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The Assam government has announced immediate measures to restore nearly 400 hectares of damaged forest in the Behali Reserve Forest and strengthen security along the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh boundary following reports of large-scale encroachment and destruction. Forest Minister Jayanta Mallabaruah announced the decision after visiting the affected areas on Thursday on the directions of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. He was accompanied by senior officials from the Forest Department, Assam Police and the civil administration to assess the extent of the damage and review the existing security arrangements. According to the state government, satellite imagery and drone surveys comparing the condition…

Assam Forest minister Jayanta Mallabaruah on Thursday conducted an extensive on-ground inspection of the Behali Reserve Forest following reports of large-scale destruction of forest land by cross state border miscreants.The minister reviewed the situation in the presence of senior forest department officials, Assam Police and civil administration, and announced a series of immediate measures to protect the reserve forest, restore the damaged areas and strengthen enforcement on the ground.The inspection was undertaken after reports of extensive forest destruction in the Behali Forest Range along the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh boundary.Satellite imagery and drone assessments comparing the condition of the forest over the…

The International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs (IWGIA), a global organisation working in support of indigenous peoples rights, today condemned the arrest of Pranab Doley, an indigenous human rights defender.In a statement, IWGIA stated that he was arrested by Assam Police, possibly as a revenge for cancellation of a $434.25 million loan of the Asian Development Bank for a solar project in Assam. Doley was arrested from Sundarpur, Guwahati on July 12 in connection with Bokakhat Police Station case number 108/2026, registered on June 29 regarding a protest against the proposed Assam Tourism Development Corporation (ATDC) Hyatt luxury hotel project at Ingle Pathar near Kaziranga National Park. He was subsequently taken to Golaghat, formally shown arrested on July 13 at 3.30 am, and remanded…

On the last leg of his two-day visit to Dibrugarh district,  Assam Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya, visited Manohari Tea Estate and interacted with tea garden workers, students of Manohari TE LP School and members of the estate community. During the interaction, Governor Acharya enquired about the various welfare measures and facilities being extended to the tea garden community, particularly in the areas of sanitation, drinking water, healthcare and education. He also sought feedback from the workers regarding the welfare initiatives undertaken for their overall development and well-being. Interacting with the students, the Governor distributed sweets among them and quizzed them about…

The Assam government on Wednesday reiterated its commitment to strengthen the Panchayati Raj system through transparent, efficient and people-centric governance.“Strengthening the Panchayati Raj system remains one of our government’s foremost priorities,” said Assam Minister of Panchayat and Rural Development Atul Bora after chairing a review meeting with senior officials of the Panchayat and Rural Development Department in Guwahati on Wednesday.Reviewing the progress of the Department's 100-day action plan, the Minister directed the officials to accelerate the implementation of key schemes, enhance public service delivery and ensure timely achievement of targets.“Necessary directions were issued to further improve efficiency and accountability. I…

Assam Minister of Food, Public Distribution and Consumer Affairs, Kaushik Rai said the ongoing ration card verification process in the State must be completed by July 31 to ensure that only eligible beneficiaries are included and that the Anna Seva Abhiyan continues to reach those genuinely in need.“Through Aadhaar-based verification and e-KYC review, the cases of beneficiaries who have obtained ration cards but have not availed free rice for six months or more must be carefully examined. This will help create opportunities for genuinely needy families to receive ration cards and benefit from the public distribution system,” the Minister stated,…