Assam is likely to be the first state in the country to expand the central anti-tobacco campaign to all its districts, with Jorhat as the role model. Satisfied with the performance of the National Tobacco Control Programme in Jorhat, the Centre has asked the state government to start the drive in other districts, propping the Jorhat district cell as a role model.

The Railways have projected an outlay of Rs 17,495 crore for completion of 13 new line projects in the North Eastern region. The new projects taken up by the Railways envisage to bring all the State capitals of the North Eastern region barring Sikkim on the railway map of the country. The 13 new lines on completion will provide connectivity to all State capitals, said Minister of State for Railway Bharat Sinh Solanki.

Guwahati; May 17: A resident of Majuli has sought Assam governor J.B. Patnaik’s intervention to protect the life and property of the people on the river island and rehabilitation of the families displaced during floods. Manoj Kumar Borah had approached Gauhati High Court two years ago to find a way to resolve these problems. Borahmet Patnaik yesterday for 45 minutes and held a discussion on the problems of the river island.

Guwahati, May 16: Assam power minister Pradyut Bordoloi today said the state would go for second generation reforms to help improve the power scenario.
The first phase of reforms, carried out since 2005, saw the unbundling of the loss-making ASEB into five companies to enhance efficiency and encourage competition. This was subsequently trimmed to three entities — Assam Power Distribution Company limited, Assam Power Generation Company Limited and Assam Electricity Grid Corporation Limited.

The Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) will soon issue notification prohibiting distribution of plastic carry bags free of cost to the customers within Guwahati Municipal area. “Minimum price of carry bags depending upon their quality and size will be charged as and when the notification is issued by the Corporation,” an official statement said.

‘It is necessary to ban the use of plastic bags in the city, which pose serious threat to people’s health and result in choked drains, artificial floods, etc.’

GUWAHATI: The Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) has decided to ban the use of polythene bags in the city from next month. The GMC officials said that it is necessary to ban the use of plastic bags in the city, which pose serious threat to people’s health and result in choked drains, artificial floods, etc.

GUWAHATI: Use of plastic bags and other plastic materials will be banned in Guwahati from June 5. The Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) is on a mission, a mission to make Guwahati a plastic-free city from June 5. Defaulters will be heavily fined and punished, said a GMC official.

However, this is not the first time that GMC has declared a ban on plastic. On previous occasions when the ban was imposed, people obeyed the rules only for a few days and then again switched back to using plastic bags, plastic cups etc.

GUWAHATI, May 10 – There was no improvement in the power scenario of the State for the eighth consecutive day today. Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today reviewed the scene and directed the Power Department to take immediate steps for improving the dismal power situation. The State today had a shortfall of around 440 MW in power supply during the peak load hours. Its off-peak load shortfall today was around 255 MW. The Karbi Langpi Hydel Project generated 40 MW of power during the daytime and evening today, said Assam Power Distribution Company Ltd (APDCL) sources.

The State is facing a shortfall of 403 MW in power supply during the peak load hours today. Its off peak load hours’ shortfall was 232 MW during the day. The shortfall faced by the State in power supply these days is due to the reduced generation in the hydel and thermal power stations of the region together with its failure to draw power from outside the region.

The peak load hours’ power demand of the State today was 1100 MW against the availability of 697 MW of power. Its off peak load hour power demand today was 720 MW, against the availability of 488 MW.

BOKAKHAT, May 2 – Camera traps have recorded the presence of 118 tigers in Kaziranga National Park in the last three years, reports PTI. The annual monitoring of tigers in the KNP using camera traps during 2009, 2010 and 2011 recorded a total of 118 adult, sub-adult and cubs, according to a report ‘Tigers of Kaziranga National Park’ which was released on Sunday.

The figure includes six identified tigers that died during the period of study, the report released by Assam Forest and Environment Minister Rockybul Hussain said.