Assam - The Purbottar

19 Dec

ICMR sanctions multi-state project to achieve zero snakebite deaths

Banasree SarkarAssam

To address the severe public health issue of snakebite envenoming (SBE) in India, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has approved a ground-breaking, four-year, multi-state research project for Rs 13.5 crore. The goal of the study, "Zero Snakebite Death Initiative: Community Empowerment & Engagement for Mitigation of Snakebite Envenoming," is to create a single, highly successful nationwide strategy for management and prevention. Dr. Jaideep Menon of the Amrita Institute in Kerala will serve as the Principal Investigator for this comprehensive implementation study, which will cover the seven states of Assam, West Bengal, Odisha, Kerala, Himachal Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Jharkhand.…

19 Dec

Gauhati High Court Receives Petition Challenging Ratabari MLA Bijoy Malakar’s Citizenship

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

A writ petition has been filed in the Gauhati High Court, challenging the citizenship status of Bijoy Malakar, the MLA representing Ratabari (SC), and seeking his disqualification from the Assam Legislative Assembly. The petition, registered under W.P.(C) No. 7368/2025, invokes Article 226 of the Constitution for the issuance of writs of quo warranto and mandamus regarding Malakar’s eligibility to hold public office. The petitioners, Braja Gopal Sinha and Bijoy Kumar Kanu from Sribhumi district, allege that Malakar and his parents entered Assam after the cut-off date of March 25, 1971, which, according to constitutional provisions, disqualifies him from Indian citizenship.…

19 Dec

New ‘Guwahati Clean Air Plan’ Unveiled by APCB and iForest to Address Pollution

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

The Assam Pollution Control Board (APCB) has launched a new initiative, the ‘Guwahati Clean Air Plan,’ in collaboration with iForest to combat air quality issues in Guwahati, following the limited success of a prior action plan from 2018. The new strategy was unveiled during the Advantage Assam 2.0 summit and is also developed with input from the Shakti Sustainable Energy Foundation. Pollution sources in Guwahati have been identified predominantly as road dust and vehicular emissions, with road dust from construction activities and roads contributing 37% to the estimated annual PM10 emissions of 1,071 tonnes. Industrial emissions contribute 25%, while transport…

19 Dec

Gauhati High Court Takes Stern Stand on Kaziranga Fishing During Magh Bihu

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

Taking serious note of large-scale community fishing within Kaziranga National Park during the Magh Bihu celebrations, the Gauhati High Court has ordered the Assam government and relevant authorities to enforce prohibitory orders against illegal fishing in the protected area. This directive arose during the hearing of a public interest litigation (PIL) by environmental activist Rohit Choudhury, emphasizing that failure to protect Kaziranga would violate multiple laws, including the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, and the Forest Conservation Act, 1980. The court underscored the need for immediate measures to prevent ecological damage and required the authorities to report on actions taken to…

19 Dec

Congress Completes First Phase of ‘National Talent Hunt’ in Assam

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

The first phase of the ‘Talent Hunt’ selection process for national spokespersons and media panellists of the All-India Congress Committee (AICC) took place on Thursday in Kamrup (Metro) and six other districts of Assam, featuring participation from over 300 candidates across six zones. The event in Guwahati, held at the Manavendra Sharma Complex, was organized by the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) under the media and communication department. Key attendees included former MP Ripun Bora, Ram Prasad Sharma, former MLA Mohan Basumatary, along with a senior editor and a Gauhati High Court advocate as jury members. In Jorhat, MLA Bhaskarjyoti…

18 Dec

Assam CM unveils first glimpse of Guwahati Airport’s new terminal

Banasree SarkarAssam

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma gave a preview of the new terminal at Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International (LGBI) Airport ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's two-day visit to Assam starting on December 20. He described the project as a game-changer for the state's aviation industry. The Chief Minister shared pictures of the almost finished terminal on the social media site X, which prompted a lot of responses from the people. The building was hailed by many as both aesthetically arresting and a representation of Assam's growing infrastructure. Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to officially open the new terminal on December…

18 Dec

Where Masks Come Alive: NSD Students Immerse in Majuli’s Living Tradition

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

For the past 15 days, rare and evocative scenes have unfolded at North Kamalabari Satra in Majuli. Under the shade of trees on the banks of the Brahmaputra, students of the National School of Drama (NSD), Tripura, have been learning Assam’s centuries-old mask-making tradition. Young theatre practitioners from Punjab, Delhi, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Tripura immersed themselves in this traditional art form under the guidance of Padma Shri awardee and master artisan Hem Chandra Goswami. Using bamboo, cane, clay and other natural materials, the students crafted masks deeply rooted in Assam’s rich cultural…

18 Dec

Kaziranga Landscape Agri-Entrepreneurs Receive Assam Green Ambassador Awards 2025

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

Two agri-entrepreneurs from the Kaziranga landscape, Neelam Dutta and Roopjyoti Gogoi, were awarded the Assam Green Ambassador Awards 2025 for their significant contributions to biodiversity conservation, sustainable agriculture, and community-led environmental stewardship. The awards were presented at the Assam LiFE for Nature Summit, organized by CMS VATAVARAN in collaboration with several environmental organizations, including the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) and UN Environment Programme (UNEP) India. The Assam Green Ambassador Awards recognize individuals who have dedicated at least five years to environmental and conservation efforts, with awardees selected for their documented long-term impact in areas such as…

18 Dec

Arunachal Mishap: Assam Cm Hands Over Cheques To Families Of Deceased Workers

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

Assam Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday formally handed over cheques for Rs 5 lakh each as one-time financial assistance to the next of kin of those who lost their lives in the mini dumper accident in Anjaw district of Arunachal Pradesh.During an interaction with the victims’ families at Gelapukhuri in Assam’s Tinsukia district, the Chief Minister expressed his deep condolences to the families of the deceased and also wished speedy recovery of the person who narrowly survived the accident and is currently undergoing treatment.Sarma asked the district administration to take all necessary steps to ensure proper medical…

17 Dec

Special purpose vehicle to promote river cruise religous tourism circuit in Assam

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal today said that a special purpose vehicle (SPV) has been formed to promote river cruise religous tourism circuit in Assam. In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha, Sonowal said an SPV, comprising Sagarmala Finance Corporation Limited, IWAI, and the Inland Water Transport and Tourism Department of the Government of Assam, has taken up the development of a religious tourism circuit connecting seven temples, namely Lachit Ghat, Aswaklanta Temple Ghat, Doul Govinda Mandir Ghat, Hanuman Mandir Ghat (Uzan Bazar), Umananda Ghat, Pandunath Ghat, and Kamakhya Temple, using suitable vessels under a…