Assam

Assam is stepping up its efforts to mitigate human-elephant conflict, with the state government deciding to increase the number of Gajamitra teams from the existing 81 to at least 150.The expansion aims to strengthen early response, improve coordination in protecting both people and wildlife.Environment and Forest Minister Jayanta Mallabaruah announced the decision following a review meeting with senior Forest Department officials and Divisional Forest Officers from across Assam. The additional teams are expected to be constituted within the next two to three days.Gajamitra teams play an important role in areas affected by human-elephant conflict, helping improve communication and response when…

In a significant boost to primate conservation efforts in Northeast India, forest personnel from Assam, Meghalaya and Tripura participated in a week-long residential training programme focused on the conservation of the endangered Western Hoolock Gibbon (Hoolock hoolock), India's only ape. The training programme, organised by Aaranyak at the Hollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary in Assam from October 24 to 30, brought together 16 forest guards from the three states. The initiative aimed to strengthen their knowledge and field-level capacities for protecting Hoolock gibbons and their habitats. The Western Hoolock Gibbon, which inhabits parts of Northeast India, faces increasing threats from habitat fragmentation,…

Assam Minister for Agriculture and Irrigation, Pijush Hazarika on Monday visited Krishi Bhawan at KhanaparaBon Monday, and chaired a review meeting with the Commissioner and senior officials of the Agriculture Department to assess the progress of various departmental initiatives and ongoing missions. The Minister reviewed key initiatives, including the Makhana Mission, Edible Oil Palm Mission and Pulse Mission, besides discussing the proposed Rajmah Mission in the Barak Valley. He emphasised timely implementation, greater accountability and stronger grassroots-level engagement to ensure that departmental initiatives translate into tangible benefits for farmers. Highlighting the need for crop diversification beyond conventional paddy cultivation, Hazarika…

Assam Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs, Kaushik Rai participated in a series of programmes aimed at strengthening urban infrastructure, improving civic governance and promoting cleanliness and sustainable waste management in Guwahati. The day began with a review meeting on Mission Flood-Free Guwahati at the Assam Secretariat in presence of Chief Secretary, Assam Dr Ravi Kota, where the Minister deliberated on the challenges, existing shortcomings and necessary interventions to address the recurring urban flooding problem in the city. The meeting reviewed the preparedness of various agencies ahead of the 2027 monsoon and their proposed action plans. A key focus was…

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the state government has set a target to take the generation of renewable energy to 11.7 GW in the state by 2030.Speaking at the CEO Roundtable of Bharat Renewable Energy Summit in New Delhi on Monday, Sarma said, "Under our Integrated Clean Energy Policy, we are targeting 11.7 GW of renewable energy by 2030, and I invited industry leaders to partner with us in building a greener, stronger Viksit Bharat."Sarma hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for putting clean energy at the heart of India's growth story.He also expressed his gratitude to of New…

Dr. Partha Sarathi Mahanta, head of the Assam Police Special Task Force and Police Commissioner of Guwahati, has been conferred the prestigious 'Union Home Minister's Efficiency Medal 2026' by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs. The police officer has been decorated with the country's top security medal for his consistent success in anti-insurgency operations and operations against drugs. According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, a total of 490 police officers and personnel were declared for the award across the country on October 31, and 19 police officers from Assam have received this honour. Under the leadership of Inspector General…

The 14th Eastern Himalayan Naturenomics™️ Forum, organised by Balipara Foundation in collaboration with Gauhati University, brought together policymakers, academicians, industry leaders, researchers and conservation practitioners to deliberate on “Sustainable Land Futures”.The discussions focused on regenerative land management, biodiversity conservation, sustainable livelihoods, wetland protection, circular economy and climate-resilient urban development. Emphasising the importance of community participation in shaping sustainable landscapes, Nilesh Prakash Rajadhyaksha, Country Programme Manager, UN-Habitat India, said, “Engagement with communities needs a different policy approach. You need to have more patience and account for longer timelines of change. There is a need for cross-sectoral data convergence and integration.”The Forum…

Shri Vivek Khare, an IRSME officer of 1989 batch has joined as the new General Manager of Northeast Frontier Railway on 1st November, 2026. As the General Manager, he will serve as the overall executive head of Northeast Frontier Railway, one of the largest and the most challenging of the eighteen geographical zones of Indian Railways, spread over 10 states and 36 Lok Sabha constituencies, including Assam, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Sikkim and parts of West Bengal and Bihar.With over three decades of experience in railway operations, maintenance, efficiency improvement and modernization spreading over different states &…

Even today, the Sawkuchi Visarjan Ghat is in a dirty, filthy condition. The Basistha River has now come to a standstill. The riverbed is filled with Devi idols and garbage.On 21st October, Vijaya Dashami, hundreds of Durga Puja celebration committees immersed idols and ghats at this ghat. But the Guwahati Municipal Corporation has not cleaned the ghat and the Basistha River till today. This year during Durga Puja, the Guwahati Municipal Corporation had given special importance to cleanliness. But even after that, such filthy condition of the ghat has raised questions — Is this negligence of the Municipal Corporation, or…