Assam - The Purbottar

06 Jun

Lovlina launches boxing academy in Guwahati; Assam CM pledges Rs 2 crore support

Mohini BarmanAssam

Olympic bronze medallist Lovlina Borgohain has unveiled her boxing academy in Barchandra in north Guwahati and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced a grant of Rs 2 crore for its development. Set up on land purchased by Borgohain in 2021, the Lovlina Borgohain Boxing Academy, inaugurated on Wednesday, aims to provide grassroots boxers with professional infrastructure, including a 26x26 boxing ring and a fully equipped gym. The centre is Guwahati’s first of its kind and will cater to youth from across Assam and the northeast.

05 Jun

CM’s flood link warning is echoed by the SC alert on USTM

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that the Supreme Court’s recent notice on the University of Science and Technology Meghalaya (USTM) has validated his earlier assertions linking the institution to Guwahati’s chronic urban flooding. Addressing reporters on Wednesday, Sarma struck a vindicated tone, stating, “When I talked about USTM, many people laughed at me and said I was bluffing because flood water cannot be stopped. But today, the Supreme Court has issued a notice in this matter. That itself proves that there is substance in what I said.” The Chief Minister’s remarks came in light of the apex court's…

05 Jun

Floods submerge 60 pc of Assam’s Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary, threatening one-horned rhino habitat

Mohini BarmanAssam

Around 60 per cent of Assam's Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary, home to the highest density of one-horned rhinoceroses in the country, has been submerged due to flooding caused by rising waters from the Brahmaputra River, threatening the habitat of the endangered animal species. According to sanctuary authorities, 10 out of 17 anti- poaching camps inside the 16 sq km protected area have been inundated, severely affecting forest operations and forcing wildlife, including the iconic species, to move to higher ground. "After June 1, we have received a significant influx of water from the Brahmaputra through channels linked to the sanctuary," said…

03 Jun

Eviction drive carried out along Assam-Meghalaya border for widening of NH-217

Mohini BarmanAssam

The National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) carried out an eviction drive at Dinadubi near Dudhnai, along the Assam-Meghalaya border, to facilitate the widening of National Highway 217. The drive, conducted under the directives of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, targeted encroachments on the Assam side of the Dinadubi Bazar area. The operation involved the demolition of several commercial establishments and shops to clear the way for highway expansion. It was conducted in a peaceful manner, with the presence of officials from the local administration, NHIDCL, and police personnel from Dudhnai, Damra, and neighboring areas of…

03 Jun

Water as a weapon? Assam CM dismisses Pakistan’s China-Brahmaputra fear

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

Amid rising geopolitical friction and renewed debate over regional water politics, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has strongly countered a recent narrative suggesting that China could block the Brahmaputra River’s flow into India. His detailed rebuttal, titled “What If China Stops Brahmaputra Water to India? A Response to Pakistan’s New Scare Narrative,” lays out a clear, fact-based dismissal of what he calls “fear-mongering” tactics from Pakistan. Sarma’s statement follows Pakistan’s anxious response to India stepping away from the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty—a decades-old water-sharing arrangement that many in India now view as outdated and unfavorable. As speculation grew over…

02 Jun

Supreme Court rejects petition against Assam’s ‘push back’ policy

Mohini BarmanAssam

The Supreme Court of India has declined to entertain a petition challenging the Assam government's push-back policy, designed to tackle infiltration from Bangladesh. The court advised the petitioner, All BTC Minority Students Union, to approach the Guwahati High Court regarding the matter. The petitioner alleges that the state of Assam has reportedly launched a sweeping and indiscriminate drive to detain and deport individuals suspected to be foreigners, lacking Foreigners Tribunal declarations, nationality verification, or having exhausted legal remedies. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has reaffirmed the state's adherence to legal processes, stating, "We respect legal processes. If someone is…

02 Jun

Local leaders restore broken road—and villagers’ faith

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

Two newly elected panchayat leaders from Dhubri district in Assam have taken the initiative to repair a crucial village road with their own money—drawing praise and gratitude from the local community. The road, located in Barjan village under the Dingdinga Gram Panchayat in Tamarhat, had been severely damaged by recent monsoon rains. Muddy, broken, and nearly impassable, the stretch had become a daily hazard for hundreds of villagers, particularly school children, farmers, and the elderly.But instead of waiting for government funding or district-level approvals, Ward Member Alamgir Mollah and Anchalik Panchayat Member Manzoor Alam rolled up their sleeves and acted.…

31 May

NEEPCO under fire over Assam flood impact

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

A massive flood disaster has unfolded in Assam’s Lakhimpur district after the North Eastern Electric Power Corporation (NEEPCO) reportedly released water from one of its dams, leading to a sudden and dangerous rise in river levels. The deluge has submerged over 230 villages, displaced thousands, and claimed the life of one resident in Pahumora village. Panic swept through the region early on Friday morning as rising waters inundated homes, croplands, schools, and key roadways. The worst-affected area, the Naoboicha-Gendheli stretch, witnessed the 15th National Highway going underwater, effectively cutting off road connectivity and isolating large sections of the population. Relief…

31 May

Assam CM: IndiGo launch direct service between Delhi and Jorhat in September

Banasree SarkarAssam

The announcement by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma that a direct non-stop flight between New Delhi and Jorhat will start operations in mid-September 2025 will significantly improve Assamese regional air connectivity. The statement was made on X on his official Twitter after a high-level meeting with IndiGo Airlines' executives in New Delhi. "It was a pleasure to meet with IndiGo leadership in New Delhi to talk about their plan to increase air connectivity in Assam," Sarma wrote. "Happy to announce that, as of mid-September 2025, IndiGo will operate a nonstop flight between Delhi and Jorhat." Enhancing general intra-state and inter-state…

29 May

Gaurav Gogoi to lead Assam Congress from June 3

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

Gaurav Gogoi, newly appointed President of the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) and current Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, is set to formally assume charge on June 3, 2025, in Guwahati. The event will be marked by a public function at the Manvendra Sharma Complex, where senior Congress leaders and party workers are expected to gather in large numbers. In preparation for this significant transition in state party leadership, the Assam Congress held an internal strategy meeting at Rajiv Bhawan, Guwahati, with active participation from senior leaders, including APCC Working President Zakir Hussain Sikdar and General…