Blog - The Purbottar

19 Feb

Assam CM apprises Home Minister Amit Shah of preparations for mega business summit in state

editorAssam, Business

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma met Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday and apprised him of the measures taken to ensure the success of the upcoming mega business summit in Guwahati. The two-day "Advantage Assam 2.0" summit will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 25. The chief minister briefed the home minister about the steps taken by his government to make the business summit a success in terms of participation, both domestically and internationally, as well as attracting investments in key sectors, an official release said.

19 Feb

New IIT Guwahati set to revolutionize C-Phycocyanin productio

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati has partnered with K.N. Bioscience (India) Pvt. Ltd. for the large-scale commercialisation of C-Phycocyanin production, a natural blue pigment derived from Spirulina. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed on February 18, with Prof. Rohit Sinha, Dean of Research & Development at IIT Guwahati, and Sudha Reddy, Founder and Managing Director of K.N. Bioscience, formalizing the agreement. Prof. Debasish Das, the lead scientist behind the technology and a professor in IIT Guwahati's Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, explained that the innovation ensures affordable, high-purity C-Phycocyanin production. "Our technology eliminates the economic and technical…

19 Feb

Japan Launches Space Mining Initiative

editorjapan\

Japan has announced a groundbreaking space mining initiative to extract resources such as rare metals and water from asteroids and the moon. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) will collaborate with private companies to develop space mining technology. The project aims to secure critical materials for Japan’s high-tech industries and future space exploration missions. Experts believe space mining could become a multibillion-dollar industry in the coming decades. Japan hopes to lead this new frontier, ensuring access to resources that are essential for global technological advancements.

19 Feb

Italy Declares State of Emergency Over Flooding

editorItaly

Italy has declared a state of emergency after days of heavy rainfall caused severe flooding in several regions, including Emilia-Romagna and Tuscany. Thousands of residents have been evacuated, and significant damage has been reported to homes, businesses, and infrastructure. Emergency services are working tirelessly to rescue stranded individuals and provide humanitarian aid. The government has allocated €1 billion for disaster relief and rebuilding efforts. Climate experts warn that extreme weather events like this could become more frequent due to climate change.

19 Feb

The Assam CM meets with Amit Shah to get advice for the next big business summit

Banasree SarkarAssamHimanta Biswa Sarma

Union Home Minister Amit Shah hosted Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma at his home in the nation's capital on Tuesday. Preparations for the next Advantage Assam 2.0 Business Summit in Guwahati were the topic of the more than 30-minute-long meeting. Home Minister Shah was informed by CM Sarma during the discussion of the extensive measures taken by the Assam administration to ensure the success of the two-day mega-extravaganza. In order to attract significant investments into key areas of the state's economy, he highlighted steps for enlisting the help of both domestic and foreign investors. The Union Home Minister also…

19 Feb

Nepal to Restore Ancient Temples and Historical Sites

editorNepal

Nepal has announced a new national plan to restore and protect its ancient temples and historical sites. The initiative comes after increased concerns about damage from natural disasters, including the 2015 earthquake. Key restoration projects will focus on UNESCO World Heritage sites in Kathmandu Valley, such as the Swayambhunath Stupa and Patan Durbar Square. The government has partnered with international heritage organizations to fund the project and ensure sustainable restoration practices. By prioritizing cultural preservation, Nepal aims to promote tourism and strengthen its identity as a center of historical significance.

18 Feb

Assam: Drugs worth Rs 14 cr seized; one held

editorAssam

A person was arrested with heroin and Yaba tablets worth around Rs 14 crore in Assam's Cachar district, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Tuesday. "Massive Drug Bust in Ramprasadpur. In a major breakthrough, @cacharpolice, under the jurisdiction of Dholai Police Station, intercepted a vehicle. Upon a thorough search, police recovered 40,000 Yaba tablets and 260 grams of Heroin, worth a market value of Rs 14 crore," Sarma said in a post on X. During the operation, a suspected drug peddler was arrested, the CM said.

18 Feb

Strict measures against toilets at petrol pumps and government offices are ordered by the Sikkim CM

Banasree SarkarSikkimSikkim CM

Prem Singh Tamang, the chief minister of Sikkim, has threatened to take severe measures against government buildings and gas stations that do not have hygienic restrooms. Speaking at the opening of Lebunba Pungwa Ne-ing Yuk Him (Manghim) in Yuma Yok, Darap, Gyalshing, the chief minister issued a warning that gas stations with dirty restrooms will be shut down and subject to fines. "The people of Sikkim are known for their cleanliness," said Chief Minister Tamang, highlighting cleanliness as a fundamental Sikkim cultural value. We have to keep this tradition alive. We will prohibit any gas station that has dirty restrooms…

18 Feb

Demographic disparity raises alarm over Sikkim-Darjeeling merger proposal

Sonakshi SarkarSikkim

The proposal for a merger between Sikkim and Darjeeling has triggered widespread concerns, particularly regarding the potential loss of Sikkim’s special protections under Article 371F. Critics fear that such a merger could undermine the region’s cultural identity, economic stability, and political power.One of the major concerns stems from the significant demographic disparity between the two regions. As per the 2011 Census, Sikkim's population stands at 6,10,577, while Darjeeling has a much larger population of 18,46,823. This stark difference has raised worries that Sikkim’s unique identity could be overshadowed by Darjeeling's larger population, particularly as both regions share cultural and social…

18 Feb

Sterlite Power commissions Nangalbibra-Bongaigaon line, boosts north-east energy infrastructure

Business BureauBusiness

Sterlite Power has successfully commissioned the Nangalbibra-Bongaigaon transmission line, a 400kV D/C Inter-State Transmission System (ISTS) project aimed at enhancing energy infrastructure across North-East India. The project ensures reliable electricity supply in Meghalaya and facilitates power transfer from Assam. Spanning 300 circuit kilometers, the project includes a greenfield substation at Nangalbibra, Meghalaya, with a 300 MW transformation capacity and a 123 km transmission line crossing the Brahmaputra River. Additionally, a 132kV D/C transmission line links Hatsinghmari, Assam, to Ampati, Meghalaya, providing an additional power source. The substation also enables future 400kV expansions to meet rising load demands. Mr. Arun Sharma,…