguri High Madrasa under the auspices of the Darrang district unit of the Parishad. It was chaired by Abdul Aziz, leading social activist of the locality. The meet discussed about various aspects for the development of the community.
AMC students 'relax' stir:
Dibrugarh: In a late development in the night on Sept 16, the striking AMC students and junior doctors have relaxed their agitation for the next two days as a 'goodwill gesture'. Accordingly, from 10am on September 17, the junior doctors will report for hospital duties for the next 48 hours. The MBBS students too will not stage a hunger strike on Sept 17 and 18. However, if the students and junior doctors do not receive any favourable response from the Chief Minister and the Health Minister by Sept 18 evening, they will again resort to their agitation.
Rs6.94 crore sanctioned for Aie-Taklaie watershed project:
Kokrajhar: The Government of India has sanctioned an amount of Rs6.94 crore for Aie-Taklaie watershed project under the scheme of Integrated Watershed Development (IWDP). The total project area is 11559 hectares which comprises 23 villages/watersheds by the side of the rivers Aie and Taklaie of Sidli-Chirang Development block in Kokrajhar district.
Cabinet committee on BTC to meet on Sept 19:
Guwahati: The Cabinet sub-committee on Bodoland Territorial council (BTC) will meet on September 19 to try settling the issue over inclusion of additional 95 villages to the proposed BTC area. Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi who had discussion with the Bodo Liberation Tiger (BLT) leaders on Saturday informed that government would examine the other two major demands of the BLT - withdrawal of criminal cases against its cadres by the State government and granting a status to the hill autonomous councils in the State.
Six Nalbari revenue circles sans circle officers:
Nalbari: At least six Revenue Circles of the total eleven circles of the Nalbari district have been functioning without permanent circle officers (CO) for last couple of months, which is causing a lot of inconveniences to the people in dealing with their land problems, besides others. About four lakh people of the district have been hit adversely due to the absence of permanent circle officers. Even, the developmental activities initiated by the State Government under its popular programme 'Raijar Padulit Raijar Sarkar' (RPRS) have also been affected in these circles of the district.
Move to appoint politicians as PSU chiefs flayed:
Guwahati: Leading citizens here decried on Saturday, the move to appoint political persons as the heads of the public sector units (PSUs) and demanded instead, appointment of efficient and patriotic people as the heads of these institutions. They were attending a citizens' meet on the issue of revival of the PSUs at the Gauri Sadan. The meeting also called for steps to release the arrear salaries of the PSU employees before the next Durga Puja and also to translate the incumbent Government's election pledge for reviving the PSUs into reality.
Controversy stalls construction works of Sivasagar SBI branch:
Sivasagar: Controversy over construction of the permanent branch building for Sivasagar State Bank of India at a site adjacent to the official residence of the Deputy Commissioner, Sivasagar is about to cost the people of the district over a crore building project expenses. Responding of the demand of the people, SBI authority granted necessary fund allotment for a permanent SBI building at Sivasagar on a plot (Daag No. 2803) in Sivasagar town in 1993. The then Chief Minister Hiteswar Saikia laid the foundation stone on the said plot on November 12 the same year. PP Gogoi who was awarded the contract of the construction work through tenders began the initial works as per norms of the work order.
Call to maintain peace in TEs:
Bokakhat: A representative meeting along with the leading trade unionist of 20 tea gardens was held in Bokakhat ACM's branch auditorium with Sri Bishnu Malla, president of the branch in the chair recently. The Minister of Labour and Excise, Sri R Dhanowar attended the meeting as the chief guest. Touching upon all the problems, Sri Dhanowar presented a substantial speech in the meet. Sri Dhanowar appealed to the workers as well as tea garden management for maintaining peace and harmony so as to avert any untoward situation. For smooth solution in payment of bonus, the government mean while, constituted a high level committee with labour secretary, respectively representatives and concerned officials to study and assess the financial positions in case of the tea-gardens that showed inability to pay the specified percentage of bonus to the tea workers on the eve of puja festival.
ONGC's Assam Asset facing hurdles in operational activities:
Sivasagar: In its 46-year-long history of search for hydro-carbons in the region, ONGC Eastern Region, now Assam Asset, had never before faced such hurdles as it appears to be confronting now. As Sri SC Upadhyay-the new Executive Director, asset Manager at Nazira, himself put it in a recent press meet, there were seven bandhs and 21 barricades against ONGC in the last seven months from January to July and it amply suggests the constraints on the operational schedules affecting the overall performance. But inspite of the hazards, the ED told that 320 oil and gas wells out of a total 1130 drilled so far are on production. ONGC Assam Asset is producing 4100 tons crude and 12 lakh CMD gas per day from six major fields, viz. Geleki, Lakwa-Lakhmoni, Rudrasagar, Charali, Changmaigaon, Demulgaon and other small fields Nazira and Banamali.
Tea group seeks early release of 20% bonus ahead of Durga Puja
Implement Plantation Labour Act, ensure security: AATTSA
Dibrugarh: Instead of trying to buy peace with the militants by paying regularly a hefty sum of money, sometimes, to the tune of crores, the tea management should implement the Plantation Labour Act, 1951 in its true sense and sprit for the welfare of their own welfare of their own workforce. This would help the management in securing their safety and security from any external unauthorised threat, felt Mr Kamakhya Prasad Tasha, general secretary of the All Assam Tea Tribes Students' Association (AATTSA).
Kokrajhar DCC raps Cong ministers:
Kokrajhar: A good number of Congress leaders and workers, including the DCC president on August 23, expressed their three State ministers, Mr Mithius Tudu (Revenue), Dr Bhumidhar Barman (Health) and Capt. Robin Bordoloi (Relief and Rehabilitation) for not formally informing about their visiting programme at Kachugaon rehabilitation ceremony and charged them of not maintaining cordial relations with the district Congress workers.
Bhutan officials visit Kokrajhar and Salakati:
Kokrajhar: The deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of police (Bhutan), Mr Sanon Dawa and Rintsent Tinley recently visited the Silk Route industry at Kokrajhar, Baganshali owned by ex-Minister of Assam, Rupnath Brahma's youngest son Mr Manjit rup Bikram Brahma. The visit was aimed at the exchange of new method and technology as well as training in the weaving sector industry. They discussed about the exchange of raw materials, technology and training on weaving industry, Brahma said.
SC/ST panel chief visits Haflong, reviews 6th Schedule functioning:
Haflong: Mr Dilip Singh Bhuria, Chairman of National Commission for Scheduled Area and Scheduled Tribes along with Mr S Kaul, member of the commission recently visited Haflong recently. During the first visit to this sixth Scheduled area, they held an elaborate discussion with the North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council authority headed by Mr Purnendu Langthasa, chief executive member and principal secretary Syed Iftikhar Hussain regarding powers, functioning, problems and limitations of the Autonomous Council.
Erosion problem of Majuli
Xatradhikars shy away from public meeting: Govt prepares to take xatradhikars to Delhi
Majulians want Xatradhikars to take the lead:
Jorhat: After the postponement of a meeting on August 17 where xatradhikars of Majuli were to make public the outcome of the talks between the xatradhikars and the Chief Minister, Mr Tarun Gogoi held on August 11 last over permanent solution to the erosion problem of Majuli, the people of the river island have urged the xatradhikars not to hush up any fact regarding the talks. Meanwhile, the State Government has started its preparation to take the xatradhikars to New Delhi to put pressure on the Central Government for a permanent solution to erosion problem.
Renovation of APL demanded:
Jagiroad: The Assam Polytex Limited (APL) employees and workers have expressed deep concern over the lackadaisical attitude of the State Government towards renovation of the industry, production of which has been halted since 1993. The employees and workers of the mill are not receiving their salaries and other benefits since 1995.
24 lakh saplings planted by the Mill during the last financial year
Ambitious afforestation project by Nagaon Paper Mill :
Guwahati: An ambitious afforestation project of Nagaon Paper Mill for the coming year, is expected to play a great role in building up the environment of Jagiroad and adjoining areas. According to the project, 50 lakh sapling of bamboo and other plants used in preparing the pulp of paper will be planted in 2003-04 by the Paper mill authorities and by the farmers in nearby areas.
People of Maibang demand action against SDO(C):
Haflong: Hundreds of women , youths and leading citizens of Maibang subdivision have submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner, NC Hills, Haflong demanding immediate action against the subdivisional officer Khogendra Nath Bharoti for his alleged harassment to the innocents of Maibang on August 6. The memorandum stated that the SDO (C), Maibang instead of providing protection, has become the cause of public suffering for the last several months. In fact, he was using his power in a wrong manner, and harassing the public by misuing his power as SDO (C). they also alleged that his behaviour was most uncivil and arrogant. The people were very much dissatisfied with his functioning. Further, they alleged that he used to collect money from shopkeepers and truck drivers under different pretexts.
'Cong leaders' threaten PHE EE:
Morigaon: Two youths, Anil Jain and Bidyut Deka threatened the Executive Engineer of the Public Health Engineering (PHE), Morigaon at his office chamber recently. According to Executive Engineer (EE), the two youths, who claimed themselves to be local Congress leaders, had done some work under the Tehali Water Supply Scheme under the PHE Department.
Central team takes stock of flood-ravaged area:
Chhaygaon: A high-powered Central team led by the Joint Secretary, Government of India, N Srivastav has visited the flood-prone areas, including Assam's first Land Spur No 1 at Faturi and vulnerable segments of Palasbari-Gumi embankment at simina and Panikhaiti, under Palasbari constituency in Kamrup district on August 10.
AASU demands refund of 'excess fee', raps RRB chief:
Guwahati: The All Assam Students' Union (AASU), in a bid to rake up the issue of hike in fee in higher educational institutions along with its present move to stop appointments from outside in the recently declared posts in the NF Railway, has demanded refund of the "excess fee" taken by the institutions.
Assam clears 1,663 Amaar Parhaxali proposals:
Guwahati: The Education Guarantee Scheme (EGS) of Axom Sarba siksha Abhijan Mission, the state level EGS committee has so far received about 2,585 proposals for Amaar Parhaxalis-schools for habitations having no government or provincialized schools within a radius of 1.5 km-and has approved 1,663 proposals in the first phase. For the first time, about 60,000 children in nine districts of the State have got an opportunity to set their foot in school. The Axom Xarba Siksha Abhijan Mission will benefit these children in the age group of six to ten hitherto deprived from schooling facilities, under its Education Guarantee Scheme by making ceremonial opening of about 700 Amaar Parhaxalis in nine districts of Assam.