Politics / Assam

GUWAHATI, March 16 ? Autonomous State Demand Committee (ASDC) in a memorandum submitted to the Governor of Assam today exhorted the latter to issue an additional notification incorporating a few specific measures in connection with the process of re-election of Chief Executive Member (CEM) of Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC). It may be mentioned that the State Government by a notification HAD-9/2002/Pt-1/38 dated March 14 ordered re-election to the post of CEM of KAAC following complaint lodged by the ASDC of violation of rules in the election of CEM held earlier in January 11 last.

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GUWAHATI, March 14?Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India has indicted State Agriculture Department for ?misuse? of Rs 65.04 crore in the project for installation of one lakh shallow tube wells (STWs) during the year 1999-2000 with assistance from NABARD. In order to bring an additional area of two lakh hectares under assured irrigation, the Agriculture Department of Assam decided to install one lakh shallow tube wells (STWs) during 1999-2000 at a cost of Rs 230 crore including farmers? contribution of Rs 76.67 crore. The project was jointly financed by NABARD and Assam Government.

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GUWAHATI, March 13 ? Though the Minister of State for Home, Sri Pradyut Bordoloi today clarified the Government?s stand on the issue of ?secret killings? by giving a statement in the State Assembly, the opposition Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and the All Assam Students? Union (AASU) are not convinced about the Government?s sincerity on the issue. Sri Bordoloi, in his statement, said that some sensational killings took place in the last few years and the media termed the incidents as ?secret killings?. He said that the Government instituted a judicial probe by former Gauhati High Court judge...

GUWAHATI, March 13 ? All Bodo Students Union (ABSU) adviser, UG Brahma will be fielded as common candidate of Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Bodoland Legislature Party (BDLP) and Autonomous State Demand Committee (ASDC) for Rajya Sabha election. At a meeting held today, the AGP, BJP, BDLP and ASDC leaders selected the ABSU leader as a consensus candidate to fight the Rajya Sabha election which will be held to three seats from the State.

Meanwhile, the ruling Congress party which enjoys support of 75 MLAs including four NCP MLAs, will field Dwijen Sharma and Karnendu...

GUWAHATI, March 12 ? State Forest Minister GC Langthasa today informed the State Assembly that the Government has mooted a proposal to add 309135 hectares of additional land in the reserved forests. Replying to a question by Hitendra Nath Goswami (AGP), the Forest Minister said that at present 23.424 sq km area, that is 30.4 per cent of the total geographical area of the State, is under forest cover. He said that as per norms, the forest cover should be at least 33 per cent of the total geographical area. Langthasa revealed that the State has 20 national parks and sanctuaries for regular...

GUWAHATI, March 12? The State Government has imposed a ban on private tuition by college teachers and action will be taken against teachers taking private tuition if any specific complaint is received, said the Education Minister, Sri Hem Prakash Narayan. Replying to a question by Sri Bimalangshu Roy (BJP) in the State Assembly today, the Education Minister said that the governing bodies of the colleges had been authorised to prohibit private tuition by the college teachers. The Education Minister said that the minimum working days in colleges in an academic year were 180 days and a student...

GUWAHATI, March 11? The Chief Minister, Tarun Gogoi, today informed the State Assembly that Rs 18,78,310 were spent from the State exchequer during the period from May 17,2001 to February 28,2002 as travel allowance of members of the State Ministry.

The House was informed that an amount of Rs 4,86,374 was spent as TA for the Chief Minister during the period, while Rs 84,657 was spent for Health and Rural Development Minister, Dr Bhumidhar Barman, Rs 65,801 for Handloom and Fishery Minister Dr Hemo Prova Saikia Rs 95,696 for Forest and Hill Areas Development Minister G C Langthasa, Rs 95,085...

GUWAHATI, March 9 ? The Guwahati station of the All India Radio (AIR) is in a tight spot following an irregular selection of artistes for modern and folk songs allegedly about two years back. According to sources, a record number of around 200 artistes were selected in the August, 2000 music audition of the AIR Station. Normally, 20 to 25 artistes are selected in an audition test. The problem is, however, not with the number, but, with the quality of those selected, the sources said.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Director General, NE AIR, office here is conducting an inquiry into the allegation, and...

GUWAHATI, March 9? Peeved at the ?dilly-dally? over formation of Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC), leaders of All Bodo Students Union (ABSU) and Bodo People?s Action Committee (BPAC) today threatened to resume their intensive mass movement for a separate State. Addressing a Press conference here, ABSU President Rabiram Narzary, Adviser U G Brahma and other BPAC leaders today demanded that the Central and the State Government should create the much awaited BTC under the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution without further delay as Bodo people were getting restless over the delay and...

GUWAHATI, March 9 ? Contrary to the loud claim of the newly elected Congress Government about ?fast improvement? of law and order situation in the State, altogether 491 persons were killed in violent incidents in the State during the period from May 2001 to January 2002. Chief Minister, Tarun Gogoi in reply to unstarred question raised by AGP MLA, Jagadish Bhuyan informed the State Assembly today that out of these 491 killed in the State since his Government took over the mantle, 205 were civilians, 72 were police or para-military force personnel and 214 were militants belonging to different...