Assam - The Purbottar

26 May

A inquiry into illicit coal mining is demanded by Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi

Banasree SarkarAssam

Gaurav Gogoi, a Congress MP from Jorhat, demanded that a thorough probe be conducted into syndicates and suspected illegal coal mining in Assam and Meghalaya. Speaking at a press conference at Jorhat's District Congress Bhawan, Gogoi asserted that a "coal mafia" is flourishing under political cover and connected it to shifts in Assam's leadership. He cited an April Enforcement Directorate action that allegedly exposed the use of fraudulent paperwork to carry coal that had been illegally mined in Meghalaya into Assam, with bribes of Rs1.5 lakh per truck. The Congress MP claimed that neither the Assam nor Meghalaya governments had…

24 May

Five fertility clinics in Assam receive official surrogacy certification

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

In a major step towards regulating assisted reproduction and ensuring ethical fertility treatments in Assam, five hospitals in the state have been officially certified to operate surrogacy clinics. The certificates were handed over by Assam Health Minister Ashok Singhal on May 23, marking a significant milestone in the implementation of the Surrogacy (Regulation) Act and the Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) Act, both enacted in 2021. The certified institutions include some of Assam’s leading medical centers: GMCH Fertility & IVF Center, Apollo Fertility Guwahati, Down Town Hospital Ltd. Guwahati, Institute of Human Reproduction Guwahati, and Swasti Hospital in Rangia, Kamrup. These…

23 May

Rule 201 ignored? bar near Gauhati University triggers protests

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

A recent decision by the Assam Excise Department to issue a liquor licence to a bar and restaurant near Gauhati University has sparked a wave of protests from the university administration and local residents, who allege it violates existing laws meant to protect educational zones. The licence in question was granted to Smti Kaberi Das for her establishment, M/S Angel Bar & Restaurant, located in Pandu Sadilapur under Ward No. 01 of Guwahati. The bar, situated along the NH-37 Bypass in Jalukbari, has been allowed to operate under Rule 116 of the Assam Excise Rules, 2016 (as amended). The premises…

22 May

Haibargaon Railway Station become first redeveloped station in Assam, PM inaugurates it

Mohini BarmanAssam

Assam Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya on Thursday attended the inaugural programme of the redeveloped Haibargaon Railway Station in Nagaon district as Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually inaugurated the railway station. This event stands out as a landmark in the national rollout of the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme (ABSS), as Haibargaon becomes the first railway station in Assam, among 50 stations identified in the state, inaugurated under this ambitious scheme. The inauguration is part of a nationwide event covering 103 redeveloped stations, where Haibargaon's inclusion, constructed at a project cost of approximately Rs. 15.85 crore, signals the beginning of a new…

22 May

AIPL starts a 1 MW solar power facility at Jayshree Tea Estate

Banasree SarkarAssam

Arrays Ingenieria Private Limited (AIPL), founded and maintained by ex-servicemen, successfully erected a 1 MW solar power plant at Jayshree Tea Estates in Sonari, Charaideo district, as part of Tata Power's EPC contract. Arrays has also successfully installed and commissioned a 535 kWp ground-mounted on-grid solar power plant at Towkok Tea Estate and a 500 kWp plant at Manjushree Tea Estate. Both tea plantations are owned by Jayshree Tea & Industries Limited (Towkok Group of Tea Plantations), a subsidiary of the BK Birla Group of Companies. This remarkable project was implemented to commemorate Jayshree Tea & Industries Limited's 80th anniversary,…

22 May

CM Sarma commits to crime-free Assam with tech-driven police reforms

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

In a major push to revamp the state's law enforcement system, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday unveiled a sweeping set of reforms aimed at boosting the efficiency, transparency, and accountability of the police force. The announcement was made during a high-level Superintendents of Police (SPs) conference held at the Lachit Borphukan Police Academy in Dergaon, Golaghat district. At the heart of the reforms is a significant overhaul of Assam’s prosecution system. Chief Minister Sarma revealed that the government will strengthen the office of the Director of Prosecution, a move aimed at speeding up criminal investigations and improving…

21 May

Assam Cabinet rolls out paid PSO scheme, mega concert plan and wage hike for tea garden workers

Mohini BarmanAssam

In a series of decisions taken during the cabinet meeting today, May 21, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, while addressing a press conference at the Lachit Barphukan Police Academy in Dergaon, Golaghat district, announced several cabinet-approved initiatives ranging from security measures to economic and infrastructure development. Highlighting growing concerns over personal safety, CM Sarma announced the implementation of a paid Personal Security Officer (PSO) system. Individuals who feel their lives are under threat can now avail a government-assigned PSO by paying Rs 75,000 as remuneration. “This system is being introduced for those who genuinely feel threatened and have been…

21 May

NIA transfers 4 major insurgency cases to Kokrajhar Sessions Court

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

In a significant development in Assam’s counter-insurgency legal framework, 35 former cadres of the banned National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB), including one of its most senior leaders M. Batha, were transferred from Guwahati Central Jail to Kokrajhar District Jail on Tuesday afternoon. The move marks a crucial step in the judicial handling of multiple high-profile cases tied to the insurgent group. The transfer follows the official handover of four ongoing cases by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to the jurisdiction of the Sessions Court in Kokrajhar. These cases — registered under Special NIA Case Nos. 01/2025, 06/2015, 01/2016, and…

20 May

India showcases combat readiness with largest drills in Northeast

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

The Indian Armed Forces have launched an intensive series of live-fire drills at the Dollungmukh Firing Range in Assam’s Lakhimpur district. Nestled within the Dulung Reserve Forest, near the sensitive Arunachal Pradesh border, the high-intensity military exercises began on May 20 and are set to continue through August 31. The operations, which include real-time bombing, rocket launches, and aerial assaults, mark a significant escalation in the use of this strategically located firing range. For the first time, the Dollungmukh area is hosting full-spectrum aerial and rocket warfare simulations—an expansion from its earlier, more limited use by the Indian Air Force,…

20 May

Assam Minister Ranjeet Kumar Dass proposes the idea of keeping Manas National Park open throughout the year

Banasree SarkarAssam

Given that Manas National Park is flood-free and has the potential to greatly improve the region's tourism prospects, Assam Minister Ranjeet Kumar Dass has suggested keeping the park open to visitors all year round. Speaking at a public gathering in Baksa district's Salbari, Dass emphasized that Manas has not seen any floods since 2011, in contrast to Kaziranga National Park, which frequently experiences seasonal flooding. He pointed out that this makes the park appropriate for year-round visitors. Dass highlighted the park's rising stature in Assam's tourism industry by saying, "Given the Chief Minister's recent visit to Manas, it would be…