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           _ m m m  (Guaranteed 100% Pure Local News from Assam) 
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                       Vol.2, No.4 * February 11, 1999
   -------------------------------------------------------------------

1  JORHAT ASTC THWART ATTEMPT TO TAKE OVER LAND BY DC    [S:11-FEB-99]
   --------------------------------------------------
   JORHAT:  The Assam State  Transport  Corporation  (ASTC)  employees
   thwarted  an  attempt of the Jorhat district administration to take
   possession of a plot of land owned by the ASTC west of the town, to
   shift the private bus terminus from the heart of the town there.
   
   Although the District Development Authority decided to procure  the
   land  and deposited the cost of the land, the ASTC authorities took
   the matter to court refusing to spare the land.  When the  district
   administration  stepped  in  to  take  possession  of  the  land on
   February 9, the  ASTC  employees  cordoned  the  area  and  shouted
   slogans against the transfer.
   
   The  district authorities said that the shifting of the private bus
   stand to the land is an administrative  necessity  considering  the
   development  of  the  town,  and it shall be dealt with legally and
   according to rule, keeping the interest of planning and development
   uppermost.

2  SALE AND PURCHASE OF GI PIPES BANNED IN SIBSAGAR       [S:9-FEB-99]
   ------------------------------------------------
   SIBSAGAR:  The Sibsagar district administration has banned the sale
   and  purchase  of all sorts of GI (galvanized iron) pipes above two
   inch diameter throughout the district under section 144 of Criminal
   Penal Code with a view to prevent antisocial  elements  from  using
   this  type  of  pipes  in the manufacturing of improvised explosive
   devices (IED).  By a separate  order,  assembly  of  five  or  more
   persons,  holding  of  meetings, demonstrations and rallies, taking
   out of processions was also banned.
    
3  ILLEGAL OCCUPATION OF ASTC CANTEEN BY LESSEE           [S:9-FEB-99]
   --------------------------------------------
   GUWAHATI:  Rabin Bora has been occupying the  canteen  premises  of
   the  Assam  State Transport Corporation (ASTC) station at Machkhowa
   in Guwahati for last twelve years without paying any  rent  to  the
   ASTC, which has accumulated to Rs.103,973.
   
   Moreover, a portion of the canteen has been sublet to another party
   without informing the ASTC authorities.  Rabin Bora was also  found
   to  be  claiming  that the canteen land will become his property in
   due course of time, sources alleged.
   
   The station superintendent of the Machkhowa station,  Mr  N.N.Medhi
   who  is  now  under  suspension,  has  reported  the  matter to the
   divisional superintendent in December 1998.  The higher authorities
   of the ASTC has asked Rabin Bora to pay the outstanding rent.
   
4  JONAI SUBDIVISION OF DHEMAJI TO BE ELECTRIFIED         [S:9-FEB-99]
   ----------------------------------------------
   DHEMAJI:   Erratic  and  low-voltage  power supply to Dhemaji which
   irked the local people for long, will seemingly come to an end very
   soon with the announcement by the Power Minister Hiten  Goswami  to
   take  steps to improve the situation by the end of February, a time
   when the school and college examination session starts.

   Twenty transformers of Dhemaji are out of order which  need  to  be
   urgently repaired.   It is a matter of great surprise that Jonai, a
   subdivisional town has not yet been electrified, the minister said.
   He assured that Jonai will be supplied  electricity  within  a  few
   months.   There  will  be  33 kilovolt line up to Silapathar and 11
   kilovolt line will be taken out from it up to Jonai, he said.
   
5  TINSUKIA MUNICIPAL BOARD WAKES UP AFTER TWO DECADES    [S:9-FEB-99]
   ---------------------------------------------------
   TINSUKIA:  The  Tinsukia  Municipal  Board  (TMB)  after  remaining
   dormant for 20 long years has taken up a few  bold  steps  to  give
   some shape and beautify the town, a commercial hub of upper Assam.
   
   With  majority  of  its people remaining unconcerned towards public
   utility services,  traffic  regulation,  and  used  to the stinking
   drains,  garbage  dumps,  the concerned authority too till recently
   never bothered to attend to the woes of the tax payers.
   
   The present chairman of the TMB, Mr Rajib Dutta with active support
   from  his ward commissioners and the business community constructed
   road dividers, guard railing and installed  halogen  lamps  in  the
   main streets  near  the  Dak Bungalow at a cost of Rs.125,000.  The
   chairman's effort in  bringing  some  visible  improvement  in  the
   public utility services has been lauded by the local people.
   
6  FAX FACILITY AT BIJNI DEMANDED BY JOURNALISTS         [AT:6-FEB-99]
   ---------------------------------------------
   BIJNI:  The Bijni Journalists Forum has demanded Fax facilities  at
   Bijni town  in  Bongaigaon  district.    Due  to  the  absence of a
   telegraph office at Bijni subdivision, the businessmen, the offices
   and particularly, the media  persons  are  facing  difficulties  in
   despatching information, news and important general correspondence.
   Many correspondents of various newspapers have to go to Bongaigaon,
   30 km from Bijni, to despatch news through fax.
   
7  FARMERS WANT RECONSTRUCTION OF IRRIGATION DAM          [S:9-FEB-99]
   ---------------------------------------------
   PATACHARKUCHI:  Under the Bhumik irrigation scheme launched some 20
   years  ago, a 70-foot-long dam was constructed at the confluence of
   two rivulets, Thebar and Bhumki at the foothills of  the  Himalayas
   to  benefit  at  least  80,000 cultivators of Barpeta district. The
   irrigation facilities helped  the  farmers  to  change  their  crop
   pattern from single to double.
   
   But  the flood waters in 1992 washed away a portion of the dam. The
   breach of the dam has been lying without any repair since then.  As
   a  result  the  farmers  of  Anchali,  Simla,  Jalah, Duba, Bhebla,
   Dongpar, Golagaon, and many other villages have to suffer a lot.
   
   Every  year  the  Kaldiya  and  Pahumara  rivers inundate the paddy
   fields of these villages during Sali and Ahu crop season.  As  they
   cannot  have good harvest in these crops, they depend on Boro paddy
   cultivation in winter which require irrigation of the fields.   The
   village  farmers  have  demanded  that  the  inoperative irrigation
   facility be reconstructed so that they can cultivate once again.
   
   HOJAI: Meanwhile the farmers of Hojai, Jamunamukh and Lumding areas
   completed  the  Burhiganga  irrigation  embankment  by   `sharmdan'
   (voluntary work). The irrigation embankment will now benefit 10,000
   farmers in the area.
   
8  REDCROSS RELIEF TO FLOOD-HIT AT JONAI                  [S:9-FEB-99]
   -------------------------------------
   GUWAHATI:  The Indian Redcross Society has taken up several schemes
   to distribute relief materials worth Rs.20 million in collaboration
   with the International Redcross Society to the flood victims of the
   23 districts  of Assam.  The Dhemaji district branch of the society
   received its share worth Rs.500,000 for Jonai, Sisibor and  Dhemaji
   revenue circles, for 500 beneficiaries.
   
   The relief was distributed by the Dhemaji Deputy Commissioner Mohon
   Chandra Brahma in Dhemaji circle.  Each  family was  provided  with
   two  rugs,  one  mosquito  net  and  21  other items of cookery and
   utensils.  Relief distribution for Jonai and Sisibor will follow.
   
9  PROTECT ANIMALS FROM DISEASE SUPREME COURT TELLS GOVT  [S:9-FEB-99]
   -----------------------------------------------------
   NAGAON:   The  Supreme  Court  of  India  has  directed  the  Assam
   Government  to  take  protective measures in view of the animals of
   the  national  parks  and  other  wildlife  sanctuaries  of  Assam,
   including those of Kaziranga, being affected with anthrax.  Despite
   the  order,  the State Government has not taken any step to contain
   the disease from spreading due to financial difficulties.
   
   Sources said, lack of adequate fencing on the border areas  of  the
   forests,  the  disease spread to the wild animals from the domestic
   animals and it has made the lives of  wild  animals  including  the
   rhinos miserable.    Anthrax  is  a  infectious  disease  and  once
   infected with it, there is little chance  for  animals  of  getting
   cured.
   
10 STONE IDOLS OF VISHNU DISCOVERED AT VELOUGURI          [S:9-FEB-99]
   ---------------------------------------------
   MARIONI:   Four  stone  idols  of  Lord  Vishnu  were discovered at
   Velouguri at Nakachari near Marioni in  Jorhat  district  recently.
   The  idols  were  found  buried  under the ground while digging for
   construction of a road.   Due  to  absence  of  any  archaeological
   offices  in  the  area,  the  idols  have  been  placed  in a local
   `namghar' (community prayer hall).  The  idols  have  some  graphic
   letters inscribed on them.

11 `BEST FARMER OF THE STATE' AWARD TO GOLAGHAT FARMER   [S:11-FEB-99]
   ---------------------------------------------------
   GUWAHATI:  Tuaram Borah of Chungajan village of  Golaghat  district
   was selected the `Best Farmer of the State, 1998-99' for scientific
   farming,  in  the  fifth  Agri-Horticulture Show which concluded on
   February 10, at Guwahati.
   
   The second and third prizes went to Hussain  Ali  of  Kaliabor  and
   Lajo Ram  Kalita  of  Nagaon  district.  The first prize carries an
   award of 35 HP tractor, while second and third prize consists of 18
   HP tractor and power tiller with tailor, respectively.
   
______________________________[Mozz-RG]_________________________________
Compiled from newspaper and agency reports for private circulation only.
      [S=Sentinel, AT=Assam Tribune, Agencies = UNI, PTI, PIB]
           Comments and Feedback to: mozz@cyberspace.org
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