ASSAM GREEN FILE

(English & Assamese)

(September 1st to December 31st 2014)

Vol. I

ENVIS Centre-Assam Assam Science Technology & Environment Council Bigyan Bhawan, G.S. Road, Guwahati -781005

CONTENTS

PART-I English Newspapers Page No. 1. Forest ...... 1 2. Environment ...... 16 3. Health and Occupational Hazards ...... 24 4. Land Agriculture, Grazing Land and Animal Care...... 27 5. Pollution ...... 28 6. Power ...... 31 7. Flood...... 32

PART-II Assamese Newspapers Page No. 1. Forest ...... 40 2. Environment ...... 50 3. Health and Occupational Hazards ...... 56 4. Land Agriculture, Grazing Land and Animal Care...... 59 5. Pollution ...... 61 6. Power ...... 66 7. Flood...... 67

PART- I

ENGLISH NEWSPAPER FOREST English Newspapers ‘Kaziranga’s wildlife population has writ–petitions relating to poaching, a under both the State and the Central increased’ division bench, comprising Chief Justice governments attract actions under Section HC orders government to clear KNP (acting) K Sreedhar Rao and Justice AK 26 of the National Green Tribunal Act, encroachments Goswami, directed the State Government 2010, the owners of the industrial units BY OUR STAFF REPORTER to implement the measures to hand over (stone crushers, bitumen hot-mix plants, GUWAHATI, September 2: State the land to the KNP authorities. brick kilns, oil mills and others) are Environment and Forest Minister Lawyer Rita Boro Barua, who represented operating in clear violation of the NGT Rockybul Hussain on Tuesday informed the petitioner, said Assam government orders. Section 26 of the said legislation that there was no encroachment in the suggested short–term and long term describes such acts as offences notified areas of the Kaziranga National measures. “According to the government, punishable with imprisonment for a Park, but admitted that the additional areas the short–term measures will start period which may be extended up to three of the park are witnessing some amount of immediately and the encroachments will years and with fine which may be encroachment. be cleared by March 31, 2015,” she said. extended up to Rs 10 crore or with both, The additional areas meant for the park are Assam government also proposed a said Choudhury. yet to be handed over to the Forest compensation of Rs 10 lakh to the people As per the NGT order dated September 7, Department by the Revenue Department. who are living in the additions and 2012, Choudhury had filed an RTI Talking to reporters here, Hussain said, suggested that they may be re–located to application with the Union Ministry of “Some people have patta land in these model villages. The court also suggested Environment and Forests (MoEF) additional areas which are still under the setting up of a separate sub–division for requesting for the copy of the Revenue Department. We have given a expediting the works. Comprehensive Action Plan and proposal to the Central government for Source: The Sentinel, Guwahati, Monitoring Mechanism prepared by the rehabilitation of the owners of patta land in Wednesday, September 03, 2014 Ministry of Environment and Forests, for these additional areas and to give them implementation of the conditions compensation up to Rs 10 lakh,” adding, stipulated in the 1996 notification “Three such additional areas are yet to be specifying “No Development Zone” and handed over to us.” for inspection, verification and On land erosion facing by the park, the monitoring of the prohibitions stated in minister said, “From 1904 to till date, 84 the notification. And, following no sq km of the park’s land has been eroded answer from the Ministry, he filed the and it’s a major challenge for the park first appeal on the matter on February 11 authorities as well as the Forest this year. Department.” Choudhury filed another RTI application Expressing optimism, Hussain said, with the Department of Environment and “Despite land erosion problem, the park’s Forests, Government of Assam on wildlife population has increased. In case February 24, 2014 on the same issue. He of tiger population density, the park is filed the First Appeal on the matter on currently ranked between 1 and 5 April 9, 2014, but no information has globally,” adding, “The park harbours 32– been provided to him as yet. He was 34 tigers per 100 sq km.” informed through a communication on On the rhino poaching issue, the ______May 22 last that “the required Environment and Forest Minister said, information as sought for on the point Industries near Kaziranga violating “We are very serious about rhino poaching, No.1 and 2 are under process for which norms and for safety of these animals, electronic Staff Reporter GUWAHATI, Sept 3 – The the information could not be provided.” surveillance system has been installed in industrial units located in the eco-sensitive In the third RTI application filed with the the park,” adding, “About 100 local youth zone of Kaziranga National Park (KNP) Pollution Control Board, Assam (PCBA) living around the park will be trained for have been operating in clear violation of on February 12, 2014, and the First assisting the park’s security officials in the legal provisions and the government Appeal filed thereon on March 29 in curbing poaching and other anti–social authorities concerned have also failed to respect to the KNP Eco-sensitive Zone, activities in and around the park.” take any actions against these units despite 2014, the PCBA informed him on April Hussain further informed that Union there being written complaints, alleged 10, 2014 – “No step has been taken by Environment and Forest Minister Prakash environment and RTI activist Rohit the PCB, Assam to install necessary Javadekar would be visiting the Kaziranga Choudhury who is fighting a legal battle pollution control equipment as the Board National Park for two days from against all the anti-environment-friendly office didn’t allow the units to operate” September 4 to review the whole scenario. activities in this zone, also alleged that the and “As the Board didn’t allow the units Meanwhile, the Gauhati High Court today authorities have allowed these units to to operate, so the inspection matter does asked Assam government to clear the violate even the orders of the National not arise.” encroachments in four additions of Green Tribunal (NGT). The authorities, in Choudhury claims that contrary to the Kaziranga National Park hand them over to a bid to cover-up such nefarious activities, PCBA statement, the units in question are the park authorities. The first and fourth have also been trying to evade the queries continuing with their industrial activities. additions have been handed to the park made by him through RTI applications, Source: The Assam Tribune, Guwahati, authorities earlier. However, the rest of the alleged Choudhury While the authorities Thursday, September 04, 2014 four additions still have encroachments. Hearing a PIL along with 1 ASTEC- Assam Green File

33 animals rescued in Kaziranga around 80 per cent of the park area had introduced ‘time card’ system to By Our Staff Reporter causing a threat to the animal population control the vehicle movement on NH 37. Guwahati, September 3: Thirty three of the Kaziranga National Park. Animals face problem due to vehicle animals have been rescued from the Elephants, rhinos, tiger and the most movement which sometimes lead to flooded parts of Kaziranga National Park, affected deer population had suffered a casualties. of which 26 have been released in the lot. Most of the deers have shifted Out of 33 rescued animals, twenty six (26) wilds and the remained seven succumbed towards highlands of Karbi Anglong animals were released by the MVS team to their injuries. The animals were foothills. But the rescues of endangered after minimum intervention in the safe rescued by the Centre for Wildlife hog deer from the fringes were the most. wilderness of Kaziranga National Park. Six Rehabilitation and Conservation (CWRC) The national highway 37, the lifeline hog deer and one wild boar died. run Mobile Veterinary Service (MVS) through the Kaziranga landscape is the Source: The Sentinel, Guwahati, units of Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) and most vulnerable stretch that has quite a Thursday, September 04, 2014 International Fund for Animal Welfare number of animal corridors connected to (IFAW) in association with Assam Forest the park. And the wildlife moves towards Department and local people from August the highlands through these animal 25 to 30. corridors during flood too. Like every The recent flood wave has submerged year, the Kaziranga Forest Authority

The Telegraph 5th September 2014.

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Javadekar assures action plan for regard. I will speak to the Union Home it has been done in Panna National Kaziranga Ministry on the illegal migration Park of Madhya Pradesh,” he said. BY OUR BUREAU problem and try to address the problem WTI’s Dr Parimal Bhattacharjee said Guwahati/Jorhat, September 5: Union at the earliest.” all components of biodiversity and Minister of State for Forests and The Union Minister also assured to traditional institutions should be Environment Prakash Javadekar today speed up the CBI probe into the protected and enhanced. said an action plan would be prepared poaching of Assam’s one–horned The AASU demanded setting up a for Kaziranga within a month in which rhinos. world–class research institution of steps will be included to make the "I am going to find out what is the medicinal herbs in the State. UNESCO World heritage Site free status of the CBI probe into the (rhino) Wildlife conservation NGO Nature’s from encroachers. poaching," Javadekar, who also holds Beckon submitted a memorandum to On a two–day visit to the State, the information and broadcasting the minister at Patgaon, demanding that Javadekar said “what is happening in portfolio, said interacting with the CBI probe should cover all the Kaziranga – be it poaching or individuals and organizations in wildlife crimes in Assam. encroachment – is very bad”. Guwahati. After a public hearing here, Javadekar Harping on technology interventions The minister, who embarked on a two– flew to Kaziranga. He met for protection of the flora and fauna, day visit to the State on Friday, also representatives from the community the Union Minister said unless people interacted with nature lovers, civil there before visiting the park. partner in the initiatives, the objectives society groups and wildlife BJP MPs Rajen Gohain, Kamakhya cannot be achieved. conservation NGOs at Patgaon area in Prashad Tasha, Rameshwar Teli and “I must say that when people get Kamrup. Ramen Deka accompanied him besides involved in a movement to save the The minister jotted down suggestions State forest minister Rakibul Hussain. wildlife then no force in this world can given by organizations like Aaranayak, stop it. The rhino is being killed for the WWF, WTI, Nature’s Beacon and He will hold a meeting with State horn which finds way to the AASU. forest officials tomorrow before International market owing to its high In a representation, Aaranayak asked returning to Delhi. selling value. Our government will the minister to pressurize the State Source: The Sentinel, Guwahati, soon devise a policy through which we government to recruit Ranger Officers Saturday, September 06, 2014 will stop the killing of this majestic and lower level staffs from local people animal and smuggling of its horn,” he residing near forest areas, a step which said, admitting that profit from the will garner support from local people horn trading is also finding way to and help better protection. Highlighting militant organisations. “People must some problems faced by the forest take active participation in the staff, Aaranayak underlined the need protection of the rhinos without which for a comprehensive morale boosting sometimes the government becomes plan for frontline staff. helpless,” he said. When being told of WWF’s Dr Anupam Sarma the problem of illegal migration by a underscored the need for strengthening delegation of AASU, he said, “The the relationship with the fringe problem of illegal settlement and influx communities and setting up of special is alarming and that our government courts to deal with wildlife crime. “We under Prime Minister Narendra Modi also urged him to deploy unmanned will soon take rigid steps in this aerial surveillance planes in KNP like

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The Telegraph 7th September 2014.

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The Telegraph 16th September 2014.

The Telegraph 17th September 2014.

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The Jatinga bird phenomenon is well- illegal and merciless killings. All section Call to protect migratory birds known all over the world, and is an of the society must keep vigil and Correspondent attraction of the district. Another provide information to the Forest Migratory birds in the Pobitora Wildlife important phenomenon is the arrival Department and the police authority of Sanctuary. HAFLONG, Sept 18 – The of thousands of the Amur falcons such incidents. We appeal everyone to Forests Department, NC Hills (Daopna in Dimasa and Kalengmaha stop these merciless killings,” he said. Autonomous Council, Dima Hasao has in Karbi languages) in Umrangso area Source: The Assam Tribune, Guwahati, appealed to the people of the district during the September-November Friday, September 19, 2014 in general and the people of Jatinga period every year. and Umrangsu in particular to save the Every year, thousands of Amur falcon DEER RESCUED migratory birds who visit Jatinga and migrate through the remote North Staff Reporter Umrangsu during the period between East India from Easter Siberia, and GUWAHATI, Sept 19 – A deer was September to November every year. Northern China to Southern Africa. rescued by the villagers of Bhuragaon The Dima Hasao district is one of the These migratory birds make a this morning. According to forest two hill districts of Assam blessed with stopover in the Umrangso area during official sources, an adult male deer natural beauty. The flora and fauna, the months between September and coming out from Orang National Park the running rivers and streams, October. was washed away by the floodwater colourful butterflies and insects, fishes, Bikash Brahma, IFS, Additional PCCF, and was rescued by the villagers on the wild flowers and cultural diversity of Dima Hasao told this correspondent, bank of the Brahmaputra. the people attract people from various that some people do not hesitate to Forest officials later handed over the parts of the State and the country. kill these birds for consumption, deer to the State Zoo, Guwahati. One of the important natural besides selling them in the market. Source: The Assam Tribune, Guwahati, phenomena of the area is the annual This practice has brought shame to Saturday, September 20, 2014. arrival of various migratory birds the people of the district and these during the later part of August to unique birds will disappear if this October, particularly in the Jatinga, practice is allowed to be continued. Doiheng and Umrangso areas. “It is call of the hour to stop such

th The Telegraph 20 September 2014.

6 ASTEC- Assam Green File The Telegraph 22nd September 2014.

Greater Adjutant Stork population often found dead at the edge of water– remains static, it will not take much dwindling in city hyacinth filled Boragaon dumping site time when Assam will lose these pride By Our Staff Reporter as they are exposed to rotten food species the way Kolkata had lost all, Guwahati, September 28: A census of mixed with insecticides. the organization felt. the Greater Adjutant Stork in the city The stork and other water birds are also Source: The Sentinel, Guwahati, has revealed a picture that is not so sometimes found dead at the site due to Monday, September 29, 2014. encouraging. snake bite and other possible reasons. A fresh counting on September 28 at “Although there is a feeble attempt by Poacher killed in Kaziranga selected places in the city that known the Municipal Authority to prepare Guwahati, October 4: The guards of the for roosting of hargillas, as this bulky manure from garbage, the move would Kaziranga National Park shot dead a bird is locally known, has tracked 227 hardly have any impact as the large poacher at Burhapahar range on individuals. volumes of garbage is used for filling Saturday. "We were tipped off about a During the thirteen years of bird up the nearby wetlands and low lands. poaching attempt and accordingly census, the highest number was This attempt by the contractors alerted the guards patrolling the park," recorded in 2002 with 288 birds and engaged by the GMC is almost a said an official adding that around 2.30 the lowest individuals were found in failure as they have not succeeded in am the guards sighted the poachers and 2010 which recorded 113 birds. Last reducing the high level of pollution at challenged them. "The poachers year, it recorded a figure of 158 the dumping site,” Barua said. opened fire forcing the guards to numbers. There was also a half–hearted attempt retaliate. In the ensuing gun battle, one The Early Birds, a nature organization, by the state forest officials in 2003 to of the poachers was killed while the has been conducting census of the bird look into the hargilla issue when a rest of the group managed to escape," since 2002 in many areas of the discussion took place at the state Zoo he said. One .303 rifle and live Guwahati city. The organization rued Herbarium House in presence of other cartridges were recovered from about that there has been lack of awareness stake holders. However, there has been the slain poacher who is yet to be among the public that has led to the no follow–up action. The Greater identified, officials said. Poaching has dwindling number of this endangered Adjutant Stork population all over become one of the major concerns of bird. world is not more than 1300. Assam the authorities at the Kaziranga It is understood that due to rapid accounts for the sixty percent of the National Park, a UNESCO world urbanization in the North Guwahati population. Early Birds has planted heritage site, and other protected areas and other parts of the north bank of the ‘simlu’ trees at various places like in Assam. river Brahmaputra, all animals and graveyards, Girls Poly Technique, Twenty–three one–horned rhinos have birds are facing a tough time. Khamranga Beel at Thakurkuchi, already been killed by poachers in “With the division of family and Ulubari market and Satgaon Village at Assam this year with 22 in Kaziranga consequent fragmentation of land– North Guwahati to facilitate shelter of alone. The highest number of poaching holdings, majority of rural people are the bird since 2003. Some of them have cases took place in Assam last year, first losing their backyard compound grown up sufficiently, but due to lack when the poachers had killed 41 rhinos which used to have a large number of of co–operation from the concerned including 27 in Kaziranga, five in indigenous trees, which in turn is authorities many trees had been Manas national park, three in Orang affecting the nesting sites,” Moloy removed to use the land for other national park, two in Pabitora wildlife Barua of Early Birds said. Garbage purpose. sanctuary and four in other areas. IANS dumping sites are also a roosting place Shortage of fish in the beels has also Source: The Sentinel, Guwahati, for the Great Adjutant Stork as they are become main hindrance towards Sunday, October 05, 2014 scavenger birds. Many hargilla’s are breeding of these species. If things .

7 ASTEC- Assam Green File th The Telegraph 6 October 2014.

Conference on Asian elephant in November Staff Reporter A herd of wild elephants seen roaming in Boko area of Kamrup district in search of food on Tuesday. - UB Photos GUWAHATI, Oct 8 – India, Bhutan and Myanmar are home to some 15,000 Asian elephants – almost half of the entire Asian elephant population. Destruction and degradation of habitat, however, is pushing the elephant population to the brink. In an attempt at addressing the conservation concerns, wildlife experts and conservationists will deliberate on how best to secure a safe future for the elephants. Balipara Foundation, in collaboration with 14 partner organisations, is organising a two-day ‘Conservation Platform’ on November 6 and 7 in the city featuring a host of eminent environmental thinkers and practitioners. The occasion also includes an international conference titled ‘Asian Elephants in the Wild: A Dialogue’ and the second Balipara Foundation Awards-2014. The event will open to the screening of the Panda Oscar winning documentary The Last Migration directed by Mike Pandey. The conference will bring together thought leaders, conservationists, environmental activists, green gurus, sociologists, anthropologists and geographers – from both governmental and non-governmental stakeholders – to deliberate and address issues related to wildlife corridor management, human-elephant conflict mitigation and habitat sustainability mapping. “The objective of the dialogue is to highlight the threats and challenges facing Asian elephant populations in Bhutan, India and Myanmar, and to chart out a roadmap for trans-boundary conservation between the three countries,” Robin Eastment and Sanjid Dutta, operations executive and chief coordinator respectively of Balipara Foundation, said at a press conference today. Prof Raman Sukumar, a leading authority on Asian elephants, will deliver the keynote address. Dasho Palijor J Dorji, The Telegraph 7th October 2014 special advisor to the National Environment Commission of Bhutan and architect of the widely-acclaimed Gross Happiness Index

8 ASTEC- Assam Green File philosophy, will deliver a special address on behalf of the foundation. Dr Khyne U Mar, popularly known as the Elephant Lady of Myanmar, will present perspectives from Myanmar, while Mr Wangchuk of Bhutan Foundation will offer insights on Asian elephants from Bhutan. Dr Peter Liemgruber of the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute will present his ideas on tracking of Asian elephant populations in the Bhutan- India-Myanmar region. WTI and Elephant Family will present case studies of elephant corridor initiatives in Assam and the North-east. The conference will end with the joint signing of the ‘Key Resolutions for the Future’ by all participating delegates and the formation of a joint action committee to oversee all future initiatives. Source: The Assam Tribune, Guwahati, Thursday, October 09, 2014

The Telegraph 9th October 2014.

The areas have become major transit snakes from the forest areas of Dhubri Snake skins from Dhubri smuggled points for smuggling of cobra and district, dip the snake in cod liver oil to to Japan python skins. Of the 234 species of remove the skin which is later sent to snakes found in the country, most of agents in this trade. Though the Correspondent them –except the arid species and sea Wildlife Protection Act stipulates that GOLAKGANJ, Oct 9 – Snake snakes – are found in Assam and the though snakes cannot be caught, the skins smuggled out of Assam are North-east in general. way it is being done openly and finding lucrative international markets Kulodhar Das, Director of Natures regularly under the very nose of the especially in Japan where those are Friend, a local NGO of Dhubri district, authorities points to the involvement of used for making bags, footwear, food said that most of the snake charmers in many people. products and medicines. This fact came the countryside are turning into snake Source: The Assam Tribune, to light when Gauripur Forest Beat smugglers. “The trade is very lucrative Guwahati, Friday, October 10, 2014 Office staff under Dhubri division as each snake skin fetches Rs 5,000 on caught several snake charmers near the an average in the international market.” Modati and Alomganj areas and Apart from Assam which is a fertile recovered a large number of cobras and centre for the snake skin trade, pythons which were later set free in the Meghalaya is a big centre for reptile forests. In Rupshi areas, a dozen trade and last year volunteers of the pythons were seized by the Dhubri organisation released 100 snakes in the forest staff recently. According to forest of the State after catching them Dhubri forest department sources, from the snake charmers. Among the about 200-300 snake skins are snake species the most common for smuggled out every year from Dhubri smuggling is the cobra. The rat snake and its adjacent areas of Assam to and the python are hunted as they are Bangladesh which is later sold in the non-venomous. international market on way to Japan. The snake charmers who catch the

9 ASTEC- Assam Green File The Telegraph 11th October 2014

votes in Outdoor category and 8,689 the livelihood of riverside people, which Dolphin project tops online votes in Alpine category. altogether will lead into the Mission Clean Aaranyak’s Dolphin project not only Brahmaputra. conservation voting received the highest votes in Nature Thousands of fans of Aaranyak and Staff Reporter category, but was also able to secure Dolphins across the globe voted for this GUWAHATI, Oct 12 – A conservation the highest votes among all the three project. More significantly, two famous project for restoration of the important category projects. artistes from Assam, Angaraag Mahanta habitats for the Gangetic Dolphin (sihu), Through this project, Aaranyak plans and Joy Barua, appealed to the public to mooted by the Aaranyak, has won an to do habitat restoration activities in vote for the cause. Whale and Dolphin international online public voting 30 most important dolphin habitats Conservation Society (UK), Awley competition. Aaranyak’s Dolphin covering a 100-km river stretch of the (France), Ocean Park Conservation conservation project secured the first Brahmaputra in association with local Foundation (Hongkong), Peoples Trust for position with 4,736 votes, while UK’s communities. Endangered Species (UK), David Shepherd Shark conservation project got the “These restoration activities include Wildlife Foundation (UK), Wildlife1 (USA), second position with 3,947 votes and river clean, prevention of domestic etc., supported the cause. Thousands of Peru’s Manta Ray project got the third garbage dump to the river, prevention people across Assam voted for the project position with 3,681 votes. of oil and grease dump to the river by with active association from all the The competition was organised by the the motor boats and ferries, members of Aaranyak. Currently there European Outdoor Conservation prevention of riparian vegetation are around 600 Gangetic dolphins in Association, a Switzerland-based non- destruction and regular cleanliness Brahmaputra river system within Assam. profit association. Shortlisted from 86 monitoring by local communities,” Dr Aaranyak through its Gangetic Dolphin projects initially, the dolphin Abdul Wakid, Head of Aaranyak’s Research and Conservation Initiative has conservation project was one of the Gangetic Dolphin Research and been conducting conservation activities seven from six countries in the Nature Conservation Initiative, said. All these for the last ten years, for which the category. The online voting in all activities will not only help the about population of the species has been categories was opened from September 600 endangered Gangetic dolphins increasing from initial 250 in 2005 to 635 22 to November 6, where a total of inhabiting the Brahmaputra, but also in 2012. These dolphins have been facing 36,100 votes were counted with highest the other associated aquatic animals severe threats from poaching, accidental 19,735 votes in Nature Category, 7,686 living in those river stretches as well as killing and habitat degradation. Although

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Although Aaranyak has undertaken seriously by the World Heritage formally laid at a function organized at activities to reduce and prevent Committee, which has warned that if Diphu by PRC in collaboration with the poaching and accidental killing, which the Government fails to check Forest Department, Karbi Anglong on reduced dolphin mortalities in encroachment, it may lead to such a Wednesday. Brahmaputra by 70 per cent in the last situation that the park may be A draft ‘Conservation Action Plan of seven years, this is the first time that inscribed as a World Heritage Site in Hoolock Gibbon in Karbi Anglong’ was effort is going to be mode to reduce Danger. released at the function. On the habitat degradation for the species in The smuggling of timber has also occasion, PRC with support from US Brahmaputra through this project. added to the woes of the park. The Fish and Wildlife Services provided an Source: The Assam Tribune, felling of valuable and old trees is all-terrain Tata Xenon vehicle to the Guwahati, Monday, October 13, 2014. going on unabated in the Betbari, Forest Department in an attempt to Encroachment poses threat to Manas Tangonmara, Koirbari, Agrang Digjira improve the capacity of the North National Park and Panda areas under the Bhuyapara Karbi Anglong Wildlife Sanctuary. HARAMOHAN BARMAN Range. Large areas in the eastern part The sanctuary – situated just opposite BARPETA, Oct 18 – At a time when the of the range office have been to the world famous Kaziranga Manas National Park, which is also a denuded. There is no forest cover in National Park – has habitat contiguity Project Tiger area, has been facing these areas, compelling the wildlife to with Kaziranga, and is crucial to the serious problems like poaching, shift to other crowded habitats. wellbeing of Kaziranga’s famed smuggling and presence of extremist It is learnt that the World Heritage wildlife. Wild animals from the Park elements, a new problem has surfaced Committee has urged the Government including elephants, rhinos, buffaloes, to threaten the very existence of the to adopt measures to conserve the deer, etc., use to take refuge in the park. Encroachment on some vital park and strengthen the security highlands of the sanctuary in large parts of the park has made the system. It has also instructed the numbers during the annual floods. situation so grave that even the World Government to inform the committee Dr Jihosuo Biswas, coordinator, Heritage Committee has noted it with about the measures adopted by Primate Research Centre NE India, serious concern with a warning to February, 2015. If the Government gave an account of the conservation inscribe the park as a World Heritage fails to comply with this directive, the scope and challenges with special Site in Danger. park may lose the status of a World reference to hoolock gibbon and tiger The Bhuyapara Range is the worst Heritage Site for the second time after conservation in Karbi Anglong. He affected as about 150 hectares of land 1992. emphasized on the need of are in the grip of encroachers. Most The Manas National Park was declared establishing a separate wildlife wing of areas at Betbari, Natun Betbari and a World Heritage Site in 1995. But due Karbi Anglong Forest Department to Agrang beats under the Bhuyapara to the devastation during the Bodo look after the management issue of Range have been occupied by them. agitation in the late 1990s, it lost the the wildlife. In his speech, Dr Abhijit The land has been gradually occupied status and was enlisted as a World Rabha, Additional PPCF, Karbi Anglong, by sections of residents of the fringe Heritage Site in Danger. Rigorous thanked the PRC for its effort and said villages. Though they have not efforts by the BTAD and the park that it would give a boost to the constructed any permanent structures authority enabled it to retain the morale of the frontline forest staff. He on the occupied land, they have been honour for the second time after 19 also lauded the organization and the cultivating crops after destroying the years in 2011. supporting agency for extending their forest cover. With no obstruction from But the prevailing situation in the park assistance. any quarters, the encroachers are fast is not at all satisfactory, which has Singnar, Executive Member (EM), approaching the park and more and attracted the ire of the World Heritage Forest, Karbi Anglong Autonomous more areas are being occupied every Committee under the UNESCO. Council, stressed the need for year. Source: The Assam Tribune, concerted efforts from every quarter The situation under the Panbari Range Guwahati, Sunday, October 19, 2014. to protect forest and wildlife in Karbi is also not different from that in Karbi Anglong has most hoolock Anglong, as the Forest Department Bhuyapara. Though the land under gibbon alone was not in a position to do the encroachment is less than Bhuyapara, Staff Reporter job. He emphasized on having a some people have already built houses GUWAHATI, Oct 23 – Karbi Anglong separate wildlife division and and are refusing to move away. accounts for 65 per cent of the total manpower for proper management. Neither the park authority nor the population of the endangered hoolock The vehicle was provided to the Government has undertaken any steps gibbon in the State. This gibbon Haldibari Beat which is proposed for to evict the encroachers and free the population is distributed in five forest the separate wildlife range of North land. As a result, the world famous complexes in Karbi Anglong, prioritized Karbi Anglong Wildlife Sanctuary to park has lost a vast area and if the for long-term conservation of the only enhance mobility for protection. current situation prevails for a few ape found in India. This was revealed The flag-off ceremony for the more years, both the Bhuyapara and in the ‘Hoolock Gibbon Population and presentation of the all-terrain vehicle Panbari ranges will cease to exist on Habitat Estimation’ report prepared by was attended, among others, by senior the map of the park. The issue of the Primate Research Centre NE India forest officials of KAAC including encroachment has been taken very (PRC), Guwahati. The report was Jaysing Bey, DFO, East Karbi Anglong

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Division; Jaganath Rongpi, DFO, Karbi constituted with the DC as the chief ed an open session and threw Anglong West Division; and RS Ingti, patron and the Dhemaji DFO (T) as the immense light on the importance and DFO, Silviculture Division. chief convener. conservation of the Dehing Patkai Rain Source: The Assam Tribune, Source: The Assam Tribune, Forest and other places rich in flora Guwahati, Friday, October 24, 2014 Guwahati, Sunday, October 26, 2014 and fauna. Talking to The Sentinel, Siraj Ud–din Poba Reserve Forest under Forest Minister talks tough, assures Ahmed, the DFO of Digboi, called the action against poachers, timber Forest Minister’s visit “meaningful and threat smugglers motivating” for the entire forest Correspondent From our Correspondent fraternity to assess the ground JONAI, Oct 25 – The growing strain on DIGBOI, October 28: State Forest realities of departmental functioning, the forest wealth, hunting and Minister Rakibul Hussain visited the infrastructure and manpower. constant erosion by rivers have been famous Choraipung rain forest under Source: The Sentinel, Guwahati, posing a threat to the Poba Reserve Choraipung Range of Digboi division Wednesday, October 29, 2014. Forest on the outskirts of Jonai town. on Tuesday morning with a host of HC directs scrutiny of Kaziranga But the authorities concerned have dignitaries including VK Bisnoy, the encroachers not taken any steps to save the PCCF, OP Pandey, the ACCF, D Mathur Court asks government to form a reserve forest, causing a great deal of and S Nayak, the CCFs, Utpal Borah the committee which would verify the resentment among nature lovers here. CF and Sirajuddin Ahmed, the DFO of citizenship credentials of the The territorial forest in the subdivision Digboi division and others from encroachers in and around the Unesco has been dealt a severe blow with the various locations. World Heritage Site growing requirement of timber for Inaugurating a photo museum at By Our Staff Reporter construction-related activities, leading Choraipung, Hussain assured a Guwahati, November 3: In a landmark to the exploitation of the forest developmental package for the forest, judgement, the Gauhati High Court resources on the one hand and the besides initiating steps so that today asked the Central and State disturbance of the ecological balance resourceful exotic locations with rarely governments to verify the citizenship on the other. found species of birds and animals credentials of the encroachers in and The Poba Reserve Forest under the could be converted into an around Kaziranga National Park. Dhemaji Territorial Forest Division is international tourist hub. Inaugurating For this, a bench of the court also facing depletion due to the the academic–cum–administrative comprising Chief Justice (acting) K constant erosion caused by the Lali building of the Assam Forest Guards Sreedhar Rao and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan and Sille rivers. Though the reserve School at Makum in Tinsukia district, directed formation of a committee forest has come under tremendous Hussain reiterated that the school which would comprise the DIG pressure, the State’s Forest Minister is would provide adequate training and (border) and representatives of the allegedly indifferent to its protection. knowledge to the foresters and forest Ministry of Environment and Forests, The Poba Reserve Forest is home to guards for effective functioning in the State forest and revenue departments. different kinds of flora and fauna. The wake of modern day challenges. “The verification drive should be water bodies on the upper reaches of Addressing mediapersons, he urged carried out inside the Kaziranga the reserve forest are close to the the media to assist in combating the National Park, in the six additions and Daying Ering Wildlife Sanctuary in menace of timber smuggling and other along the highways which are known Arunachal Pradesh and the Dibru illegal forest activities, assuring animal corridors,” advocate Rita Boro Saikhowa National Park across the security to mediapersons if needed. Bora, who represented petitioner mighty Brahmaputra river. Herds of The Minister said that a special Mrinal Saikia, said. wild elephants have been affected due rehabilitation package for Laika in Though the government, in its affidavit to the demolition of the dense forest Dibru Saikhowa National Park would earlier, had said that there were cover, leading to conflicts with human be declared soon after the committee around 10,000 settlers in the additions beings. Meanwhile, various local concerned submits its reports and of the park which are not yet included organisations including environment genuine requirements. He warned that within the park’s jurisdiction, it had NGOs have demanded the authorities illegal activities like mining, timber not mentioned anything on the to declare the Poba Reserve Forest as smuggling, excavation and poaching presence of illegal migrants in and a wildlife sanctuary and take necessary would not be tolerated and the around the Unesco World Heritage protection measures. But Forest defaulter officials would also be dealt Site. The government had, however, Department officials here are with strongly. “Illegal mills are to be admitted presence of encroachers. reportedly yet to submit the feasibly immediately stopped,” Hussain said The Gauhati High Court had in report in this regard. and asked the senior forest officials to September asked Assam government These organisations have moved the take serious steps in this regard. Later to clear the encroachments in four Dhemaji Deputy Commissioner, in the afternoon, Hussain took part in additions of Kaziranga National Park Monalisha Goswami, seeking her the Pragatisil Krishak Samanya Mela and to hand them over to the park initiative for the necessary survey and held at Margherita Town School in authorities. The first and fourth documentation of Poba. A 15-member Margherita enrouting Digboi College additions have been handed to the coordination committee has also been on the way. The Minister also address- park authorities earlier. However, the

12 ASTEC- Assam Green File the rest of the four additions still have encroachments. In its affidavit, Assam government had suggested short–term and long term measures for clearing Kaziranga of encroachments. According to the government affidavit, the short–term measures will start immediately and the encroachments will be cleared by March 31, 2015. Assam government also proposed a compensation of Rs 10 lakh to the people who are living in the additions and suggested that they may be re–located to model villages. The court also suggested setting up of a separate sub–division for expediting the rehabilitation works. However, in today’s judgement, the High Court said the rehabilitation of the encroachers should not be initiated till the citizenship verification exercise – to be carried out as per the Indian Citizenship Act and the Assam Accord – is completed. The next date of hearing on the case has been fixed for November 27. “Forest minister Rakibul Hussain has been stating that there are no illegal Bangladeshis in and around the park. Now that court has sought a verification drive, his th claims have fallen flat,” petitioner Mrinal Saikia, who Assam Tribune 12 November 2014. alleged rampant encroachment by Bangladeshi nationals in the Sixth Addition of the park, told The Sentinel. Source: The Sentinel, Guwahati, Tuesday, November 04, 2014.

13 ASTEC- Assam Green File

Assam Tribune 12th December 2014

14 ASTEC- Assam Green File

Assam Tribune 13th December 2014

15 ASTEC- Assam Green File

ENVIRONMENT English Newspapers

Udalguri villages to go green from Udalguri as patron and Jogen Daimary of Dibrugarh engineer comes up with October Mazbat as district secretary of Krishak innovative bamboo boat Correspondent Panchayat of Bharat Swabhiman. Jonaki Staff Correspondent UDALGURI, Sept 2 – Bharat Swabhiman, Boro, State observer of Mahila Patanjali DIBRUGARH, Sept 11 – Constant which is a national- level organisation Yoga Samiti also addressed the joint research about bamboo has increased its working for the general welfare of the meeting on the occasion. applications and simultaneously given people, along with sister organisations like Source: The Assam Tribune, Guwahati, rise to new innovative products. Today, Hamro Swabhiman and Patanjali Wednesday, September 03, 2014. bamboo is fast becoming a catalyst for Yogapeeth set up by Swami Ramdev and ______development and an effective means to Acharya Balkrishna at Haridwar, have Land contour survey for Science City enhance the livelihood of rural people. As resolved to undertake a number of social begins boats made of wooden planks in the State works so as to yield maximum benefit for PRANJAL BHUYAN are dwindling for want of timber, bamboo the countrymen in terms of environmental GUWAHATI, Sept 8 – The State PWD has has been discovered as a viable protection, check the threat of climate started a contour survey of the land in alternative. Tilak Chandra Mahanta, an change first in India and then in other parts Nazirakhat in Sonapur near here, where Executive Engineer of the Inland Water of the globe. the ambitious Science City is to come up. Transport, Dibrugarh Division, has With this initiative in mind, the Udalguri Once the survey is completed, architects established that boats can be made of district committees of Bharat Swabhiman, from the National Council of Science bamboo stalk pieces too. Mahanta and his Hamro Swabhiman and Patanjali Museum (NSCM) will carry out innovative team have come up with a Yogapeeth have undertaken some dream landscaping of the place and then a unique 3.5-metre boat made of bhaluka projects to make the local villages green. formal foundation ceremony will be bamboo. The width of the boat is one Speaking about the dream projects, R conducted. Senior Science and metre. After treating the bamboo stalk Sapkota, senior journalist of Udalguri and Technology department officials told The pieces in lime water solution for about 15 publicity secretary of Udalguri district Assam Tribune that the contour survey days, it took hardly five working days to committee of Hamro Swabhiman said that started on September 5. “We hope the produce the bamboo boat. The boat was the three organisations would start survey to be completed at the earliest so created on the banks of the river plantation of medicinal saplings like neem that bhoomi poojan and shilanyas Brahmaputra at Maijanghat. One Sumon (margosa) and other trees in all the revenue ceremony can take place,” said an official Rabidas, a traditional boat-maker, did the villages of the district in order to maintain The state-of-the-art Science City project carpentry work. In order to seal the balance of the ecology and keep the would be spread across 250 bighas of spaces between the bamboo stalk pieces, environment green in the collective interest land and would require an investment of a solution of bitumen and dhuna powder of the next generation. Rs 110 crore. Of the total funding, 90 per was used to repel water. The bamboo boat The projec will start from October 2 next, cent would be from the Union is similar to any traditional wooden boat. commemorating the birth anniversary of government’s Ministry of Culture and the It can carry some eight to ten persons Gandhiji with the active cooperation of the remaining from the State. “Of the While talking to this correspondent, Udalguri District Forest Office and district Ministry of Culture’s Rs 99 crore share, Mahanta said that a motor can also be administration as a whole. we have already received a part, while Rs fitted into the bamboo boat for faster Narayan Khatiwara, ‘mandal prabhari’ of 11 crore has been given by the State to movement. “It is viable and cost- the five districts of Udalguri, Sonitpur, NSCM for construction of the project. effective. This can easily be built by any Darrang, Dhemaji and Lakhimpur informed Logistical support for boundary wall, bamboo artisan for personal use or that Bharat Swabhiman is presently being developing the land, retaining wall and commercial purposes like ferrying encouraged by the Union Ministry of Forest water would be provided by the State passengers and carrying goods. Such and Environment for its mission green government,” he said. boats can also be made available in flood- project. NSCM will undertake designing and prone areas for relief and rescue A joint meeting of the three organisations construction of the main building, spread operations,” he said. Asked how the idea held on August 31 last and chaired by across 30 acres, and it will be handed of creating a boat of bamboo stalk pieces Drona Chetry, president of Bharat over to the State government once struck his mind, Mahanta said the boat Swabhiman Trust and Patanjali Yoga completed. The Assam Science industry was suffering due to lack of Samiti, Udalguri district, in the presence of Technology and Environment Council timber, especially the azhar and gandsarai State observer Narayan Khatiwara (ASTEC) is the nodal agency for the species. “Economically backward rural reorganised the two district committees, project. Besides the main building with its farmers in the riverine areas and namely Bharat Swabhiman and Patanjali exhibits, sky theatre, lecture halls and fishermen supporting their families Yoga Samiti for smooth functioning along auditorium, the place will also have stalls, cannot afford wooden boats due to the with inclusion of more members. car parking, an eco-park, and other rise in the prices of available timber. Accordingly, Gunindra Deka of Orang was ancillary facilities.“After laying of the These thoughts stimulated me to try selected as the general secretary of foundation stone, NSCM is expected to bamboo as an alternative to wood and Udalguri district committee of Bharat finish work on the main building within thus, we built and experimented one,” Swabhiman and Kulen Borah, a retired 54 months. It will be a totally green Mahanta said, adding that mature jati teacher of Rowta was selected as president campus,” said an official. bamboo can also be used for making such of Patanjali Yoga Samiti for Udalguri Source: The Assam Tribune, Guwahati, boats. district along with Budhiman Gautam as his Tuesday, September 09, 2014. Source: The Assam Tribune, general secretary, Rishiram Pokhrel of Guwahati, Friday, September 12, 2014

16 ASTEC-Assam Green File NRL, Finnish firm to study both for bio–diesel in HSD and bio– been imposed from the Ganeshguri possibility of extracting fuel from ethanol in MS, by 2017. The approach flyover to Last Gate. It is noteworthy bamboo of National Policy on Bio–fuels is to that the district administration plans to By Our Staff Reporter promote generation of bio–fuels solely convert the entire GS Road from Guwahati, September 11: from non–food feed stocks to be raised Bharalumukh to Khanapara into a ‘No Numaligarh Refinery Limited today on degraded or wastelands that are not Parking’ zone for private vehicles from signed a Memorandum of suited to agriculture, to avoid a mid-October. Understanding with a Finland based possible conflict of fuel versus food Meanwhile, Kamrup Metro Deputy Company M/s Chempolis Oy, for security. Commissioner Dr M Angamuthu has carrying out a feasibility study for Both NRL and Chempolis have agreed directed the PWD (Roads) to construct production of ethanol from bamboo to cooperate with each other in silt traps at Noonmati and asked the biomass. carrying out the feasibility study and GMC clear up the drains in the VIP Bamboo is one of the major non–food implement the project, if found feasible Road immediately. biomass resources available abundantly and on mutually acceptable terms and Source: The Assam Tribune, in North East India and is amongst the conditions through a JV/SPV, subject Guwahati, Monday, September 15, fastest growing plants. Chempolis Oy to Environmental Clearance from 2014. is a Finland registered company and Ministry of Environment & Forest ‘GMC procedure of granting has developed the patented (MoEF), Government of India , other building permission not formicobio™ technology for statutory clearances. transparent’ processing non–food raw materials into Source: The Sentinel, Guwahati, cellulosic ethanol, cellulosic sugars, Friday, September 12, 2014. Staff Reporter bio–chemicals and bio–coal. GUWAHATI, Sept 16 – The procedure of according building NRL intends to explore the feasibility GMC notice to 500 commercial of setting up a bio–refinery in Assam permission by the Guwahati Municipal to produce bio–ethanol using non–food establishments Corporation (GMC) is allegedly not bio–mass resources like Bamboo, etc. Staff Reporter transparent. The civic body is allegedly Production of fuel grade ethanol will GUWAHATI, Sept 14 – The Kamrup trying to conceal the information on the reduce NRL’s requirement of imported Metro district administration has issued building permissions it is granting to MTBE and Py–Gas for MS blending notices to around 500 commercial parties, going against the democratic due to higher octane number of ethanol establishments in recent days in the GS norms. and will result in net savings for NRL. Road asking them to furnish details It is alleged by several quarters that the The MoU was signed between Director regarding own provision for parking civic body is granting building (Technical) NRL Mr. SR Medhi and for employees, customers and visitors. permissions to parties without trying to President, Asia–Pacific & Americas The establishments have been asked to assess the impacts of such structures in M/s Chempolis Mr.Pasi Rousu, in the provide their replies within 30 days, the localities in which they are presence of MD NRL Mr. P sources said. proposed to be built. There is no Padmanabhan, Director (Finance) NRL The Guwahati Municipal Corporation attempt at assessing the impacts of Mr. SK Barua, President, Chempolis (GMC) had last Tuesday directed all such structures on the groundwater India Mr.Navin Singhania and senior commercial, institutional and table, drains, garbage disposal system, Officials of NRL at NRL Corporate government establishments situated traffic load on the roads, etc, of the Office, Guwahati. As per the MoU, along the AT Road, GS Road, MG localities concerned. NRL and Chempolis will jointly Road, Md Tayabullah Road and GNB Moreover, the impact of such undertake an assessment study for Road to designate and arrange their structures on the old and low-cost ascertaining the availability of the own parking places within 30 days. structures in their neighbourhood has required feedstock in North Eastern The civic body had said that failure to never been sought to be assessed by the India. Both the companies will also co– comply with the notice and the parking civic body, which is violative of the ordinate with various government and norms as envisaged under the Building democratic rights of the dwellers of the private agencies to identify the main Byelaws will entail action under the old structures, alleged the above feedstock supply areas in North provisions of the GMC Act, 1971, and quarters. Eastern India and explore tie ups with Building Byelaw leading to These factors have assumed the prospective suppliers for supplying cancellation of Trade licence and significance in view of the large-scale the feed stock for the proposed plant. sealing of the premises. transfer of land in the city localities in Chempolis will also carry out MGVK Bhanu, Principal Secretary to favour of a section of moneyed but experimental testing of various the Chief Minister, had carried out an non-indigenous people. Even structures specimens of bamboo and other inspection of the entire stretch of GS which should have been treated as potential biomass feedstock materials Road last week. Bhanu had directed SP heritage structures because of their available in North Eastern India and Traffic to ensure that there no parking inalienable connection with the provide the entire pre project technical of private vehicles in the stretch and Mahatma and the freedom struggle of consultancy required for completion of directed the PWD to make the the country, have also been demolished the Detailed Feasibility Study for the footpaths free from vendors and also to by these moneyed people, who have Project. The National Policy on Bio– construct railings along the footpaths. least concern for the State’s heritage, fuels announced by Ministry of New He had also announced that DC, GMC with the civic body turning a blind eye and Renewable Energy, Government of Commissioner, SSP and SP Traffic will to all such developments, alleged the India in 2009 sets an indicative target visit various locations across the city above quarters. Such developments of 20 per cent blending of bio–fuels, every Sunday to review progress of the have been posing serious threats to the work. A ‘No Parking’ zone has already residents of several old localities of the

17 ASTEC-Assam Green File city. These residents demand that the that: “The new scientific parking plan fisheries with a total area about 662 ha civic body and the Guwahati will be in place in Guwahati by for last two years. Women Metropolitan Development Authority December 31. Enough time will be empowerment programme in fish (GMDA), for that matter, should make given for buildings that are very old.” farming mainly for rearing of quality the permissions open and in the process Source: The Assam Tribune, fish seed has resulted in minimising the of granting permission residents of the Guwahati, Wednesday, September 17, dearth of fish seed at proper time. A localities concerned should be 2014. total of 5,500 women are now engaged involved. ______in raising quality fish seed in different Source: The Assam Tribune, Guwahati, parts of the state. If favourable Wednesday, September 17, 2014 Local fish production registers conditions persist, the state will meet ______increase the economic demand of fish for the Staff Reporter state, the source added. Guwahati to have scientific GUWAHATI, Sept 20 – After years of However, the marketing infrastructure parking plan by Dec 31: DC poor growth, local fish production in of the fish market of the state continues Assam has risen during the last few to remain unhygienic. The department By our Staff Reporter is expected to improve the market GUWAHATI, Sept 16: Kamrup months. Monthly fish production since channel and the marketing (Metro) Deputy Commissioner M July, 2010, is about 18-20 million kg, infrastructure for the benefit of the Angamuthu is among the recipients of which can meet the local demand, farmers, which can minimize the a notice that seeks all establishments according to well-placed sources in the dominance of middlemen. situated between Khanapara and Fisheries Department. The Department may also declare a Bharalu to inform the administration In view of the importance of the fishery particular fish as State fish as has been within a month if they have parking sector in providing nutrition to the done in 17 States in the country. This provisions or not. This information, people, employment generation and initiation could increase the population according to the deputy commissioner, livelihood to the rural sector, and to of the fish and thus give additional will just be the precursor of an on–the– explore prospects for the sector to grow boost to overall production. spot verification by the administration further, the State Fisheries Department is adding more thrust in recent times. Source: The Assam Tribune, Guwahati, so as to ensure a scientific parking plan Tuesday, September 21, 2014. in this stretch of the road. In 2009, production of local fish was Talking to newsmen in the city today, 218 million Kg which was 5.82 per Environment clearance for the deputy commissioner said: “It’s cent higher than the previous year. The Dibang project State has also been able to supply about doing the rounds that the entire stretch Staff Reporter of the road from Khanapara four million kg of fish to the adjacent toBharalumukh will be a no–parking States, a fishery official stated. GUWAHATI, Sept 30 – The Expert zone. This isn’t true. What’s in the The quantity of fish brought in from Appraisal Committee (EAC) of the River Valley and Hydroelectric pipeline is a scientific parking plan that outside the State has been reduced Projects has accorded environment fits Guwahati like a glove. Some by– from last three months, an executive clearance to the 3000-MW Dibang lanes will be chosen in this stretch of from the Paltan Bazar Wholesale Fish the road so as to find some parking Market informed. This could be due to Multipurpose Project in its 77 th places. This is being done for the availability of more local fish in meeting recently under alleged benefit of all. What’s being done is markets. pressure from the Prime Minister’s very much within the parameters of the Sources claim that the local fish Office (PMO). existing laws. All stakeholders will be production is increasing due to stricter Subsequent to the EAC approval to the project, discussion on the project was taken into confidence while making implementation of the Fishery Rules. A initiated also at the meeting of the this a reality.” The deputy large number of drag and mosquito net Forest Advisory Committee (FAC) commissioner said: “This is a fact that has been seized which was used some owners of establishments in this illegally at proclaimed fisheries, a held on September 22 and 23, 2014 for stretch of the road park their cars on senior fishery official mentioned. the project’s clearance by it. the road from 10 am to 10 pm. Some Motivation of unemployed rural youths It has been reported that the Forest have been using the open spaces, in this sector is another cause for the Advisory Committee had which are a must in front of their rise in local fish production. Last year a recommended clearance of the project establishments in accordance with the total of 567 ha of low lying area was on September 22. The minutes of the EAC meeting, now existing laws, as storerooms. The developed through 495 Self Help available in public domain, confirm district administration will keep an Groups and Common Interest Groups. eagle eye on such things. Those who Higher institutional credit through the that the EAC has recommended have been served the notice have to facilitation of the Department has also clearance of the Dibang Multipurpose inform the administration within 30 emerged as an advantage particularly to Project without any comprehensive days so as to let the latter conduct its economically weak fish farmers. downstream impact assessment and spot verification. There are also cases Prevailing weather conditions has been public consultation in Assam. It is that some establishments that have cited as another reason for higher feared that the project will have, among others, adverse impacts on the Dibru- parking provisions are charging fees yields in most districts of the state. Saikhowa National Park of the State. from their customers or visitors. It’s Beel fisheries is an important resource Significantly, the EAC has approved just not done.” “Those who have no for fish production in the State and the own parking places will have to get Assam Fisheries Development the clearance basing on the results of them done by a deadline to be Corporation's initiatives include pen some questionable computer-modelling stipulated by the administration. If they and cage culture technology in the done by the National Hydroelectric don’t, action against them may be up to periphery of the Beel area for seed as Power Corporation (NHPC), which cancellation of their trading licenses, well as fish production. The stated that there would be no adverse impact of the project on Assam. the deputy commissioner said, added ” Department has developed 39 Beel Source: The Assam Tribune, Guwahati, Wednesday, October 01, 2014.

18 ASTEC-Assam Green File

In fluoride–affected zone, bottled water business thrives BY OUR STAFF REPORTER GUWAHATI, October 11: The concern for public health should be the topmost priority of any government. But the Assam government, it seems, is not taking the issue of public health very seriously, given its inaction against several companies which are manufacturing bottled water (commonly known as mineral water) in a fluoride– affected zone and are suspected to be selling their popular drinking water brands with impurities in content not only in the State, but also in other parts of the northeastern region. Many of these packaged drinking water manufacturing companies are located in areas stretching from North Guwahati to Changsari, where eight water supply projects of the Public Health Engineering (PHE) Department were recently closed down by the Department concerned due to high fluoride content found in these areas’ water. Substandard packaged drinking water masquerading as ‘safe’ drinking water brands are being sold in city shops and other parts of the northeast. Such products are posing serious health risks to people. It may be mentioned that all these eight water supply projects of the PHE downed their shutters last month. More than 20,000 people were dependent on these eight projects for drinking water supply. Now, these people are fulfilling their drinking water need from streams and lakes in the area and nearby areas. There is a possibility that the water of these streams and lakes could also be laced with high fluoride. Unfortunately, the PHE has not done any alternative arrangement to supply pure drinking water to these people after shutting down its water supply projects.

The Telegraph 10th October 2014

19 ASTEC-Assam Green File On this issue, a top official of the PHE, expert Suman Choudhury, the speakers From the Barpeta firecrackers from the Guwahati Division, Chandmari told focused on adopting measures for hugely popular Sivakasi products The Sentinel: “Though the water maintaining a clean and germ-free Guwahati, October 22: A village in samples of packaged drinking water hospital campus. Barpeta district of Assam has been brands like Silver Drops, Kingstar and Additional Chief Medical and Health making firecrackers for over a 100 few others marketed by these Officer Dr Sushil Chandra Das, Sub- years and has now got a logo that will companies located in the North Divisional Medical and Health (Public help it distinguish from the hugely Guwahati–Changsari belt are yet to be Health) Officer, Dr Ajit Bhattacharjee, popular Sivakasi products. tested, there is a possibility of presence District Community Mobiliser Amit The traditional firecracker makers in of fluoride content and other impurities Roy, sectoral medical officers, block Ganak Kuchi village in Assam’s in these packaged water brands. We programme managers and block Barpeta district are determined to make can’t take any steps against these community mobilisers took part in the their presence felt, at least in the companies until and unless the district seminar. markets of Assam this time. administration permits.” In Haflong: The North Cachar Hills They face tough competition from the Another source further alleged that Autonomous Council authority urged firecrackers made in Sivakasi in Tamil Kamrup Deputy Commissioner Dr J the employees for keeping their office Nadu. Balaji, despite being well aware of the areas clean by observing a cleanliness The Assam village recently got its logo fact, is not taking this issue seriously, drive at the Council campus, our designed by the National Institute of for reasons best known to him. Correspondent adds. Design (NID). “This logo will give us It may be mentioned that the Lakhshmi NCHAC principal secretary, HK Bora, an identity and help us stand out in the Narayan Food and Beverages Pvt Ltd deputy secretary H Haolai along with market. There have been fire crackers markets A1 and Kingstar mineral water the other officers and staff of the from Sivakasi which have been brands in the State. Interestingly, the Council cleaned the surroundings as flooding the markets in Assam and name of the manufacturer of Silver part of the Chief Minister’s ‘Poriskar other states of the country during the Drops brand is not mentioned in the Aru Seuj Sajagata Saptah’, a Clean and Deepawali festival,” said Gopajit bottles of the brand. Green Assam drive. The objective of Pathak, president of the Barpeta Due to high fluoride content in ground the cleanliness drive was to motivate Atasbaji Silpi Samabai Samity, an water, many people in some parts of the people of the district towards a organisation of the artisans involved in Karbi Anglong and Nagaon districts clean and green environment. making the firecrackers for have been suffering from severe A daylong seminar was also observed generations. “People are not aware anaemia, stiff joints, painful and by the District Health Society on which firecrackers are made in restricted movement, mottled teeth and hygiene and motherhood on the Sivakasi and which are made in kidney failure leading to premature occasion of Clean and Green Assam Barpeta. The logo will help the people death while many have been crippled Awareness Week held at the office identify our firecrackers and they for life. chamber of the Joint Director of Health would surely buy those made in Source: The Sentinel, Guwahati, Services. Barpeta,” Pathak added. The artisans Sunday, October 12, 2014 The meeting was presided over by Dr involved in the Barpeta firecracker Dipali Barman, who briefed about the units have already prepared 30 to 35 Silchar, Haflong launch Clean and scientific process of cleanliness in varieties of crackers and sparklers this Green Assam campaign hospitals and the sub-centres, season and are now expecting to sell Correspondent particularly in labour rooms to prevent firecrackers to the tune of Rs.70 to 80 SILCHAR, Oct 17 – The Clean and infections. She explained the lakh. Green Assam campaign, launched by importance of proper handwashing “Although we supply less than 10 Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, got off in before consumption of food or percent of fire crackers to the markets Cachar district with officials of the medicines. in Assam during the festival, the new Satindra Mohan Dev Civil Hospital Dr Barman also emphasised that the logo will gradually help us make an taking part in the drive with great medical staff should be careful about own identity. If we succeed this time, enthusiasm. their medical kits and that all medical we would increase the volume from The campaign was flagged off here by instruments should be soaked in next time onwards,” Pathak said. the Joint Director (in-charge) of Health bleaching solutions for at least ten The Pathaks have been making Services, Dr Sudip Jyoti Das. A minutes and all cleanliness measures firecrackers since 1885. Gopajit’s seminar on ‘Cleanliness and secure should be followed to prevent grandfather, Lakhiram Pathak, was motherhood’ was held alongside the infection. Later, the doctors and inspired to make firecrackers after campaign. Laying emphasis on the medical staff cleaned their hospital and going through a Chinese book that was topic, the speakers highlighted the fact office premises and also planted translated into Bengali. The book gave that every year, many newborn babies saplings as part of the mission. Other him an idea of cracker–making and pregnant mothers are affected due doctors present were Dr Krishna techniques and he started the first unit to unhygienic and filthy surroundings. Kemprai, Dr Leena Hakmaosa, Dr in 1885. Dr Sadhan Kumar Roy, child specialist Harpal Singh, Dr Marina Changan, The firecrackers in Barpeta are made at the SM Dev Civil Hospital, and Dr Rukmini Difoesa, District Programme mostly with hands and minimum use of Ashutosh Barman, gynaecologist at Manager of the NHM, Dima Hasao, machines. About 2,000 workers are Borkhola Block PHC, were the chief and other medical officers and staff. directly or indirectly employed in the speakers in the seminar. Dr Roy said Source: The Assam Tribune, firecracker industry at Ganak Kuchi that children often become ill because Guwahati, Saturday, October 18, village. they do not wash their hands before 2014. The artisans use earthen pots and more taking food. In the day’s meeting, 100 years on, Barpeta fireworks still organic materials in the making the conducted by the NHM district media sparkle crackers and sparklers. Ranjit Das, an NID designs special logo that will help artisan involved in making the distinguish the Barpeta firecrackers crackers, said: “Firecrackers from

20 ASTEC-Assam Green File Sivakasi continue to dominate the ASTEC grooming poor, bright Luding astronomy, mathematics, markets, (but) people are gradually pupils engineering, with hands-on experience going for our products due to public PRANJAL BHUYAN to stimulate them to gain a scientific awareness about supporting a local GUWAHATI, Nov 2 – With a view to temperament,” said Dibyakanta (she industry.” support development of efficient uses only one name), Project Scientist, Pathak added: “The most important learning strategies to strengthen ASC, S&T division of ASTEC. difference between our products and personal motivation, sustain academic Dr RK Barman, Head (Incharge) of those of others is that ours contain excellence and provide a platform for S&T division of ASTEC, said that the fewer pollutants. Guwahati is our main students from remote and far-flung project has great potential for scouting market but we also supply to other areas of the State to imbibe a scientific talents among underprivileged students northeastern states.” IANS spirit, the Science and Technology at a young age in far-flung areas of Source: The Sentinel, Guwahati, (S&T) Department has started a unique Assam through special attention for Thursday, October 23, 2014. programme for grooming such advancing scientific spirit in the State. Part of city hill robbed of its children. He said former Principal Secretary greenery An S&T Department official told The (S&T) Paban Borthakur played a major Staff Reporter Assam Tribune that the Assam Science role in developing the concept for the GUWAHATI, Oct 29 – A part of a hill Technology & Environment Council project. located in a crucial environmental zone (ASTEC) has been entrusted to work as Source: The Assam Tribune, Guwahati, of Kharghuli, adjacent to the Lal Singh the implementing agency for the Monday, November 03, 2014 Academy playground here, has been project for grooming of students and WW II USAF oxygen breather tank totally robbed of its greenery by the mentoring about 10 students in each found Guwahati Metropolitan Development block through the Aryabhatta Science Correspondent Authority (GMDA) for setting up a Centres (ASC). NORTH LAKHIMPUR, Nov 2 – An water supply scheme funded by the In the first phase, two blocks – oxygen breather tank used by pilots of Japan International Cooperation Paschim Koliabor and Pub Nalbari – the United States Air Force (USAF), Agency (JICA) under a Jawaharlal have been taken up for pilot studies. during World War-II was found in Nehru National Urban Renewable “The project was taken up at Paschim North Lakhimpur in a private Mission (JNNURM) scheme. Koliabor in July-August and in Pub collector’s home recently. This patch of the hill, with around 29 Nalbari we have undertaken two The aluminium metal-made tank with a bighas of land area, was a green patch programmes with two more to follow. ribbed body is believed to be a part of of earth with some valuable tree The response has been encouraging so the USAF’s B-17 bomber aircraft, species and surrounded virtually on far and we expect to replicate the which crashed deep inside the jungles three sides by the Brahmaputra, had model in all the 219 blocks across the of the present-day Arunachal Pradesh, significant ecological importance. State,” a senior official said. Under the during its regular missions from either Originally, this plot of land formed a project, ten students studying in Class Leelabari or Mohanbari/Chabua part of the around 110 bighas of hilly VIII and IX from schools in a block are airfields. Also known as the 1940's land owned by a famous indigenous selected based on their academic American military B-17 bomber business family of the city. Parts of the performance and aptitude for grooming aircraft ball turret gunner oxygen tank above hilly plot was acquired by the and mentoring by the block-level ASC. or high altitude flight crew low Government for setting up Inland A team of experts consisting of a pressure breather oxygen tank, it was Water Transport Corporation Ltd, psychologist, engineer, doctor, found by one Milap Hussain of North around 22 bighas of the plot was professor, administrator and a scientists Lakhimpur in 1984 from a woodcutter acquired for setting up the Raj groom and monitor the students. The who had brought it from jungles deep Bhawan, part of the remaining part of team of experts visit the ASC where inside Arunachal Pradesh. According the hill under Dag No 464 was owned the group interacts with the students to Hussain, who has been preserving by a family. The part of the hill owned during day-long programmes. Such the tank for thirty years, a wreckage of by the Inland Water Transport interactions are supposed to take place a WW-II aircraft was lying in a place Corporation under some other Dags, four times a year and evaluation of called Borhill in Lower Subansiri was contiguous to this private plot. students is done quarterly. district of Arunachal Pradesh, 20 km Both these plots have now been The local level monitoring and north of Kakoi Reserve Forest of acquired for setting up the water supply mentoring would be done by ASCs Lakhimpur district. He said that the scheme. This hilly area has now been with support of local teachers and aircraft was lying there in a dilapidated subjected to severe denudation, experts are to be contacted whenever condition for a long period of time and mutilation and other damaging necessary. Such students would also be people removed many of its parts to be activities. All such activities have taken for exposure tours to engineering sold as scrap. Milap Hussain, who had reduced this patch of the hill, located colleges, IIT Guwahati, Gauhati been to that place trekking said that right on the bank of the mighty river, University, Regional Science Centre, many parts of the crashed aircraft were into an unsteady heap of red earth and Guwahati Planetarium and other such lying spread in a wider area inside the thus destabilizing its soil structure in a institutions once a year. “The ASCs jungle and two more wreckages of shocking manner. It needs mention would support the students with crashed aircraft are also there nearby. here that the Master Plan prepared by necessary study material and also He is asking the visiting US JAPAC the GMDA for the city till 2025 has monitor the health as wells as nutrient team of POW (Prisoner of War) and described hills, reserved forests, rivers intact of students, besides encouraging MIA (Missing in Action), who are and beels, among others, as the eco- them to get involved in games and presently in Sivasagar district to travel sensitive or eco-friendly zone areas. sports. During the programmes, they to Lakhimpur to trace the aircraft. It Source: The Assam Tribune, Guwahati, engage in science-based activities, inc- may be recalled that during the Thursday, October 30, 2014. Kunming operation during the height

21 ASTEC-Assam Green File of the WW-II in 1942, the USAF positive and visible change in this at Surya Auditorium in Guwahati. The conducted regular missions to Japan- direction, the release added. Society has collaborated with occupied China and Burma from Source: The Assam Tribune, Guwahati, horticultural and botanical institutions, Chabua/Mohanbari, Rowriah (Jorhat) Tuesday, November 04, 2014. plant societies and scientists to achieve and Leelabari (North Lakhimpur) and its objective. It seeks to extend its many of its aircraft crashed in Assam Society formed to encourage urban service to interested public, students and other parts of present-day gardening and professionals by arranging Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Staff Reporter gardening workshops, field trips, GUWAHATI, Nov 11 – A team of Manipur. exhibitions, competitions and more. Source: The Assam Tribune, Guwahati, enthusiasts has formed a society under Presently, the office of the UGSA is Monday, November 03, 2014 the name and style of Urban based in Christianbasti in the city. To ______Gardening Society, Assam (UGSA) in avail the gardening services, interested Students organise eco-friendly a bid to encourage and improve the individuals/households and initiative concept of gardening and to foster organizations can contact Altaf Mazid, GUWAHATI, Nov 3 – Students of the green and environment friendly Dr Sarat Saikia, Abhijit Barthakur and Assam Engineering College, in ambience in Guwahati. The objective Nayan Prasad. of the Society is to promote the th association with Care Assam (an Assam Tribune 12 November 2014. NGO), recently organised a cleanliness practice of urban gardening with drive to sensitize the youth towards special emphasis on organic farming, responsible disposal of waste, stated a roof-top and balcony gardening, press release. outdoor gardening etc, said a press Sweeping of waste and open dumping release here. or burning are not an eco-friendly Home gardening is a smart option of waste disposal. Correct investment, compared to both buying segregation of waste and putting the produce at the market and growing it traditionally in organic way. Also it recyclable back into the cycle is an essential part of waste management. It saves money on healthy food that is is a major challenge in all the major better-tasting and highly nutritious. cities in India as also in Guwahati to For many people, a traditional garden create new spaces for waste disposal. may not be an option because lack of Awareness regarding segregation and land, a lack of time, or difficulty in minimising the waste at source could bending over to weed, they cannot simplify waste disposal greatly and grow their own fresh fruits and hence an urgent need. vegetables. Urban gardening can cost The core objective was to identify self- less than investing in all the tools and motivated individuals, who would be products needed to cultivate a imparted further training of the drive in traditional garden at home. Besides waste management. The event was fresh food, working in the home aimed to create a network of youth as garden provides benefits such as stakeholders to the issue. Importance of enjoyment from physical activity, forming eco clubs was stressed to physical work-out that enhances enhance environmental values among endurance, strength, mobility, flexibility, and mental relaxation. youth and plantation of saplings were carried out to mark the occasion. A The UGSA will offer four key services dustbin, designed by Pradip Baishya, – identifying location-specific needs president of Care Assam and an of gardening at urban areas; providing Assistant Professor in Mechanical seeds, plants, bulbs, flowers, trees and Engineering Department, Assam shrubs; extending expert advice on all Engineering College, was also aspects of gardening; and garden displayed. The dustbin, made with beautification and aesthetic design locally available materials at low cost, through its line-up of 50 trained and professional gardeners (mali) and has been designed to simplify waste segregation at source. An apparatus for artists. The association will also composting of food waste, designed by extend urban garden service to public Sumana Das from Care Assam, was and private institutions. also demonstrated. The apparatus is Other future plans of the UGSA made from terracotta, which could include: identification of problems and produce good quality manure at home constraints involved in urban without much effort. Overall, the gardening, drawing up plans for an programme was a successful with a integrated research- extension linkage large turnout of students and people approach for gardening-based from nearby locality. There were over agriculture development, forging 70 students, faculties and members of systematic linkages between national, Care Assam whose presence was State and district level institutions, encouraging in support of this burning ensuring capacity building of issue. Several locale-specific issues manpower engaged in urban gardening have also come to light from individual development, forging linkage between interviews and data collection, which scientists, extension functionaries, technicians and urban residents, etc. need to be dealt by respective stakeholders in near future to see some UGSA was formed on August 16,2014

22 ASTEC- Assam Green File

Assam Tribune 15th December, 2014

23 ASTEC-Assam Green File

HEALTH

English Newspapers

Arsenic content in State drinking are affected by the problem, while in Hospital authorities continue to throw water high Assam, 19 of the 27 districts are hazardous bio–medical waste, like used Ajit Patowary affected by the problem. syringes, blood–stained bandages and GUWAHATI, Sept 5 – In the backdrop In the State, of the total 56, 180 cloth and plastic in the open space of high rate of prevalence of cancer groundwater samples tested in a three- behind the hospital which sometimes cases in the State, arsenic tier system during the past few years, even reach our compounds. Several contamination of its drinking water is under a joint plan of action by the State complaints have been made to the causing a serious concern among the PHED, UNICEF and the IIT Guwahati, hospital authorities to deal with the health and drinking water experts here. 7.95 per cent of the samples were situation, but no action has been taken Arsenic is a dreaded cancer-causing found to be containing over 50 parts till today,” Rajib Borpujari, a resident toxic element. per billion (ppb) arsenic and 29.75 per said. It needs mention here that the cent were found to be containing over Another resident Prafulla Saikia said, groundwater in 19 of the 27 districts of 10 ppb arsenic. The 50 ppb is the “It is not only the hospital waste but the State are found to be contaminated Government of India norm, while 10 the foul smell emanating from the by arsenic. Significantly, samples only ppb is the World Health Organisation garbage that gives an unpleasant of the Government groundwater (WHO) norm for determining safe experience to residents and poses a sources in 76 of the total 219 drinking water in the case of arsenic, threat for the outbreak of diseases.” development blocks of the State have Paul said. The residents alleged that they had been tested to determine their arsenic In the State, he said 1970 villages have submitted several written complaints to contamination. their groundwater contaminated by the the hospital authorities, but none have If the private groundwater sources in presence of over 50 ppb arsenic. The yielded any result. Neither the hospital all the development blocks, along with population at risk is 7, 22, 603. The authorities budged, nor were they the Government groundwater sources number of schools in the State with convinced about the hazard posed by in the rest of the development blocks, their water sources affected by arsenic dumping of bio–medical waste in the are covered by a screening drive to contamination is 794. open. determine the exact size of arsenic But the matter of concern here is that The residents further said that they had contamination of the State’s there is no serious effort at any level recently submitted a complaint to the groundwater, the picture may become whatsoever to undertake serious Sivasagar Deputy Commissioner more grim, said noted drinking water research works to mitigate this menace regarding the matter and expressed expert AB Paul. in the State, unlike in Bangladesh and hope that the Deputy Commissioner, Paul, a former chief engineer of the West Bengal, Paul said. who initiated the Mission Green State’s Public Health Engineering Source: The Assam Tribune, Sivasagar Project, would take steps to Department (PHED), who first Guwahati, Saturday, September 06, solve this problem. detected fluoride and arsenic 2014. SOURCE: THE SENTINEL, GUWAHATI, contamination of the State’s MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 08, 2014. groundwater, respectively about 15 Sivasagar Civil Hospital’s bio– years and about eleven years back, is Make potable water available in medical waste posing health hazards every household, school: Gogoi working for mitigation of the menace FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT created by both fluoride and arsenic SIVASAGAR, September 7: By our Staff Reporter contamination of drinking water. Throwing all norms to the winds, the GUWAHATI, Sept 9: At a special Significantly, Kamrup (Metro) District bio–medical waste in the Sivasagar meeting in his official residence last has recorded the highest number of Civil Hospital located at Joysagar is night, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi female hypo-pharyngeal cancer cases being disposed off in an unhygienic reviewed the National Rural Drinking in the world. The district has also manner just a few metres away from Water Scheme (NRDWS) and the recorded the second highest number of the residential area of Sapun Nagar, Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan so as to ensure cases of male tongue cancer in the posing serious health hazards to the potable water in every household, country as well as in the world. It has residents. The hospital authorities are school and anganwadi centre in the recorded the third highest number of throwing used syringes, blood–stained state. The meeting was attended by female esophageal cancer cases in the bandage cloth and cotton waste, Additional Chief Secretary Subhash world and fourth highest number of needles, and used hand gloves in the Das, Principal Secretary to Chief cases of male esophageal cancer cases open area behind the hospital, which Minister MGVK Bhanu, Principal in the world, said Dr Arundhati Deka, can prove to be a potential health Secretary to Finance PK Barthakur, Deputy Director of the State Health hazard. Public Health chief executive engineers Department, quoting a survey report of The garbage dump has become a Kamal Sut and Dipak Mazumdar. the B Barooah Cancer Institute, breeding ground for mosquitoes and Gogoi told the officials that potable submitted to the Health Department in flies and attracts stray dogs and birds. water had to be made available in every June this year. Paul said that going by They transport blood–stained bandages household, school and anganwadi the statistics, the arsenic-related and cotton cloth from the open dump to centres in the state. “Implementation of problem in Assam is more serious the road and even to the residential schemes meant for drinking water compared to West Bengal. In West complexes nearby, said the people of should be implemented 100 per cent. Bengal, out of the 19 districts, 8 (eight) Sapun Nagar. “The Sivasagar Civil It has to be seen that the pipes and

24 ASTEC-Assam Green File

pumps to be used in such schemes several medical buildings’ construction an impact. He also raised concern over should also be of high quality,” Gogoi was done, equipment was purchased, the country’s high child mortality rate said. but manpower shortage issue has not and said it is a serious issue. Worried over arsenic and fluoride been properly addressed. The rise in IMR reveals the real contamination in water in some areas There is also an allegation that a condition of Assam’s health sector in the state, Gogoi took stock of the section of people were benefitted from despite claims of progress often made contamination of these two heavy the construction of huge number of by the State government. metals in water. Officials of the PHE medical buildings and purchase of Source: The Sentinel, Guwahati, Department informed Gogoi that as medical equipment. Tuesday, October 28, 2014. many as 12 schemes have been Source: The Sentinel, Guwahati, Fluoride contamination threat undertaken in Nagaon, Karbi Anglong Sunday, September 28, 2014. and some parts of Kamrup so as to looms large Assam records highest infant death Ajit Patowary make the water in these areas free from rate GUWAHATI, Nov 5 – The scenario arsenic and fluoride contamination. BY OUR STAFF REPORTER concerning contamination of drinking Source: The Sentinel, Guwahati, GUWAHATI, October 27: Among all Wednesday, September 10, 2014. water in the city is gradually becoming the States in the country, Assam has ______a very grim one. This may be attributed the highest infant mortality rate (54), All is not well with State Health to the failure of the authorities besides Madhya Pradesh. This was Department concerned to tap and supply surface stated in a 2013 report recently made BY OUR STAFF REPORTER water to the residents of the city, and public by the Registrar General of GUWAHATI, September 27: All is not also to the rampant practice of a large India (RGI). well with the Assam Health section of the Guwahatians to sink Despite spending crores of rupees by Department. Though former minister deep tube wells even below the bed the Assam government in the last Himanta Biswa Sarma portrayed a rocks. several years for the development of positive picture of the Health Today, in some city localities, fluoride healthcare, it has failed to arrest high Department as well as the State’s contamination of the groundwater used child mortality rate in the State. Now, healthcare scenario, the ground reality for drinking and other domestic the State’s IMR is 54. is different. In a review meeting purposes, is found to be as high as 9.4 As per the RGI report, Madhya concerning the Department held here, milligram per litre (mg/l), against the Pradesh’s, one of the biggest States in Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi found that safe limit of 1.5 mg/l. the country, IMR is also 54. Goa large number of medical equipment In 2000, high fluoride contamination of records the lowest IMR (9) in the purchased by the Health Department the groundwater, at the rate of 8 to 9 country. Orissa holds the second has been lying idle in many mg/l, was found in Bonda, Birkuchi, position in IMR (51) in the country. government hospitals due to non– Matgharia and other areas. Several The all India IMR average is 40, the availability of technicians who can cases of dental and skeletal Fluorosis report added. Malnutrition is one of handle the equipment. Gogoi instructed were detected in those areas then. the main reasons behind high child the officials concerned that there is no Later, some scientists made an attempt mortality rate in Assam. need for purchase of more such at ascertaining the quality of city Other northeastern States, according to equipment till technicians capable of groundwater and found excess fluoride the report, have performed better than handling the same are recruited. contamination of lesser magnitude – Assam in tackling IMR. “Manipur, a Secondly, the Chief Minister found that that is, within 2 to 4 mg/l – in the militancy–ravaged State, has achieved newly purchased medical equipment in groundwater of its other areas. a remarkable feet in this field by some government hospitals is yet to be But recently, with the intervention of keeping IMR low to 10. Nagaland’s installed due to non–availability of the Public Health Engineering IMR is 18, which is much below the technicians. “The equipment will be of Department (PHED) in some pockets national average. But Meghalaya’s no use if these are kept in a corner of to mitigate the water scarcity problem, IMR (47) is higher than the national the room as a showpiece,” the Chief a grim picture concerning groundwater average,” the report stated. Arunachal Minister added. It was also brought to quality started coming up. The latest Pradesh’s IMR is 32, Mizoram 34, the notice of Gogoi that the outdoor reports available with this newspaper Tripura 26 and Sikkim’s IMR is 22, the patient services in the evening once reveal that in Hatigaon (Hatigaon RGI report said. introduced by former health minister Shivam Path) area, fluoride Infant mortality rate compares the Himanta Biswa Sarma with much contamination of groundwater is found number of deaths of infants under one– fanfare in government hospitals across to be as high as 9.4 mg/l. In seven year–old in a given year per 1,000 live the State had been stopped due to lack different locations of Hatigaon Masjid births in the same year. This rate is of doctors and some other reasons. locality and Hatigaon. Lakhmeenagar often used as an indicator of the level Gogoi, however, put stress on Path, fluoride contamination of of health in a country. Prime Minister restarting the outdoor patient services groundwater is found to be 5.2, 7.2, Narendra Modi on last Saturday as soon as possible. In the name of 7.92, 7.1,>7, 9.2 and 7.3 mg/l etc. stressed that preventive healthcare improvement of healthcare Water Quality experts here believe that should be given importance by infrastructure, several new medical with the application of down the hole encouraging measures like washing colleges have been established in the by compressed air boring technology hands among children to reduce State, but most of these colleges don’t (DTH) for piercing the bed rock under occurrence of different diseases, saying have sufficient doctors and alluvium layers to exploit rock- that small steps like these would have paramedical staff. In the last 5/6 years fractured-water Guwahatians are in fact

25 ASTEC-Assam Green File fact extracting more fluoride. In one case, a well was yielding 1.2 mg/l fluoride in alluvium upper layer (that is, 300 feet), but in that source discharge now got reduced pathetically. When the new well was sunk through DTH method down to 450 feet there, it started yielding fluoride at the rate of 7.2 mg/l. Since this is a recent phenomenon in these areas, the Fluorosis cases may not have been visible so far. But the fact remains that for the sub-clinical level cases, no study has been made as yet. Considering the fact that Fluorosis becomes non-curable after attaining certain levels, there is a need to be very cautious in this respect. Delay may cost the society dearly, warned the experts. Noted public health engineer A B Paul said Guwahati City is located on a valley fill with bedrocks beneath it. The same bedrock under the city is overground in other places like Narangi and the districts of Nagaon and Karbi Anglong, containing high fluoride. Paul said that there is an urgent need to check the quality of water supplied to the Guwahatians by the tankers from the deep tube wells, and the quality of water extracted by all the DTH-bored deep tube wells in the city. This scrutiny should be continued in future also, he maintained.

Source: The Assam Tribune, Assam Tribune 23rd December 2014. Guwahati, Thursday, November 06, 2014.

26 ASTEC-Assam Green File

LAND, AGRICULTURE, GRAZING LAND AND ANIMAL CARE

English Newspapers

’Declare tea as the national drink’ participate in international trade fairs is essential to create demand in the outside the country to promote brand export markets. The Central WHAT ASSAM WANTS Assam Tea.” government may emphasise on these * Urges the Government of India to areas as these steps are essential if declare tea as the national drink. The Chief Minister also asked the there is to be an overall increase in * Shifting of the Tea Board head Centre for a special package for the exports of tea from India,” said the office to Assam. revival of the Assam Tea Corporation Chief Minister. * Urges the creation of the post of Limited (ATCL). Director in the Directorate of Small He said, “The post of Director in the Tea Growers. On the need for shifting the Tea Board Directorate of Small Tea Growers has * Urges Government of India for a of India’s headquarters to the State, not even been created till today which mission mode programme to improve Gogoi said: “One reason is that in has hampered its function of supporting the Human Development indices. sharp contrast to all other commodity the small tea growers. This post may be * Demands a special package for the boards i.e. coffee, rubber, spices and created and filled urgently.” revival of the Assam Tea Corporation tobacco whose headquarters are located Limited (ATCL). in the State where the product is On the contribution of Tea Research * Taking over of the Tea Research mainly grown, Tea Board is the only Association (TRA) at Tocklai, Jorhat, Association at Tocklai, Jorhat. BY exception as its headquarters are not the Chief Minister said, “The Tea OUR STAFF REPORTER located in Assam,” adding, “The Tea Research Association (TRA), which GUWAHATI, October 13: The Assam Board head office should ideally be was formed at Tocklai, Jorhat as a government today demanded that the situated in Assam which will give an cooperative research body, funded Tea Board head office be shifted from impetus to its activities in the most partly by the Government of India and Kolkata to Assam. important tea–growing region.” partly by members of TRA, has an Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi made the important role. As multidisciplinary demand in his address to a The Tea Board functions through its research activities and technology stakeholders’ meeting here in which two zonal offices, one of which is transfer are critical to the growth of the Union Commerce and Industry located at Jorhat. This zonal office tea industry, this institution may be Minister Nirmala Sitharaman took part. caters to the entire northeastern region. taken over directly by the government and upgrade to national level institute.” Gogoi also demanded that tea be “It is imperative that it plays a dynamic accorded the status of the national role in supporting the tea industry and As Gogoi was unwell, his prepared drink. “Declaring tea as the national implementing welfare schemes for the address was read out by State Industry drink of our country will in no way tea garden workers along with new and Commerce Minister Pradyut affect the growth of other beverages initiatives like setting up auction Bordoloi. and they will always have their own centres at Jorhat and Silchar, which Source: The Sentinel, Guwahati, respective market shares,” argued will help the producers sell their Tuesday, October 14, 2014. Gogoi, saying that declaration of produce quickly from the date of 50,000 IAY houses planned in State mango as the national fruit of India has manufacture and bring down the cost Staff Reporter not restricted the growth of apple or of selling, thereby attracting more GUWAHATI, Nov 6 – Fifty thousand other fruits. producers to take the auction route,” he new houses would be constructed in He said, “The State government has said. Assam during the current financial already declared tea as the official “Further, there is an acute dearth of year, and out of them 5,000 would be State drink of Assam and planned to packaging expertise in Assam, which constructed in Sivasagar district under the Indira Awaas Yojana (IAS). This was stated by Krishna Kamal Saikia, Assistant Planning Officer of DRDA, Sivasagar, during a recent public information campaign (PIC) being held under the aegis of the Core Committee, PIC, Assam, at Sivasagar, stated an official release. He said 25 houses have been allotted in each of the 118 gaon panchayats of the district. The houses would be constructed with an amount of Rs 75,000 each and the amount would be released in three instalments, which would be deposited directly in the beneficiary’s bank accounts. Various cultural programmes were held as a part of the PIC by the Song and Drama Division, Government of India, during the event. Source: The Assam Tribune, Guwahati, Friday, November 07, 2014.

27 ASTEC-Assam Green File POLLUTION

English Newspapers

How clean is my city? Puja Committee gave tough µgm-3 respectively,” a PCBA official And the award goes to… competition to Hatigarh Zoo Narengi said. With minimum electricity Path Sharbajanin Durga Puja Samity. However, the average PM10 value for consumption, eco–friendly idols and The number of eco–friendly idols has the Guwahati on Diwali Day was found clean surroundings, the Hatigarh Zoo increased from last year’s 67 to 95 out to be approximately 200 µgm-3, Narengi Path Sharbajanin Durga Puja idols this year. “We would like to which is double the prescribed national Samity has been adjudged as the most thank all the Puja Committees of standard. eco–friendly Puja celebration in the Guwahati for participating in Prakriti The noise level was measured at six city Award – the best eco–friendly Durga locations in the city, and the average By Our Staff Reporter Puja of Guwahati competition. The value of noise level was found out to Guwahati, October 9: Hatigarh Zoo winning committee will be felicitated be 73.4 dB(A) which is lower than 75 Narengi Path Sharbajanin Durga Puja on October 12,” the society said. dB(A) prescribed for industrial zone Samity has been declared the winner of Prakriti Award is one of the most but higher than 55 dB(A) prescribed Prakriti Award 2014. With minimum successful initiatives of the NGO. The for residential area. electricity consumption, eco–friendly award not only motivates the Puja Source: The Assam Tribune, idols and clean surroundings, the committees towards a greener Guwahati, Saturday, November 01, committee has bagged this year’s celebration but also generates sufficient 2014. award for the most eco–friendly awareness among the visitors regarding celebration. The award was instituted clean and green environment. This year RTI activist accuses CPCB of by Eco Tourism Society of North East a total number of 79 Puja committees denying info in the year 2011. The main objective of registered for the award, of which 13 Staff Reporter instituting the award was to create Puja committees were nominated for GUWAHATI, Sept 3 – The Central awareness regarding eco–friendly the prestigious award, Gautam Dutta, Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and Durga Puja celebration in Guwahati. president of the Eco tourism Society of the Pollution Control Board, Assam The committee was successful in North East said. (PCBA), have allegedly denied organizing eco–friendly Durga Puja Source: The Sentinel, Guwahati, information to an RTI activist on the celebration by utilizing clay, bamboo Friday, October 10, 2014. biomedical waste-related matters of and thatched roof. The theme of the Air quality, noise level monitoring by Assam and Guwahati city. committee was to portray the village PCBA RTI activist Rohit Choudhury told this life style of Assam. Day to day Staff Reporter newspaper that he had sought activities like fishery culture, weaving GUWAHATI, Oct 31 – The Pollution information from the PCBA on the size of ethnic dresses, traditional method of Control Board, Assam (PCBA) of biomedical waste generated in the agriculture and cattle farming were arranged for monitoring of the air city, on the process adopted for showcased during the four–day Durga quality and noise level of major disposing the medical waste being Puja celebration. The main concept townships of the State, i.e., Silchar, generated by the hospitals related to the was to portray the manner in which Dibrugarh, Sivasagar, Tezpur, state-run medical colleges, private Durga Puja was celebrated 100 years Golaghat, Nagaon and Bongaigaon hospitals, small and big hospitals and ago. Hundred years ago there was besides the Metropolitan area of clinics in Guwahati city. Choudhury neither cement nor tin roofs. “So, the Guwahati city as a regular monitoring also wanted to know as to whether Puja committee prepared the entire exercise being done by the Board since there are such wastes which cannot be Puja Pandal with the help of locally the last eight years. destroyed in any way and what was the available materials like bamboo, The air quality and noise level data for plan of the government to destroy such thatched roof, ‘kulla’, ‘chalony’ etc. different locations identified by the wastes and details thereof. Inside the Pandal premise, nine avatars Board before and during Diwali day The PCBA supplied him the of Goddess Durga were portrayed shows an overall satisfactory trend information through a reply on May 17 reflecting the “Power of Woman”. A except for respirable particulate matter last to his queries made on March 28 complete pollution free atmosphere (RPM). last. He then asked the PCBA to was maintained by the Puja committee Within Guwahati, air quality was provide him the certified copies of the with minimum sound pollution. The monitored at four locations – Santipur, application (Form-I) made under the immersion of the idol was also done in Gopinathnagar, Bamunimaidam and Bio Medical Wastes (Management & a very eco–friendly way,” a press Khanapara on October 15 (before Handling) Rules, 1998 by the 482 release from Eco Tourism Society of Diwali) and on the Diwali day on biomedical waste generators of the North East said. Visitors appreciated October 25, and the three parameters State with the PCBA for grant of the environment and were surprised to NO2, SO2 and PM10 were measured. authorisation for the year 2014. see the Puja committee’s effort towards “The average value of SO2 was Moreover, since as per Rule 9 of the organizing an eco–friendly celebration. found to be 6.45 µgm-3 during pre- Bio Medical Wastes (Management & With Dr. Bhupen Hazarika’s music in Diwali day which increased to 12.43 Handling) Rules, 1998, the government the air, the committee won hearts of the µgm-3 on Diwali day. It was, however, of every state or Union Territory visitors. Maligaon Kalibari Durgotsav much lower than the prescribed should constitute an advisory Sammity Puja, Bhoothnath Durga Puja national standard of 80 µgm-3. The committee, Choudhury had requested Committee, Kahilipara Durga Puja corresponding value of SO2 & NO2 for for the details of the committee Samity and Santipur Suicegate Durga the year 2013 had been 7.52 and 12.40 constituted by the PCBA under Rule 9

28 ASTEC-Assam Green File of the Rules. Choudhury filed his RTI application and first appeal respectively on May 8 last and July 23 last with the PCBA. The Board is yet to reply to his queries, Choudhury alleged. On the other hand, the CPCB in reply to his RTI application filed on May 5 last, provided him only half of the information he had sought. Chouhdury had moved the CPCB seeking the certified copies of the annual report (Form II) of the last three years, that is, 2011-2012, 2012- 2013 and 2013-2014, which were submitted by the PCBA under rule 10 of the Bio- Medical Wastes (Management and Handling) Rules, 1998 to the CPCB.

Source: The Assam Tribune, Guwahati, Thursday, September 04, 2014

The Telegraph 13th October 2014

GMC dump blamed for fish deaths in Deepor Beel Staff Reporter GUWAHATI, Oct 30 – Leaching from the Guwahati Municipal Corporation’s (GMC’s) municipal solid waste (MSW) dumping site at West Boragaon has the potential to contaminate Deepor Beel water and thus lead to large-scale death of its fish. Deepor Beel is the lone Ramsar site wetland of the State. The above fact came to light from a communication made by the Pollution Control Board, Assam (PCBA) on November 6, 2013 to the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Guwahati Wildlife Division, who sought the opinion of the Board to prepare its reply to an RTI petition made by Rohit Choudhury, an RTI-cum- environmental activist. The PCBA said in its reply to the DFO – “The contamination of water with poisonous substance after a heavy shower due to the leaching from MSW dumping is most likely cause for fish mortality. Such contamination may be occasional, not regular . The analytical reports of the water quality do not suggest a situation (quality of water) leading to death of fishes. The most obvious reason seems to leaching of some poisonous materials from MSW dump site.” Choudhury in his petition had sought the copies of the office memorandums, and inter- departmental communications on the issue of pollution of the Deepor Beel and encroachment on it during the past five years. The DFO had also sent an investigation report on the large–scale death of fish in Deepor Beel in the end part of 2013 to the

29 ASTEC-Assam Green File

to the PCBA. The investigation was carried out by the Fishery Extension Officer, Rani Development Block of Kamrup district. The Fishery Department inquiry report said – “The Dissolved Oxygen content was found to be critically low. Water was slightly acidic and free carbon-dioxide level was within the tolerance limit. There is evidence of heavy garbage trenching in the beel from outside. The decomposition of garbage reduces oxygen level in winter.” However, the Fishery Extension Officer suggested more chemical analysis of the water and histo-physiological analysis of the dead viscera etc to ascertain the exact cause and causative agent responsible for the death of fish in the wetland. Source: The Assam Tribune, Guwahati, Friday, October 31, 2014. Air quality, noise level monitoring by PCBA Staff Reporter GUWAHATI, Oct 31 – The Pollution Control Board, Assam (PCBA) arranged for monitoring of the air quality and noise level of major townships of the State, i.e., Silchar, Dibrugarh, Sivasagar, Tezpur, Golaghat, Nagaon and Bongaigaon besides the Metropolitan area of Guwahati city as a regular monitoring exercise being done by the Board since the last eight years. The air quality and noise level data for different locations identified by the Board before and during Diwali day shows an overall satisfactory trend except for respirable particulate matter (RPM). Within Guwahati, air quality was monitored at four locations – Santipur, Gopinathnagar, Bamunimaidam and Khanapara on October 15 (before Diwali) and on the Diwali day on October 25, and the three parameters NO2, SO2 and PM10 were measured. “The average value of SO2 was found to be 6.45 µgm-3 during pre-Diwali day which increased to 12.43 µgm-3 on Diwali day. It was, however, much lower than the prescribed national standard of 80 µgm-3. The corresponding value of SO2 & NO2 for the year 2013 had Assam Tribune 17th December 2014 been 7.52 and 12.40 µgm-3 respectively,” a

PCBA official said. However, the average PM10 value for the Guwahati on Diwali Day was found out to be approximately 200 µgm-3, which is double the prescribed national standard. The noise level was measured at six locations in the city, and the average value of noise level was found out to be 73.4 dB(A) which is lower than 75 dB(A) prescribed for industrial zone but higher than 55 dB(A) prescribed for residential area. Source: The Assam Tribune, Guwahati, Saturday, November 01, 2014.

30 ASTEC-Assam Green File POWER English Newspapers Assam to set up first power plant would require around 70 km of facilities like toilets, bathrooms, beds, with gas ’waste’ pipeline to divert the associated gases etc. The MSLs have battery and By Our Staff Reporter from the reserves to the project site. generator-based round-the-clock power Guwahati, September 29: Assam will The power department is also exploring backup systems. Chief Minister Tarun set up a power plant which for the first the possibility of setting up a similar Gogoi had formally inaugurated the time will use ‘waste’ gas as fuel. plant in Barak Valley to use the MSLs on the Independence Day. At the The plant, proposed to be set up at associated gas reserves available there. same function, he handed over one of Titabor in Jorhat district, will use the The APGCL is also contemplating on them to the Assam Science Society and associated gas that is produced as a setting up a solar power plant at the other to the Jorhat Planetarium to byproduct during production of crude Amguri. help the school students respectively of oil. Source: The Sentinel, Guwahati, Kamrup (Metro) and Jorhat districts to The associated gas is generally Tuesday, September 30, 2014. carry out their scientific experiments. regarded as an undesirable byproduct, To inspire the students, the MSLs have which is either re–injected, flared, or ASTEC develops mobile science lab the portraits of three Assamese vented. In oil fields in Upper Assam, for students scientists of international repute – these gases are burnt down at the sites Staff Reporter Physical Research Laboratory scientist after separation from the crude. GUWAHATI, Oct 28 – For the first Prof Jiten Goswami, medical scientist “We have been asking the Centre, time in the country, the Assam Science Prof Ramesh Deka and plasma ONGC and Oil India to allow us to use Technology and Environment Council physicist Dr Dhiraj Bora, together with these associated gases. The ONGC has (ASTEC) has designed and developed those of Albert Einstein, Darwin, finally given the nod. The project will two mobile science laboratories Newton, JC Bose and CV Raman, be executed jointly by two Assam (MSLs) with an eye on providing among others. government PSUs – Assam Power laboratory facilities to the secondary Head (in-charge) of the ASTEC S&T Generation Company Limited (class IX to class X) and higher Division, Dr Ranjit Kumar Barman (APGCL) and Assam Gas Company secondary (class XI to XII) school told this newspaper that the MSLs were Limited (AGCL),” power minister students of the State who do not have conceived, designed and developed Pradyut Bordoloi said. laboratory facilities in their own indigenously, keeping in view the He said some small pockets of gas schools. syllabus-based needs of schoolchildren. reserves have been traced in the The MSLs have been designed and Former ASTEC Director HN Dutta Jorhat–Golaghat belt, in areas like developed to serve the students under a evinced keen interest in the entire Nambor, Kachomari, Uriamghat etc. pilot project sponsored by the project. AGCL will divert these associated Rashtriya Madhyamik Siksha Abhijan The MSLs also have the provision for gases from the production sites to a (RMSA) and the UNICEF. It is introduction of new experiments. central place (Titabor) through relevant here to mention that a huge However, the science facilitators pipelines. The power plant will be number of secondary and higher aboard the vehicles should be well developed by APGCL. secondary schools – 2,607 to be precise trained and well paid to motivate them It is estimated that that daily around 2 – do not have adequate technical intensely. The S&T Division of the lakh standard cubic metre of gas will infrastructure. ASTEC is in a position to help other be available from these reserves for the To cater to the needs of these schools, States to design and develop such proposed project. the Science and Technology (S&T) MSLs, said Dr Barman. Though the associated gases are Division of the ASTEC designed and Source: The Assam Tribune, “waste”, the State government will developed the MSLs with the provision Guwahati, Wednesday, October 29, have to buy the gas from ONGC. of laboratory facilities for physics, 2014 “Initially, the generation capacity of chemistry and biology. Almost two the plant will be 50 MW. Later, years’ time was required to develop the depending upon the availability of gas, MSLs at a cost of around Rs 25 lakh we will increase the capacity,” each. While the MSLs will mostly Bordoloi said. Though the detailed carry the experimental gadgets to the project report (DPR) is yet to be made, schools, they also have the in-built it is estimated that the new power plant facilities, limited though, for carrying will be built at an estimated cost of out experiments inside them. around Rs 300 crore. Assam Power Moreover, they can also be used as Generation Company Limited class rooms or demonstration halls with managing director Pradyut Bujarbarua each having an intake capacity of 10 to said the DPR would be prepared in two 15 students at a time. They have months time. Thereafter, the tendering reading tables, tables to do the process will start. “The project should experiments on, besides each of them be developed in two and half years’ having the capacity to provide night time,” he said. The Proposed plant shelter to five persons with the basic

31 ASTEC-Assam Green File

FLOOD English Newspapers Call for solution to city artificial flood practices and latest technology have to be management system to mitigate the flash Staff Reporter adopted to make Guwahati a flood-free floods in the city,” she added. GUWAHATI, Sept 3 – Nabin Nagar city. The Government will provide the Prof Kapil Gupta from IIT, Mumbai, who Welfare Society, the apex body of around necessary funds to make it happen, said was the resource person, made a detailed 25 welfare/namghar samities today Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi at the closing presentation on the action plan, short, demanded of the government for both short function of the two-day workshop on medium and long terms, for mitigating and long-term measures to resolve the urban drainage management in Guwahati, the problem of flooding in Guwahati perennial problem of artificial flooding in at the Assam Administrative Staff during monsoons. Gupta called for the capital city, particularly in areas like College here today. compilation of rainfall data of the city Anil Nagar, Nabin Nagar, Tarun Nagar, Gogoi said the flooding in Guwahati has from the Indian Meteorology Department Lachit Nagar, Pub Sarania etc. been compounded by encroachment on for the last five years. He advocated the The Society pointed out that the schemes wetlands and hills and consequent use of state-of-the-art bucket type rain undertaken to address the issue have not siltation, causing hardship and misery to gauges to tackle the problem of flooding provided respite to the citizens; rather the the people during the rainy season. “The in the city. “The bucket type rain gauges problem has been compounded of late with water bodies serve as natural outflow of have been adopted after the Mumbai even a slight downpour creating untold water from the city. Encroachment on the deluge in 2005. Guwahati requires at least sufferings for the residents. hills and wetlands aggravated by 50 bucket type rain gauges at a radius of “The rainwater discharge and retaining unplanned construction has impeded the two metres to tackle the problem,” he capacity of the river Bharalu should be natural flow of water, causing flash flood added. augmented on a war-footing by deepening in the city. Guwahati could have been a Gupta called for GIS bound mapping for and widening wherever possible in its lake city. But we reversed the whole long-term planning and gauging of the course from the zero point to the sluice gate system. Of late, people have realised the intensity of water flow through the at Bharalukukh and beyond till the point importance of the wetlands and the recent existing drainage system. He emphasised meets the Brahmaputra,” suggested the drive by the administration to clear the building inlets on roads for connecting Society, calling for diversion of the clogged drains and the water channels had them to drainage channels at intervals of Meghalaya water as it creates havoc. met with little resistance,” he said. 30 metres to make roads flood-free. The Society said that the rainwater from The Chief Minister called for a The IIT expert from Mumbai advocated Meghalaya and other places flowing comprehensive action plan, both short use of wire meshes and barricades of 6 to through the Bahini river must be diverted to and long-term, to mitigate the problem of 8 feet height along the Bharalu and other Bondajan via the Silsako Beel and finally to flooding in Guwahati. “Piecemeal water channels to tackle solid waste and the Brahmaputra. “The Basistha river, measures have to be done away with. An sediments. Gupta said with the having a wide catchment area in Meghalaya action plan has to be taken up on a application of available technology, flows through the southern side of the city mission mode to make Guwahati a flood- existing lakes can be used as flood control and leads towards the Deepor Beel. The free city. With the expertise drawn in ponds. He called for measurement of proposed drain along the NH-37 from from IIT, Mumbai and IIT, Guwahati, and solid waste at key points in the drains to Koinadhara Hill area should be connected the commitment of the Government, we facilitate a planning strategy. to Basistha near ISBT and then from can make the city flood-free by next Earlier, Chief Secretary Jitesh Khosla Pamohi should be connected to Pachadhara year,” he said. appreciated the efforts of the GMDA to Nadi, Umkha Nadi, Kalmoni Nadi and Gogoi underscored the importance of rope in different experts to deal with the Bathanala and finally to river Kulsi,” adopting the best management practices problem of flooding in Guwahati. “We recommended the Society. for tackling solid waste. “Piles of solid have to embark on a pragmatic and waste, both biodegradable and non- realistic approach to deal with emergency The Society also suggested diversion of biodegradable, have to be properly situations like flash flood. We need an concentrated water from Karnachal Hills, segregated and recycled for further use,” implementing strategy that yields good Krishnanagar, Bamunimaidam and he said. results to translate our objective of Jyotinagar areas to address the The Chief Minister also stressed water making Guwahati flood-free by next waterlogging issue. harvesting that could mitigate the year,” he said. On the other hand, the Society also called problem of drinking water scarcity and Principal Secretary to Chief Minister for proper surveys along all the foothills flooding in the city. MGVK Bhanu explained the objective of surrounding Guwahati and putting up of Minister for Guwahati Development the workshop. numerous big silt tanks/silt traps in and Department Ajanta Neog, said that a Source: The Assam Tribune, Guwahati, around the city for effective utilisation of permanent solution to flooding in the city Thursday, September 04, 2014 the drainage system. was possible through adoption of the best Source: The Assam Tribune, Guwahati, management practices. “Guwahati has Thursday, September 04, 2014 grown by leaps and bounds over the years Best management practices can tackle and the rapid development has also flood: CM brought in its stride some problems, Staff Reporter flooding being one of them. We have to GUWAHATI, Sept 3 – Best management put in place an effective drainage

32 ASTEC- Assam Green File

The Telegraph 11th September 2014

33 ASTEC- Assam Green File

section of officials and their bosses, most appropriate to convey our Efforts to tame artificial floods: who just get things done by staying concerns to the visiting Chinese Out–and–out artificial behind the screen. President," said Gogoi, adding that The data obtained though an RTI The data obtained though an RTI his government had been all along application by an RTI activist, Dulal application by an RTI activist, Dulal raising the issue at the highest Bora, have made some startling Bora, have made some startling level. The Chief Minister also revelations that will baffle every right– revelations that will baffle every right– hoped that the Chinese President’s thinking citizen of the cursed city. In thinking citizen of the cursed city. In response to the ART application, the response to the ART application, the visit would help deepen trade ties GMC has let Bora know that in the GMC has let Bora know that in the and boost Chinese investment in fiscal 2010–11 the GMC had received a fiscal 2010–11 the GMC had received a India, particularly in Assam and whopping Rs 15 crore for fencing and whopping Rs 15 crore for fencing and other northeastern States. beautification of the Bharalu. Of the beautification of the Bharalu. Of the Source: The Sentinel, Guwahati, amount, the civic body could utilize amount, the civic body could utilize Friday, September 19, 2014. only Rs 16,00,518. The remaining Rs only Rs 16,00,518. The remaining Rs 14,83,19,482 has been lying idle over 14,83,19,482 has been lying idle over the years. This report has been given the years. This report has been given by GMC’s chief accounts & audit by GMC’s chief accounts & audit officer on August 26 this year. officer on August 26 this year. Surprisingly, the amount has not been Surprisingly, the amount has not been audited as yet. Some pertinent audited as yet. Some pertinent questions are: why and for whose questions are: why and for whose interests? Who will make such officials interests? Who will make such officials accountable when those at the helm accountable when those at the helm of affairs are out to give the pack of of affairs are out to give the pack of officials too much leeway at the cost officials too much leeway at the cost of of civilized living conditions of lakhs of civilized living conditions of lakhs of people? people? A section may think that the reason behind allowing the whopping

Rs 14,83,19,482 lying idle in the GMC By our Staff Reporter coffer is still obscure. The present GUWAHATI, Sept 13: Artificial floods deputy commissioner of Kamrup in Guwahati are out and out aritificial – (metro), M Angamuthu, seems to have right from all efforts made to tame the been very keen to improve city life. He Bharalu to beautifying it. A section of is making visits to various city areas top–level officials in the GMC, GMDA himself and asking the departments and other departments that are concerned to do what should have related to ensure civic amenities, in been done much earlier. If he does not one hand, is very good at masking the plug the escape routes that allow such availity of funds to tame the Bharalu officials to play ducks and drakes with by pretending to have been under funds, who will? Will he take trouble cash crunch. The authority at the helm to ensure a thorough audit of the of affairs, on the other, continues to funds spent by the GMC? give the same pack of officiers the Source: The Sentinel, Guwahati, escape route by not auditing the funds Sunday, September 14, 2014. spent by the GMC and the GMDA over the years. This is not a mere allegation ‘Take up Brahmaputra dams issue that lacks any material evidence to with Xi’ corroborate it. This allegation has BY OUR STAFF REPORTER corroborating evidences that have GUWAHATI, September 18: eminated right from the GMC. It does Expressing serious concern over the not slot into place as to why those at construction of dams on the the helm of affairs of the city allowed Brahmaputra by China, Chief Minister problems like water–logging lingering Tarun Gogoi on Thursday requested over the years when the GMC had no Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take dearth of funds. Many would like to up the issue with the visiting Chinese say, ‘that’ll be like killing the goose President Xi Jinping. In a letter to the that lays the golden egg’. If the Prime Minister, Gogoi said that Bharalu is the sorrow of lakhs of construction of dams by China on the Brahmaputra would likely to adversely Guwahatians, it may also a mint for a th Affect downstream flows. “It would be The Telegraph 19 September 2014.

34 ASTEC- Assam Green File Goalpara, Hatsingimari hit by Garo , sources said. A complete picture of civic officials should come out of their Hills water the damage is not yet available. air-conditioned bungalows and stay Staff Reporter Source: The Assam Tribune, Guwahati, with us for a few days in our hovels Flood affected Mankachar on Monday Tuesday, September 23, 2014. and then he will know what the GUWAHATI, Sept 22 – Gushing waters Rains leave residents in a flood of difference between real action to flowing down from the Garo Hills in woes prevent flood and mere tomfoolery Meghalaya created havoc in Goalpara Staff Reporter is,” he said. district and Hatsingimari subdivision of National Disaster Response Force Among the worst affected were Dhubri district today, affecting a large personnel shifting people of Anil Nagar women, children and the elderly. number of people. However, the exact locality of Guwahati to safer places on Schoolchildren especially had a extent of damage is yet to be Monday. - UB GUWAHATI, Sept 22 – A harrowing time. ascertained. few days ago, people of Guwahati Similar was the experience of residents Official sources told The Assam watched the catastrophe wrought by at almost all localities, including VIP Tribune that the National Highway 37 the unprecedented rainfall in the Road, Panjabari, Six Mile, Dispur, Last was submerged at several places, Kashmir Valley, which turned Srinagar Gate, Zoo Road, Nabin Nagar, Tarun cutting off Goalpara town from and other urban centres of the State Nagar, Anil Nagar, Chandmari, Guwahati. At some places, the water into “ghost towns” and uprooted lakhs Geetanagar, among others. level on the highway was more than from their homes. A huge number of vehicles were left three feet high and the damage to the Today, residents of the city stranded on the roads after water highway would be ascertained only experienced a situation, which, though entered their engines. after the water level comes down. comparably not as terrible as the one Source: The Assam Tribune, Guwahati, Tuesday, September 23, 2014. Sources said that following heavy rains in Kashmir Valley, led to total in Garo Hills, the strong current of disruption of normal life for the 10 Monsoon blues paralyse water washed away a number of lakh-plus citizens of the largest urban Guwahati houses, leaving very little time for the centre of the Northeast. people to move to safer places. So far, By our Staff Reporter People across the city were heard GUWAHATI, Sept 22: Since monsoon reports of deaths of two persons in using harsh words against the Kamrup Krishnai area in Goalpara district could blues and Guwahati are synonymous, Metro district authority, Guwahati Guwahatians are the ones there out to be ascertained. Municipal Corporation (GMC) and Sources revealed that the current of bear the brunt. Incessant rains that senior civic officials, including the DC have been lashing the city since Friday water was so strong that even the Dr M Angamuthu and GMC vehicles kept in the compound of the last claimed three lives so far. With the Commissioner S Viswanathan. weather god seems to be unrelenting, Krishnai Police Station were washed Residents complained that the away and several of those, including the situation may go for the worse. authorities have repeatedly, over the Guwahatians should better take it as a some seized vehicles, are yet to be past three months, made tall claims located. In fact, several police stations piece of warning as such a view is about steps to tackle artificial flooding being emanated from the in the district including Krishnai, and eviction drive, while in the ground Dudhnoi, Dhupdhora as well as a Meteorological Department as well as nothing has changed at all. the Kamrup (Metro) district number of outposts are totally “All the so-called action by the high- submerged, making it difficult for the administration. Heavy rainfall in flying DC and his staff are nothing but neighbouring Meghalaya has also sent police to gather information about the drama and intended to befool the extent of the damage and losses. the warning bell ringing, prompting public. We are where we were three the Kamrup (Metro) district Interestingly, a Central Reserve Police months back. Nothing has changed,” Force company had to be rescued as administration to declare holiday in said a resident of Nabin Nagar, one of schools, both private and government its headquarter premises were the worst affected localities. submerged. ones, on Tuesday. The deputy He said that water entered inside commissioner has also asked the The people of the affected areas have houses in his locality since morning taken shelter on the higher portions of authority concerned to reschedule the and there is no electricity since then. examinations that were supposed to the National Highway. “Normal life is at standstill. We are Meanwhile, similar was the situation be held on Tuesday. somehow managing to shelter on our According to reports from the in Kalapani and Thakurbari areas of beds with our family, including kids,” Hatsingimari subdivision in Dhubri Meteorological Department, since he said. Friday the city has witnessed 101.7 district as the strong current of water A resident of Down Town Hospital flowing down from the Garo Hills gave mm rainfall at Chandmari and 63 mm locality said the kind of waterlogging at Bashistha. A piece of forecast from very little time to the administration witnessed today was even greater and the people to prepare for the the Meteorological Department that than what the area had seen during should be taken as a warning is that calamity. Personnel of the NDRF, BSF the deluge of June this year. “There and police have been pressed into the city may witness heavy rainfall in was knee-deep water in the Zakir the next two days. In the words of the service for rescue works. But shortage Hussain Path from the Down town of boats is turning out to be a major Meteorological Department, an area bridge to Sarumataria. This had never of 50 km radium surrounding its problem. However, on the positive happened before. The DC and other side, the water level is now receding, observatory at Azara will witness 63

35 ASTEC- Assam Green File mm rainfall in the next two days. Plying of city buses was closed in most * The Sadou Guwahati Hawkers’ Landslides have been reported at roads in the city today for a long time. Santha has decided not to distribute Lechubagan in the Hengrabari area, The people are jittery over the newspapers on September 23 due to near the VIP Road, Kharguli, Uzan forecast by the Meteorological incessant rains and floods in the city. Bazar and Pandu. The landslides at Department, and if more water comes Source: The Sentinel, Guwahati, Lechubagan claimed the life of Basanti from Meghalaya the situation may Tuesday, September 23rd 2014. Bayan (70) when the wall of her house worsen. Flood claims 8 lives in Goalpara collapsed due to landslide. While one Meanwhile, The Sadou Guwahati Staff Reporter Ashish Bhattacharjee (70) of Lokhra Hawkers’ Santha has decided not to Houses and trucks submerged under died when he was trying to switch off distribute newspapers on September flood-water at Bolbola in Goalpara on the inverter when his house was 23 due to incessant rains and floods in Tuesday. - UB Photos GUWAHATI, Sept inundated by flood water, the body of the city. 23 – The overall flood situation in an unidentified man was recovered RESPONSES TO RAINGOD Goalpara district remains grim and from a drain in the area. * In order to provide shelter to the bodies of eight persons, including that The RG Baruah Road in the city was affected people, two shelter camps of a two-year-old girl, who lost their totally inundated by flood water have been set up in the city, one at the lives in the devastation, have been affecting the plying of city buses. The Sangameria Dharamshala near Railway recovered so far. Road communication NH–37 was inundated from Beltola to Gate No. 3 at Fancy Bazar and the through the National Highway remains Lokhra, the road from Six Mile to other at Tarun Ram Phukan Indoor snapped as the Highway was Srimanta Sankaradeva Kalakshetra, Stadium at Nehru Stadium. overtopped in several places even as a Chandmari to Narengi, Chandmari to * Control rooms are being set up at bridge on the Highway was damaged. Gauhati Club, Lokhra to Panbazar, the Guwahati Metropolitan District Official sources told The Assam Nepali Mandir to Sarabbati, Fatasil Administration (GMDA), the Chief Tribune that though the water level is Ambari etc., have been under water. Minister’s Secretariat and the receding, the situation remains grim. In order to provide shelter to the Guwahati Municipal Corporation Personnel of the National Disaster affected people, two shelter camps (GMC) to monitor and coordinate the Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster have been set up in the city, one at the rescue and relief operation round the Response Force (SDRF), Police and Sangameria Dharamshala near Railway clock. For assistance pertaining to Army have been pressed into service Gate No. 3 at Fancy Bazar and the floods, the affected people may call to rescue the marooned people. other at Tarun Ram Phukan Indoor 0361— 2733052; 0361—2237042 and Sources said that so far bodies of eight Stadium at Nehru Stadium. This apart, 8811007000. persons have been recovered. Seven the district administration has asked * The district administration has of them have been identified as two- people living in landslide–prone areas asked people living in landslide–prone year-old Aparajita Hajowary, Mawlo to move to safer places as heavy areas to move to safer places as heavy Rabha, Shadida Bibi, Manjula Rabha, downpour is likely in the next two downpour is likely in the next two Momina Beba, Sidhipad Momin and days. DC M Angamuthu himself visited days. Samar Kalita. One of those killed is yet the Anil Nagar area today. All senior * The Kamrup (Metro) district to be identified. Sources said that officials have been doing rounds in the administration declared holiday in about 500 students of Dudhnoi district asking the residents in schools, both private and government Navodaya Vidyalaya had a narrow landslide–prone areas through loud ones, on Tuesday. The deputy escape as they were rescued even as speakers to move to safer areas. The commissioner has also asked the the building was being inundated by situation has taken a turn for the authority concerned to reschedule the flood waters. worse as Meghalaya witnessed heavy examinations that were supposed to Though an Indian Air Force helicopter rainfall in the past two days. Water be held on Tuesday. was pressed into service this morning from the neighbouring state has * Landslides have been reported at for rescuing marooned people, it was inundated a number of areas in Lechubagan in the Hengrabari area, not of much use as there was no place Kamrup. Meanwhile, Chief Minister near the VIP Road, Kharguli, Uzan for it to land, while it was not easy for Tarun Gogoi instructed the officials to Bazar and Pandu. The landslides at the people to get on tin roof tops to be take all measures. His principal Lechubagan claimed the life of Basanti rescued by the chopper. However, the secretary MVGK Bhanu visited all Bayan (70) when the wall of her house chopper sorties helped the affected areas in the city. Control collapsed due to landslide. While one administration in getting a proper rooms are being set up at the Ashish Bhattacharjee (70) of Lokhra picture of the extent of the damages. Guwahati Metropolitan District died when he was trying to switch off It may take some time to restore the Administration (GMDA), the Chief the inverter when his house was road communication as the National Minister’s Secretariat and the inundated by flood water, the body of Highway 37 was inundated at several Guwahati Municipal Corporation an unidentified man was recovered places, while thousands of people are (GMC) to monitor and coordinate the from a drain in the area. taking shelter on the same along with rescue and relief operation round the * An area of 50 km radium their cattle. Moreover, the approach clock. For assistance pertaining to surrounding Meteorological to a bridge near Krishnai was washed floods, the affected people may call observatory at Azara will witness 63 away and it may take some time to 0361— 2733052; 0361—2237042 and mm rainfall in the next two days. repair the bridge. Sources said that the 8811007000.

36 ASTEC- Assam Green File entire Highway is now packed with Response Force (SDRF) from Goalpara, ributed to the disaster management marooned people as well as vehicles Nalbari, Dhubri and Barpeta who were fund of the Assam government to deal coming from Guwahati and from the already pressed into service earlier. He with any such eventuality. Garo Hills of Meghalaya. That is why also said that the situation is under Talking to reporters here today, Gogoi traffic management has become a control and likely to improve provided said, “Assam is facing a worst major problem, sources said. there is no further rainfall. situation. Rescue of marooned people Meanwhile, Chief Minister Tarun Source: The Assam Tribune, is still on in the interior flood–affected Gogoi has directed Agriculture Guwahati, Wednesday, September areas. More dead bodies are likely to Minister Nilamani Sen Deka to visit 24, 2014 be recovered as the flood situation Goalpara for an on-the-spot Water Resources Minister Uma continues to be grim in the State,” assessment of the situation. Bharati to visit Assam adding, “It is really unfortunate that Our Goalpara Correspondent adds: From a Correspondent the Central government has not taken Death toll from the flash floods in the New Delhi, September 23:Union Water Assam floods seriously and announced district has gone up to 8 with 6 more Resources Minister Uma Bharati on any financial package for the deaths reported today as more than Tuesday assured a delegation of rehabilitation of flood victims, but it 1.4 lakh people have been affected ministers that she will visit Assam very provided a financial package to Jammu and left stranded in an unprecedented soon. Sources said Bharati during her and Kashmir that has experienced flash flood caused by heavy rains and trip to the State will also visit the floods recently.” from gushing waters from the Majuli Island to take of the situation in He further said, “I am not against the neighbouring Garo Hills in Meghalaya the wake of severe erosion. Bharati financial package given to Jammu and inundating over 100 villages and assured the delegation which included Kashmir by the Central government. I damaging standing crops as well, Ministers Sarbananda Sonowal, Kiren want to say that Jammu and Kashmir particularly in the stretch between Rijiju and VK Singh that her ministry has witnessed such a natural calamity Dudhnoi and Bolbola and also some of will take all appropriate measures to probably for the first time, but Assam the adjoining areas in the district. protect the State from the annual has been facing flood problem for This Correspondent, who visited the flood and erosion menace. During long. The Central government should flood-affected areas in Bolbola, saw their meeting, Sonowal had appraised have played a role in fighting floods in many houses still submerged under Bharati about the devastating flood our State.” water even though the water level at situation in Assam. He also demanded Rejecting Tarun Gogoi’s opinion, Kiren different places have shown signs of that for an overall betterment, Rijiju, while talking to media persons, receding and according to witnesses, Brahmaputra Board Act should be said, “Jammu and Kashmir has faced a people are still stranded in some of restructured. “There should be a devastating flood for the first time and the badly affected villages, like committee to look into the the State government there totally Charapara, Garomari, Tekelpara, restructuring of the Board,” Sonowal failed to deal with the crisis. So, the Khasikhagra, Taranti, Kotasi Bari, said. Central government stepped in. In Geradubi, Kalpani, Bodhapur, Source: The Assam Tribune, Guwahati, case of Assam floods, the Central Paglijhara, Tiapara, etc., in and around Wednesday, September 24, 2014. government has not done any the Bobola area where rescue Gogoi seeks Rs 1,000 cr for flood–hit discrimination against the State.” operations are still going on. State Source: The Sentinel, Guwahati, Meanwhile, the rescue, relief and Blame game over Central flood Friday, September 26, 2014. rehabilitation on a large scale is assistance begins continuing for the second day today as BY OUR STAFF REPORTER ‘Centre considering national problem most of the affected people have been GUWAHATI, September 25: At a time status to Assam floods’ shifted to the 54 relief camps set up by when Assam is reeling under By Our Staff Reporter the district administration and the devastating floods in which at least 37 Guwahati, September 26: Union administration is also reaching out to people lost their lives so far, a blame minister Sarbananda Sonowal today those who have been stuck in different game between New Delhi and Dispur said that the Central government was flood-affected places and providing over the Central financial assistance considering the issue of according them with relief materials. Along with for rehabilitation of flood victims has national problem status to Assam essential food items, the PHE have started. On the one hand, Chief floods. “The Central government is started to provide packet water from Minister Tarun Gogoi has sought a serious about the issue and discussing mobile treatment plant van, water special package of Rs 1,000 crore from the possibility of according national purifying tablets, and bleaching Prime Minister Narendra Modi for problem status,” Sonowal, who visited powders to the affected people. rehabilitation of flood victims in the the flood affected areas of Goalpara Talking to this Correspondent, Deputy State, citing that the Central today, said. He also dismissed Commissioner Preetom Saikia said that government has done discrimination allegations that the Centre was not he is coordinating all the rescue-and- by not providing a financial assistance taking the flood as seriously as it has relief activities and more than 1,000 to Assam to tide over the crisis and on taken the calamity in Jammu and stranded people were rescued today the other hand, Minister of State for Kashmir and said, “One should not by the 2 National Disaster Response Home Kiren Rijiju stated that the compare the both. The topography in Force (NDRF) brought from Nalbari Central government has already cont- Kashmir is very different and son one and Guwahati and 4 State Disaster

37 ASTEC- Assam Green File needs to put an extra effort for the Palashbari though in Goroimari, than flood in the State. “Flood causes a rescue operations.” Chamaria, Sontoli, Kalatoli and temporary setback, but erosion causes “Even in Assam, central agencies like Nagarberra, vast tracts of land permanent damage. So far 4 lakh army and NDRF had swung into action continued to be under water. hectares of land have been gobbled up from day one,” he claimed. Traffic was moving along NH–37 very by the Brahmaputra and Barak rivers in Sonowal said the Centre was ready to slowly with the vehicles carrying the past 50 years, with the rate of grant the State’s request for a Rs essential commodities only were being erosion being 8,000 hectare per year,” he said, adding that the State 1000–crore package provided “a allowed to ply, sources said. Government has given thrust on detailed report is furnished”. Source: The Sentinel, Guwahati, reclamation of land to minimise the Meanwhile, Chief Minister Tarun Saturday, September 27, 2014. pressure on the existing land in the Gogoi, accompanied by senior officials, wake of rising population. In the same made an aerial survey of the flood Floods claim 67 lives in State breath, Gogoi requested Singh to ravaged areas of Goalpara and Kamrup Staff Reporter consider the State Government’s long- districts. GUWAHATI, Sept 30 – Assam has standing demand for treating erosion as However, due to inclement weather in suffered huge losses in terms of lives, a natural calamity. Goalpara, the Chief Minister could not property, cropped land, dwelling units The Chief Minister, while lauding the land there. As per the itinerary, Gogoi and infrastructure in three waves of efforts of SDRF and NDRF in rescuing was to visit the relief camps opened up flood this season. The last deluge marooned people in the recent flood, by the district administration at wrecked havoc in Kamrup and made a plea to the Union Minister for Balbala, Agia and Bhalukdubi. Goalpara claiming several lives and three additional battalions of NDRF for Meanwhile, in a letter to Prime leaving behind a trail of destruction, the Northeast, two battalions Minister Narendra Modi yesterday, said an official press release. exclusively for Assam. “There is a Altogether 67 persons lost their lives in Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi narrated need for permanent stationing of this year’s flood, while 42, 03,609 NDRF personnel in the flood-prone the devastation wrecked by the latest people of 4446 villages were affected areas so that they can reach out to the wave of floods in Goalpara, Dhubri, by the floodwaters rendering tens of people at the time of exigency,” he Kamrup and Kamrup (Metro). “As you thousands of people homeless, fully said. would be aware, areas comprising damaging 54,088 houses and partially Gogoi also made a plea to Singh for a Guwahati city and some western damaging 82,095 houses. In total, 800 chapter of the National Institute of Assam districts have suffered relief camps were opened, which Disaster Management in the State. “If unprecedented floods in recent days. housed 7, 57,467 flood-affected people. the setting up of the National Institute These floods were caused by As a whole, 3, 72,178.40 hectares of of Disaster Management is not exceptionally heavy rainfall over cropped area is affected by the possible, then a one-time financial Assam and Meghalaya and sudden spill floodwaters, besides, 10, 91,493 assistance of Rs 50 crore may be given over of water along the rivers and livestock. for a State Institute of Disaster streams flowing from Meghalaya into In all, 884 roads, 86 RCC bridges, 113 Management,” he added. Assam,” he said. Giving a detailed semi-permanent timber (SPT) bridges The State Government in its account of the grim flood scenario, and 125 culverts are damaged. memorandum sought Rs 2,010 crore Gogoi said, “In the flash floods, till Under the impacts of the floodwaters, a for damaged infrastructure which number of breaches have also taken date, thousands of dwellings damaged include roads and bridges, dwelling place at different parts of the State. houses, health centres and school and nearly 1.4 lakh forced to abandon Source: The Assam Tribune, Guwahati, buildings; Rs 660 crore for rescue and their homes and habitation and seek Wednesday, October 01, 2014. relief operations and Rs 6,700 crore as shelter in relief camps,” adding, “Due Rs 2,010 cr needed for flood repair: special assistance that include Rs 3,500 to earlier waves of floods in the State Gogoi crore for raising and strengthening of during the current monsoon season, a Staff Reporter embankments and Rs 1,000 crore for total of 16.26 lakh people have been GUWAHATI, Oct 1 – Chief Minister mitigating of flood problem in the affected, and 2.3 lakh forced to shift to Tarun Gogoi today requested Union Guwahati city. relief camps and nearly 93,000 Home Minister Rajnath Singh to Source: The Assam Tribune, hectares of cropped area was affected. expedite the process of setting up of the Guwahati, Thursday, October 02, The rescue efforts are going on and Brahmaputra River Valley Authority 2014. there is possibility that the death toll (BRVA) as a long-term mitigation State flood crisis remains grim may rise further. It has been in fact measure on both the Brahmaputra and GUWAHATI, Oct 4 – The situation in one of the worst flash floods in Assam Barak river basins. He also sought an flood-hit Assam remains grim with in recent times.” Two bodies were assistance of Rs 2,010 crore for nearly four lakh people still affected found in Goalpara and Kamrup (Rural) repairing the damaged infrastructure. even though water levels were receding districts each taking the toll to 40 in While apprising the Union Home at most places in the State, reports PTI. the deluge so far. Minister about the damages caused by According to the daily flood report by this year’s flood, particularly the latest Intermittent rainfall was reported the Assam State Disaster Management deluge in Kamrup, Kamrup (Metro) from parts of Kamrup (Rural) district Authority (ASDMA), 3.74 lakh people and Goalpara districts, Gogoi pointed across three districts are still grappling where the water level had been out that erosion posed a greather threat subsiding in Boko, Chaygaon and with the crisis. ASDMA said that 204

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villages in Goalpara, Kamrup Rural and Dhemaji districts were hit by the floods with 3.66 lakh people affected in Goalpara alone. Authorities are operating 18 relief camps and shelter homes where nearly 6,000 people have taken refuge. Nearly 50,000 hectares of crop area is still under water in Assam with over 37,000 hectares having been affected in Goalpara, hitting nearly 83,000 farming families. The Assam floods have claimed 44 lives with 20 of the casualties coming in Goalpara, followed by 16 in Kamrup Rural, six in Kamrup Metro and one each in Morigaon and Dhubri districts. In Goalpara, 81,582 houses have been either fully or partially damaged in the flood. ASDMA said there have been reports of severe damage to government infrastructure like schools, health centres and offices in many districts while a large number of roads and bridges, too, have been hit by the floods. Source: The Assam Tribune, Guwahati, Sunday, October 05, 2014.

Assam Tribune 28th December 2014

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PART-II

ASSAMESE NEWSPAPER FOREST

ASSAMESE NEWSPAPERS

Amar Asom .3rd September 2014.

Amar Asom 7th September 2014.

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Asomiya Pratidin 7th September 2014.

Asomiya Pratidin 15th September 2014.

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Amar Asom 22nd September 2014.

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Amar Asom 26th November 2014

Asomiya Pratidin 6th December 2014

Amar Asom 13th November 2014

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Amar Asom 10th December 2014

Asomiya Pratidin 11th December 2014

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Asomiya Pratidin 12th December 2014

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Asomiya Pratidin 12th December 2014

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Dainik Janmabhumi 15th December 2014

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Asomiya Pratidin 26th December 2014

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Amar Asom 30th December 2014

49 ASTEC- Assam Green File ENVIRONMENT

Amar Asom 10th September 2014.

Asomiya Pratidin 11th November 2014

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Amar Asom 29th November 2014

Amar Asom 14th November 2014

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Asomiya Pratidin 16th November 2014

Amar Asom 29th November 2014

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Asomiya Pratidin 30th November 2014

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Amar Asom 22nd December 2014

Asomiya Pratidin 24th December 2014.

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Asoomiya Pratiding 31st December 2014 55 ASTEC-Assam Green File HEALTH

Asomiya Pratidin 5th September 2014

Amar Asom 14th September 2014.

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Asomiya Pratidin 16th September 2014

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Amar Asom 12th November 2014.

Amar Asom 27th November 2014

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LAND, AGRICULTURE, GRAZING LAND AND ANIMAL CARE

Asomiya Pratidin 11th November 2014. 59 ASTEC- Assam Green File

Dainik Janmabhumi 18th December 2014

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POLLUTION

Amar Asom 11th September 2014

Amar Asom 15th November 2014

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Asomiya Pratidin 28th November 2014.

Asomiya Pratidin 29th November 2014.

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Amar Asom 29th November 2014.

Asomiya Pratidin 1st December 2014

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Asomiya Pratidin 1st December 2014

Asomiya Pratidin 9th December 2014

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Dainik Janmabhumi 17th December 2014

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POWER

66 ASTEC-Assam Green File FLOOD

Asomiya Pratidin 8th September 2014.

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Asomiya Pratidin 12th September 2014

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Asomiya Pratidin 19th September 2014.

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Asomiya Pratidin 25th September 2014 70 ASTEC-Assam Green File

Asomiya Pratidin 8th October 2014

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Asomiya Pratidin 9th October 2014

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Dainik Janmabhumi 17th December 2014

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