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RN-1127/57 TECH/GH – 103/2018-2020, VOL. 82, NO. 206 GUWAHATI, THURSDAY, JULY 30, 2020
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p7 WTO to set up dispute panelsin ICT tariff case against India
R DUTTA CHOUDHURY
GUWAHATI, July 29: It is
very unfortunate that indige-
nous people of Assam are los-
ing their land over the years
and though the State Govern-
ment enacted a number of
laws since Independence to
protect the land of the indige-
nous people and to prevent
encroachment of Govern-
ment lands, those have not
been properly implemented,
said former Additional Chief
Secretary CK Das.
Talking to The Assam Trib-
une, the retired bureaucrat,
who served in the Revenue
Department in different capac-
ities before retiring as the
Additional Chief Secretary
(Revenue), suggested that the
indigenous people should be
made aware of the fact that
they should not sell off their
land. He said that all the land
laws and regulations should be
translated into Assamese and
other local languages of the
State to create awareness
Acts to protect landrights of indigenousnot implemented
among all sections of people.
He admitted that under the
present circumstances, most
people are not even aware of
the land laws and unscrupu-
lous persons and land mafia
are taking advantage of the
situation.
Das expressed the view
that the Assam Government
can think of enacting a law like
Meghalaya did to prevent
transfer of land of indigenous
people to outsiders. In Meg-
halaya, non-indigenous people
can buy land only in a few spe-
cific areas.
The former bureaucrat
pointed out that there is a
misconception that no land
law was passed in the State
since the Land Revenue Reg-
ulation, 1886. In fact, a number
of laws were enacted over the
years since Independence,
but most people are not even
aware of those and such laws
were not implemented prop-
erly on the ground, he added.
AMBALA, July 29: India on
Wednesday received its first
batch of new combat-proven
fighter aircraft in two dec-
ades with the arrival of five
Rafale jets, giving the coun-
try’s air power a strategic
edge in the midst of a bitter
border row with China in
eastern Ladakh and frayed
ties with Pakistan.
The aircraft, having an un-
disputed track record and
considered one of the most
potent combat jets globally,
landed at the Ambala Air
Force base at around 3:10 PM
after covering a distance of
7,000 km from the Merignac
airbase in French port city of
Bordeaux.
Each jet was given a spe-
cial water cannon salute at the
strategically-located air base
in the presence of top brass
of the Indian Air Force includ-
ing Chief of Air Staff Air
Chief Marshal Bhadauria
who had played a key role as
lead negotiator in procure-
5 Rafale jets arrive in IndiaBoost to IAF’s combat capability
NEW DELHI, July 29: Asingle regulator for highereducation institutions, mul-tiple entry and exit optionsin degree courses, discon-tinuation of MPhil pro-grammes, low stakes boardexams, common entranceexams for universities areamong the highlights of thenew National EducationPolicy (NEP) approved bythe Union Cabinet onWednesday.
The policy, which was
framed in 1986 and revised in
1992, had not been revised
since then.
The Cabinet also approved
changing the name of the
HRD Ministry to Education
Ministry.
“NEP 2020 aims to in-
crease the Gross Enrolment
Ratio in higher education in-
cluding vocational education
from 26.3 pc (2018) to 50 pc
by 2035. At least 3.5 crore
new seats will be added to
higher education institu-
tions,” HRD Higher Educa-
tion Secretary Amit Khare
National EducationPolicy approved
HRD Ministry renamed as Education Ministry
said at a press briefing.
“The policy envisages
broad based, multi-discipli-
nary, holistic Under Gradu-
ate education with flexible
curricula, creative combina-
tions of subjects, integration
of vocational education and
multiple entry and exit points
with appropriate certification.
Under Graduate education
can be of 3 or 4 years with
multiple exit options and ap-
propriate certification within
this period,” he said.
Among the key reforms in
the policy are a single regula-
tor for all higher education in-
stitutions except for legal and
medical colleges, common
entrance exam for admissions
to universities and colleges to
be conducted by the National
Testing Agency (NTA) and
common norms to be in place
for private and public higher
education institutions under
the Central government’s
new Education Policy.
Affiliation of colleges is to
be phased out in 15 years and
a stage-wise mechanism is to
be established for granting
graded autonomy to colleg-
es. Over a period of time, it
is envisaged that every col-
lege would develop into ei-
ther an autonomous degree-
granting college, or a constit-
uent college of a university,
Khare said.
STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI, July 29: The
State Health Department has
reduced the number of days
of mandatory quarantine pe-
riod for people coming to the
State from outside.
People coming from out-
side will henceforth have to
spend 10 days in quarantine,
including institutional or ho-
tel quarantine and home
quarantine. Earlier, the peri-
od of mandatory quarantine
was 14 days.
The home quarantine for
cured COVID-19 positive
patients was also reduced
from 14 days to seven days
COVID-19 death toll in State rises to 92Quarantine period for people from outside reduced to 10 days
by the government last
week.
Meanwhile, four more
COVID-19 patients have lost
their battle against the pan-
demic today – Bimal Paul (78)
from Cachar, Hema Devi (77)
from Tinsukia and Dr SAW
Hussain (85) and Debari Kar-
makar (40) from Jorhat. The
toll has reached 92 in the
State.
Meanwhile, State Health
Minister Himanta Biswa
Sarma visited commercial
hub Fancy Bazar here today,
along with the Kamrup (Met-
ro) Deputy Commissioner
and held talks with the busi-
nessmen regarding COVID
Among the keyreforms in the
policy are a singleregulator for all
higher educationinstitutions except
for legal andmedical colleges,common entrance
exam foradmissions to
universities andcolleges to be
conducted by theNational TestingAgency (NTA).
ment of the jets.
Welcoming the arrival of
the jets, Prime Minister
Narendra Modi, in a tweet in
Sanskrit, said there is no vir-
tue like protecting the nation
and there is no vow like de-
fence of the nation.
“The Birds have landed
safely in Ambala,” Defence
Minister Rajnath Singh
tweeted as soon as the air-
craft touched down here.
At the same time, he used
the occasion to send a veiled
message to China.
“I would like to add, if it is
anyone who should be wor-
ried about or critical about
this new capability of the In-
dian Air Force, it should be
those who want to threaten
our territorial integrity,” the
Defence Minister said.
The Rafales were escort-
ed by two Sukhoi 30 MKIs
after they entered the Indian
air space.
testing in the area.
“We had a meeting here
with representatives of dif-
ferent trade organisations,
like those dealing with mo-
tor vehicle parts, textiles,
etc. We have set a target of
testing all business owners
and shop keepers for COV-
ID-19 from August 1 to 10,”
he said.
“If the tests are done, then
we can proceed to opening
shops on both sides of road.
Else, we will have to stick to
opening shops on one side on
alternate days and which will
not be beneficial for busi-
ness,” he added.
The Minister sought the
cooperation of the traders
and their employees in get-
ting themselves tested at the
mobile testing centres to be
set up in the Fancy Bazar
lanes.
The overall COVID-19
count in the State has in-
creased to 34,947 with de-
tection of 1,371 new cases in
the last 24 hours. Among the
new cases, 295 were from
Kamrup (Metro) district,
and 221 were from its adjoin-
ing Kamrup district.
The number of recovered
patients has increased to
26,618 with 1,216 discharg-
es from different hospitals
yesterday.
SEE PAGE 6
SEE PAGE 6
SEE PAGE 6
A Rafale aircraft lands at the Air Force Station, in Ambala on Wednesday. – PTI
AssemblyGUWAHATI, July 29: A
session of the AssamLegislative Assembly hasbeen called from August 31,officials said today, addingthe Business AdvisoryCommittee will meet onAugust 18 to decide thesession’s duration. – PTI
COVID-19 tallyNEW DELHI, July 29:
India’s COVID-19 tallywent past 15 lakh today,two days after it crossedthe 14-lakh mark, with48,513 fresh casesrecorded in a day, whilethe recoveries surged to9,88,029, the Union HealthMinistry said. – PTI
ASTC busesGUWAHATI, July 29:
The Assam State TransportCorporation (ASTC) will plyinter-district buses on July30 and 31. The Stategovernment has allowedinter-district travel on thetwo days. – Staff Reporter
Smoking riskNEW DELHI, July 29:
Union Health MinisterHarsh Vardhan today saidevidence suggests thatsmoking increases risk ofcontracting COVID-19 aswell as worsens theoutcome in people infectedwith the virus. – PTI
WildlifeGUWAHATI, July 29:
Forest officials of Silcharintercepted a vehicle latelast night at Lailapurcoming from Mizoram andrescued a consignment ofexotic wildlife thatincluded one kangaroo, onemacaw parrot, six tortoises,three monkeys. – StaffReporter
nnnnn Also see page 8
Change (MoEF&CC) to
scrap the draft notification
immediately.
The organisations have also
issued a joint statement titled
‘Stop accelerating ecosys-
tems distress in the Himala-
yas’ and ‘Withdraw draft En-
vironment Impact Assess-
ment (EIA) Notification 2020’.
It comes in the wake of an at-
tempt by the MoEF&CC to
dilute the environmental reg-
ulations to facilitate ease of
doing business.
“The Himalayan region to-
day is in the most vulnerable
position with massive cli-
mate-induced disasters, in-
creasing deforestation, loss
of biodiversity, soil erosion,
drying of rivers, death of
groundwater sources, melt-
ing glaciers, hollowing of the
mountains, solid and hazard-
ous waste related pollution.
As it is, this ecological region
is known to be fragile, where
even small changes in the
landscapes lead to rapid and
wide-ranging impacts on the
lives of millions of people,”
the statement said.
Asserting that the ecolog-
ical crisis has worsened due
to poor implementation of
regulatory and governance
mechanisms, it said that the
lack of adequate and thorough
scientific planning and impact
assessment studies, non-
compliance of environmental
norms and social accountabil-
ity laws, diminishing space
for democratic public partic-
ipation in decision making
processes had further wors-
ened the situation in the past
few years.
Centre announcesUnlock 3 guidelines
n Night curfew to be lifted n Yoga, gym units to openn Educational institutes to be closed till Aug 31
SPL CORRESPONDENT
NEW DELHI, July 29: The
Centre today announced the
Unlock 3 guidelines, which
will come into effect from Au-
gust 1, removing restrictions
on movement of individuals
during night (night curfew),
and allowing yoga institutes
and gymnasiums to open.
The official spokesman of
the Ministry of Home Affairs
here said the Independence
Day functions will be allowed
with social distancing norms
and by following other health
protocols. He said the stand-
ard operating procedure
(SOP) will be issued by the
Ministry of Health and Fami-
ly Welfare (MoHFW) with
regard to yoga institutes and
gyms that will open from Au-
gust 5.
He said after extensive con-
sultation with state govern-
ments it has been decided that
schools, colleges and coaching
institutions will remain closed
till August 31. However, in-
ternational air travel has been
permitted in a limited manner
under the Vande Bharat mis-
sion. Further opening up of the
sector will take place in a cali-
brated manner.
All activities, except the fol-
lowing, shall be permitted out-
side containment zones: Met-
ro rail, cinema halls, swimming
pools, entertainment parks,
theatres, bars, auditoriums,
assembly halls and similar plac-
es, besides social, political
sports, entertainment, aca-
demic, cultural and religious
functions and other large con-
gregations. Dates for opening
of these will be decided sepa-
rately, based on the assess-
ment of the situation.
Lockdown shall continue to
be implemented strictly in
the containment zones till Au-
gust 31. Containment zones
are required to be carefully
demarcated by the state gov-
ernments with a view to con-
taining the spread of COVID-
19, after taking into consider-
ation the guidelines issued by
the MoHFW. Within contain-
ment zones, strict perimeter
control shall be maintained
and only essential activities
allowed.
SEE PAGE 6
STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI, July 29:
Three more persons lost their
lives in the current wave of
floods taking the overall death
toll in the State to 107. The
deaths were reported from
Barpeta, Kokrajhar and Kam-
rup districts.
Although the number of af-
fected districts remains un-
changed in the last 24 hours,
the overall flood situation in the
State is gradually improving,
something evident by the dip
in the number of affected pop-
ulation. Meanwhile, the Re-
gional Meteorological Centre,
Guwahati has predicted heavy
rainfall in the next 72 hours.
Reports on Wednesday
evening divulged that the total
figure of affected population has
come down from 19,81,801 to
16,54,984 in the districts of
Dhemaji, Lakhimpur, Biswa-
nath, Darrang, Baksa, Barpeta,
Chirang, Bongaigaon, Kokra-
jhar, Dhubri, South Salmara,
Goalpara, Kamrup, Kamrup
(Metro), Morigaon, Nagaon,
Golaghat, Jorhat, Majuli,
Sivasagar and Dibrugarh.
Till reports last received,
1,536 villages under 54 reve-
nue circles continued to reel
under flood, while around
93,000 hectares of cropland
have remained submerged.
State flood death toll 107
Appeal to scrap draft EIA notification
SEE PAGE 6
SEE PAGE 6
SIVASISH THAKUR
GUWAHATI, July 29:
Flaying the draft EIA Notifi-
cation, 2020 as it rides rough-
shod over legitimate envi-
ronmental concerns, over 50
environmental groups, or-
ganisations, eminent ideo-
logues and activists from
across the Himalayan region,
including the northeastern
states, Himachal Pradesh,
Uttarakhand, Kashmir and
Ladakh, have urged the Un-
ion Ministry of Environ-
ment, Forest and Climate
THURSDAY, JULY 30, 20202 THE ASSAM TRIBUNE, GUWAHATI
Urgent requirement at Financial
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Executive. Location : Guwahati.
Contact No. 70026-50470,
93651-34204 bastab.hr@gmail.
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Employment Notice for
Assistant Professors
Kaliabor College (A Grade)
Applications are invited from
eligible candidates for following
sanctioned posts of Assistant
Professor -
1. Economics-1 (one)-Reserved
for OBC/MOBC
2. History-1 (one)- Unreserved
• Qualification: As per Govt.
O.M. No. AHE.407/2017/44 dated
08-11-2018 Applicat ions in
Format (available in college
website) supported by self
attested copies of all testimonials
must reach within 20 days from
the date of publication of this
advertisement.
• Salary: UGC Scale of Pay
(Academic Level 10) -Rs.
57,700-1,82,400/- pm and other
allowances as per rule.
• Age: As per present Govt.
rule.
• In-service candidates must
apply through proper channel
• Candidates can submit an
advance copy of Biodata by
email at kaliaborcollege@
outlook.com
Sd/- Principal
Kaliabor College,
Kuwaritol-782137
Nagaon, Assam.
CD/SV/NL000136/1
CD/H&F/......../1
Late Biswanath MedhiBorn: 25.05.1941
Died: 06.08.2014
Today on the 6th Death
Anniversary we fondly
remember you. We
always feel your
presence amidst us.
May your soul rest in
eternal peace.
Lakhmi Medhi (wife)
and family members
Milan Path, Fatashil
Ambari, Guwahati-25
CD/In Memo/P/SP000417/1
CD/InMemo/....../1
Daiwik Hazarika
Dekadoloi(16 August 2011 - 30 July,
2019)
Daiwik was born a blessing.
Your memories a treasure.
Daiwik was born to parents
Smti. Moitri Dekadoloi and
Shri Ashim Kr. Hazarika. He
was an active child always
inquisive to know about the
world. He loved people
around him and proudly said
he wanted to be a leader.
A student of DPS,
Dibrugarh he showed
interest in drawing and arts,
aspiring to be an artist.
You are remembered by
your Parents, Sister, 2 Aunts,
Grandmaa and Grandfather
Shri Mileswar Dekadoloi.
In Loving Memory
CD/In Memo/NL000137/1
Premadhar Das(1926- 19/7/2020)
On this day of his “Adya
Shraddha” day we would
like to pay our sincere and
loving respect to our
beloved Father/Koka
Premadhar Das. May his
soul rest in peace. Love
you Deuta/Koka.
Gautam Das, Ashok Das,
Dr. Anamika Das,
Nilima Das, Purnima Das,
Dr Dimbeswar Das,
Siddhartha, Enakshi
Gaurav, Sangjukta and
Santanu, Milanpur,
Chandmari, Guwahati 21.
CD/A. Shraddha/P/SP000427/1
PUSPALATA BHARALUA
Puspalata Bharalua, a
resident of Lachit Nagar,
Guwahati has passed away
on 21st July 2020 after a brief
illness. She was 77 years of
age.
A pious lady, my mother
was actively involved in
religious activities with
Bhangagarh Namghar and
Rajgarh Bihutoli Namghar till
her death.
Today, on the day of her
Adya Shraddha, we (her two
sons, one daughter, one
son-in-law and host of grand
children) pray with tearful
eyes for the eternal peace of
the departed soul. Adieu, my
adorable Maa!Nabakumar S.Baruah (Bhaity)
Parthajit Baruah (Babloo)
Bhaswati Baruah (Ruma)
CD/Obituary/RP000082/1
For affordable youth
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Mr. Khemnath Patir has been
awarded the degree of Doctor of
Philosophy (Ph.D) by Gauhati
University for his thesis entitled,
“Synthesis, characterization and
application of carbon based
luminescent nanomaterials”. He
carried out his research work
under the supervision of Dr. Sonit
Kumar Gogoi, Associate
Professor, Department of
Chemistry, Gauhati University. He
is the eldest son of Mr. Jagat Patir
and Mrs. Nijora Patir of Bordoi
Bali Gaon, Gogamukh, Dhemaji.
Achieve/NL000141/1
Manjusha Dasgupta daughter of
Sri Nepal Dasgupta, and
Lakshmi Dasgupta, Panigaon
Nagaon Assam, has been awarded
PhD degree under the
supervision of Prof. Arun Kumar
Handique, Department of
Biotechnology, Gauhati
University, for her thesis entitled,
“Comparative study of some
indigenous Red and white Rice
landraces of Assam, for Nutritive,
Nutraceutical values and
antioxidant potentiality and their
molecular characterization .”
Achiv/P/SP000423/1
I, Purbasha Paul, D/o Prabal
Ranjan Paul born on 27.10.2006
residing at House No.7,Ghana
Kanta Path, Rukminigaon,
Guwahati-781022 have changed
my name to Bhramari Paul vide
affidavit dated 27-07-2020
before the Judicial Magistrate,
Kamrup.
PN/RP000092/1
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Himadree Phookan has been
conferred with the Degree of
Ph.D. (Doctor of Philosophy) in
International Business by the
Victoria University of Wellington,
New Zealand, for her thesis
entitled "Interpersonal cross
border knowledge transfer within
the multinational enterprise:
Subsidiary power, intra-MNE
competit ion and cultural
intelligence". She carried out her
research under the supervision
of Dr. Revti Raman, Dr. Cheryl
Rivers & Dr. Yang Yu. Currently,
she is working as a Research
Analyst for the Ministry of
Business, Innovation &
Employment, Government of New
Zealand.
An M.Sc. in International
Human Resource Management
from Royal Holloway and Bedford
New College -University of
London, Himadree graduated from
Cotton College before obtaining
PGDBM from Assam Institute of
Management, Guwahati.
Dr. Himadree Phookan is the
daughter of Mrs. Bonti Phookan
and Mr. Tarun Phookan, retired
District & Sessions Judge,
resident of Namghar Path,
Lakhiminagar, Hatigaon,
Guwahati. She is the
granddaughter of renowned
freedom fighter Late Uma
Phookan and great granddaughter
of martyr Bhogeswari Phookanani
of Nagaon.
CD/Achiv/NL000134/1
TEHRAN, July 29: Iran’s paramilitary
Revolutionary Guard launched under-
ground ballistic missiles as part of an ex-
ercise involving a mock-up aircraft carri-
er in the Strait of Hormuz, state televi-
sion reported onWednesday.
Ballistic missile fire detected from the
drill resulted in American troops being
put on alert at Al-Dhafra Air Base in Abu
Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates and
Al-Udeid Air Base, the forward headquar-
ters of the US military’s Central Com-
mand in Qatar, the military said. Troops
sought cover during that time.
Al-Dhafra also is temporarily home to
five French-built Rafale fighter jets on their
way to India for that country's air force.
It was the latest barrage in a drill that
the previous day saw two American bas-
es temporarily go on alert over the
launches.
Drone footage captured by the Guard
showed two missiles blasting out from
covered positions in what appeared to be
a desert plateau in central Iran, with de-
bris flying up in the air in their wake.
The launches took place on Wednes-
day, said Gen Amir Ali Hajizadeh, the head
Iran launches underground ballisticmissiles during exercise
of the Guard's aerospace division.
He told state television it was first time
the Guard had done this, though the par-
amilitary force is known to have vast un-
derground bases hiding its ballistic mis-
sile arsenal.
Separately, drones targeted the bridge
of the fake aircraft carrier, according to
the state TV report.
The broadcaster did not immediately
air footage of the launches or the drone
attack, nor did it identify the missiles used
in the drill.
However, the drill clearly meant to
send a message to the United States.
A semiofficial news agency close to the
Guard published a graphic overnight that
photoshopped the image of an American
carrier into the shape of a casket with a
set of crosshairs on it, with a caption quot-
ing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali
Khamenei pledging to seek revenge for
the US drone strike that killed a top Ira-
nian general in January. – AP
TOKYO, July 29: The
United States supports Japan’s
protests over Chinese ships
venturing into the economic
waters near disputed East
China Sea islands, the com-
mander of the US Forces in
Japan said on Wednesday.
“The United States is 100
per cent absolutely steadfast
in its commitment to help the
government of Japan with the
situation in Senkaku,” Lt Gen
Kevin Schneider said of the
group of islands, which are
controlled by Japan.
China also claims the islands,
which it calls Diaoyu.
“That's 365 days a year, 24
hours a day, seven days a week.
There is no deviation in that
regard,” Schneider told re-
porters.
Japan has long protested the
repeated presence of Chinese
Coast Guard vessels in the wa-
ters. Schneider also noted such
incursions had increased re-
cently. He called China the
“No 1 challenge” in regional
security, although “North Ko-
rea was the more
immediate threat,” given its
weapons development.
Schneider said the US was
offering Japan surveillance in-
formation and other support,
such as “reconnaissance capa-
bility,” which refers to moni-
toring the whereabouts of a
potential enemy, to help Japan
“assess the situation and to fig-
ure out exactly what's going
on in the water in and around
the Senkaku.” China shrugged
off such concerns.
Wang Wenbin, spokesperson
for the Chinese Foreign Minis-
try, reasserted China's claim to
the islands, stressing it was the
country’s “inherent right to
carry out patrol and law enforce-
ment” activities in the area.
“We hope that relevant par-
ties will do something helpful
to maintain regional peace and
stability and avoid words and
deeds that are not conducive
to regional peace and stability,”
Wang told reporters at a daily
press briefing.
Schneider was speaking at
an online press briefing that
mostly touched on US efforts
to combat the coronavirus
among its forces in Japan. – AP
US commander affirms US supportfor Japan on China dispute
VATICAN CITY, July 29:
The Vatican and the Catholic
Diocese of Hong Kong have
been the targets of alleged
Chinese state-backed hackers
ahead of talks on renewal of a
landmark 2018 deal that
helped thaw diplomatic rela-
tions between the Vatican and
China, according to a monitor-
ing group.
The alleged attacks by a
group called RedDelta began in
May with an eye on Septem-
ber talks to renew a provision-
al agreement on bishop ap-
pointments, according to a re-
port on Tuesday by the US-
based Recorded Future, which
tracks state-backed cyber at-
tacks.
The attacks were first re-
ported by the New York
Times.
The Vatican had no immedi-
ate comment.
The Chinese Foreign Min-
istry denied any involvement,
calling the report “groundless
speculation”.
Recorded Future said the
Hong Kong Study Mission to
China – a key link between the
Vatican and China – and the
Pontifical Institute for Foreign
Missions also were targeted.
“The suspected intrusion
into the Vatican would offer
RedDelta insight into the ne-
gotiating position of the Holy
See ahead of the deal’s Sep-
tember 2020 renewal,” the
report said. It also could pro-
vide “valuable intelligence’’
about Hong Kong-based Cath-
olic entities’ position on the pro-
democracy movement.
The attacks continued at
least through July 21. They
included an apparent phishing
attempt with a document on
Vatican Secretariat of State
letterhead directed to the head
of the Hong Kong Study Mis-
sion to China.
China’s estimated 12 million
Catholics are split between
those belonging to the govern-
ment-backed Chinese Catho-
lic Patriotic Association, which
is outside the Pope’s authori-
ty, and an underground church
loyal to the Pope. Under-
ground priests and parishion-
ers are frequently detained
and harassed. – AP
Vatican allegedly hacked byChina ahead of key talks
HK protestleader fired
from universityteaching job
HONG KONG, July 29: A
professor and leading figure in
Hong Kong's political Opposi-
tion has been fired from his uni-
versity job following China's
passage of a sweeping new na-
tional security law.
Hong Kong University's
council voted to oust Benny
Tai from his position as an as-
sociate law professor in an
18-2 vote on Tuesday, local
media reported.
Tai has been out on bail since
being sentenced to 16 months
in prison in April 2019 as one
of nine leaders put on trial for
their part in a 2014 drive for
universal suffrage known as
the Umbrella Movement.
In a Facebook post on
Wednesday, Tai said he intend-
ed to continue writing and lec-
turing on legal issues and
asked for public support.
“If we continue in our per-
sistence, we will definitely see
the revival of the rule of law in
Hong Kong one day,” Tai
wrote.
While the 2014 movement
failed in its bid to expand de-
mocracy in the semi-autono-
mous Chinese city, protests
returned last year following
the local government’s pro-
posal of legislation that would
have seen criminal suspects
extradited to face trial in main-
land China.
Opponents called that a vio-
lation of Hong Kong’s inde-
pendent legal system that was
guaranteed after being hand-
ed over from British to Chi-
nese rule in 1997. Although the
legislation was eventually
shelved, the protesters’ de-
mands expanded to include
calls for democratic changes
and an investigation into al-
leged police abuses, growing
increasingly violent over the
second half of the year.
That prompted Beijing to
pass the National Security
Law, saying Opposition made
such a move impossible at the
local level in Hong Kong. Crit-
ics have decried the law as
part of a major crackdown on
political activity, free speech
and academic independence
that has prompted a promi-
nent Opposition group to dis-
band. – AP
LONDON, July 29: Lawyers for the Duchess
of Sussex asked a judge at a London court on
Wednesday to keep the names of five of her
friends out of the public domain as she wages a
privacy-infringement battle against a British
newspaper.
Meghan’s attorney said the female friends,
who defended her in anonymous magazine in-
terviews last year, are innocent parties who fear
intrusion if their names come out. The target of
her lawsuit, Associated Newspapers Ltd, ar-
Meghan fights to keep friendsanonymous in newspaper lawsuit
gues that the principle of open justice “the
public’s right to know” means the friends
should be identified.
The former Meghan Markle is suing the
publisher of the Mail on Sunday newspaper
and the MailOnline website at Britain’s High
Court over five articles that published por-
tions of a handwritten letter she wrote to her
estranged father, Thomas Markle, after her
marriage to Prince Harry in 2018.
Meghan, 38, is seeking damages from the pub-
lisher for alleged misuse of private information,
copyright infringement and data protection
breaches. Her lawyers say publishing the letter
was “a flagrant and unjustified intrusion into her
private and family life.” Associated Newspapers
says it will strongly contest the claim.
At a half-day pretrial hearing, Meghan’s law-
yers asked judge Mark Warby to prohibit pub-
lishing the personal details of the friends who
spoke to People magazine in early 2019 to con-
demn alleged bullying of the duchess by the
UK press. – AP
THURSDAY, JULY 30, 2020 THE ASSAM TRIBUNE, GUWAHATI 3
NATIONAL
NEW DELHI, July 29: The
Rafale jets, known globally as
one the most potent strate-
gic platforms with unmatched
capability in carrying out a va-
riety of roles, will significant-
ly bolster India’s air combat
capabilities when it is facing
hostile neighbours like Paki-
stan and China, defence ex-
perts said on Wednesday.
The timing of induction of
the 4.5 generation combat
jets assumed significance as
it came in the midst of In-
dia’s tense border row with
China, they said.
They said the Rafales could
be a game-changer for India af-
ter all the 36 jets join the Indian
Air Force as no aircraft in pos-
session of any country in the
neighbourhood will be able to
Rafale deal: A saga of political dogfight to celebratory touchdownNEW DELHI, July 29: The
touchdown of five Rafale jets
on Indian soil on Wednesday
caps years of intense politi-
cal dogfight, with the ruling
BJP projecting the purchase
as a huge boost to national
security and the Congress
alleging corruption, before a
clean chit by the Supreme
Court to the deal removed
any hurdle in its acquisition.
Senior BJP leaders were
jubilant as the multirole com-
bat jets arrived at the Ambala
Air Base, but this denoue-
ment marked by celebrations
follows a long saga of political
fights, with detractors of the
deal taking their battle to the
apex court and losing it there.
Even the Supreme Court’s
dismissal in December 2018
of PILs demanding a court-
monitored probe into the Rs
59,000 crore purchase of 36
fighter jets and assertion that
it found nothing wrong in the
deal, could not douse the po-
litical fire as the then Congress
president Rahul Gandhi made
his allegations of graft in the
transaction a poll issue in the
2019 Lok Sabha elections.
The BJP, led by Prime
Minister Narendra Modi, ac-
cused the Opposition of
compromising national inter-
est by making “baseless”
corruption charges and as-
serted that the French air-
craft will bolster Indian Air
Force’s capabilities manifold
in a hostile neighbourhood.
Most political observers
believe that Gandhi’s charg-
es did not find much traction
with voters as the saffron al-
liance retained power at the
Centre with a bigger man-
date, taking the wind out of
the Opposition’s sails in its
campaign against the deal.
His diatribe against the
Prime Minister with slogans
like “chowkidar chor hai”
(watchman is a thief) ended
up boomeranging, as the
Congress was decimated in
the elections.
The political row had
erupted after the NDA gov-
ernment inked the Rs
59,000-crore deal on Sep-
tember 23, 2016 to procure
36 Rafale jets from French
aerospace major Dassault
Aviation after a nearly sev-
en-year exercise to procure
126 Medium Multi-Role
Combat Aircraft (MMRCA)
for the Indian Air Force did
not fructify during the Con-
gress-led UPA regime.
The emergency acquisition
was made primarily to check
the depleting combat capabil-
ity of the IAF as the number
of its fighter squadrons had
come down to a worrying 31
against the authorised
strength of at least 42.
However, Opposition par-
ties, primarily the Congress,
accused the Modi govern-
ment of bypassing the due
process and alleged that the
cost per aircraft had turned
out to be much more than
what was being negotiated by
the UPA dispensation.
The then Defence Minis-
ter Arun Jaitley had asserted
amid relentless protests in
Parliament by the Congress
that in reality the deal signed
by the Modi government was
20 per cent cheaper than be-
ing negotiated by the UPA.
The government, howev-
er, declined to reveal price
breakdown of the deal, say-
ing it will compromise na-
tional interest by disclosing
the details of the aircraft’s se-
curity features.
A CAG report in February
last year also vindicated the
government’s position to a
large extent, saying it se-
cured a 2.86 per cent cheap-
er price for the fighter jets
than what was negotiated by
the UPA regime.
Earlier, the Supreme
Court had on December 14,
2018 rejected plea for a probe
into the deal, saying there
was no occasion to doubt the
decision-making process in
the Rafale’s procurement.
In November last year, the
court rejected pleas for a re-
view of its decision, putting a
closure to the political con-
troversy over the deal. – PTI
NEW DELHI, July 29: The
Indian Navy has deployed a
large number of frontline
warships and submarines in
the Indian Ocean Region
(IOR) in the wake of the bor-
der row in eastern Ladakh to
send out a clear message to
China, according to top de-
fence sources on Wednesday.
A source said the message
has been “registered” by
China.
The Indian Navy deployed
a range of its frontline war-
ships and submarines in the
36 Rafale fleet will be a game changer: Expertsmatch their superior kinemat-
ic performance and powerful
electronic warfare systems.
The Rafale jet, which is of-
ten compared with the US’
stealth F-35 aircraft and F-22,
is able to carry out all com-
bat aviation missions like air
superiority and air defence,
close air support, in-depth
strikes, reconnaissance, anti-
ship strikes and nuclear de-
terrence at varied speed lim-
its of up to 1.8 Mach.
The aircraft proved its un-
matched capabilities in air
combat missions in Afghani-
stan, Libya, Mali, Iraq and Syr-
ia in the last few years. India is
the fourth country to have the
strategic platform after
France, Egypt and Qatar.
The Rafale, manufactured
by French defence giant Das-
sault Aviation, entered serv-
ice with the French Navy in
2004 and with the French Air
Force in 2006.
According to Dassault Avi-
ation, the aircraft has a whop-
ping 30,000 flight hours in op-
erations.
In comparison to F-35, ex-
perts said the Rafale jet is more
agile as it has long-endurance
to fly at a higher speed while
carrying a range of weapons
for a longer period of time.
However, the F-35 scores
much ahead of Rafales in terms
of on board avionics and elec-
tronic warfare systems.
“It is one of the finest com-
bat aircraft available in the
global market. It is much
more advanced and lethal than
the current fighter aircraft
available with China. It is def-
initely a boost to India’s de-
fence preparedness. The
timing of the arrival of the
jets is perfect,” said defence
expert De Laxman Behera.
When asked about China’s
fighter jet J-20, he said it can-
not be compared with Rafale
as the French manufactured
jet is much more potent than
the Chinese aircraft.
Former Chief of Air Staff
Air Chief Marshal (retd) Fali
Homi Major too echoed Dr
Behera’s observations.
“There was no comparison
between Rafale and the J-20s.
The world does not know
about the J-20s. The Rafale
jets will give the IAF superi-
or air dominance capability,”
the former IAF chief told PTI.
European missile maker
MBDA’s Meteor beyond vis-
ual range air-to-air missile,
Scalp cruise missile and
MICA weapons system will
be the mainstay of the weap-
ons package of the Rafale jets.
The Indian Air Force is
also in the process of procur-
ing a new generation medi-
um-range modular air-to-
ground weapon system
Hammer to integrate with
the Rafale jets.
The Hammer (Highly Agile
Modular Munition Extended
Range) is a precision-guided
missile developed by French
defence major Safran. The mis-
sile was originally designed and
manufactured for the French
Air Force and Navy. – PTI
Navy expands deployment in Indian Oceanfollowing border row with China: sources
IOR when the border ten-
sion escalated after the Gal-
wan Valley clashes on June
15 in which 20 Indian Army
personnel were killed.
The defence sources told
PTI that the government
adopted a multi-pronged
approach involving the
Army, the Indian Air Force
(IAF) and the Indian Navy
as well as diplomacy and
economic measures to send
out a firm and clear mes-
sage to China that its mis-
adventure in eastern Lada-
kh was not acceptable at all.
They said the three serv-
ice chiefs are engaged in de-
liberations on a regular basis
to ensure a coordinated ap-
proach in dealing with the sit-
uation as well as to make
China understand about In-
dia’s clear message.
“Yes, our message has
been registered by China,”
said a source without elabo-
rating.
Asked whether China has
responded to India’s deploy-
ment, the sources said there
was no visible increase in
forays by Chinese ships in
the IOR.
They said the reason could
be the PLA Navy’s exces-
sive deployment of resourc-
es in the South China Sea
following the strong opposi-
tion by the US to Beijing’s
expansive territorial claims
in the region.
The US sent a number of
its warships to the South
China Sea to demonstrate
freedom of navigation and
rallying support to countries
who have territorial disputes
with China over the region.
In the recent weeks, the
Indian Navy has conducted
exercises with the US,
French and Japanese navies
in the IOR, which were seen
as sending a signal to China.
The exercise with the US
Navy involved its carrier
strike group led by nuclear-
powered aircraft carrier USS
Nimitz. The US carrier strike
group was transiting through
the IOR on its way from the
South China Sea. – PTI
NEW DELHI, July 29: As
many as 44 senior officers of
the Central, State and Union
Territory governments, be-
sides entities like the RBI and
SEBI, have been designated
as nodal authority for seizure
of funds and other financial as-
sets held by those support-
ing or engaged in terrorism,
officials said on Wednesday.
According to an official
memorandum, the nodal of-
ficers were designated for the
implementation of Section
51A of the Unlawful Activi-
ties (Prevention) Act, 1967.
Section 51A of the UAPA
says that for the prevention
44 officers made nodal authority for seizingassets of those supporting terror
of, and for coping with terror-
ist activities, the Central gov-
ernment shall have power to:
(a) freeze, seize or attach funds
and other financial assets or
economic resources held by,
on behalf of or at the direction
of the individuals or entities list-
ed in the Schedule to the Or-
der, or any other person en-
gaged in or suspected to be
engaged in terrorism.
(b) Prohibit any individual
or entity from making any
funds, financial assets or eco-
nomic resources or related
services available for the ben-
efit of the individuals or enti-
ties listed in the Schedule to
the Order or any other per-
son engaged in or suspected
to be engaged in terrorism.
(c) Prevent the entry into
or the transit through India
of individuals listed in the
Schedule to the Order or any
other person engaged in or
suspected to be engaged in
terrorism.
The 44 nodal officers were
designated to help law en-
forcement agencies to seize
funds and other financial as-
sets held by anyone engaged
in terrorism or supporting
such violent acts, a home
ministry official told PTI.
The designated nodal offic-
ers belong to the ministries
of home and external affairs,
Reserve Bank of India (RBI),
Securities and Exchange
Board of India (SEBI), Finan-
cial Intelligence Unit (FIU),
Insurance Regulatory and
Development Authority
(IRDA), all State and Union
Territory governments.
Anti-terror probe agency
NIA has seized a number of
properties belonging to
Kashmiri separatists leaders
in recent years and those
who were found to have sup-
ported insurgency with illic-
it money in the Northeast,
including an MLA. – PTI
LUCKNOW, July 29: Ut-
tar Pradesh State Sunni Cen-
tral Waqf Board (UPSS-
CWB) president Zufar Ah-
mad Farooqui announced on
Wednesday the formation of
a trust for construction of a
mosque on a five-acre land in
Ayodhya.
Farooqui said that he will
be the chief trustee and the
chairman of the trust.
“We made the trust named
Indo-Islamic Cultural Founda-
tion. It will oversee the con-
struction of a mosque, Indo-
Islamic research centre, li-
brary and hospital in the five-
acre land allotted to the board
in Ayodhya’s Dhannipur vil-
lage,” Farooqui told PTI.
An official spokesperson of
the board said, “The trust will
have a maximum of 15 trus-
tees, with the Uttar Pradesh
UP Sunni Board formstrust for building
mosque in AyodhyaSunni Central Waqf Board be-
ing its founder trustee.”
Farooqui said the trust will
have 15 members, of which
names of nine have been de-
clared.
They are the founder – UP-
SSCWB through its chief ex-
ecutive officer, chief trustee/
president – Zufar Ahmad Fa-
rooqui; trustee – Adnan Far-
rukh Shah, Gorakhpur; sec-
retary/trustee – Athar Hu-
sain, Lucknow; treasurer/
trustee – Faiz Aftab, Meerut;
member/trustees – Moham-
mad Junaid Siddiqui; Sheikh
Sauduzzaman, Banda; Mo-
hammad Rashid, Lucknow,
and Imran Ahmad, Lucknow.
“The trust will co-opt the
remaining six trustees. The
secretary of the trust will
also be its official spokesper-
son,” he said. – PTI
Raj HC beginshearing plea
against mergerof 6 BSP MLAs
to CongJAIPUR, July 29: The Ra-
jasthan High Court on
Wednesday began hearing a
plea by BJP MLA Madan Di-
lawar, challenging the State
Assembly’s Speaker decision
to reject his complaint
against the induction of six
BSP MLAs to the Congress.
After giving a partial hear-
ing to Dilawar’s plea ques-
tioning the Speaker’s order
to reject his complaint with-
out issuing notice to him and
letting him have his say, a
bench of Justice Mahendra
Kumar Goyal slated the pe-
tition for further hearing at 2
pm on Thursday.
While starting the hearing
on the BJP MLA’s plea, Jus-
tice Goyal also tagged with it
a BSP petition challenging the
Speaker’s order allowing the
merger of all its six MLAs to
the Congress last September.
The Judge said he would hear
the two petitions together.
BJP MLA Dilawar had on
Tuesday filed two petitions
before the court.
The first petition chal-
lenged a communication
from the Assembly Secretar-
iat informing the MLA that
his complaint has been decid-
ed and rejected by the Speak-
er. The second plea to the
high court challenged the
Speaker’s detailed order dat-
ed July 24 that rejected the
MLA’s complaint against the
merger of BSP MLAs with
the Congress.
The court began hearing
the BJP MLA’s second peti-
tion as well as the one by the
BSP together.
The MLA had lodged a
complaint with Speaker’s of-
fice in March this year against
the merger of the BSP MLAs
which was decided and re-
jected on July 24.
Dilawar has alleged the
Speaker did not hear him
while deciding and rejecting
his complaint. He had also
staged a dharna in the As-
sembly Secretary’s chamber
on Monday to get the copy of
the order.
He was later given a com-
munication saying his com-
plaint has been rejected. The
detailed order was received
by him on Tuesday. – PTI
4 THE ASSAM TRIBUNE, GUWAHATI THURSDAY, JULY 30, 2020
MESSAGE FOR TODAY
Every child is an artist. The problem is how to
remain an artist once he grows up.
– PABLO PICASSO
Logical conclusionWithout doubt the Ramjanambhoomi-Babri Masjid dispute
had been one of the most contentious and longest piece of
litigations in the annals of India. In fact, as historical records
reveal, as far back as 1853, the Nirmohi Akhara, a militant
group of Hindu ascetics, had claimed ownership of the land
on which the Babri Masjid had been built, resulting in com-
munal violence. The British administration had then divid-
ed the mosque into two, allowing Muslims to pray in the
inner courtyard and Hindus in the outer courtyard called
the Ram Chabutara. But, with Hindu fundamentalist groups
refusing to accept the arrangements, the dispute contin-
ued. In December 1992, karsevaks belonging to organiza-
tions like the Vishwa Hindu Parishad demolished the
mosque, resulting in communal flare-up in which over 2,000
people, both Muslim and Hindus, were killed. With the is-
sue continuing to fester on, claimants from both sides sought
a legal resolution and, in 2010, the Allahabad High Court in
a spirit of compromise advocated that Hindus be allowed to
build a temple at the site of the central dome and Muslims be
given one-third of the land to build a mosque. Dissatisfied
with the allocation, the concerned parties had approached
the Supreme Court of India, which, in a unanimous verdict,
quashed the Allahabad High Court judgment and ordered
that the entire land be handed over to the Ramjanambhoomi
Trust to build a Hindu temple.
Since the Supreme Court of India is the highest arbitrator
in India, there can be no doubt at all that the proponents of
the temple has every right to take the issue to its logical
conclusion and begin construction, with the bhoomi pujan
ceremony in Ayodhya being scheduled on August 5. Yet,
given the polarization of sentiments the long-festering dis-
pute has caused, prudence dictates that the ceremony be a
low key affair and the proponents, no matter how passionate
they might be at the fulfilment of a long-cherished dream,
must not invest the occasion with connotations of triumph.
The media, in particular the electronic media, should not
indulge in overt hype but adopt a sensible and responsible
tone while reporting developments related to the construc-
tion of the temple. Quite naturally millions of faithful are
avidly looking forward to the bhoomi pujan ceremony and it
is good that the UP administration has arranged for only 200
invitees to be present, especially considering that Covid-19
health protocol forbids large gatherings. A similar consider-
ation must entail that the administration make all arrange-
ments to prevent congregation of crowds at the site and do
not permit holding of ‘victory processions’. Liberal opinion
throughout India is, naturally, dismayed at the news that
Prime Minister Narendra Modi might be attending the cer-
emony. The wisdom of the PM of a ‘secular’ nation being
present at a religion-specific ceremony is indubitably ques-
tionable and controversial.
Vanishing forestsThat we have failed to accord priority to saving our pre-
cious forests and their astounding biodiversity would be an
understatement, given the rampant vandalism taking place
in the evergreen forests of Dehing Patkai under the very
nose of the government authorities. The Forest Depart-
ment in particular owes a lot of explanation, as it mandated
with the task of protecting this invaluable wealth. Large-
scale opencast coal mining, both legal and illegal, illegal rat-
hole mining, and expanding stakes of the oil industry have
eaten into these pristine stretches of rainforests, causing
irreparable forest cover loss and environmental degrada-
tion. Add to this unabated illegal logging going on apparently
with tacit approval of the authorities, it is only a matter of
time before we part with this invaluable bequest from na-
ture. This being the State's only remaining vestiges of rain-
forests, the Government should have been extra vigilant in
saving these primeval woodlands. The State Government
which had proclaimed 'Green Assam' as one of its topmost
priorities would do well to acknowledge the grave ills afflict-
ing the Dehing Patkai range and intervene immediately.
The foremost thing needed to be done is to crack down hard
on illegal coal mining and logging besides putting an end to
the highly destructive practice of opencast mining as has
been done by the Coal India. The oil industry should not be
allowed any more stakes inside these virgin forests that not
only shelter wide-ranging wildlife and flora but also act as a
major oxygen generator besides sustaining rainfall and fresh-
water. While the State Government has done well to pro-
pose national park status to the 111-sq km Dehing Patkai
Wildlife Sanctuary in the wake of a string of media reports,
things will be really meaningful only when the area of the
tiny sanctuary is expanded considerably.
Depleting forest cover has been a frightening reality for
Assam and the northeastern States, as has been laid bare by
successive State of Forest reports. The loss of dense forest
cover in particular which largely accounts for much of the
region's biodiversity has been quite alarming. The share of
dense and moderately dense forest in Assam - as revealed
by remote-sensing imagery - remains a meagre 16%, with
much of the loss occurring since the mid-1980s. The region
being a biodiversity treasure trove, it makes it imperative
that the factors behind this decline in forests cover are as-
sessed and appropriate interventions made. At the root of
this sorry state of affairs is the perverse culture of corrup-
tion, mismanagement and unaccountability. The rapidly-
dwindling forest cover is not just the biggest threat to the
State's wildlife and overall biodiversity but also stands to
impact seriously climatic conditions and raise pollution lev-
els. The worsening situation calls for putting in place a mech-
anism involving foolproof security with matching infrastruc-
ture and manpower. Thrust should also be given on involv-
ing the communities living in fringe areas as active stake-
holders in the conservation process.
ssam is suffering a tri-
ple whammy. First, the
assault by the coronavi-
rus; then the Baghjan oil
leak resulting in a massive fire that
lasted over 50 days and inflicted
heavy losses on nearby residents
and on the ecology. And now the
floods! Even for the most respon-
sive of governments, three calami-
ties are more than they can handle,
but handle they must. While the
pandemic has been managed by
Health Minister Himanta Biswa
Sarma who has taken that task as a
personal mission, the consequenc-
es of the Baghjan fire and the floods
don’t seem to be anybody’s busi-
ness. Other than visiting the flood
ravaged areas, the Chief Minister
does not appear to have any plausi-
ble action plan on reducing the plight
of the over 70 lakh people (figure
quoted by CM, Sarbananda Sonow-
al to news channels) who have suf-
fered on account of the deluge. Sev-
enty lakh people are more than dou-
ble the population of Meghalaya.
That indeed is a humungous figure!
What would be of interest is the
socio-economic profile of the flood-
affected, amorphous, human popula-
tion lost in statistics. Who are these
people who get routed out of their
hearths and homes year after year?
Are they a negligible vote bank? Is
that why the floods have never be-
come a political hot potato during
elections? Come 2021, Assam and
West Bengal will be heading for the
Assembly elections. God willing, the
coronavirus would have taken leave
by then. Elections usually happen
around April-May. During that time,
A
Lettersto the
EDITOR
Role of NCDC in Covid-19
Sir, – Any disaster leaves its
trail of misery and destruction
which takes months to go back to
the original position. Covid-19 is
a disease which started in
December 2019 and is growing
by the day. The world is trying
hard for a vaccine to check the
spread but the process is a long
drawn one. It may take months if
not years to vaccinate an entire
population.
However, in India, the
Government decided to tackle
the same more as a law-and-
order problem than as a health
issue through lockdowns and
curfew, instead of strengthening
the role of the National Council
for Disease Control at the
national and State level to tackle
the spread of Covid-19. Experts
from various scientific and
medical fields could be its
member to guide the health
departments of the States. The
ICMR as a research body could
have focused on the study of the
virus and development of a
the mighty river is not in spate and
floods a non-issue. Floods are, after
all, a seasonal curse. The CAA and
NRC will subsume all development
issues during elections because both
have a huge constituency.
The Assam floods begin by about
June every year and last through the
monsoons. They are an annual ritual
of sorts. Reams of paper and giga-
bytes of software have gone into an-
alysing the floods and in studying the
contours of the ‘mighty’ Brahmapu-
tra by experts from this country and
abroad, but none of the
prescriptions have been
adopted or implemented.
Consultants are paid for
doing their work and tell-
ing us what those who
have had to live with floods
have known all along. For
those who choose to defy
the river, it’s a gamble.
Those floodplains are
where they grow their
crops and vegetables and
also where they survive on
hutments. They are the
only spaces that the afflu-
ent would not choose to
live on. By the side of the
embankments is what people with a
choice to live elsewhere would shun.
But what do those without a choice
do? In 2014, I spent some time by
the banks of the Brahmaputra in Di-
brugarh and spoke to those living by
the river banks, inside impermanent
structures covered largely by thick
plastic sheets. What they are living
is not life; it’s an existence and the
local elite believe they are largely
‘illegal migrants’. But isn’t that true
of all the char areas of Assam?
Flood experts have many pre-
scriptions to dish out, one major one
being that houses should be built
above the flood levels. Some have
tried to build their homes on stilts
but the floods are relentless. The idea
of a pucca house with strong pillars
and for people to live on the first floor
upwards would mean substantial in-
vestment of public money. Those liv-
ing by the riverbanks and the most
affected lot cannot afford such struc-
tures. True, that in both Upper and
Lower Assam, many educational in-
stitutions are also under water. I once
visited a college in North Lakhim-
pur whose ground floor was half cov-
ered with water.
It is also a fact that climate change
which is largely human-induced has
resulted in these flash floods. The
massive tree cutting and dam build-
ing activities in the upper reaches
of the Subansiri river in Arunachal
Pradesh have resulted in heavy ero-
sion. This is visible if one does a
road journey following the course
of the river. The tragedy is that
there are no conversations happen-
ing between the State govern-
ments of Arunachal Pradesh and
Assam or Meghalaya and Assam on
how to develop better flood pre-
vention systems by reducing de-
forestation in the hills.
These days whenever we have
very heavy rains in Meghalaya (and
we have been having unprecedent-
ed heavy rains), our hearts go out to
the people of Assam for that’s the
direction where our rivers flow. But
even the plain belts of Garo Hills,
Meghalaya are equally affected year
after year because of the Brahmapu-
tra. It makes sense to have joint pol-
icies on building more flood resilient
populations and living spaces and in
controlling anthropomorphic activi-
ties wherever possible. The prob-
lem is that governments are very
often in connivance with the timber
mafia and the dam build-
ing lobby without consid-
ering the larger conse-
quences of such decisions.
The tragedy is also that
humans don’t learn from
destructive events even
though they know the
consequences of ignoring
those lessons. One such
lesson is that wetlands
such as the Deepor Beel
in Assam are critical in
preventing floods apart
from absorbing pollutants
and therefore improving
the water quality. They
also support diverse wild-
life and rare plants. We learnt in school
that wetlands are the sponges that
absorb water and control floods more
effectively than any embankment,
especially those raised from sand like
in North Lakhimpur which are
washed away year after year – one
futile investment by the Assam Gov-
ernment for decades.
Looking at the huge benefits of
wetlands in that they function like
kidneys in the human body and fil-
ter out nitrates, phosphorus and
heavy metals to provide fresh
drinking water, one wonders why
Assam is unable to prevent the
crowding out of Deepor Beel. It
took the National Green Tribunal
(NGT) to propose strong action af-
ter a petition was filed by environ-
mentalist Rohit Chowdhury in Au-
gust last year. One can see that the
Deepor Beel is heavily encroached
upon and is even turned into a dump
yard. Just how callous can govern-
ments get! The NGT had directed
the Assam Government to prohib-
it further encroachments and to take
steps to remove the existing ones.
The Deepor Beel like other wet-
lands across the country is protect-
ed under the Ramsar Convention
on Wetlands, 1971. But this Con-
vention does not seem to be taken
seriously by most governments.
Driving past the Beel en route to
Guwahati Airport and from other
vantage points, one can see en-
croachments galore. So much so,
the Beel which was once a sprawl-
ing 4000 hectares is now just a shad-
ow of itself at 500 hectares! All
around it human habitations have
come up. The hillsides surround-
ing the Beel are being cut to make
way for buildings and government
institutions. Petitioner Rohit Chow-
dhury also stated that sewage wa-
ter is released into the Beel.
This is the result of an unplanned
city that Guwahati has become. But
it’s not just Guwahati; every other
city in this country has expanded with-
out any sustainability model and now
we have the smart city concept when
we cannot even protect a freshwater
lake that sustains our ecology!
It is not that the Deepor Beel is
the answer to Assam’s flood woes
but it is an ecological treasure with
many benefits and ignoring those will
lead to larger catastrophes. The Dee-
por Beel is also an example of what
happens on a larger scale all along
the banks of the Brahmaputra. And
why flood prevention is not a serious
issue for any government!
Covid-19, morality and professional ethicshe lockdown should
continue to tackle
Covid-19 in Assam.’
A senior citizen, who
is a supporter of the continuous lock-
down in the State, cited the reason
that his family has gone through
emotional anxiety and trauma dai-
ly while their two sons are serving
Covid-19 patients in a government
hospital of the State. He also tried
to give a scientific explanation of
why strict lockdown is the only
solution to prevent the current
pandemic. He also insisted that it
will be a great relief for the entire
health fraternity. As a father, there
is nothing wrong with his thinking
and it needs to be respected. This
is not rare with the parents whose
obligations to their children may
not pose an obstacle to entering a
health profession in normal times
but might prevent such a career if
it were necessarily thought to en-
tail a duty to treat in times of pan-
demics. The statistics also suggest-
ed that in Vietnam, more than half
of the first 60 patients with SARS
were healthcare workers and in
Taiwan, almost 94% of SARS cas-
es were transmitted within hospi-
tals.
n Dr Paranjoy Bordoloi
However, knowing the current
scenario, it still needs to be dis-
cussed from the wider framework
of professional ethics and morality.
Every professional by the virtue of
shared humanity has a moral duty
to aid others in the time of great
need. According to moral theory,
this call for duty is classified as gen-
eral positive duties. Think for a
moment, if the parents of Colonel
B Santosh Babu (who along with
few soldiers died in the battle with
the Chinese troops at Galwan Val-
ley in Ladakh recently) would have
thought in a similar direction like
the respected senior citizen. Why
do we need to fight with China, let’s
give the enemy what they want – if
all the parents of our soldiers who
are now in the battlefield think this
way, then how will we safeguard
our nation?
The basic argument here is that
there are some crucial moments
that come in every profession
when called to duty. They should
be maintained for morality and pro-
fessional ethics. A professional
needs to rise up to the occasion for
the smooth running of the nation.
As a professional, one needs to un-
derstand that each profession car-
ries some basic advantages as well
as some risks too, be it a battlefield
in Ladakh or a government hospi-
tal in Assam. Regarding this per-
ception, Dwyer (2003) rightly
mentions that police officers, fire-
fighters, and even healthcare work-
ers implicitly agree to accept a rea-
sonable level of risk while enter-
ing their professions.
Last few years, there have been
some negative tendencies visible
among the professionals of the
State. Each professional has shown
an attitude that his/her profession
is the most important for society.
What he/she is doing is great for
the country. Be it an IAS officer or
a doctor or a police officer, the per-
ception is quite similar. However,
there are many exceptions as well.
Secondly, during normal circum-
stances, these professionals do not
hesitate to use the luxury attached
to their professions. A soldier must
not forget that the government has
provided many facilities for him/her
which many times could not be ac-
cessible for millions of poor citi-
zens of the country. Similarly, a doc-
tor studying in a government med-
ical college, or an advocate study-
ing in a government law college or
even a journalist studying in a gov-
ernment-funded university get
subsidized education fees which are
indeed a burden of the government.
As per the moral theory, this is the
concept of reciprocity that needs
to be developed and explained to
the professionals.
The most important thesis of
this writing is that during pandem-
ic situations, all professionals irre-
spective of their fields should work
with a selfless mindset. Rather, all
professionals need to be guided by
their morality and professional eth-
ics during a crisis situation like
Covid-19. One needs to understand
that professions like medicine, po-
lice, army, firefighters have some
risks involved. Individuals choose
to enter such professions while re-
alizing the attached risks. And then
the society has the legitimate moral
right and expectation that they will
do their duties during a crisis that
needs their services.
Consequently, it is the duty of
the policymakers of all profession-
al bodies to come up with some set
of ethical principles that should
serve as a foundation for guidance
in a pandemic situation. This guid-
ance should be based on morality
and professional ethics. This issue
has been highlighted by Alexander
and Wynia (2003) during their ran-
dom survey of 1000 patient-care
physicians selected from the Amer-
ican Medical Association (AMA). It
has been observed during the sur-
vey that only half of those respond-
ing believed that they had a duty to
treat during pandemic situations. It
is not very difficult to train profes-
sionals on the technical expertise
of the profession; however, it is very
hard to guide them to follow moral
principles and professional ethics.
It is very common to find a journal-
ist who can write well but it is a
rare combination these days to find
a journalist who follows media eth-
ics while filling a story during a cri-
sis situation.
The current Covid-19 situation
provides a much-needed opportu-
nity for all professionals to retro-
spect about their own professions
not only to serve the nation but also
to restore human glory. Sonu Sood,
the Bollywood actor, turned into a
messiah for the thousands of daily
wage workers who were able to
reach their homes because of his
untiring services. It is understand-
able that many of us could not be
able do what Sood is doing. How-
ever, all professionals get an oppor-
tunity in their careers during criti-
cal times when they can become a
messiah only by following a code of
professional ethics and morality.
‘T
Articles (within 1000-1100 words) and
Letters to the Editor for publication in
the editorial page may be sent to the
email ID: [email protected].
Assam floods: An annual spectacle
vaccine. I feel that the PM should
call a meeting of experts in the
field and strengthen the NCDC
to tackle the present and future
situations. Yours etc., NIRMAL
AGARWAL, Rehabari, Guwahati.
Flood havocSir, – Assam is highly prone to
floods as heavy seasonal monsoon
rains occur every year which lead
to the rise of the water level in
the Brahmaputra and its tributar-
ies causing floods, interrupting
the day-to-day functioning of the
affected areas. Every year, floods
in Assam are highly responsible
for the immense destruction of
property and the loss of both
human and animal lives. Not only
this, they are also responsible for
causing severe erosion. Yet no
solution has come up till date. To
prevent massive damage and loss
of lives, proper barriers and
canals must be built on the
mighty Brahmaputra so that the
flood waters get carried away
instead of wreaking havoc.
Proper warning systems must be
set up so that the people can get
sufficient time to save them-
selves. The government and
citizens both should work
together to formulate ways to
prevent floods. Yours etc.,
SHRISTI KALITA, Cotton
University.
Menace of erosionSir, – It is alarming that since
1951, Assam has lost 60 lakh
bighas of land as a result of
erosion by the Brahmaputra and
other rivers of the State (AT, July
23). The more alarming fact is
that the volume of both flood and
erosion are on the rise as evident
from the waves of floods wit-
nessed during the current year.
The lost area of 8000 sq km as in
the news report is almost four
times the area of a country called
Mauritius. The State and Central
governments of the past and
present have been too casual
about the matter and the socio-
political organizations of the State
which are in agitation mode most
of the time seem to have failed to
realize the gravity of the issue.
This problem is graver than the
issues on which the agitators and
people spend their time and
energy. It is more than too late to
act over the issue of erosion by
the authorities concerned. It is
time to pressurize the govern-
ment to act immediately for a
permanent remedy. Yours etc.,
BHASKAR PHUKAN, Bamuni-
maidam, Guwahati.
Employment exchangeSir, – Recently, the Assam
Government made an announce-
ment that in the ensuing months,
it will publish job notifications for
direct recruitment in various
departments of the Government.
It is a very encouraging news for
the unemployed youths of
Assam. But in this challenging
situation created by the Covid-19
pandemic, it is becoming difficult
for many people to newly
register and renew their
employment exchange cards. So,
I would like to request the
Assam Government to arrange
an online platform, so that the
people stranded in different parts
of the State can register or
renew their employment
exchange cards. It would be a
great relief for many people
during this difficult time. Yours
etc., PLABITA SARMAH,
Guwahati.
But even the plain belts of Garo
Hills, Meghalaya are equally
affected year after year
because of the Brahmaputra. It
makes sense to have joint
policies on building more flood
resilient populations and living
spaces and in controlling
anthropomorphic activities
wherever possible.
(II)Sir, – The whole world is now
following social distancing due to
the Covid-19 outbreak. In view of
the current situation in all the
districts of Assam, it is the need
of the hour to open an online
registration portal for obtaining
employment exchange registra-
tion numbers to avoid crowding
at such office premises. It is
possible that the employment
exchange offices can be the
epicentres of Covid-19 spread in
the days to come if the rush of
unemployed youths to the offices
in all the districts are not stopped.
We should not put lives at risk
just for mere registration
purpose. In this digital age, the
department must go online for
registration and renewal process
and collect fees (if required) for
the interest and safety of all. An
immediate action can be of great
relief for the unemployed people
of Assam. Yours etc.,
G SONGATE, Silchar.
THURSDAY, JULY 30, 2020 THE ASSAM TRIBUNE, GUWAHATI 5
CITY
Janasanyog/D/2239/20
STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI, July 29: Leader ofthe Opposition in the Assam Legis-lative Assembly Debabrata Saikiahas opposed the draft Environmen-tal Impact Assessment (EIA) Noti-fication, 2020.
In a letter to Union Minister forEnvironment, Forest & ClimateChange Prakash Javadekar, the sen-ior Congress leader stated that thenotification, if adopted, will beagainst the interest of Assam andthe North East.
“This proposed law is objectiona-ble primarily because it paves the
CORRESPONDENT
JORABAT, July 29: In a sensational incident,a businessman and his driver had a narrow es-cape this morning when a bullet was fired onthem while they were travelling to Guwahati.
Rakesh Kumar Rathi, owner of Balaji Hard-wares of Morigaon and his driver were trav-elling in their Mahindra Jeeto (AS 21C 6772)to Guwahati, when the glass of one of thevehicle’s doors suddenly broke off while theywere passing through Khaloibari in Khetri areaon National Highway-37.
The incident prompted the driver to stopthe vehicle, while they were still unaware ofwhat actually happened.
While the driver was cleaning the glasspieces scattered inside the vehicle, he founda bullet and it was only then did they realisethat they were fired upon. Realising the seri-ousness of the incident, they took a U-turn
STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI, July 29: Based on the statementmade by drug kingpin L Sangita Rani Laisham-bam, Crime Branch of Guwahati Police onWednesday apprehended two drug peddlersAsadul Haque and Joynam Khatun from GateNo-6 area of the city. The police seized a pass-port belonging to one MoinaBegum, Rs 2.58 lakh, 23grams of brown sugar, twoscooties and some gold jew-ellery from their possession.
It may be mentioned that,acting on a tip-off, sleuths ofCrime Branch on Tuesdayconducted a raid in theapartment of L Sangita RaniLaishambam located in Sola-para area under Paltan Ba-zar Police Station.
During the search operation, police seizedover Rs 74 lakh in cash. The crime branch stat-ed that kingpin Sangita Rani used to keep mon-ey in her residence to finance illicit traffickingof narcotropic substances from outside the State.
Along with Sangita Rani, Sam Laithangbam
5-day police custody to drugkingpin; more peddlers held
EIA notification will hit interest of Assam and NE, warns Congway for post-facto clearance ofprojects in eco-sensitive zones andsidesteps input by communitieslikely to be adversely affected bysuch projects. In fact, private com-panies concerned can even preparetheir own EIA reports by engagingprivate consultants. This is a trav-esty of natural justice and a body-blow to the rights of indigenous peo-ple over their own land. This is ex-tremely dangerous for Assam andthe North East in general in view ofthe damage which has been alreadycaused by mining and drilling oper-ations in the Dibru Saikhowa Nation-al Park/Biosphere Reserve and the
Dehing Patkai Wildlife Sanctuaryareas,” stated Saikia, who is alsoleader of the State Congress Legis-lature Party (CLP).
Saikia also demanded that thedraft EIA Notification, 2020, bescrapped in its present form.
He alleged that the BJP-led gov-ernment in Assam is pursuing a pol-icy of putting environmental con-cerns in the back burner.
“For instance, an influential per-son has recently constructed a re-sort with a private road right in themiddle of one of the nine identifiedanimal corridors in the KazirangaNational Park (KNP). This is in com-
plete violation of the Supreme Courtorder dated December 11, 2018,which declared a 10-km ‘Eco-Sensi-tive Zone’ pertaining to KNP as wellas the Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary,and also the apex court’s order dat-ed April 12, 2019, which directedthat no construction activity shouldbe allowed even in private lands inthe nine identified animal corridorsof KNP,” Saikia stated.
In the letter to Javadekar, theCongress leader further allegedthat the Assam government hasonly partially implemented an or-der passed by the Gauhati HighCourt in 2016 for eviction of illegal
settlements in and around the KNP.“Around 300 poor families were
evicted but others, including resortowners, have not been touched sofar. Similarly, the Gauhati High Courthad passed another order on Octo-ber 21, 2019, on the basis of a PILfiled by me and asked the State gov-ernment to set up a ‘Mines and Min-erals Task Force Battalion’ by thethird week of January this year tostop illegal mining activities. How-ever, the State government has ig-nored that order as well. The impacton the biodiversity of Assam can wellbe imagined when both the Centraland the State governments are fol-
lowing similar greed-based policies,”stated Saikia.
He called upon Javadekar to en-sure that the ongoing drilling andmining operations are stopped forth-with in the eco-sensitive zones ofAssam pending a thorough reviewby neutral experts to find out whetherenvironmental concerns have beenproperly addressed.
Saikia further asked the Centreto direct the Assam governmentto immediately enforce orderspassed by the Supreme Court andthe Gauhati High Court in connec-tion with protection of the envi-ronment and wildlife.
Businessman escapes gunattack at Khetri
Anti-CAA body questionsgovt’s COVID-related steps
STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI, July 29: De-manding a high-level probe intoseveral allegations of corruptionin the management of COVID-19 in the State, the Coordina-tion Committee Against Citizen-ship Amendment Act today stat-ed that a number of steps takenby the State government dur-ing the crisis are detrimental tothe interest of the State and itscommon people.
The committee alleged thatat a time when the entire pop-ulation was subjected to untoldmiseries due to the outbreakof COVID-19, the prolongedlockdown and the devastatingfloods in the State, there havebeen allegations regardingsome unscrupulous elementsadopting manipulative meansto get undue advantage fromthe prevailing situation.
“Allegations about procure-ment of PPE kits, masks andsanitizers at disproportionatelyhigher rates, are very seriousand demand immediate atten-tion of the State government. Itis also being alleged that under
the government’s patronage,some COVID management re-lated items are being sold at ex-orbitant rates. The governmentmust come clean on this by an-nouncing a high-level probe intoall COVID-19 related procure-
ments in the State,” the com-mittee headed by Dr HirenGohain stated today. It also ques-tioned the status of 50 thousandPPE kits brought from China.
“The ambiguity surroundingthat consignment from China issuspicious. The governmentmust make it clear whether thosekits were used in the hospitals ofAssam or they were dumped be-cause of its substandard quality.At a time when prolonged lock-down has made life miserable for
the poor and middle-incomegroups, the government must beheld accountable for every singlepenny of public money,” the com-mittee asserted.
The organization also criti-cized the State government forits ‘criminal negligence’ towardsthe condition of poor people anddaily wage earners of the State.
The anti-CAA organizationfurther rapped the governmentfor its failure to handle the floodsituation in an effective man-ner. Inadequate relief to theflood-affected people, the gov-ernment’s move to introducedangerous amendments in theEIA 2020, etc, are some of themeasures that expose the gov-ernment’s insensitivity to-wards the people, it alleged.
“We also demand of the Stategovernment to adopt a sensitiveapproach in ensuring social dis-tancing and implementing healthprotocols. Instead of extreme po-licing and use of force on commonpeople, the government can takethe help of volunteers and NGOsto sensitize people and ensuretheir spontaneous participation inthe process,” it added.
LOCAL FORECAST:Generally cloudy skywith a few spells of rain/thundershower.Maximum and minimumtemperatures are mostlikely to be 32°C & 24°Crespectively onWednesday.
TEMPERATURE:
Max 33.2° C
Min 24.3° C
WEATHER
GUWAHATI and Thangkhosat were also apprehended fromthe apartment. All three hail from Manipur.
According to the police, kingpin Sangita Ranihas previous crime records of involvement inillicit trading in narcotropic substances. She wasearlier arrested by Basistha police under theNarcotic Drugs and Psychotropic SubstancesAct, but was later granted bail by the court.
Sangita Rani was also inconstant touch with manyknown drug peddlers of theregion and used to supplydrugs to many others in thecity.
A senior official of CrimeBranch informed that SangitaRani has a large network ofdrug business in the regionand many people are involvedwith her racket. She imports
narcotic substances from Manipur and suppliesthem to city-based drug peddlers. Today thecourt sent her to five-day police custody.
“We will try to extract as much information aspossible about the racket from Sangita Rani in thefive-day period and will try to apprehend othershareholders of her business,” the official said.
Kingpin L SangitaRani Laishambamhas a large networkof drug business inthe region and manypeople are involvedwith her racket
EPFO regional office disbursesRs 12.44 cr to 5,697 members
Non-refundable COVID-19 advanceGUWAHATI, July 29: The
EPFO Regional Office, Guwa-hati, has disbursed non-refund-able COVID-19 advance to thetune of Rs 12.44 crore to 5,697EPF members to enable themto deal with pandemic-inducedfinancial exigencies during theperiod from March to June,2020, stated a press releaseissued by P Hangsing, Region-al Provident Fund Commission-er-I, Guwahati.
In another first of its kind, asum of Rs 6.35 crore repre-senting 24 per cent of wagestowards EPF contributionshave been released by theGovernment of India to eligi-ble EPF registered employersas subsidy under the PradhanMantri Garib Kalyan Yojana(PMGKY). The subsidy re-leased will benefit 15,937 EPF
members. This benefit will beavailable for six months of thecurrent financial year fromMarch to August, 2020, therelease said.
Efforts are on to create moreawareness among the employ-ers to avail the subsidy for thebenefit of at least 85,000 em-ployees as per the depart-ment’s own estimates.
Claims of EPF members re-garding the provident fund,pension and deposit-linked in-surance, besides various otheradvance applications, continueto be received and settled with-in just 20 days. A total of 18,775claims and advances were set-tled during the period fromApril 1, 2020 to June 30, 2020,with a resultant disbursal of Rs79,27,42,608 to the EPF mem-bers, the release added.
The release called uponemployers of all EPF-regis-tered establishments to ensureimmediate seeding of AAD-HAAR, PAN and bank detailswith KYC of their employees.Only online claims shall be en-tertained w.e.f August 2020,and physical claims, if submit-ted, shall summarily be reject-ed, except death cases.
An AADHAAR EnrolmentCentre is also operational on theEPFO office premises for thebenefit of EPF members. Thisfacility must be availed by theemployers to ensure expedi-tious AADHAAR registration andseeding with KYC in compliancewith statutory requirement. Thiswill also enable employees ofPMGKY-eligible establishmentsto avail the subsidy till August2020, the release said.
and rushed to the Khetri Police Station andreported the incident.
Soon after, Deputy Commissioner of Police(East), Guwahati, Subashini Sankaran along withSonapur Assistant Commissioner of Police Abota-ni Doley reached the spot and took note of theincident. Investigation is on.
Meanwhile, Rathi informed the police thatearlier in May, he had received a call from anunidentified person demanding money. Hesaid he had filed a complaint in this regard atthe Morigaon Police Station.
Talking to newsmen here, DCP (East) Sanka-ran confirmed the incident, saying “We havestarted investigating the matter and are in con-tact with Morigaon police too, as a complaint waspreviously filed at the Morigaon Police Station.”
Both Rathi and the driver have expressedsuspicion that the bullet was fired from a red-coloured Alto car, which had overtaken themfrom the left side at the time of the incident.
Private boatoperators askedto avail benefits
of JibondingaScheme
STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI, July 29:Transport Minister ChandraMohan Patowary today held awebinar to review the worksof the Inland Water Transport(IWT) department.
During the webinar, Pato-wary said inland water trans-port plays an important role intransporting passengers andgoods in the State and stressedprioritizing passengers’ safetyat any cost and instructed allthe IWT employees to keep astrict vigil in this regard.
He further directed the de-partment to extend the lastdate of registration and avail-ing of benefits under the Ji-bondinga Scheme to August 31.
Notably, the Assam InlandWater Transport DevelopmentSociety is implementing theAssam Inland Water TransportProject with funding from theWorld Bank. As part of theproject, a scheme has beenprepared for boat ownersnamed ‘Jibondinga’. Thescheme aims at providing ma-rine engines for boats regis-tered in the Directorate of IWT,Assam, at subsidized rates of70 per cent with additional in-centives of 5 per cent and 10per cent for women entrepre-neurs and women self-helpgroups, respectively, for whichcapacity building will also be apart of the scheme.
Patowary appealed to all pri-vate boat owners and opera-tors to avail the benefits of theincentives under the Jibond-inga Scheme.
Hackathon oninnovations inagriculture andsustainabilityGUWAHATI, July 29: IKP,
Hyderabad in association withGuwahati Biotech Park (GBP)recently organised a hackathonthemed ‘Agriculture and Sus-tainability’ to work on transla-tional ideas for creating feasi-ble startup plans and provid-ing mentorship to refine theideas on the basis of prototypedesign, clinical need, businessplans, IP and regulatory com-pliance, said a press releasehere today.
Altogether 25 proposals werereceived under the open call forIdea Exposition for NE states ofIndia and after the first round ofselection 11 teams were short-listed for the final round.
The programme was coordi-nated by Dr Bula Choudhury,senior scientist, GBP for NEcluster and Dr Kriti Taneja,chief manager, IKP.
Samrat Deka, director SRDgroup, Mangaldoi, delivered aspeech on the inspirationaljourney of their company sinceits inception. At present it isproviding employment to over3,000 local people.
The hackathon was a pre-incubation activity to experi-ence and learn the process ofneed identification and devel-op business cases. Three win-ners, Joyeeta Hazarika and Sa-punii of IITG and Dr D Borahof Royal Global Universityhave been selected for the In-novator Idea Exposure stipendof Rs 50,000 each to provideaccess to mentors or peers andbridge the gap with larger cit-ies in terms of exposure to beutilised over a period of sixmonths to travel and work inan established cluster.
During the programme tech-nical/business mentoring wasprovided by Dr LK Pandey,chairman, Indian IndustriesAssociation, Delhi State Chap-ter and Dr Atul Sardana, chair-man Alfa Corpuscles Pvt Ltd,and IP mentoring was provid-ed by Manish Kumar, IKP.
The programme was con-ducted under the constantguidance and mentorship ofDeepanwita Chattopadhyay,chairman & CEO, IKP andHemen Das, CEO, GBP.
Health Ministerinteracts withbusinessmen
STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI, July 29: Healthand Family Welfare Minister DrHimanta Biswa Sarma today vis-ited the office of the KamrupChamber of Commerce (KCC)and held a discussion with rep-resentatives of various trade or-ganisations and associations.
Minister Sarma also visiteda COVID testing centre adja-cent to the KCC office at Agar-wal Bhawan and advised allmembers of the business com-munity to go for tests to con-tain the spread of the virus.
All members of the businesscommunity who attended themeeting, unanimously assuredSarma that they would cooper-ate with the State government.
Meanwhile, today 92 per-sons of the business communi-ty – which included both own-ers and employees – went forCOVID tests and all testednegative. KCC president MPJain also tested negative.
Dr Sarma also said that Rit-uraj Hotel would be convertedinto a temporary hospital facil-ity for vegetarian people un-der the supervision of GMCH.He also expressed concern atthe losses caused in businessduring the lockdown.
SBI donatesventilators
GUWAHATI, July 29: TheState Bank of India (SBI) hasdecided to provide 20 ventila-tors to government hospitals inAssam for fighting againstCOVID-19, said a press re-lease here on Wednesday.
As part of the initiative, SBICircle Chief General Manager RSRamesh handed over 10 venti-lators to Pijush Hazarika, Minis-ter of State (Ind), Health andFamily Welfare at a ceremonyheld at the GMCH on Tuesday.Ten more ventilators will be sup-plied to other hospitals.
Minister Hazarika thanked thebank and SBI Ladies Club for do-nating the ventilators. Principalof GMCH Achyut Baishya andother officials of the hospital alongwith senior officials of the bankwere present at the ceremony.
THURSDAY, JULY 30, 20206 THE ASSAM TRIBUNE, GUWAHATI NATIONAL
No. BN/15/2020/4
PRESS NOTICE
(FOR SHORT NOTICE INVITING TENDER)
The Chief Engineer, P.W.D. (Building), Assam, on behalf of the Governor of Assam invites bids for the
following works from registered contractors under P.W.D. (Building), Assam, having experience of similar nature
of work.
Details of the bid may be seen at e-procurement portal website i.e. www.assamtenders.gov.in and also in
the office of the undersigned during office hours from 05.08.2020 (11.00 AM) to 25.08.2020 (2.00 PM).
The bidders must be enrolled in www.assamtenders.gov.in
Sl. Pkg. Name of Work Approx. Value Time of Bid Security Bid Security Tender
No. No. of Work completion to be drawn Cost
in favour of
1 I.B.- Consruction of Rs. 12 Rs. Executive Rs.
ND-1 proposed office 2,96,84,464.00 (Twelve) 5,93,690.00/- Engineer, 9000.00
Building cum months (for General) PWD, Nalbari
Inspection Bunglow Rs. Building
for P.W.D. Nalbari 2,96,845.00/- Division,
Rural Road (for reserved Nalbari.
Division, Nalbari Category)
2 I.B.- Construction of Rs. 12 Rs. Executive Rs.
ND-2 3-Storeyed R.C.C. 2,80,47,716.00 (Twelve) 5,60,955.00/- Engineer, 8500.00
I.B. at Mukalmua months (for General) PWD, Nalbari
under Barkhetri Rs. Building
L.A.C. in Nalbari 2,80,478.00/- Division,
District. (for reserved) Nalbari.
Category)
Sd/- Addl. Chief Engineer, P.W.D. (Building), Assam,
Janasanyog/C/2542/20 Chandmari, Guwahati-3
MISSING INFORMATION
The above is photograph of Sri Basudev Rajbhar (19 Yrs)S/o Sri Bidya Rajbhar Vill - Jungle Brigaon, PS- Udalguri, District-Udalguri who has been missing since 15.07.2020 from JungleBarigaon
This refers to Udalguri PS GDE No. 470 Dtd. 17.07.2020and this office Man Missing, Register Entry No. 73 Dtd,20.07.2020.
Descriptive Roll of the Missing, Person:
1. Complexion : Fair2. Age : 19 Years3. Built. : Healthy4. Language : Assamese /Bhujpuri & Nepali5. Height : 5 Feet6. Wearing apparel : Half Pant & T. Shirt
All efforts may be made to trace out/recover the abovenoted missing person at the earliest and result thereof may beintimated to this office at the following helpline numbers forfurther necessary action: 8134852559/9859427622 (Cellphone).
Sd/- Superintendent of Police,Udalguri, Assam.Janasanyog/D/2234/20
No. HF/ENGG-3227/17-18/Pt.-III/56
RE TENDER NOTICE
The Managing Director, Housefed, Assam, Guwahati-6 re-
invites Item wise bids in electronic tendering system for the
following works under “Welfare of Minorities development
Department” from Housefed Empanelled Class-I (A), (B), (C)
& II contractors as per their eligibility criteria having experience
of similar nature of work. Details of the bids may be seen at
e-procurement portal website: www.assamtenders.gov.in
and also in the office of the undersigned during office hours.
The bidders must be enrolled in www.assamtenders.gov.in
for participating in the bidding process.
Note : The Notice inviting bids for the above noted work invited
vide press Notice No HF/ENGG-3227/17-18/Pt.-III/
48 Guwahati the 27/05/2020 is hereby cancelled due
to minimum bidder.
SI. Name of Project Approx. Value
No. of Work
1 Construction of Common Service Rs. 1,32,46,778/-
Centre at Dalgaon Sialmari,
Darrang
2 Construction of Common Service Rs. 1,32,46,778/-
Centre at Krishnai, Goalpara
3 Construction of Common Service Rs. 1,32,46,778/-
Centre at Nilip, Karbi Anglong
4 Construction of Common Service Rs. 1,32,46,778/-
Centre at New Sangbar,
Dima Hassao
5 Construction of Common Service Rs. 1,26,77,226/-
Centre at Bokajan, Karbi Anglong
6 Construction of Common Service Rs. 1,26,77,226/-
Centre at Goroimari, Kamrup
7 Construction of Common Service Rs. 1,26,77,226/-
Centre at Sipajhar, Udalguri
8 Construction of Common Service Rs. 1,26,77,226/-
Centre at Khusdhuwa, Goalpara
Sd/- Managing Director,
Housefed, Assam, Dispur, Guwahati-6Janasanyog/CF/1231/20
N.I.T. No. FNGT/B/2020/4665
E-Auction NoticeUnder the provision of Rule 32, 33, 34 35, 36 & 37 of the Assam Minor
Mineral Concession Rule, 2013, bids are invited online by the undersigned
from Registered Companies / Firms / Societies / Individuals etc. for the
award of contract/permit for the following Minor Mineral Concession Areas
(Mahals).
Sl. Name of Sand Mahal Area Name of Range
No.
1 Jamunamukh- Kopili Nodi Sand Permit Kampur Range,
Area Part 1 (C) Kamrup
2 Jamunamukh- Kopili Nodi Sand Permit
Area Part 1 (D)
3 Chaparmukh- Kopili Nodi Sand Permit Nagaon Range,
Area Part 1 (A) Nagaon
4 Nisari Sand Permit Area No. 1 (B) Kathiatoli Range,
Kathiatoli
5 Amsoi Sand Permit Area Western Range,
Dharamtul
Details of e-auction will be available on www.assamforestonline.in
and www.mstcecommerce.com portal from 03.08.2020 to 02.09.2020.
Sd/- Divisional Forest Officer,Nagaon Division, Nagaon.Janasanyog/C/2539/20
No. DSY/S/Quotation/FoR/4/2020/8
NOTICE INVITING QUOTATIONSealed quotations affixing Court Fee Stamp of Rs 8.25
(Rupees eight and twenty five paise) only are invited fromregistered Companies, Firms, Caterers, Event Managers,Hotels/Guest Houses/Lodges/Tent Houses and other ServiceProviders for fixing rates towards different services requiredfor Sports Competitions, Events and other Programmes underSports & Youth Welfare Department, Government of Assam,for the financial year, 2020-21, as per specifications mentionedin the quotation papers. The quotations will be received up to2.00 pm on 18.08.2020 and will be opened on the same day at4.00 pm in presence of the quotationers or their authorizedrepresentatives. Rates quoted should be inclusive of all taxesand transportation cost. No quotation will be accepted beyondthe closing time and date.
The quotation papers can be downloaded from the officialwebsite of Directorate of Sports & Youth Welfare, Assam(https://dsyw.assam.gov.in) w.e.f. 03.08.2020 onwards. Thequotationers will have to submit the quotations supported bynecessary documents as per the laid down terms andconditions mentioned in the quotation papers on 18.08.2020up to 02.00 pm, to the Office of the Director of Sports & YouthWelfare, Assam, Rudra Singha Sports Complex, Dispur,Guwahati-6, along with the Demand Draft amounting toRs 500.00 (Rupees five hundred) only (non-refundable)pledged in favour of “Director, Sports & Youth Welfare,Assam” as cost of quotation papers.
The undersigned reserves the right to reject any or allquotations without assigning any reason thereof.
Sd/- DirectorJanasanyog/C/2554/20 Sports & Youth Welfare, Assam
No. DSY/S/Quotation/SG/5/2020/11
NOTICE INVITING QUOTATIONSealed quotations affixing Court Fee Stamp of Rs 8.25
(Rupees eight and twenty five paise) only are invited fromAuthorized Dealers and Distributors having Show Roomsand Retail Shops in greater Guwahati for supply of SportsGoods/Sports Equipment and Sportswear during the financialyear, 2020-21 as per specifications mentioned in the quotationpapers, which will be received up to 02.00 pm on 17.08.2020along with samples. The quotations will be opened on thesame day at 4.00 pm in presence of the quotationers or theirauthorized representatives. Brand names of the items arerequired to be mentioned while quoting price. Rates quotedshould be inclusive of all taxes and transportation cost. Noquotation will be accepted without samples and beyond theclosing time and date.
The quotation papers can be downloaded from the officialwebsite of Directorate of Sports & Youth Welfare, Assam(https://dsyw.assam.gov.in) w.e.f. 03.08.2020 onwards. Thequotationers will have to submit the quotations supported bynecessary documents as per the laid down terms andconditions mentioned in the quotation papers on 17/08/2020up to 02.00 pm, to the Office of the Director of Sports & YouthWelfare, Assam, Rudra Singha Sports Complex, Dispur,Guwahati-6, along with the Demand Draft amounting toRs 500.00 (Rupees five hundred) only (non-refundable)pledged in favour of “Director, Sports & Youth Welfare,Assam” as cost of quotation papers.
The undersigned reserves the right to reject any or allquotations without assigning any reason thereof.
Sd/- DirectorJanasanyog/C/2548/20 Sports & Youth Welfare, Assam
PRESS NOTICE / IFBNo. CS/DTRD/SOPD(G)/2020-21/549/I
The Superintending Engineer, PWD, (Roads),
Guwahati ARIASP Circle, Ghy-21 on behalf of the
Governor of Assam invites 1 (one) no. item rate Bid
from approved and eligible Contractors registered with
Assam PWD (Roads) for the works. Details may be
seen at website http://assamtenders.gov.in and also
at the office of the undersigned during office hours.
Sd/- Superintending Engineer, PWD (Roads),
Guwahati, ARIASP Circle,
Janasanyog/CF/1246/20 Guwahati-21
JAIPUR, July 29: Rajasthan
Governor Kalraj Mishra on
Wednesday returned for the
third time a proposal from the
State government to con-
vene the Assembly, saying
the Cabinet had refused to
state the reason why it want-
ed a session at short notice.
As the impasse over call-
ing a session deepened, Chief
Minister Ashok Gehlot held
a 15-minute meeting Mishra
at the Raj Bhawan. He was
also scheduled to meet his
Cabinet again in the evening.
The Governor said if the
government is not stating the
reason for holding a short-no-
tice session, it could call a reg-
Guv returns Rajasthan House session proposal againular session at 21 day’s notice.
He asked the Gehlot Cabi-
net to re-submit its proposal.
“The love letter has al-
ready come. Now, I am only
going to have tea with him,”
Gehlot told party workers at
the State Congress office be-
fore heading for the Raj
Bhawan.
The State Cabinet had
resent a proposal to the Gov-
ernor on Tuesday, sticking to
the July 31 date for holding a
session and refusing to men-
tion that it planned to hold a
trust vote.
While returning the earli-
er version of the proposal the
Governor had suggested that
the session can be called at
short notice if the govern-
ment says seeking a confi-
dence vote is on the agenda.
He repeated this on
Wednesday, saying under those
circumstances calling a brief
session at short notice was
possible while maintaining so-
cial distance. “This can be a rea-
sonable ground for calling a
session at short notice,”
Mishra said in the statement.
Otherwise, he said, it
would be better that State
government calls a regular
session, like the Monsoon
Session, at a 21-day notice.
In the three-page press
note from the Raj Bhawan, the
Governor said the govern-
ment had not given clear re-
plies to his previous queries.
He had earlier asked the
State government to redraft
its proposal, taking into ac-
count three points: a 21-day
notice, live broadcast of the
proceedings if there is a trust
vote, and social distancing
during the session. In addition,
he had said a short-notice ses-
sion was possible if a trust vote
was on the agenda.
Although the Congress has
said it wants to prove its ma-
jority in the House, it is re-
luctant to state this in the pro-
posal.
The Governor has now
asked the Gehlot government
re-submit the proposal giving
a “solid reason” to call a
session at short notice.
The Cabinet should
also make it clear why the sit-
ting is being summoned with-
out much notice under the
present adverse circumstanc-
es, Mishra said in a reference
to the COVID-19 pandemic.
At the PCC meeting,
Gehlot told Congress work-
ers that there is nothing to
worry about as the party’s top
leadership was with them.
Govind Singh Dotasara
formally took over as the
new chief of the party’s State
unit at the meeting.
Targeting the Governor,
Gehlot said, “You have sent
the letter a third time. What
do you want? Tell us, so that
we work in that manner.”
Ashok Gehlot is caught in
a power tussle with his now
sacked deputy, Sachin Pilot,
who has the support of 18
dissident Congress MLAs.
Altogether, the Congress
has 107 MLAs in the 200-
member Assembly and the
BJP 72. – PTI
My concerns not addressed: Mishra
NEW DELHI, July 29: The
Supreme Court on Wednes-
day allowed filing of a fresh
plea challenging the June 17
environmental clearance
(EC) granted to the ambi-
tious Central Vista project,
covering a 3-km stretch from
Rashtrapati Bhavan to India
Gate in Lutyens’ Delhi, for
constructing a new Parlia-
ment House and other gov-
ernment buildings.
A bench of Justices AM
Khanwilkar, Dinesh Ma-
heswari and Sanjiv Khanna al-
lowed senior advocate Shyam
Divan to file within a week a
fresh plea challenging the EC
SC allows filing of plea against environmentalclearance to Central Vista project
by the ‘Central Vista Commit-
tee’ to the project.
The Central government
will respond to the petition a
week after it is filed.
The top court, which post-
ed the petition to be filed for
hearing in the week commenc-
ing August 17, said however
that it is not sure whether phys-
ical hearing would commence
by then. It has been holding
hearing via video conferenc-
ing since the COVID-19 lock-
down in March.
“We permit a week to Di-
van to file the petition and a
week to Centre to reply with-
in a week of receiving the
plea. Matter to be posted af-
ter two weeks,” the bench
ordered.
The bench was hearing as
many as seven pleas, includ-
ing two transfer petitions
from the Delhi High Court,
on the issue and they have
been filed by persons like
activist Rajeev Suri and re-
tired Lt Col Anuj Srivastava
against various permissions
given to the project by the
authorities including the nod
to change the land use.
At the outset, Divan, ap-
pearing for one of the peti-
tioners, said the case was pri-
marily against the permission
on change of the land use and
then “there was an environ-
mental clearance granted on
June 17 to the project”.
He said there were multi-
ple causes of action and the
grant of the EC can be chal-
lenged before the National
Green Tribunal (NGT) and the
apex court cannot use its pow-
er to curtail that challenge to
the EC before the NGT.
The bench said that there
were two other petitions
which raised the environ-
mental issues and the fresh
plea on EC will be governed
by the orders of the apex
court only. – PTI
Corona Snippets
Ensure equitable distributionof drugs: DCGI told
NEW DELHI, July 29: The Union health ministry has
asked the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) to
ensure equitable distribution of Remdesivir and Tocilizu-
mab drugs, which have been included as “investigational
therapies” in the national treatment protocols for COVID-
19, across the country.
The aim is to ensure that their availability is not skewed and
does not remain confined to metropolitan areas, an official said.
The ministry has included the use of Remdesivir (for re-
stricted emergency use purposes) and off-label application of
Tocilizumab for treating COVID-19 patients in moderate stage
of the illness as “investigational therapies” in the updated
Clinical Management Protocol for COVID-19. – PTI
Daily cases cross 10,000 in AP;tally rises to 1.20 lakh
AMARAVATI, July 29: Coronavirus cases rocketed to 1,20,390
in Andhra Pradesh on Wednesday as it logged a new single day
high of 10,093 infections, the State government said.
It also said a record number of 70,584 tests were done
during the last 24 hours ending at 9 am. The State saw 65 new
COVID-19 deaths during the period, taking the toll to 1,213.
The infection positivity rate in the State has now shot up to
6.61 per cent while the recovery rate was 46.02 per cent.
Deputy Chief Minister (Health) AKK Srinivas said the prime
reason for the severe spurt in number of cases was the exten-
sive” COVID-19 tests.
He said a programme to screen every family in the State
for coronavirus would soon be initiated. – PTI
TN reports 6,426 new cases,death toll surges to 3,741
CHENNAI, July 29: Tamil Nadu’s infection count rose to
2,34,114 with the addition of 6,426 fresh COVID-19 cases on
Wednesday, while the death toll surged to 3,741 with 82 fatal-
ities. Active cases stood at 57,490.
The number of recoveries continued to be on the upswing
with 5,927 people getting discharged after recovery from hos-
pitals, totalling to 1,72,883, a health department bulletin said.
A total of 60,794 samples were tested today, taking the number
of specimens tested so far to 25,36,660, the bulletin said.
Chennai reported 1,117 fresh cases and the cumulative count
stood at 97,575. – PTI
(Contd from page 1)
The latest move of the
Central government propos-
es more exemptions in envi-
ronmental rules to be fol-
lowed by companies and
project developers under the
EIA notification. The EIA is
a legal process, under the
1986 Environment Protec-
tion Act, for evaluating the
likely environmental and so-
cioeconomic impacts of a pro-
posed project or develop-
ment scheme. Decision mak-
ing under this process has a
series of mechanisms, in-
cluding participation of affect-
ed populations through the
‘public consultation’, and re-
view by technical and scien-
tific experts, to ascertain that
costs of projects do not out-
weigh the benefits.
“However, this notification
has been amended and read
down several times, in the last
two decades, in favour of ‘eas-
ing the norms’ for business.
The latest draft continues to
move in the direction of ren-
dering the EIA process a
mere formality whereas what
is required for the protection
of the Himalayan ecology are
stricter and more robust en-
vironmental laws.
“The fact that the Govern-
ment of India, under the Cli-
mate Change Action plan had
set up a separate national
mission for Sustaining Hima-
layan Ecosystems, almost 10
years ago, is indicative of the
criticality of protecting the
biodiversity, geology and so-
ciocultural fabric of this re-
gion. From the Western to
the Eastern Himalayas,
there are about 12 States
which fall in the Indian Hima-
layas sustaining a population
of close to 80 million, de-
pendent almost entirely on
land and forest based liveli-
hoods,” it added.
Voicing concern that over
the last three decades, gov-
ernments, both in the states
and at the Centre have
pushed policies and projects
which have contributed to
severe ecological distress,
the statement said that hy-
dropower development,
mindless construction of high-
ways and infrastructure for
commercial tourism, and
growing industrialisation
were the three most threat-
ening developmental activi-
ties that had met with strong
resistance from local commu-
nities and environmentalists.
Hydropower development
is being undertaken in the en-
tire Himalayan region of In-
dia, to develop a potential of
150,000 MW power. Nearly 90
per cent of Indian Himalayan
valleys would be affected by
dam building and 27 per cent
of these dams would affect
dense forests. If all proposed
292 dams are constructed, on
the basis of the current global
number of dams, the region
will have highest density of
dams in the world.
“The climatic crisis is al-
ready a threat for the region
with erratic rainfalls, chang-
ing weather patterns, and cli-
mate-induced disasters dis-
rupting lives and livelihoods
of the inhabitants. Every year
the Himalayan states see
crores of rupees worth of
damage due to landslides,
flash floods, abrupt rains and
forest fires. The impacts of
the disasters are further ex-
acerbated by the nature and
scale of construction that is
going on,” it said.
Appeal to ...
(Contd from page 1)
Citing some such examples,
Das said that over the years,
the State Government enact-
ed the Abolition of Zamindari
Act in 1951 and Assam Adhiar
Protection and Regulation Act
1958. The State Government
enacted the Assam Fixation of
Ceiling and Land Holding Act
1956, which was amended in
1970 and 1975. This Act was
also not properly used or else
some people would not have
been able to hold large amount
of land as is the case now.
Das pointed out that some
other major Acts like the As-
sam State Acquisition of
Land Belonging to Charita-
ble and Religious Institutes
of Public Nature, 1959, As-
sam Assessment of Revenue
Free Waste Land Grant Act,
1948, Assam Bhudan Act,
1962, Assam Consolidation of
Land Holdings Act, etc were
passed by the State Assem-
bly but those were not im-
plemented properly on the
ground. He also said that in
2008, the Government en-
acted the Assam Hill Land
and Ecological Site Protec-
tion Act to protect the hill
lands and ecological sites
from encroachment but that
too was not implemented.
Same was the fate of the As-
sam Land Grabbing Prohibi-
tion Act to deal with the ille-
gal activities of land mafia.
Acts to ...
(Contd from page 1)
Singh said that “the touch
down of Rafale combat air-
crafts in India marks the
beginning of a new era in
our military history. These
multirole aircraft will rev-
olutionise the capabilities of
the IAF”.
The NDA government
had inked a Rs 59,000-crore
deal on September 23, 2016
to procure 36 Rafale jets from
French aerospace major
Dassault Aviation after a near-
ly seven-year exercise to
procure 126 Medium Multi-
Role Combat Aircraft (MMR-
CA) for the Indian Air Force
did not fructify during the
UPA regime.
The emergency acquisition
was made primarily to check
the depleting combat capabil-
ity of the IAF as the number
of its fighter squadrons had
come down to a worrying 31
against the authorised
strength of at least 42.
The fleet, comprising
three single seater and two
twin seater aircraft, are be-
ing inducted into the IAF as
part of its Ambala-based No.
17 Squadron, also known as
the ‘Golden Arrows’. – PTI
5 Rafale ...
State flood ...(Contd from page 1)
As per the daily flood bul-
letin of Assam State Disas-
ter Management Authority,
4,19,300 people in Goalpara
district are bearing the brunt
of flood. Further, as many as
37,012 people are taking shel-
ter in 321 relief camps.
The Brahmaputra in Jorhat,
Sonitpur and Dhubri, Dhan-
siri in Golaghat, Jia Bharali in
Sonitpur and Kopili in Nagaon
were flowing above the dan-
ger level till this morning.
In the past 24 hours, flood
waters damaged a number
of embankments in Bon-
gaigaon and Golaghat dis-
tricts along with a number
of roads in Chirang, Barpe-
ta, Lakhimpur, Udalguri and
Golaghat districts. Incidents
of flood-triggered erosion
have also been reported
from Baksa, Lakhimpur and
Udalguri districts.
Altogether 26 camps in Ka-
ziranga National Park, 12
camps in Pobitora Wildlife
Sanctuary and five camps in
Orang National Park also got
inundated by the flood waters.
National ...(Contd from page 1)
Elaborating on the reforms
in school education, HRD Sec-
retary Anita Karwal said,
Board exams will be low
stake. The focus will be on test-
ing concepts and knowledge
application. Home language,
mother tongue or regional lan-
guage to be medium of instruc-
tion up to class 5.
She further said school
curriculum will be reduced
to core concepts and there
will be integration of voca-
tional education from class 6.
The new education policy
was part of the Bharatiya Jana-
ta Party’s manifesto ahead of the
2014 general election. – PTI
(Contd from page 1)
State governments, based
on their assessment of the sit-
uation, may prohibit certain
activities outside the contain-
ment zones, or impose such
restrictions as deemed nec-
essary. However, there shall
be no restriction on inter-state
and intra-state movement of
persons and goods. No sepa-
rate permission or approval,
e-permit will be required for
such movements.
Persons above 65 years of
age, persons with co-morbidi-
ties, pregnant women, and chil-
dren below the age of 10 years,
are advised to stay at home,
except for meeting essential re-
quirements and for health pur-
poses. The use of Aarogya Setu
mobile application will contin-
ue to be encouraged.
Centre announces ...
THURSDAY, JULY 30, 2020 THE ASSAM TRIBUNE, GUWAHATI 7
NORTH EAST
Forecast for North Eastern
States : Rain / thundershower
is very likely to occur at most
places over Arunachal
Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya,
Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram
and Tripura.
Thunderstorm with
lightning is very likely to occur
at isolated places over
Arunachal Pradesh, Assam,
Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur,
Mizoram and Tripura. Heavy to
very heavy rain is very likely
to occur at isolated places over
Arunachal Pradesh, Assam
and Meghalaya. Heavy rain is
very likely to occur at isolated
places over Nagaland, Manipur,
Mizoram and Tripura.
Dibrugarh 27.5 24.8
Tezpur 32.5 26.0
Silchar 29.0 25.9
Dhubri 30.5 26.8
Jorhat 31.2 25.1
N Lakhimpur 27.4 24.1
Shillong 23.1 18.6
Cherrapunjee 21.2 18.4
Aizawl 23.9 19.3
Kohima 24.6 17.4
Pasighat 25.6 24.2
Itanagar 29.1 24.7
Imphal 27.6 21.7
Agartala 31.7 26.0
WEATHER
NORTHEAST CORRESPONDENT
AGARTALA, July 29: The COVID-19
situation continues to be grim in Tripura
with four more patients succumbing to the
disease at the GBP Hospital here
in the past 24 hours, taking the
death toll to 21.
Eight COVID deaths in 48 hours
have set the alarm bells ringing in
the State administration and the
healthcare establishments.
Worried at the situation, Lok
Sabha MP Pratima Bhoumik,
who heads the Rogi Kalayan
Samity of GBP Hospital, to-
day held a meeting with the
senior doctors and reviewed
the situation.
Confirming the deaths, Chief
Minister Biplab Kumar Deb said
that altogether 222 persons were
tested positive for COVID-19,
including 76 in West district, 39 in Goma-
ti, 26 in Sepahijala, 22 in Khowai and 21
in North district.
In the post, the Chief Minister said to-
day as many as 6,196 swabs were tested,
of which 222 turned out to be positive.
Sepahijala District Magistrate Chandra
Kumar Jamatia and Superintendent of
Police Krishnendu Chakravertty were
among the new patients.
Apart from the two, seven people work-
ing at the District Magistrate’s office also
COVID scene worsens in Tripurawith four more deaths
tested positive for the disease.
“The DM, SP and some other staff of
Sepahijala district administration have been
found COVID19 positive. They all have per-
formed commendable works in this fight
against COVID-19. I pray to Mata Tripurasun-
dari for the speedy recovery of all infected
persons,” Deb said in a tweet. Deb added
that 142 patients were discharged from dis-
trict corona care centres on Tuesday.
As of now, the State has recorded 4,298
positive cases, which is second highest in
the Northeast region.
Novel coronavirus infection has proved
to be fatal for the aged and patients with
comorbidities like cardiac problems, dia-
betes, high blood pressure, kidney ail-
ment and lung infection.
The four latest COVID deaths in the
State were either elderly persons or had
serious health complications.
Sensing impending trouble, the State
government has already adopt-
ed the ICMR prescribed strat-
egy – Trace, Test and Treat –
to contain the spread of COV-
ID-19. As part of the strategy,
testing has been intensified
across the State.
In the past two days, survey
teams visited 3,88,782 houses
and collected information
about health-related issues.
Those who agreed to undergo
COVID-19 test were tested
using rapid antigen kits.
As many as 4,582 survey
teams have been carrying out
the weeklong survey and 711
testing centres have been
opened to speed up testing.
However, the weeklong household sur-
vey has suffered because survey teams
were not allowed to do their duty at many
villages. Survey teams were not even
allowed to enter some villages.
The Council of Ministers, which met yes-
terday took stock of the COVID-19 situa-
tion and strongly recommended extension
of the lockdown to break the chain of COV-
ID-19. The three-day lockdown across the
State is scheduled to end tomorrow.
A health worker collecting swab from a person at Anandanagarin West Tripura on Tuesday. – Photo: Correspondent
Political slugfest inSikkim over virus spread
A CORRESPONDENT
GANGTOK, July 29: The
Sikkim Democratic Front
(SDF) has accused the ruling
Sikkim Krantikari Morcha
(SKM) of holding party gath-
erings by violating the COV-
ID-19 guidelines.
The Opposition party’s re-
action came after Chief Minis-
ter Prem Singh Tamang alleg-
edly blamed the people for the
surge in COVID-19 cases in
the Himalayan State. He made
the alleged remark on Mon-
day while presiding over a
high-level meeting of the State
task force to review the man-
agement of COVID-19 out-
break in the State.
“The Chief Minister must
be reminded that more than
15 gatherings were organised
by his own party Sikkim Kran-
tikari Morcha across the State,
where masks were rarely
worn and no social distancing
was maintained,” said SDF
spokesperson Prashant Babu.
“It is very disheartening to
see the Chief Minister mak-
ing such an incredulous state-
ment, blaming the people for
the surge of COVID-19 cases
in the State and issuing direc-
tives to the police to ‘take ac-
tion’. This statement will be a
major setback in the efforts to
contain the spread of the virus
as effective coordination is re-
quired between the people and
authorities for the safety of
all,” he said.
“It is most unfortunate on
the part of the Chief Minis-
ter to blame the people for
recent surge in COVID pos-
itive cases in the State. The
people of Sikkim has accept-
ed and adhered to all the
guidelines and protocols is-
sued by the State government
ever since the first lockdown
started in the month of
March 2020,” he added.
Social activist Passang Sher-
pa said, “We outrightly reject
such anti-people statement by
the Chief Minister. People of
Sikkim are bewildered by such
statement as it could lead to
misuse of power against inno-
cent Sikkimese people by the
authority on the pretext of
COVID-19.”
“The Chief Minister should
immediately retract his
statement in the interest of
the State and its people. He
should be aware that as a
head of the State it is his re-
sponsibility to be accounta-
ble for good, bad, wrong or
right happening in the State
and he cannot run away from
his responsibility by simply
blaming the people,” the so-
cial activist said.
Meanwhile, the SKM has
come to the State govern-
ment’s defence with spokes-
person Jacob Khaling accusing
the opposition of spreading lies
as no such statement was made
by the Chief Minister and all
he spoke about was violation
of guidelines during the lock-
down period.
“Having nothing much to
criticise the SKM Govt for its
handling of COVID-19 crisis,
Opposition take to manipula-
tion of words and accuses the
Chief Minister of blaming the
people for his failures,” the
SKM tweeted.
“Shame on those who
choose to hit below the belt
just for the sake of criticism,”
it added.
CORRESPONDENT
IMPHAL, July 29: A 56-
year-old man from Thoubal
district became the first COV-
ID-19 fatality in Manipur.
The deceased, who was also
suffering from chronic kidney
disease, died at the COVID
care facility of the Regional
Institute of Medical Sciences
(RIMS) here.
Confirming this, Prof
Chongtham Arunkumar,
Medical Superintendent of
RIMS, in a press release said
the man who was a resident
of Khongjom Sapam village
breathed his last at around 2
am today.
He was admitted to the hos-
pital on May 22 for treatment
Manipur reports firstCOVID-19 death
of kidney ailment but he was
found positive for COVID-19
on July 26.
“The cause of death is chron-
ic kidney disease with urosep-
sis, respiratory tract infection,
COVID-19, type-2 diabetes
millitus and hypertension,” the
press note said.
“Despite intensive treat-
ment, the patient succumbed
to kidney failure, infection of
kidney and lower respiratory
tract,” it added.
This is the first COVID-19
death in the State. In May this
year, a woman from Imphal
East district passed away af-
ter she contracted the virus
when she went to Mumbai for
treatment of her husband.
Meanwhile, with 141 new
cases, the total number of
COVID-19 cases in Manipur
has reached 2,458, according
to a press release issued by
Dr Khoirom Sasheekumar
Mangang, the Additional Di-
rector and spokesperson of the
State Health Department, on
Wednesday.
They belong to Imphal West,
Churachandpur, Thoubal, Im-
phal East, Bishnupur, Senapa-
ti, Kakching, Kamjong and
Tamenglong districts.
The active and recovered
cases stand at 805 and 1653 re-
spectively.
With the discharge of 38 peo-
ple in the last 24 hours, the
recovery rate in the State has
reached 67.24 percent, the re-
lease said.
FIR against4 for spitting
at doctorCORRESPONDENT
AGARTALA, July 29: Tak-ing a serious note of an incidentof misbehaviour with a front-line COVID-19 warrior bysome patients, West DistrictMagistrate Dr Sandeep Mahat-me has asked the district Su-perintendent of Police to takelegal action against the guilty.
Dr Sangita Chakraborty,who was ill-treated by someCOVID-19 patients at theCOVID Care Centre atShaheed Bhagat Singh Hos-tel here, had lodged a com-plaint with the DM of Westdistrict, seeking punishmentof the guilty.
Few patients spat on herwhile she was coming out ofthe COVID Care Centre onJuly 25. The police have alreadylodged an FIR against fourCOVID-19 patients under theEpidemic Disease Act, 1987 inthis connection.
CORRESPONDENT
DIMAPUR, July 29: Kohima will
participate in the India Cycles4Change
Challenge under the initiative of Ko-
hima Smart City Development Lim-
ited (KSCDL) and in partnership with
various stakeholders, local champions
and citizens.
Kovi Meyase, CEO, KSCDL, said
Kohima is among the 95 cities in the
country which have registered for the
India Cycles4Change Challenge.
It is an initiative of the Smart Cities
Mission, Union Ministry of Housing
and Urban Affairs, which aims to in-
spire and support the cities to imple-
ment quick cycling-friendly initiatives
in response to COVID-19.
The India Programme of the Insti-
tute for Transportation and Develop-
ment Policy is the knowledge partner
of the Smart Cities Mission in conduct-
ing this challenge and guiding cities
through it. Through this challenge, the
Kohima to participate in India Cycles4Change Challengeregistered cities will implement quick
interventions to create a safe and cy-
cling-friendly city.
The KSCDL said to ensure this
transformation, Kohima is committed
to working with
its citizens as it
develops and im-
plements the
proposals. It
sought their sup-
port in making
this programme
a success as
community en-
gagement is a
key component
of the initiative.
The KSCDL recently launched the
Kohima Cycles4Change Campaign to
encourage more people to go for cy-
cling and adopt fitness, balanced
growth, personal transport, and a cul-
tural shift towards cycling for a better
and greener future.
Union Minister of Housing and Ur-
ban Affairs (independent charge) Har-
deep Singh Puri announced the India
Cycles4Change Challenge on June 25
at the fifth anniversary celebrations of
the Smart City
Mission in New
Delhi.
Kohima has al-
ready attended
the first work-
shop of the chal-
lenge that fo-
cused on the
technical, com-
munity engage-
ment, and com-
m u n i c a t i o n s
components of cycling initiatives. Over
the next few weeks, the city will roll
out a survey to understand the citi-
zens’ perception of cycling.
The survey aims to identify barriers
to cycling in Kohima and inform the
design process. The city urged all civil
society organisations, consultants, cor-
porate or concerned citizens to support
it in the India Cycles4Change Challenge.
The challenge will run in two stages.
In the first stage, which will run till
October, the cities will pilot initiatives
such as pop-up cycle lanes, host public
consultations, conduct surveys, and hold
campaigns to promote cycling, which
will help develop a scale-up strategy.
Based on the pilots and the city-wide
proposals, 11 cities will be shortlisted
for the second stage in October.
In stage 2, they will be awarded Rs 1
crore and guided by national and interna-
tional experts to scale-up the initiatives.
This stage will extend till May 2021.
During the course of the challenge,
the cities will be guided through on-
line workshops, technical knowledge
material, and peer-to-peer learning
discussions with fellow cities. This will
help cities strategise and implement
pilots, while also developing their
scale-up proposal, the KSCDL said.
91 new casesin Arunachal
PradeshCORRESPONDENT
ITANAGAR, July 29: The
COVID-19 tally in Arunachal
Pradesh has increased to 1,330
with the detection of 91 new
cases on Tuesday.
According to a bulletin is-
sued by the Directorate of
Health Services, the number
of active cases in the State now
stands at 710, while 617 COV-
ID-19 patients have recovered
so far. Three persons have died
of the virus in the State.
Of the 91 new cases, 28 cas-
es were reported from Itana-
gar Capital Complex, 18 cases
from Changlang and 10 from
East Kameng. Tirap registered
eight cases, Upper Siang six,
West Kameng five, Lohit four
and East Siang three cases.
Lower Dibang Valley, Lower
Subansiri and West Siang re-
ported two cases each and one
case each was recorded in
Lower Siang, Tawang and
Leparada.
All the fresh infections in the
capital complex region were
detected during rapid antigen
tests.
As per the bulletin, 89 cases
were found to be asymptomat-
ic and two symptomatic.
Meanwhile, 43 patients –
including 16 in Itanagar Cap-
ital Complex, eight each in
Changlang and Lower Siang,
seven in Papum Pare, three
in Lower Dibang Valley and
one in Longding – were re-
leased after they recovered
from the disease.
The State registered a
steep rise in the number of
COVID-19 cases this month.
Arunachal Pradesh report-
ed its first COVID-19 case on
April 2 and the person recov-
ered from the disease on April
16. The State registered its
second case on May 24.
No extension oflockdown in Shillong
STAFF CORRESPONDENT
SHILLONG, July 29: The
State Government today de-
cided not to extend the ongo-
ing three-day lockdown in Shil-
long and adjoining areas.
The lockdown, which began
on July 26, will end at midnight
on Wednesday.
Deputy Chief Minister
Prestone Tynsong said al-
though the government
would not extend the lock-
down in Shillong agglomera-
tion, the public needs to be
vigilant against the virus. He
asked the public “not to be
complacent”.
“We appeal to the people
that nobody should be com-
placent, remain vigilant and
adhere to the laid down
health protocols and SOPs,”
said Tynsong.
At the same time, the State
Government has reiterated
that it would go ahead with the
proposed random testing with
rapid antigen kits in 71 clus-
ters across the State.
Tynsong said the tests
would be carried out in the
next few days in the clusters
identified by the Health De-
partment.
Meanwhile, Health Minister
AL Hek informed that five pos-
itive cases were detected in
the State in the past 24 hours
and 13 patients have recov-
ered in the same period.
Currently, there are 572 ac-
tive cases in the State, of which
246 are BSF men, 35 armed
forces personnel and the rest
civilians. Altogether 207 pa-
tients have recovered so far.
NSCN (K) headingfor a split
CORRESPONDENT
DIMAPUR, July 29: The
Myanmar-based NSCN (K)
seemed to be heading for a
split with a group of its cadres
holding a plenary meeting on
Tuesday to remove incumbent
“chairman” Yung Aung from
his post.
At the meeting, chaired by
pro-tem speaker of the group
self-styled Lt Gen Niki Sumi,
the entire civil and military
wings unanimously resolved to
appoint self-styled Lt Gen (rtd)
Nyemlang Konyak Naga as the
chairman and Starson Iamkang
Naga as general secretary/ato
kilonser (prime minister) of
the outfit, the in-charge of the
ministry of information and
publicity of the outfit, Nikato
Pilot Sumi, said in a release on
Wednesday. It futher said these
appointments were “mandat-
ed” and “necessitated” as
Yung Aung has acted in direct
contravention of the provi-
sions of the ‘Yehzabo’ (consti-
tution) of outfit. It said Aung,
without any consultation or
meetings with concerned offi-
cials of the NSCN/GPRN, clan-
destinely established relation-
ship and connived with the
NSCN (I-M).
In a tit-for-tat action, the
Yung Aung faction of the outfit
on Wednesday expelled Niki
Sumi, Nyemlang Konyak Naga
and Starson Iamkang Naga for
organising “illegal meetings”
without authorisation from the
party, failing to report to the
council headquarters despite
repeated callings, heavy mis-
appropriation of party funds
and encouraging and spread-
ing “divisive policies”.
THURSDAY, JULY 30, 2020 8 THE ASSAM TRIBUNE, GUWAHATI
STATENEWS IN BRIEF
Erosion threat to SivalayTIHU, July 29: Rajahuwa Sivalay, one of the ancient tem-
ples of Kulbilghat in Nalbari district, is now under the grip oferosion by the Buradia river. The northern and western sidesof the temple are getting eroded. The local people haveurged the State government to take proper steps to savethe temple. – ANN Service
COVID-19 tally HATSINGIMARI, July 29: Thirteen fresh cases were
detected in Southsalmara Mankachar district, pushing theCOVID-19 tally to 62. Of the 13 new cases, four were fromMankachar, followed by Jhawdanga with seven and Hats-ingimari and Tumni shared one each. Surprisingly, the pos-itive cases did not have any travel history. – ANN Service
One held with ammunitionRANGIYA, July 29: Rangiya police acting on a tip-off ar-
rested one Jakir Hussain from Khandikar village yesterdayand recovered four rounds of live ammunition, along withsuspected heroin from his possession. – Correspondent
Namkirtan at GossaigaonGOSSAIGAON, July 29: The Asom Satra Mahasabha, Gos-
saingaon branch is organising namkirtan at the Satra premis-es tomorrow. The branch president and secretary Padmad-har Das and Sankar Chandra Das respectively have appealedto the devotees to join the programme to keep the novelcoronavirus at bay. – ANN Service
63 virus cases at GoreswarGORESWAR, July 29: The COVID-19 tally has touched
63 in Goreswar of Baksa district. The rise in cases has wor-ried the people in the locality. Meanwhile, the Health de-partment has intensified swab tests among the people toprevent spread of the virus. The department officials alsoappealed to the people to cooperate with the authoritiesconcerned for their safety. – ANN Service
Temple foundation laidGAURIPUR, July 29 : Ashok Kumar Singhi, MLA, Bilasi-
para East Constituency laid the foundation stone of the bound-ary wall of Lakhiganj Durga temple today amidst a largenumber of villagers and BJP workers. The MLA sanctionedRs 3,89,000 from the MLA fund for the year 2018-19 forconstruction of the boundary wall. The function held on thepremises of the temple was attended by Ramesh Roy, Pra-fulla Kalita, Dwipesh Das, Bhadreswar Nath, Monukul Dasand a few active members of the party. He also distributedsanitizers, masks, dettol etc., to the labourers of Tokraband-ha area under Chapar police station. Alongside, the MLAdistributed BPL cards to 26 BPL beneficiaries in the pres-ence of Sunil Das, Supply Inspector, Bilivia Chaudhury, Ex-ecutive Officer, Chapar Municipality by maintaining socialdistance and wearing masks. – Correspondent
27 positive cases at GauripurGAURIPUR, July 29: The total COVID-19 positive cases
in Gauripur reached 27 and they are now undergoing treat-ment at various hospitals. According to Circle Officer JSSarma, a new testing centre has been opened at GauripurGirls’ Hingh School in a bid to cover more and more peoplefor medical screening. Three-fourth area of the town is un-der containment zone since July 24.– Correspondent
Cheques distributedPATACHARKUCHI, July 29: Financial aid amounting to
Rs 10,000 each to four persons was distributed yesterday atAkaya village under Bandhasidhani Gaon Panchayat. Thebeneficiaries are Janaki Das, Dilip Oja, Lalita Das and Ju-man Das. Janaki Das is a cancer patient, while others areaccident victims. All them were provided cheques.– PTI
7 new cases at DhakuakhanaDHEMAJI, July 29: Seven persons of Dhakuakhana Ka-
chugaon under Ward No 2 have tested positive for COVID-19. All the persons working in a micro-finance companydeveloped symptoms of novel coronavirus discharging theirduties. They are now undergoing treatment at LakhimpurCOVID-19 Hospital. The Dhakuakhana subdivisional admin-istration and the Health Department declared the office ofArohan and the local residential area of Kachugaon as con-tainment zones. – ANN Service
e-int’l conferenceGUWAHATI, July 29: Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC)
of Nowgong College in association with World Researchers As-sociation (WRA) and North Eastern Institute of Ayurveda andHomoeopathy (NEIAH), Shillong, Meghalaya is going to organ-ise an e-international conference on ‘nutrients acquisition byplants and plant based remedies against viral diseases’ onAugust 7-8, 2020, a press release stated. For further detailsone can visit the college website. Intending participants canregister online through Google Link Form on or before July 31,2020 and can also submit their abstracts on or before July 31,2020 through online submission or may contact Dr K K Medhi,convenor & coordinator, IQAC and Dr Bhuban Ch Chutia, organ-ising secretary of the organising committee.
AJIT PATOWARY
About 20 years back, a
working plan pre
pared by a senior for-
est official, suggested hand-
ing over of Bagser Reserve
Forest (RF) to the Kaziranga
National Park (KNP)
authorities for its
strategic importance. But, it
is yet to be done.
The forest area on the
southern side of the National
Highway-37, between Ka-
ziranga National Park (KNP)
and Karbi Anglong, falls un-
der Jakhalabandha Forest
Beat Office of the Nagaon
(Territorial) Forest Division,
which is placed under the
Northern Assam Circle
(NAC) of the Forest Depart-
ment. The NAC is headquar-
tered at Salna on the north
bank of the Brahmaputra.
There is only one forest camp
– Menchang– to look after
the entire area comprising
the Bagser RF and Deosur
Hill Proposed Reserve For-
est (PRF). The manpower or
Bagser RF yet to be handed over to KNPinfrastructure placed under
the Nagaon Territorial (T)
Division to ensure security
of this forest area, is grossly
inadequate.
Majority of the rhino
poaching attempts in KNP
come from the southern side.
This multiplies during mon-
soon, as, a number of rhinos
move to the southern side
along with other wild ani-
mals. Due to issues of infra-
structure and manpower,
managing the security of mi-
grating KNP animals be-
comes extremely difficult
during monsoon. Out of the
nine KNP animal corridors,
seven are in this area. In view
of annual floods and increas-
ing wildlife population, seam-
less integration of the area
between Kaziranga and Kar-
bi Anglong with KNP is vital
for bringing about a landscape
level management.
The above information
comes from the May 21, 2020
letter of the KNP Director
(No KNP/FG.848/KTR/Bag-
ser RF) to the State’s Princi-
pal Chief Conservator of For-
est (PCCF) and Head of the
Forest Force (HoFF). The
KNP Director also referred
to the working plan prepared
by the then DFO, Nagaon
Territorial Division SK
Srivastava for 2000-2001 to
2009-2010, which placed
Bagser under ‘Protection
Working Circle.’ Srivastava
suggested steps to hand over
Bagser and Kukurakata RFs
to KNP for better protection
of the rhinoceroses.
Considering its impor-
tance for the animals migrat-
ing between KNP and Karbi
Anglong, Bagser RF was de-
clared ‘Buffer Area of KNP’
(Assam Gazette Notification
No FRW-6/2007/23) on Au-
gust 3, 2007. The State Gov-
ernment on April 17, 2003
had notified (No No.FRW.44/
2002/64) Kaziranga-Karbi
Anglong Elephant Reserve,
of which Bagser RF is a part.
The DFO, Nagaon Terri-
torial Division requested the
Conservator of Forests, NAC
(Letter No FNGT/A/Reserve
Forest/2019-20/801-04 dated
March 17, 2020) to provide
necessary permission to
hand over Bagser RF to the
Eastern Assam Wildlife Di-
vision for improving road
connectivity, increasing the
number of anti-poaching
camps and adding adequate
number of manpower. “He
also temporarily handed over
the Menchang APC to East-
ern Assam Wildlife Division
vide his letter No. FNGT/A/
Wildlife/2020/870 dated 23rd
March/2020,” said the KNP
Director in his above letter.
Following this letter, a meet-
ing was held, with the State’s
PCCF & HoFF in the chair,
on June 3, 2020 at the Na-
gaon Territorial Division’s
meeting hall on insurgency
in Bagser and Deosur For-
ests and transfer of this area
to the Eastern Assam Wild-
life Division.
The five decisions it adopt-
ed were 1) DFO, Nagaon
Territorial Division to submit
a proposal for construction of
two barracks under CAMPA
(compensatory afforestation)
scheme and to post at least 10
staff in these camps; 2) DFO,
Nagaon Wildlife Division to
submit a proposal for shifting
of division headquarters from
Nagaon to Kaliabor with prop-
er usage of existing buildings,
KNP Director to provide
necessary fund through
Project Tiger and from Ka-
ziranga Tiger Conservation
Foundation; 3) Sri M K Yada-
va (IFS) to prepare a holistic
long-term plan covering area
lost due to erosion and ad-
joining area to be added and
additional area to be pur-
chased for KNP and the same
to be submitted to the Gov-
ernment to preserve and
protect KNP; 4) Director,
KNP to make arrangement
for convening a meeting at
Kohora to discuss revival of
tourism in a novel way; 5)
DFO under Wildlife Wing to
utilise the fund available un-
der CAMPA scheme to im-
prove the habitat and infra-
structure. Bagser was not
mentioned in the decisions.
Dulal Chandra Borthakur,
an extremely talented and
renowned personality of
Jorhat left for his heavenly
abode on July 20, 2020. He
was an academician, writer,
social worker, businessman
and an advocate.
Born in August 1939 at
Bairagibari area of Jorhat, he
had his early education in
Bhatemara Gitarthi primary
school and matriculation from
Sankardev Seminary school.
Further he did Bachelors of
Commerce from Jagannath
Baruah College, Jorhat. He lat-
er pursued Bachelor in Teach-
ing from BT College, Jorhat.
His thrust of knowledge, pro-
pelled him further to pursue
and complete LLB in 1993
from Law College, Jorhat.
He started his career from
Sonarigaon primary school as
a teacher and
retired in 1998
as a Head Mas-
ter from Porbo-
tia ME School,
H a j a r i g a o n ,
Jorhat. He was
the president of
ME Teachers’
Association of
Assam for four
c o n t i n u o u s
years. From 1998-2020, he
was an active member of
Jorhat Bar Association.
His interest lay in chil-
dren’s literature and he
wrote innumerable children
books, novels and educative
articles. His book Swapna-
phool was recognised in the
United States
Library of Con-
gress in 1971.
In 1995, his
book Mili Juli
Sorar Abeli re-
ceived the Na-
tional Award.
Another book
of his Xikhokh,
was recognised
as a library book
by the Government of Assam
which is on the life of teach-
ers and the educational
movement of Assam. He also
had an inclination towards
Dulal Chandra Borthakur: a tributeastrology, and wrote a book
Life and Astrology.
He owned the Book Bank
Publication, which is well
known in Assam. He was a
person with multiple skills –
drama, gardening, a well-
known public speaker, and a
social worker. Till his last
days, he was associated with
Arya Bhatta Science Centre,
North West Jorhat Block as
the president.
He leaves behind his wife,
son, daughters, daughter-in-
law, sons-in-laws, grandchil-
dren and a host of relatives.
We pray to the Almighty
to grant peace to his depart-
ed soul.
– Lipika Sarmah
Gopinath Adhikary, an emi-
nent educationist whose mark
in the field of education is well
evidenced by the imprint of his
work and influence in locations
as widely situated as Haflong
and Sadiya, the places where
he served as a teacher, apart
from his native Barpeta, passed
away on the night of the July
19 after a brief illness.
Born in 1934 in Barpeta,
Adhikary had
served as the
founder secre-
tary of the
Sundaridiya
Sahitya Sabha
and he was
also closely as-
sociated with
Bamuna Satra
where he spent his time after
his superannu-
ation from serv-
ice as the Prin-
cipal of Chapa-
khowa Girls’
Higher Sec-
ondary School,
Sadiya. His de-
mise has left a
pall of gloom in
Gopinath Adhikaryhis native Barpeta where his
absence is being mourned by
his students, admirers and
well-wishers.
He has left behind his wife,
children and grandchildren,
and a host of relatives who
pray for the eternal peace of
the departed soul today on
the day of his shraddha.
– Bibhash Choudhury
Our beloved Mani (Ranja-
na Baishya) left for her heav-
enly abode on July 18 last.
Born on October 9, 1957 to
freedom fighter late Rabin
Nabis, Ranjana dedicated her
life to teaching Montessori
children for 35 years. Her
teaching career started from
St Mary’s School, Guwahati.
She later worked at Dream
Flower School, Dhaligaon,
and Faculty Higher Second-
ary School, Guwahati.
During her 35-year pro-
fessional ca-
reer, she
spent 19 years
at Maria’s Pub-
lic School, Gu-
wahati, where
she was a fa-
vourite teach-
er of many stu-
dents.
She was also
a great sports-
woman and played hockey
and volleyball and also led
her school and
college hockey
teams.
She was a
fun-loving per-
son whose
first priority
was family. It’s
hard to forget
someone who
gave you so
much to re-
member. Her life was a
blessing and now all we are
left with are her memories
which we will treasure for-
ever. She will always be
missed and cherished by us.
She leaves behind her
husband, two daughters, a
son-in-law, and three grand-
children.
On the day of her ad-
yashraddha today, we pray
to the Almighty to grant
eternal peace to her soul.
– Dilip Baishya
Ranjana Baishya
Premadhar Das, who
passed away on July 19 last
was born in 1926 at Amin-
gaon, Guwahati.
He lost his father during
his childhood due to which
he grew up at his maternal
uncle’s home at Rang Ma-
hal, North Guwahati. He
passed his matriculation ex-
amination from Auniati
Kamaldev High School of
North Guwahati under Cal-
cutta University at that time.
After that he enrolled him-
self at the B Borooah Col-
lege of Guwahati. After com-
pleting graduation in Com-
merce from there he got
engaged first at Bhaskar In-
surance Company and then
he began his working life as
an Audit Officer. He joined
the Assam Finance Service
in 1971 and gradually be-
came FAO and Treasury Of-
ficer in course of time. He
retired from Government
service in 1986.
Premadhar Das per-
formed his duties as the sec-
retary of Milanpur Develop-
ment Committee (Milanpur
Unnayan Samiti) of Guwa-
hati. He was also an execu-
tive member of Milanpur
Shiva Temple. He also
wrote a religious book titled
Lakshmi Charitra.
He left behind two sons
and a daughter along with
grandchildren.
Today on the occasion of
his adyashraddha, we pay
our heartfelt tribute to the
departed soul. May his no-
ble soul rest in peace.
– Diganta Barooah
Premadhar Das
RON DUARAH
DIBRUGARH, July 29 : At
Assam’s most famous erosion
site, locals are hopeful of a
prolonged protection of Ro-
hmaria, provided the prom-
ised schemes are executed
correctly. This optimism
comes from none other than
the umbrella organisation that
is spearheading a campaign to
save Rohmaria in Dibrugarh
district from a frightening
southward erosion by the
mighty Brahmaputra. As ge-
otectonic and natural factors
prevent any permanent solu-
tion to floods and erosion, it is
“prolonged protection” that
seems more appropriate.
An umbrella organisation of
locals of Rohmaria that also
includes several students,
women’s and youth organisa-
tions, the Rohmaria Gorakho-
honia Protirudh Sangram
Mancha comprises almost all
the better known associations
of the State. These include the
Dibrugarh district units of
AASU, AJYCP, ATTSA, AJYP,
AAMYCS, ATASU, Goria
Moria Desi Jatiya Parishad, All
Moran Students’ Union, All
Deuri Students’ Union, Chah
Janagosthi Jatiya Mahasabha,
Assam Gorkha Students’ Un-
ion, among others. The Man-
cha coordinates all activities
relating to Rohmaria, in con-
sultation with the constituent
associations and organisa-
tions, said the Mancha’s sec-
retary, Sanjay Baruah.
On July 25, the Asom Jatiy-
atabadi Yuba Chatra Parishad
(AJYCP) observed its 20th
founding day at the Rohmaria
HS School campus with a brief
function. On the occasion,
packets containing foodstuff
and other essentials were dis-
tributed among 200 odd per-
sons, as a matter of courtesy.
The Greater Dibrugarh Mar-
wari Yuva Mancha associated
itself with this social work.
The occasion was put to good
use by the youth leaders who
said their struggle for peoples’
issues will continue till the log-
ical conclusions.
On the occasion of the found-
ing day function, student and
youth leaders reiterated their
firm commitment to the cause
of Rohmaria. They said the
government is doing some
work in the area, but called for
more intense schemes. They
regretted that a scheme for
protecting Rohmaria, estimat-
ed to cost about Rs 80 crore is
lying at the NITI Aayog office
in New Delhi for almost a year.
Leaders like Hafizul Ahmed of
the Goria Moria Desi Parishad
and Sankarjyoti Baruah of the
Dibrugarh district AASU unit
said this shows the lackadaisi-
cal attitude of the Centre to-
wards the burning issues of
Assam. “Our resources are
national and our problems are
Assam’s own” is the attitude,
they fumed.
Speaking to this reporter,
the Mancha’s secretary, San-
jay Baruah said, “Now that
the Rs 80 crore Flood Man-
agement Programme scheme
for Rohmaria is stuck at New
Delhi, we have approached
the Assam government to
take up smaller projects for
immediate implementation.”
Accordingly, at the instance of
Chief Minister Sarbananda
Sonowal and the local Lahow-
al MLA, Rituparna Baruah, a
couple of smaller projects are
being taken up by the Assam
Water Resources department
for protection works at Ro-
hmaria. These include a Rs
eight-crore scheme near the
Rohmaria HS School, a Rs 10-
crore scheme near Bogorito-
lia and a Rs 25-crore project
which will include the Litting
area. The last named project
was only announced by the
Chief Minister on July 10.
These works are scheduled
to commence from Septem-
ber this year.
AJYP secretary Udayon
Kumar Gogoi made a public
declaration at Rohmaria on
Saturday that unless actual
protection works are not vis-
ible by October this year, the
“government should be pre-
pared to face a mass agitation
from November.”
Baruah said the 21-year-old
formal struggle of the people
under the auspices of the Man-
cha has not yet fatigued them.
“Our struggle will continue.
The day we see our lands have
been protected from the Brah-
maputra, our Mancha will be
disbanded.” Rohmaria com-
prises three panchayats with a
total population of about
30,000 persons. Most of the
local population are from the
native Mottok community.
Early solution to perennialRohmaria problem demanded
OBITUARY
GunindraNath BhuyanGUWAHATI, July 29:
Former di-
rector of
the State
Archaeolo-
gy Direc-
t o r a t e ,
Gunindra
Nath Bhuyan died at his He-
dayetpur PD Chaliha Byela-
ne residence here on July 27.
He was 79.
Initially, he was Director of
the undivided State Archaeol-
ogy Directorate, which had the
State Museum also placed un-
der it until 1984. In 1984, the
State Museum was separated
from Archaeology Directorate
and a separate directorate was
created for it. Bhuyan contin-
ued to head the State Archae-
ology Directorate till 1998,
when he superannuated.
He leaves behind a daugh-
ter, two sons and a host of
relatives. His wife prede-
ceased him.
ReenaBorkakoty
GUWAHATI, July 29:
R e e n a
Borkakoty, a
resident of
Jia Bhorolli
A p a r t -
m e n t s ,
Chandmari, Guwahati passed
away on July 24 night. She
was 60.
Born at Dergaon, she was
the daughter of late Suren-
dra Nath Khound and Pre-
malata Khound. She was the
wife of Chinu Borkakoty, re-
tired Assistant Security
Commissioner of RPF.
She leaves behind her hus-
band and three daughters.
Kangaroo, other exotic wildlife rescued
A caged kangaroo rescued by Cachar Forest Division onTuesday. – Photo: Forest Department
STAFF CORRESPONDENT
SILCHAR, July 29: In a
major catch, officials of the
Cachar Forest Division inter-
cepted a vehicle at Lailapur
Forest sub beat carrying con-
signment of exotic wildlife.
According to forest au-
thorities, “a truck bearing
no.TS 08 UB 1622 coming
from Mizoram was inter-
cepted at around 11:30 pm
on Tuesday and rescued one
kangaroo, six macaw parrots,
three tortoises and two mon-
keys.”
Two persons identified as
Narsimha Reddy and
Navnath Tukaram Daigude
have been detained, forest
officials said adding that in the
course of interrogation, they
revealed to the forest per-
sonnel that the consignment
was heading for Guwahati.
The catch came into light
when forest personnel were
on a routine check of trucks
passing through Lailapur to
detect carrying of any illegal
timber. However, one of the
forest personnel detected
obnoxious odours emanating
from a truck. On being ques-
tioned, the driver replied that
it was nothing but foul smell
from some rotten fruits. Not
convinced with the trucker's
reply, the Forest personnel
searched the vehicle and
found the exotic animals
packed in plastic and carton
boxes. The rescue team was
led by Forester-I, Beat For-
est Officer, Lailapur Forest
Sub Beat, Uttam Das, For-
est Guard, Hemojit Singha,
Boatman, Rajib Barman and
casual worker, Ali Ahmed
Laskar.
Meanwhile, Forest Range
Officer of Hawaithang Range,
Dholai, D Deori, AFS, is in-
vestigating into the matter
under the direction of DFO
Cachar Forest Division, Sun-
nydeo Choudhary, IFS, said a
release issued by the
DDIPRO Barak Valley zone.
Meanwhile asked wheth-
er this route is used as a save
haven for illegal trade of wild-
life, the Cachar DFO told
The Assam Tribune “all
these exotics are native to
different continents. We are
investigating the issue to un-
earth further deatails.” He
added to say that veterinary
doctors are being asked to
examine the health condition
of the animals.
The rescued animals
would be taken to Assam
State zoo at Guwahati for
which preparations are in
progress, the DFO said add-
ing that the two detained
persons would be produced
before the Court here.
THE ASSAM TRIBUNE, GUWAHATI 9THURSDAY, JULY 30, 2020
STATE
Notice Inviting e-Tender
No.SSA/Nazarat/Tender M&C/46/2019/2012 Date: 27.07.2020
Mission Director, SSA (Samagra Siksha), Kahilipara,Guwahati-19, Assam invites E-Tender from Service provider/agency for house keeping under SSA.
To participate in this tender process through e-procurementdocument, bidder should have valid Digital Signature Certificate(DSC) of Class-II (minimum) and have to register in the portalhttp://assamtenders.gov.in by themselves.
The Bidder who have downloaded the tender schedulescontaining the tender details, terms and conditions, from thewebsite shall submit their tender on-line on the websitehttp://assamtenders.gov.in with proof of payment of nonrefundable tender fee of Rs. 2,000/- (Rupees two thousand)only for each tender as demand draft/ Bankers Cheque drawnin favour of Mission Director, SSA, Kahilipara, Guwahati-19,Assam from any nationalized/ schedule Bank and payable atGuwahati. The tender should be submitted on-line as per dateand time of submission as per prescribed schedule.
Sd/- Mission Director,
SSA, Assam, Kahilipara,
Guwahati-19Janasanyog/CF/1240/20
NOTICEThe Contractor's Registration System (CRS) is developed
with an objective to create a repository of empanelled
Contractor with PHE Department. The system will also facilitate
adherence to protocols in identification and issuing of works
to eligible Contractors.
The Registered contractor of category– Class-I (C) and
Class–II under office of the Additional Chief Engineer (PHE),
Dima Hasao Zone, Haflong are hereby requested to attend
the office to know details and submit the following documents
urgently with 2 (two) days from date of issue of this notice.
1. PAN Card.
2. GST
3. Registration No.
4. Contact No.
5. Bank A/C No. with IFSC Code.
6. Address Proof Document.
7. Financial Turn Over.
(I) 2017-18
(II) 2018-19
(III) 2019-20
N.B. Documents for authentication in support should
be submitted. The page of passbook with Account No.,
IFSC No., Name etc. should also be submitted.
Sd/- Addl. Chief Engineer (PHE),
Janasanyog/D/2248/20 Dima Hasao Zone, Haflong.
No.CHCL (NL) PC/28/2017/Pt-1/61
SHORT NOTICE FOR INVITING RETENDER
Notice inviting for sealed quotation affix with a Non- refundable
Court fees stamp @ Rs. 8.25/- (Rupees Eight and Twenty Five
Paisa)only are inviting from reputed supplier/Govt. registered/
interested parties with GST registered firm whose annual turnover
is not less than Rs. 25 lakhs(Twenty Five Lakhs) only for supplying
of Dietary (Group A-C) and Non Dietary (Group D-G) items/articles
respectively to the Office of the Superintendent, Children Home,
Lakhimpur for the financial year 2020-21.The rate should be
clearly indicated in Rupees against the specified item/Unit. The
Tenderers have to submit both the bids- Technical and Financial
Bids in separate envelopes marking “A” as Technical Bid and “B”
as Financial Bid distinctly. The quotation accompanying with all
relevant documents as prescribed in the format to be submitted
on or before 10/08/2020 up to 2.00 p.m. and will be opened on
the same date at 2.30 p.m. in presence of the supplier/ firm or
their authorised representatives in the Office of the District Social
Welfare Officer, Lakhimpur.
The interested Tenderers should collect all the documents
required for submitting Tenders such as list of Dietary (Group A-
C) and Non Dietary (Group D-G) along with Terms and Conditions,
List of Tender Papers, Format for submission of documents from
the Office of the District Social Welfare Officer, Lakhimpur during
the office hours with effect from 27.07.2020 till the date
10.08.2020.
Sd/- DSWO cum Superintendent
Children Home, Chinatolia
Janasanyog/C/2531/20 Lakhimpur, North Lakhimpur
No. DPU/BLDG/01/2020/362
PRESS NOTICE INVITING REBID
The Superintending Engineer PWD (R&B), Diphu
Circle-1, Diphu, on behalf of Governor of Assam invites
Item Rate Rebid amounting to Rs. 80,89,761.00
(approx.) for the work "Construction of Stone Masonary
Retaining wall cum brick boundary at back side of
Circuit House, Diphu" for the year 2019-20 in the district
of Karbi Anglong. Details may be seen in the website
www.assamtenders.gov.in and also in the office of
the undersigned during office hours from 30.07.2020
to 13.08.2020.The contractors with registration for the
year 2019-20 may participate in the bidding process.
Sd/- Superintending Engineer, P.W.D. (R&B)
Janasanyog/CF/1244/20 Diphu Circle,-1, Diphu
No. GP.01/2020/
NOTIFICATIONIn pursuance to the letter No. DTGL/0589-167 dated
2020 received from the District Transport Officer,
Golaghat regarding extension of last date for submission
of Application Form for availing benefit under
“Mukhyamantrir Grammya Paribahan Achoni” for one
week w.e.f. 30.07.2020.
The applications, who could not submit their
Application Forms under “Mukhyamantrir Grammya
Paribahan Achoni” to the office to the District Transport
Officer in the last week of March, 2020 due to Lockdown
declared for containment of COVID-19 pandemic, may
submit their Application Forms within the aforesaid period
of time i.e. 30.07.2020 to 05.08.2020.
Sd/- Deputy Commissioner
GolaghatJanasanyog/D/2253/20
CORRESPONDENT
NORTH LAKHIMPUR, July 29:
Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal
today visited the flood and erosion-
hit areas of Lakhimpur and inspected
various embankments in the district.
The Chief Minister visited Hekera-
jan in Bogeenadi under Dhakuakhana
subdivision in Lakhimpur. He inspect-
ed the site of the affected portion of
Hekerajan eroded by Subansiri.
Sonowal also visited the areas affect-
ed by erosion by Charikodiya river
near Dhakuakhana College in Dhakua-
khana. He was accompanied by La-
khimpur MP Pradan Baruah, State
Water Resources minister Keshab
Mahanta and local MLA and State
Minister Naba Kumar Doley.
Earlier on Tuesday night, the Chief
Minister visited the flood and ero-
sion-hit areas of Na-Ali in North La-
khimur Revenue Circle. Sonowal in-
spected the erosion protection works
STAFF CORRESPONDENT
DIBRUGARH, July 29: In order to
ramp up coronavirus tests in the district,
the administration here has set up alto-
gether 27 screening and counselling cen-
tres in different parts of the district. An-
yone with signs of COVID-19 infection
or any symptoms of fever, cough, breath-
ing difficulty, pneumonia, nausea, and di-
arrhoea can contact respective ASHA
workers in their area or call 6026654700
for registration to get tested. The sched-
uled time for screening and counselling
has been fixed to 9:30 am to 12:30 pm.
The administration started Covid
screening in at least ten centres today –
Public High School, Dibruugarh (for ar-
eas – Seujpur, Padum Nagar-I, Ther-
mal, Boiragimoth, Padum Nagar-II),
Government Girls’ HS School (Bans-
bari, Chiring Chapori, BC Das Path,
Baruah Pathar, Fancy Gali, Kalibari 1,
Kalibari 2, Amoraguri), Sister Nibedita
High School (Shantipara, Subhaspolly,
DU conductsonline exam
STAFF CORRESPONDENT
DIBRUGARH, July 29: The
Dibrugarh University is the
first among all other State uni-
versities within Assam to ini-
tiate and conduct full-fledged
online exam for the final se-
mester candidates amid the
prevailing pandemic crisis.
The Dibrugarh Universi-
ty conducted the Bachelor of
Engineering (BE) final se-
mester examination, 2020 for
the students of Jorhat Engi-
neering College, Jorhat from
July 20 to 27, 2020 through
online mode using Google
classroom and Zoom applica-
tion side by side in order to
ensure continuous monitor-
ing of the candidates.
Controller of Examinations,
Dibrugarh University Dr PK
Kakoty said that the online
examination was conducted
after getting consent from all
the final semester candidates
of Jorhat Engineering Col-
lege. Altogether 302 candi-
dates appeared in the said
online examination from their
respective places located with-
in various parts of North East
India. Efforts are also being
made by Dibrugarh Univer-
sity to conduct such online ex-
aminations for other pro-
grammes in the near future,
informed Dr Kakoty.
Covid positiveprisoner escapesfrom hospital in
KokrajharCORRESPONDENT
KOKRAJHAR, July 29: A
COVID-19 positive prisoner
in Kokrajhar jail, who has
been charged with rape, es-
caped from the RNB Civil
Hospital, Kokrajhar last
night, Kokrajhar SP Rakesh
Roashan said.
Sources said that the escap-
ee has been identified as Su-
kla Murmu, an accused of a
rape case under Dhaligaon PS
of Chirang district. The ac-
cused was admitted to the
hospital after he tested posi-
tive a few days back. He es-
caped by breaking a window
of the ward of the hospital in
the wee hours, sources add-
ed. Kokrajhar and Chirang
police are trying to trace out
the prisoner.
Meanwhile, two persons
were arrested today in the
wee hours for allegedly
smuggling over 589 kgs of
ganja in a truck at Srirampur
near Assam-Bengal inter-
State border in Kokrajhar.
Police have identified the
arrested persons as Harjit
Singh and Hardeep Singh.
14 test positivein Nalbari
CORRESPONDENT
NALBARI, July 29 : A to-
tal of 14 persons have tested
positive for the COVID-19 in
Nalbari district on Wednes-
day. The total positive cases
in the district have gone up
to 520 till now.
The nodal officer of Nalbari
Swahid Mukunda Kakati Civ-
il Hospital, Dr Ranjan Bhat-
tacharya, said that the hospi-
tal on Wednesday released
eight patients after they were
tested negative. The hospi-
tal has 54 active Covid pa-
tients.
145 freshCovid cases inTinsukia distCORRESPONDENT
DOOMDOOMA, July 29:
A total of 145 fresh COVID-
19 cases have been detected
in Tinsukia district during last
24 hours. Most of these cas-
es were detected within the
community. With these, the
total number of positive cas-
es has jumped to 1,188 in
Tinsukia district, informed
DIPRO, Tinsukia.
90 new positivecases in Jorhat distSTAFF CORRESPONDENT
JORHAT, July 29: Ninety
people were found COVID-
19 positive in Jorhat district
on Wednesday thereby rais-
ing the total number of posi-
tive cases to 1735.
Jorhat Deputy Commis-
sioner Roshni A Korati in-
formed on Wednesday
evening that all positive cas-
es found today are without
travel history and 41 are from
Jorhat town.
The Deputy Commission-
er informed that the number
of active cases in the district
on Wednesday was 910.
OBITUARY
Dr SyedAbdul Wahid
HussainSTAFF CORRESPONDENT
JORHAT, July 29: Dr Syed
Abdul Wahid
Hussain, a re-
tired Chief
Medical Officer
of Oil India
Limited, Dulia-
jan, who was a
resident of Rajamaidam New
Colony, here, breathed his
last at JMCH on Tuesday
night. He was 85.
According to family sourc-
es, Hussain who was admit-
ted to JMCH on Tuesday
morning after he suffered
from an ailment and tested
positive for COVID-19. How-
ever, the district administra-
tion till the filing of this re-
port, has not yet declared
Hussain’s death as COVID-19
death. Hussain leaves behind
his wife, a son, daughter-in-
law and a host of relatives.
His last rites were per-
formed at Jorhat Kabarstan
on Wednesday afternoon.
Dhubri district battlingwith flood for over a month
CORRESPONDENT
DHUBRI, July 29: It has been over a month now since
people in hundreds of villages under Dhubri district are
reeling under flood waters.
According to people living in the flood-hit areas, particu-
larly in the villages under South Salmara circle, their crop
land were submerged in mid-June this year, after which it
has affected their families completely with no respite in sight.
According to the flood report, even on Wednesday a pop-
ulation of 2,21,597 living in 196 villages of Dhubri district
were still affected by flood. The flood report also stated that
total 7797.5 hectares of crop land still remain submerged,
while 3,577 inmates are still living in 29 different relief
camps of the district and thousands are living in the make-
shift tents bedsides the highways and on highlands.
CORRESPONDENT
DOOMDOOMA, July 29:
In utter frustration about their
future, the affected people of
the Baghjan Gas Well blow-
out disaster sat on a ‘hunger
strike’ for an indefinite peri-
od of time under the aegis of
Baghjan Gaon Milanjyoti Yuva
Sangha since Wednesday
morning on the premises of
Baghjan-Dighaltarrang ME
School where these people
have been taking shelter for
the last 64 days.
The president of Baghjan
Gaon Milanjyoti Yuva Sang-
CORRESPONDENT
DIPHU, July 29: Vast areas of Diphu
town and its adjacent areas have been
submerged by flood water since midnight
due to incessant rainfall. The flash flood
inundated many low-lying areas on either
banks of Diphu river, Dharam Nala, Luru-
langso Nala, etc.
The market area of the town has also
been submerged by flood water of Diphu
river. Around 60,000 people have been
affected by the flash flood.
957 positivecases in Dhubri
districtCORRESPONDENT
DHUBRI, July 29: After
finding 69 new COVID-19
cases in Dhubri district dur-
ing the last 24 hours, the to-
tal number of such patients
in Dhubri district as on
Wednesday jumped to 957.
On Tuesday, the tally was
at 888, while on Monday the
tally was at 866. However, ac-
cording to the COVID-19
checklist till the filling of this
report, 651 persons have re-
covered and released and
most of them have been home
quarantined, leaving 306 ac-
tive cases.
A farmer spraying pesticide in a paddy field, at Mushalpur on Wednesday. – UB Photos
2 thieves heldSTAFF CORRESPONDENT
DIBRUGARH, July 29:
Two thieves were caught
red-handed this morning at
Boiragimoth area here.
The two thieves have been
identified as Hassan Ali of Paan-
chali and Pranab Kalita of Shan-
tipara. They were caught from
inside one shop. The two could
not escape as local residents
who woke up to an unusual
crackling noise around 3:45 am
had surrounded the shop. The
thieves had pierced rods at one
corner of the shop to detach
the shutter when the noise
was heard. They were caught
with the help of the police.
Pertinent to mention that
reports of theft is being report-
ed from the city almost every
day since the past few days,
especially during the pandem-
ic-induced night curfew hours.
27 COVID-19 screeningcentres set up in Dibrugarh
Bansbari, PN Road, Ashok Path, KP
Road, ISKCON Road), Graham Bazar
Government Girls’ High School (Gra-
ham Bazar, Red Cross road, Police Re-
serve, Jhalukpara, Berrywhite Colony,
HS Road), Gangapara LP School (Gan-
gapara, Indian Airlines, Dharmapara,
Jyoti Nagar), Moran Model LP School
(Khowang/Moran), Lepetkatta Bonua
LP School (Lepetkatta), St Lukes Hos-
pital, Chabua (Chabua), Duliajan IT Col-
lege (Duliajan) and Naharkatia Mangal-
boria Bazar hall (Naharkatia). Tomorrow,
screening has been scheduled at Railway
High School (for areas – Shankardev Rly
Colony, South Jalan Nagar, VG Hospital,
Boiragimoth, Kalibari, Running gate, No. 6
Amolapatty Junior School (Amolapatty, Rose
Gali), Shree Vishwanath Marwari Databya
Aushadhalaya (H S Road, Master Para), Gra-
ham Bazar Government Girls’ High School
(Graham Bazar, Dhobipatty, Tinkunia),
Shree Durgabari Hindi ME School (Paltan
Bazar, Dibrujan, Gaharline), Barbaruah
Girls’ High School ( Barbaruah) and Naha-
rkatia Daily Market hall (Naharkatia).
On July 31, screenings will be done at
East Chowkidinghee LP School (for ar-
eas – Pathan Patty, Smashan Para, Gan-
dhi Nagar, Lachit Nagar), Graham Ba-
zar High School (Red Cross Road, Dush-
ad Patty, Naliapool), ASTC Bus Stand
(Chowkidinghee, Chiring Chapori, Chir-
ing Gaon Railway Colony), Dighali Ba-
zar LP School (Paanch Ali, Lohar Patty
1, Lohar Patty (Diamond Club), Nali-
apool Bengali High School (Shankardev
Namghar Naliapool, Jyoti Nagar, Dur-
gabari, Masterpara-Naliapool, Fazal Ali
Path, Naliapool Railway Colony, Buddha
Mandir and Joypur Auditorium Joypur).
On August 1, screenings will be done
in South Jalan Milan LP School (for areas
– Milan Nagar, ASTC Bus Stand (Zigzag
Road, Ruplal Dutta Path, Chowkidinghee,
Amtoli, Rudali Path), Bengali Boys’ High
School (Khalihamari, Kartik Para, Old
Namghar and MLA Office, Rajgarh).
Till the filing of this report, 150 new pos-
itive cases were detected in the district.
Affected people of Baghjan disastersit for indefinite hunger strike
ha, Satyajit Moran, told this
correspondent, “The Oil In-
dia Limited (OIL) has yet to
get success in dousing the fire
and capping the BGR-5 of
Baghjan Oilfield even after 64
days. No one can realise how
we have passed these two
months and four days in utter
misery. Except the shower of
promises, we have not got
anything either from the OIL
or from the government.”
“Chief Minister Sarbanan-
da Sonowal came to Baghjan
and showered a lot of prom-
ise. He assured us that the
proper enquiry into the blow-
out incident will be carried
out and those who are found
guilty will be punished. The
affected people will get ade-
quate compensation. A high-
er secondary school, a tech-
nical education institute, a
model hospital, a veterinary
hospital and many more
promise were made by the
Chief Minister. He also
promised us that all these
developmental projects
would be started immediate-
ly. But, even after two
months, we have not seen any
sign of implementing those
promises,” Hazarika added.
“We are now frustrated.
We can’t bear atrocities any
more. So, we are bound to
go for fast- unto-death,” said
the youth leader.
The protesters demanded
the OIL to douse the fire and
cap the blowout well imme-
diately, to provide adequate
compensation to all the vic-
tims of the disaster and to
fulfil all the demands enlist-
ed in the charter of demands
given to the OIL as well as to
the State government. They
also protested against the
draft Environmental Impact
Assessment, 2020.
Flash flood creates havoc in Diphu townOverflowing Diphu river and other
streams have created havoc in Diphu town
and surrounding areas. The newly-con-
structed state-of-the-art Karbi Anglong
Sports’ Association’s stadium is experi-
encing water-logging. The District Indus-
trial Complex, Diphu Medical College and
Hospital, Town and Country Planning of-
fice, Dharamnala, Beltola, Sarthe Colony,
Rongcheklam, Horilal Basti, Sitolabari,
Shiv Bari areas are the worst-affected.
Hundreds of vehicles have been dam-
aged by the flash flood. Stored food items,
cement and other perishable goods have
been damaged by the flash flood.
People of Diphu town have condemned
Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council au-
thority for improper town planning and
drainage system in the town. It may be
mentioned here that several construction
works have been done by making encroach-
ments in the rivers and streams of Diphu
town, which has affected the natural drain-
age system of the town. Maximum stream
and river beds have swollen up due to dump-
ing of garbage, locals alleged.
Sonowal visits flood, erosion-hit areas of Lakhimpurcarried out by State Water Resourc-
es department at Balighat near Na-
Ali on the downstream of Subansiri.
The Chief Minister arrived in
Dhalpur under Narayanpur Revenue
Circle from Gohpur on Tuesday after-
noon and went to erosion-hit Jamugu-
ri area of the district. He visited the
worst-affected No. 3 check bund off
the Brahmaputra in Bonpuroi area of
Jamuguri.
Speaking to mediapersons, Sonow-
al announced that riverbank erosion
has been categorized as a natural ca-
lamity in the 15th Finance Commis-
sion and works would begin as soon
as funds meant for it is received. “Ero-
sion was not considered as a natural
disaster till the 14th Finance Com-
mission and now it has been catego-
rized as so from 15th Finance Com-
mission which will contribute in
checking the problem,” said Sonow-
al. He also thanked Prime Minister
Narendra Modi for creating North
East Water Management Authority
with Deputy Chairman of NITI Ayog
as its president and members from
all NE States to prepare a project
report on flood and erosion problem
of the region.
Later the Chief Minister arrived at
North Lakhimpur and held discussions
with officials of the district administra-
tion on the flood and erosion situation.
Ex-Chief Minister Prafulla Kr Ma-
hanta also visited the flood and ero-
sion-hit areas of Na-Ali in North La-
khimpur on Tuesday.Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal visiting erosion-hit areas of Hekerajanin Lakhimpur, on Wednesday. – Photo: Farhana Ahmed
07:45 Pratham Xongbad
14:00 Biyolir Headline
16:00 Abelir Khabar
16:30 Superfast Prime Time100
17:00 City18
18:00 Prime Time18
19:00 Dintur Shironam
20:00 Porjyobekhyon
21:30 Aparadh Nama
22:00 North East Scan
22:30 Noixo Xironam
08:30 Devotional Music
08:45 Swachh Bharat Batori
08.50 Batori
15:00 Vigyan Prasar
15:30 Classical Music
16:00 Abelir Batori
16:05 Akholor Juti
16:30 Chiphung
17:00 Nimishote Batori
17:02 DD Kisan TV Serial in Hindi
17:30 Krishi Darshan
18:00 Dharabahik
18:30 Batori
18:45 NE News
12:00 Bandbudh Aur Budbak
13:30 Oggy And The Cock...
15:30 Oggy Special
17:00 Oggy And The Cock...
18:30 Bandbuh Aur Budbak
20:30 Oggy And The Cock...
11:30 Mission Mangalan
12:30 Chhota Bheem
16:00 Grizzy And The
Lemmings
17:30 Grizzy And The...
18:00 Chhota Bheem
21:00 Grizzy And The
Lemmings
22:00 Mr. Bean: The Anim...
23:00 M.A.D.
23:30 Grizzy And The Lem...
LOCKHORNS
THE PHANTOM ® By Lee Falk
HAGAR THE HORRIBLE
BLONDIE
Know your DAYBy JACQUELINE BIGAR
HAPPY BIRTHDAY for Thursday, July 30, 2020:
Highly physical and decisive, you are taken up with the here and now, and
the end of the quarantine can’t come soon enough. This year you are involved
in two projects: one that succeeds beyond your wildest dreams, and one that
doesn’t. If single, the subject of love may be too painful to pursue until the
spring. If attached, your partner is very attractive, and this keeps you en-
thralled. SCORPIO is sexy.
The Stars Show the Kind of Day You’ll Have: 5-Dynamic; 4-Positive; 3-
Average; 2-So-so; 1-Difficult.
ARIES (March 21-April 19)HHH Today encourages travel and exchanging information. Listen care-
fully. Worthwhile information comes your way during casual conversa-
tions. Foreign languages and imported items intrigue you. Glimpses of their histori-
cal traditions offer spiritual solace. Tonight: Catch up and laugh with an old friend.
(April 20-May 20)H Companions are charming, yet there is an element of illusion under-
foot. Consider second opinions and look beneath the surface. All may
not be as it first appears. Others share confidences. It is wise to remain
discreet. Tonight: Watch some mindless television and stop thinking.
(May 21-June 20)HH Associates are unpredictable. They might express ideas that
differ from yours. Goals and desires fluctuate. Partnerships are evolv-
ing; your nearest and dearest can surprise you. Approach love as an adven-
ture, and all will be well. Tonight: Intimate dinner for two.
(June 21-July 22)HHHH Today is a good time to select health goals and consider new
regimens. Lifestyle choices made will determine your health for the long-
term future. Find health care professionals who are willing to offer guidance and
suggestions. Tonight: Staying informed about wellness topics is important.
(July 23-Aug. 22)HHHHH Today generates a very sociable mood. Others will be at-
tracted to you. Cultivate new friendships and follow through with artis-
tic or musical ventures. Allow intimate relationships to evolve and grow. Expect
some sparkle and surprises. Tonight: Ushering in whispers of true love.
(Aug. 23-Sept. 22)HHHH Making your residence more comfortable and beautiful is a
priority. This might involve purchasing new items. Responsibilities linked
to household members’ obligations are accented. By tonight the general mood
lightens and you feel less pressured. Tonight: Dance to an unseen tune.
(Sept. 23-Oct. 22)HHH Concentrate. Plans are in flux. It is important to communicate
and verify plans with others. Allow extra time if traveling. Items that
seem to disappear can return mysteriously. Humor, absurdity and misrule are
the perfect themes of today. Tonight: Laugh about it all.
(Oct. 23-Nov. 21)HH Today accents awareness of how the world situation impacts you
personally. It is important to simply enjoy what you have while control-
ling any stress related to material desires. Avoid any risks regarding financial
issues. Tonight: Get in touch with a long-lost family member.
(Nov. 22-Dec. 21)HHHHH Sincere, extroverted and gifted with uncanny insight, you
are forward-thinking. Today heightens your charm and charisma. Oth-
ers notice and admire you. Expect to be the center of attention. There might
even be some public recognition. Tonight: Whirl around in disbelief.
(Dec. 22-Jan. 19)HHHH Support comes to you from behind the scenes. Time spent in
deep reverie and meditation brings perspective and generates confi-
dence. Dreams and quiet contemplation offer valuable insights. Old doors are
closing, and new doors are opening. Tonight: Forgive, forget and release.
(Jan. 20-Feb. 18)HHHH Today’s mood is altruistic. Friendships are a blessing. Involve-
ment in community life or organizations brings rewards. You begin to
rethink commitments and alliances. Clear out the old to make way for the new.
Tonight: Do some journaling about the old.
(Feb. 19-March 20)HHHHH You will feel compelled to achieve more and move forward. A
promotion, new career opportunity or other professional recognition is
likely. This positive momentum carries on all day. Progress you’re able to make
in attaining professional goals promises improved finances. Tonight: Celebrate.
H H H
One of the extraordinary things about human events is that theunthinkable becomes thinkable.
– SALMAN RUSHDIE
___ dating is fine, if you’re a ___. – Rita
Mae Brown (8,..,8) (same word twice)
Words: Prize, oaten, talcum, pimple. dating is fine, if you’re
a . – Rita Mae Brown
Given below are four jumbled words. Solvethe jumbles to make proper words and movethem to the respective squares below. Selectthe letters in the shaded squares and jumblethem to get the answer for the given quip.
JUMBLED WORDSHEALTH CAPSULES®
by Bron Smith
Health Capsules is not intendedto be of a diagnostic nature.
CROSSWORD - 6959
Across: 4 Enlace, 7 Airstrip, 8 Snoops, 10 Kempt, 13 Poem, 14
Uvea, 15 Puma, 16 Yup, 17 Cruz, 19 Root, 21 Beelzebub, 23 Todd,
24 Lays, 26 Daw, 27 Aver, 29 Tabu, 32 Aces, 33 Usher, 34 Minute,
35 Roughage, 36 Sitars.
Down: 1 Haiku, 2 Prime, 3 Stet, 4 Epsom, 5 Loom, 6 Cop out, 9
Nearby, 11 Eva, 12 Paced, 13 Puzzles, 15 Pul, 16 Yob, 18 Redact,
20 Ousts, 21 Bow, 22 Ear, 23 Tahini, 25 Abe, 28 Veers, 30 Ahead,
31 Urged, 32 Aura, 33 Urge.
SOLUTION
12:00 Untamed Summer
13:00 Untamed Summer
15:00 Africa's Deadly Kingdom
16:00 World Snake Day
17:00 World Snake Day
19:00 Real Wild Battles
20:00 Animal Fight Club
21:00 Africa's Deadliest
22:00 When Predators Attack
23:00 Dangerous Encounters
12:00 Forged In Fire
12:30 Ancient Aliens
13:25 Pawn Stars
13:45 Storage Wars
14:30 Food Tech
15:05 OMG! Yeh Mera India
15:55 Forged In Fire
16:45 Counting Cars
17:10 Storage Wars
17:35 Shipping Wars
18:00 Monster Motor...
19:00 Moon Landing: The...
20:00 OMG! Yeh Mera India
20:30 OMG! Yeh Mera India
21:00 Forged In Fire
21:50 Pawn Stars
22:15 Storage Wars
22:40 Shipping Wars
23:05 Forged In Fire
07:00 Breakfast Live08:00 Live at 809:00 Good morning Assam10:00 Assamese news11:30 Kotha Barta (R)12:00 Mid Day Live13:00 Assamese Telefilm14:30 Afternoon Prime17:30 Guwahati Bisesh18:00 Guwahati Live18:30 Breaking @ 6:3019:00 Assamesse Prime Time20:00 Discussion Show21:00 Super Prime Time22:00 Live at 1022:30 Noixo Guwahati
23:00 Noixo Batori
1700 Xopun1730 Barala Kai1830 Xopunor Aasutia Rang2000 Jonaki Kareng2030 Xopun2100 Oi Khapla2130 Bah Amarawati Bah2200 Borola Kai
11:00 India vs The World
18:30 IPL HLs
19:00 ICC World T20 HLs
20:00 IPL HLs
21:00 ICC World T20 HLs
22:00 IPL HLs
23:00 Football United Special
23:00 Hero ISL HLs
11:00 India vs The World
18:30 IPL HLs
19:00 ICC World T20 HLs
20:00 IPL HLs
21:00 ICC World T20 HLs
22:00 IPL HLs
23:00 Football United Special
23:30 Vivo PKL HLs
12:00 Eng vs WI Test HLs
13:00 Champions League
14:00 Sports Stars Uncovered
14:30 Eng vs WI Test HLs
15:30 Great Centuries
16:00 Eng vs Pak ODI
17:00 Eng vs WI Test HLs
18:00 Best of Tests
18:30 England vs Ireland ODI Live
11:00 WWE BlockBusters
12:00 Dream Teams
12:30 WWE Nxt
14:30 WWE BlockBusters
15::30 Australian Open Classic
16:00 WWE Nxt
18:00 WWE Main Event
19:00 Champions League
20:00 WWE Nxt
22:00 WWE BlockBusters
23:15 Filler
23:30 NBA Classics
11:10 Rowdy Rajkumar 2
14:00 Indra – The Tiger
16:55 Khoon Ka Rishta
19:15 Phool Bane Angaarey
22:55 Tiger One Man Army
10:30 The Devil Inside
11:45 The Peacemaker
13;45 Drop Zone
15:30 Paycheck
17:25 Footloose
19:15 London Fields
21:00 Executive Decision
23:10 Beneath
12:00 The Forbidden Kingdom
13:45 Avengers: Infinity War
16:00 X-Men: First Class
18:15 Captain America: Civil
War
21:00 Escape Plan
23:00 Air Force One
10:30 Carriers
12:00 Transformers: Age of
Extinction
14:50 Crawl
16:15 Jack the Giant Slayer
18:15 Blood Diamond
21:00 Captain America: The
First Avenger
23:15 Terminator Genisys
ZEE CINEMA
14:20 Karan Arjun
HBO
23:15 Terminator Genisys
STAR MOVIES
23:00 Air Force One
WB
23:10 Beneath
12:00 Bade Ghar Ki Beti
14:30 Arjun Pandit
17:15 Bhoot Unkle
19:55 Border
23:40 Bahurani
12:00 Dhadkan
15:00 Ghatak
18:00 Pardesi Babu
21:00 Zamaana Deewana
11:20 Himmatwar14:20 Karan Arjun18:00 No. 1 Businessman20:30 Holiday: A Soldier is
Never Off Duty
11:00 Aladdin - Naam To...
12:00 Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah...
16:00 Maddam Sir
16:30 Baalveer Returns
17:00 Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah...
19:00 Tera Kya Hoga Alia
19:30 Tenali Rama
20:00 Baalveer Returns
20:30 Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah...
21:00 Aladdin - Naam Toh...
21:30 Bhakharwadi
22:00 Maddam Sir
22:30 Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah...
23:00 Taarak Mehta Ka O...
23:30 Best of F.I.R.
11:30 Anupamaa
12:00 Ye Rishtey Hai Pyar...
12:30 Yeh Rishta Kya...
15:00 Saath Nibhaana Saathiya
18:00 Anupamaa
18:30 Yeh Rishta Kya...
19:00 Sai Baba
19:30 Uttar Ramayan
20:00 Kasautii Zindagii Kay
20:30 Mahabharat
21:00 Ye Rishtey Hain Pyar...
21:30 Yeh Rishta Kya...
22:00 Anupamaa
22:30 Yeh Hai Chahatein
23:00 Kasautii Zindagii Kay
23:30 Yeh Rishtey Hai Pyar...
11:30 Ishq Mein Marjawan 212:10 Khatra Khatra Khatra15:10 Khatron Ke Khiladi Pain...17:00 Balika Vadhu19:00 Ishq Mein Marjawa...19:30 Choti Sarrdaarni20:00 Shakti Astitva Ke...
20:30 Barrister Babu21:00 Shubharamabh21:30 Naati Pinky Ki Lambi...22:05 Pavitra Bhagya22:32 Ishq Mein Marjawan23:10 Choti Sarrdaarni23:45 Barrister Babu
11:00 Jungle Bunch
12:00 Khatra Khatra Khatra
14:00 Kichen Champion
16:00 Naagin 3
SOLUTION TO TRIBUNE CROSSWORD – 6959
13:20 Luka Chuppi
16:10 Hum
19:55 Mawali Raaj
22:45 Jigar Kaleja
11:25 Ant-Man and the Wasp
14:00 Avengers: Infinity War
17:15 Axe Giant: The Wrath of
Paul Bunyan
19:10 Monkey Up
21:00 Resident Evil: Afterlife
23:10 Night at the Museum: Battle
of the S,otjspmoam
Across4 Intertwine (6)7 Runway (8)8 Spies (6)10 Tidily kept (5)13 A poet’s
creation ? (4)14 Eye part (4)15 The cougar (4)16 Yes, informally
(3)17 Mumbai area
Santa ____ (4)19 Cheer (4)21 Satan (9)23 Woodbridge or
Martin of tennis(4)
24 Brings forthand depositsan egg or eggs(4)
26 Crow-like bird (3)27 Declare or
assert (4)
29 Forbidden (4)32 Hotshots (4)33 Theatre
attendant (5)34 Memorandum (6)35 Dietary fibre (8)36 Ravi Shankar’s
instruments (6)Down1 Japanese poem
(5)2 Of first quality
(5)3 “Let it stand”,
instruction forthe printer ? (4)
4 Race-course (5)5 Weaving-frame
(4)6 Withdraw, give up
or escape ? (3,3)9 Close at hand (6)11 Adolf’s bride (3)12 Strode to and fro
(5)
LEISURE & LIFESTYLE10 THE ASSAM TRIBUNE, GUWAHATI THURSDAY, JULY 30, 2020
12:00 Monster Croc Wrangler
12:30 Snakes In The City
13:30 Monster Fish
14:30 Primal Survivor
15:30 Dirty Rotten Survival
16:30 Brain Games
17:00 Science Of Stupid
18:00 Weird But True
18:30 Weird But True
19:00 Snakes In The City
20:00 Monster Fish
21:00 Primal Survivor
22:00 Dirty Rotten Survial
23:00 To Catch A Smuggler
12:02 Life’s Journey
13:00 Mysterious Wild
13:45 Animal Unleashed
14:05 Wild Frank
14:45 Animal Planet Exclusives
15:02 Killer Instincts
15:55 Mahayudh16:50 Spy In The Wild17:45 Animals Unleashed17:30 Animals Unleashed18:05 Weird, True & Freaky19:00 Animal Planet Exclusives19:55 Fierce 520:45 Animals Unleashed21:05 Jeremy Wade's...22:00 Coyote Peterson: Brav22:25 Brave Wilderness22:55 Mysterious Wild23:35 Animal Planet Exclusives
13 Conundrums,enigmas orriddles (7)
15 Something tospend in Kabul? (3)
16 Teenage lout(3)
18 Edit (6)20 Expels or
evicts (5)21 Obeisance or
curtsy (3)22 The organ you
use to hearwith (3)
23 Food paste (6)25 Little Abraham
(3)28 Turns away (5)30 In front (5)31 Pressed (5)32 Distinctive air
(4)33 To drive on (4)
18:00 Internet Wala Love
19:00 Swaragini
20:00 Naagin 3
11:00 Kundali Bhagya11:30 Tujhse Hai Raabta12:00 Guddan Tumse Na...12:30 Kumkum Bhagya13:00 Kundali Bhagya13:30 Guddan Tumse Na...14:00 Tujhse Hai Raabta14:30 Kumkum Bhagya15:00 Pavitra Rishta17:00 Ramaiya Vastavaiya20:00 Guddan Tumse Na Ho...20:30 Tujhse Hai Raabta21:00 Kumkum Bhagya21:30 Kundali Bhagya22:00 Qurbaan Hua22:30 Manmohini23:00 Happu Ki Ulta Paltan23:30 Kundali Bhagya
11:30 Bade Acche Lagte...
12:00 Best Of Crime Patrol
19:00 Mere Sai - Shraddha...
20:00 Vighnaharta Ganesh
20:30 Indian Idol
22:00 Mere Dad Ki Dulhan...
22:30 Mil Jate Hai Jo Ba...
23:00 Crime Patrol
Iron deficiency reducesvaccine efficacy
Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the re
searchers have found that iron deficiency
during infancy may reduce the protec-
tion that vaccinations provide.
Findings from two clinical studies with chil-
dren in Kenya, published in the journal Fron-
tiers in Immunology, revealed that iron defi-
ciency is linked to vaccine efficacy.
In their first study, the research group led by
Michael Zimmermann from ETH Zurich Uni-
versity in Switzerland worked in collaboration
with scientists from Kenya, the UK, the Neth-
erlands and the US.
Their aim was to determine the levels of body
iron and antibodies against antigens from the
administered vaccines in blood samples of 303
Kenyan children followed from birth to age 18
months.
“In Kenya and other sub-Saharan countries,
iron reserves in babies are much lower, espe-
cially in those born to anaemic mothers or with
low birth weight,” Zimmermann said.
The study showed that more than half the
children were already suffering from anaemia
at the age of 10 weeks, and by 24 weeks, more
than 90 per cent had low haemoglobin and red
blood cell counts.
Using statistical analyses, the team was able
to show the following: despite several vaccina-
tions, the risk of finding a lack of protective an-
tibodies against diphtheria, pneumococci and
other pathogens in the blood of 18-month-old
was more than twice as high in anaemic infants
compared to those who were not anaemic.
In a second study, the research team adminis-
tered a powder containing micronutrients to 127
infants slightly over six months old on a daily
basis for four months.
In 85 of these children, the powder also con-
tained iron; the other 42 children received no
iron supplement. When the children were vac-
cinated against measles at the age of nine months,
those children who also received iron as a die-
tary supplement developed a stronger immune
response.
Not only did they have more measles anti-
bodies in their blood at the age of 12 months,
but their antibodies were also better at recog-
nising the pathogens, the researchers said.
The World Health Organization (WHO) rec-
ommends feeding infants exclusively with
breastmilk for the first six months to avoid in-
fection with diseases transmitted in contami-
nated water.
For that reason, the research team did not
give the children the dietary supplement pow-
der until they were seven months old.
(Source: IANS)
12:00 UFC Unleashed
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THURSDAY, JULY 30, 2020 THE ASSAM TRIBUNE, GUWAHATI 11BUSINESS & ECONOMY
Government of India
Ministry of Health & Family Welfare
(North East Division)
Nirman Bhavan, New Delhi
Recruitment to the post of Director, North Eastern Indira
Gandhi Regional Institute of Health & Medical Sciences
(NEIGRIHMS), Shillong.
Applications are invited for the post of Director, North
Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health & Medical
Sciences, Shillong (NEIGRIHMS) an autonomous organization
under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, in the Pay
Level 17 Rs. 2,25,000/- (Fixed) (including NPA) subject to
maximum of Rs. 2,37,500/-.
The post is required to be filled by the method of deputation
(including short-term contract) absorption/direct recruitment.
The deputation (including short-term contract) absorption shall
be made from Officers of Central/State Governments/
Autonomous Organisations/Research Institutions/
Universities.
The details of vacancy may be seen on
www.mohfw.gov.in and www.neigrihms.gov.in
Last date for submitting of applications is 30 days of date of
publishing the vacancy in The Employment News.
Under Secretary to the Govt. of India
davp 17102/11/0008/2021
No. DME/PG/54/2020/10356
ADMISSION NOTICEAdmission into the Post Graduate Courses in the Medical Colleges of Assam
and Dr. B. B. C. I. Guwahati for the session 2020.This is for information of all concerned that in pursuance of interim order dated 15.07.2020,
passed by the Hon’ble Gauhati High Court Guwahati in WP(C) No. 2853/2020, the undersignedhad kept withheld the result of Post Graduate Admission in the Medical Colleges of Assam underE.W.S. quota who were selected at the time of 2nd round counseling for the session 2020 videNotice No. DME/PG/54/2020/10035, dated 16.07.2020.
Now in pursuance of order dated 29.07.2020 passed by the Hon’ble Gauhati High Court,Guwahati in W.P.(C) No. 2853/2020 the undersigned has withdrawn the withheld of the result inrespect of seats of 10% E.W.S. reservation for admission in to Post Graduate Courses in theMedical Colleges of Assam for the session 2020.
Accordingly the result of the said withheld list is published in this directorate websitewww.dme.assam.gov.in. The candidates whose name have appeared in the said list are herebydirected to report physically alongwith all original documents to the respective Colleges for admissionon 30.07.2020.Janasanyog/D/2256/20 Sd/- Director of Medical Education, Assam.
No. DME/ PG/ 54/2020/10363,
EDUCATION NOTICE
Extended Mop-up round Counseling for
Selection into the Post Graduate Courses in
the Medical Colleges of Assam and B.B.C.I.,
Guwahati for the Session 2020.
It is for general information to all the candidates that an
Extended Mop-up round of counseling for admission into the
Post Graduate courses in the Medical Colleges of Assam and
B.B.C.I., Guwahati for the session 2020 against remaining
vacant seats will be held on 31st July/2020, 10AM onwards
through Online based Platform (Zoom). Candidates whose
names have appeared in the State of Assam revised merit list
of NEET-P.G.-2020 and who are qualified in the said merit list
and who have fulfilled all the eligibility criteria for admission into
P.G. courses as per Assam State P.G. Admission rules are
hereby requested to appear for the Mop-up round counseling.
Candidates who have already been admitted as per 1st,
2nd and Mop-up round counseling may also appear in the
Extended Mop-up round counseling for change of Course and
College against available vacant seats as per merit position,
The counseling will be held in the following order, subject to
availability of categorywise vacancies:-
1. State Health Services Quota 5. ST(H)
2. OBC / MOBC 6. EWS
3 SC 7. Unreserved category
4. ST(P)
The reserved category seats shall be filled up first and any
seats remaining vacant thereof shall be opened for Unreserved
category. Further, all remaining candidates should stay in the
counseling till the end of process of counseling so that any
seat that become vacant on the same day may be filled up
according to their merit position.
IMPORTANT :
A) Participants will join with their <Category><Revised State
Merit Rank> for example ‘GENERAL’ with Assam State
Revised Merit Rank 1, will join as <GENERAL-1>
B) The Latest vacancy status and the online counseling link
will be uploaded in the official website of this Directorate
www.dme.assam.gov.in on 30th July, 2020 evening.
C) For any further information candidates are requested to
regularly visit this Directorate official website
www.dmeassam.gov.in.
D) Candidates selected in the Extended Mop-up counseling
will be considered as provisionally admitted in the course
subject to verification of the original documents at the time
of reporting to the respective institutes.
Sd/- Director of Medical Education,
Assam.Janasanyog/D/2264/20
WTO to set up dispute panelsin ICT tariff case against India
NEW DELHI, July 29: The disputesettlement body of the World Trade Or-ganisation (WTO) has accepted the re-quest of Chinese Taipei and Japan forsetting up panels in an ICT tariff caseagainst India, an official s ource said.
The panels would determine wheth-er India’s customs duties on importsof certain information and communi-cations technology (ICT) products in-fringe WTO norms or not.
“Yes, the WTO dispute settlementbody has agreed to set up the panels asrequested by Chinese Taipei, and Ja-pan in a meeting today. This was thesecond request of these countries,” thesource added.
Both Chinese Taipei and Japan havefiled separate requests for the estab-lishment of a dispute panel.
Earlier, India had blocked the first re-quest of these two countries for settingup a dispute settlement panel at the WTO.
According to the trade disputenorms of WTO, if a request comes forthe second time, the panel is formed.
In May last year, both the countriesfiled a case against India in WTO overthe import duties imposed on certainelectronic goods, including telephonesfor cellular networks; machines for re-ception, conversion and transmissionor regeneration ofvoice, images orother data; and partsof telephone sets.
They alleged that imposition of im-port duties on these products by Indiainfringes WTO norms as India hascommitted zero per cent bound tariffson these products. India strongly op-posed these allegations.
While bound tariffs or duties referto the ceiling over which a WTO mem-ber country cannot impose importduty, the applied tariff is the duty which
is currently in place.India has stated that these ICT prod-
ucts are part of WTO’s Information Tech-nology Products (ITA-2) agreement, andNew Delhi is not part of this pact. Indiais a part of ITA-1, signed in 1997.
According to the minutes of a meet-ing of the dispute settlement body heldin February and March, India had stated
that it was fully com-mitted to ITA-1 andhad been abiding by itover the years.
India reiterated that it had not in-tended to commit, and would not com-mit, to any obligations beyond thescope of India’s ITA-1 commitment andit has maintained that the products aris-ing out of technological progressioncould not be covered under ITA-1, asper the the minutes of the meeting.
A WTO member country can file adispute if it perceives that another
country’s trade policies or actions areviolating global trade norms and im-pacting their local industry.
According to the global trade rules,seeking consultation is the first step ofthe dispute settlement process. If thebilateral consultations do not result in asatisfactory solution, the complainantcan request WTO to set up a disputepanel to pass a ruling on the matter.
In this case, as the consultations havenot yielded positive results, Japan andChinese Taipei had approached theWTO to set up the panels.
Even after the panels are formed, itwould take about 1-1.5 years to comewith the ruling. Due to the COVID-19pandemic, the passing of the ruling maytake more time.
Even if the panel rules against India,New Delhi can challenge that in theWTO’s appellate body, which is not func-tional since December last year. – PTI
Appeal by Chinese
Taipei, Japan
NABARD expeditingimplementation of
developmental agendaSTAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI, July 29: NABARD is expedit-ing implementation of its developmental agen-da to create self-employment through skill-based livelihood enhancement programmesthis year to tackle the double whammy of theCOVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing devas-tating floods in Assam.
NABARD has also focusedon rural infrastructure devel-opment in tandem with the pri-ority of the State government,besides focusing on enhancingrural financial inclusion.
SS Saha, CGM, NABARD,Assam said this during a nation-al-level webinar conducted tocommemorate its 39th foundation day today.
The webinar was attended by Assam Agri-culture Minister Atul Bora as chief guest, ShajiKV, Deputy Managing Director, NABARD,Head Office, Mumbai, Dr A Bhattacharyya, Vice-Chancellor, AAU, Jorhat, Lalit Gogoi, Registrarof Cooperative Society, Assam, Dr Abhijit Sar-ma, Director, IIE, SHG members, farmers, ru-ral youths and voluntary organisations.
Bora while inaugurating the session, appre-ciated the endeavour of NABARD towards fo-cused attention in agri and allied sectors, there-by uplifting the rural population in Assam.
Saha, while highlighting a series of activi-ties, said that NABARD Assam Regional Of-
fice had released an all-time-high disbursementfigure of Rs 1,225.67 crore to the State gov-ernment under RIDF during FY 2019-20. NA-BARD has also sanctioned an all-time high ofRs 1,009.86 crore for various critical rural in-frastructure projects such as road, bridges, ir-rigation, water resources, village knowledgecentre, animal husbandry and social sectors in
Assam under RIDF.“A Rs 10.46-crore project on
food processing in the MegaFood Park was also sanctionedby NABARD during 2019-20.Under Agricultural MarketingInfrastructure, NABARD hasreleased subsidy of Rs 96.40crore against 288 units of agri-culture marketing infrastruc-
ture (rural godown) and thus created total agri-cultural storage capacity of 9.70 lakh MT tillMarch 31, 2020 in Assam. It has also supportedover 2,000 awareness camps for the rural peo-ple to acquaint them with financial managementand planning,” he said.
NABARD has roped in building micro-en-trepreneurship, livelihood enterprise genera-tion through skill-based programmes for ad-dressing the agony and stress of the reversemigrants due to the pandemic situation by con-ducting more number of programmes this year.It has repositioned the channel partners forspeedy implementation of the income gener-ating programmes.
Creation of
self-employment
through skill-based
livelihood
enhancement
programmes
NEW DELHI, July 29: CivilAviation Minister HardeepSingh Puri today said that 274UDAN air regional connectiv-ity routes have been madeoperational in the country con-necting 45 airports and threeheliports since the launch ofthe scheme in April 2017.
Puri said this while flaggingoff the first helicopter serviceby Pawan Hans in Uttarakhandunder the UDAN-RCS scheme.
Accordingly, three rounds ofUDAN have already been un-dertaken and so far close to 50lakh passengers have travelledin flights under the schemecovering airports in 19 Statesand 2 UTs.
At present, the fourth roundof UDAN is under process.
On the new helicopter serv-ice, Puri said that opening ofthese new routes will bringpeople of the State closer and
274 UDAN air routesoperational: Puri
support tourism in the region.“Commencement of the
new heli services will en-hance the aerial connectivi-ty between hilly regions inUttarakhand and bring downthe average travel time to20-25 minutes. This will alsoassist the Chaar Dhaam Yat-ra pilgrims,” the ministry
said in a statement.“Pawan Hans Ltd will oper-
ate thrice-weekly helicopterservices on this route. Viabili-ty Gap Funding (VGF) is pro-vided to both operators andpassengers under the UDANscheme to keep the fares af-fordable for the common peo-ple...,” it said. – IANS
NEW DELHI, July 29: Thecountry’s largest car-makerMaruti Suzuki India today re-ported first-ever quarterly losssince becoming public 17 yearsback with a consolidated net lossof Rs 268.3 crore for the firstquarter ended June 30, hit hardby coronavirus pandemic.
The auto major, which gotlisted way back in July 2003,had posted a consolidated netprofit of Rs 1,376.8 crore in theApril-June quarter of 2019-20.
Net sales declined to Rs3,679 crore in the first quar-ter as against Rs 18,738.8crore in the year-ago period,MSI said in a statement.
On a standalone basis, thecompany reported a net lossof Rs 249.4 crore for the firstquarter ended June 30.
It had posted net profit ofRs 1,435.5 crore on standalonebasis in April-June of 2019-20.
Car-maker in red for first time since 2003 as COVID-19 takes toll
Maruti posts Rs 268-cr net loss in Q1
The auto major’s net salesduring the period under re-view declined to Rs 3,677.5crore, as compared to Rs18,735.2 crore in the year-ago period.
During the first quarter, MSIsold a total of 76,599 vehicles.Sales in the domestic marketstood at 67,027 units, whileexports were at 9,572 units.
The company had sold4,02,594 units in the first quar-ter previous fiscal.
“Owing to the global pan-demic of COVID-19, it was anunprecedented quarter in thecompany’s history wherein alarge part of the quarter hadzero production and zero salesin compliance with a lockdownstipulated by the government,”MSI said.
Production and sales start-ed in a very small way in May,it added.
The company’s first priori-ty was health, safety and well-being of all employees and as-sociates across the value chain,including its customers, theauto major said.
“Hence, with carefully de-signed safety protocols, whichwent far beyond compliancelevels, the production in thewhole quarter was equivalentto just about two weeks of reg-ular working. The results haveto be viewed in this context,”it noted.
Due to coronavirus-led lock-down, the auto-maker had sus-pended operations at bothManesar and Gurugram facili-ties on March 22.
The facilities, with a cumu-lative production capacity ofover 15.5 lakh units per an-num, resumed operations onMay 12 after 40 days of clo-sure. – PTI
ADB okays$3-mn grant toIndia to combat
COVID-19NEW DELHI, July 29: Mul-
tilateral funding agency ADBtoday said it has approved $3-million (about Rs 22 crore)grant to India from its Asia Pa-cific Disaster Response Fund tofurther support the govern-ment’s emergency response toCOVID-19 pandemic.
The grant, which is financedby the Japanese government,will be used to procure ther-mal scanners and essentialcommodities to strengthenIndia’s COVID-19 response,Asian Development Bank(ADB) said in a statement.
“The new grant comple-ments ADB’s ongoing supportto the Government of India instrengthening its COVID-19response. This support will en-hance disease surveillance andhelp in early detection, contacttracing, and treatment...,” it said.
On April 28, ADB approved$1.5 billion COVID-19 ActiveResponse and Expenditure Sup-port (CARES) programme tosupport India in its immediatepandemic response efforts. – PTIKOLKATA, July 29: Tea
Board Chairman PK Bezbaru-ah today said that prices of teahad remained stagnant foryears and the present pricerise is an upward correction.
He said that this is a temporaryphenomenon and there will be adownward trend again next year.
Speaking at a webinar or-ganised by Confederation ofSmall Tea Growers Associa-tion (CISTA), Bezbaruah said,“The present price increase isan upward correction.”
There was a huge oversup-ply of tea last year and this wascorrected to a large extentwhen the Tea Board orderednon-plucking of tea in Decem-ber, he said.
Present tea price rise an upwardcorrection: Bezbaruah
Bezbaruah sounded cautionthat the present prices of Indi-an tea are at a higher level thanthose prevailing in other coun-tries like Kenya.
“It is a cause for worry thatthe present import curbs on teamight get diluted in future andthis will destroy the tea industryin Assam, North Bengal and theNilgiris. Hope that the govern-ment will act in a responsiblemanner and save livelihoods ofthousands of people,” he added.
The Tea Board Chairman,however, said that there willbe a downward correction inprices when the crop comesin next year.
Bezbaruah also urged theindustry, particularly small tea
growers, to manufacture goodquality green leaf.
Director (Tea Development)of Tea Board S Soundarajan saidthat the contribution of smallgrowers to overall tea produc-tion of the country is around 50per cent. But the impact ofCOVID-19 has inflicted a croploss on both the small tea grow-ers and organised players.
“Hope that the prices will re-main firm in the short term asthere is a demand-supply gap,”he said.
CISTA President Bijoy GopalChakraborty said that the sud-den shutdown has affected thecrop of small tea growers andthe shortfall is around 40 per centas compared to last year. – PTI
MUMBAI, July 29: Inter-Globe Aviation today reporteda net loss of Rs 2,844.3 crorefor the three months endedJune as disruptions due to thecoronavirus pandemic signifi-cantly impacted the airline.
The parent of the country’slargest airline IndiGo had a netprofit of Rs 1,203.1 crore inthe year-ago period.
In the first quarter of the cur-rent financial year, the airline’stotal income declined 88 per centto Rs 1,143.8 crore. In the year-ago period, the same stood atRs 9,786.9 crore, according to a
IndiGo records Rs 2,844-crquarterly loss
regulatory filing. Revenue fromoperations declined 91.9 per centto Rs 766.7 crore in the quarterunder review, compared to thesame period a year ago.
“Closure of scheduled oper-ations till May 24, 2020 and low-er capacity deployment there-after on account of COVID-19,significantly impacted the quar-terly results,” the filing said.
In the wake of the pandem-ic, air services were suspend-ed in late March. Domesticflights resumed on May 25,while international flights serv-ices remain suspended. – PTI
12 THE ASSAM TRIBUNE, GUWAHATISPORTS
THURSDAY, JULY 30, 2020
Printed and published by Ganesh Ch. Das on behalf of Assam Tribune Pvt. Ltd. at the Tribune Press, Tribune Buildings, P.O.- Assam Tribune, M.R.D. Road, Chandmari, Guwahati-781003. Tel. 0361-
2660102 (EPABX), 0361-2661360, 0361-2668807 (News Desk), FAX 0361-2666396. E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected].
Editor: Prafulla Govinda Baruah
Originating from Japan,
‘su do ku’ is a mind game
and a puzzle that can be
solved with proper
reasoning and logic. Fill
the grid with digits in such
a manner that every row,
every column and every
3 x 3 box accommodates
the digits 1 to 9 without
repeating any.
Solution of last problem
SU DO KU
You’re a legend! Hatsoff: Yuvraj on Broad
NEW DELHI, July 29: India’s flamboyant former all-
rounder Yuvraj Singh on Wednesday doffed his hat to Stuart
Broad, 13 years after nearly bringing about a premature
end to the England pacer’s career with six sixes in an over.
On Tuesday, Broad became only the seventh bowler and
fourth speedster to take 500 wickets in Test cricket.
The 34-year-old Broad reached the milestone when he
dismissed West Indies’ Kraigg Brathwaite on the fifth day
of the deciding third Test in Manchester.
Yuvraj took to Twitter to ask his fans to applaud the Eng-
lishman’s hard work and achievement.
“I’m sure every time I write something about @Stuart-
Broad8, people relate to him getting hit for 6 sixes! Today I
request all my fans to applaud what he has achieved! 500 test
wickets is no joke - it takes hard work, dedication & determi-
nation. Broady you’re a legend! Hats off,” Yuvraj tweeted.
Broad was only in his second year in international cricket
when Yuvraj famously took him apart in a World T20 match
in Durban in September 2007.
Broad was dispatched for six sixes in the 19th over of India’s
innings as Yuvraj raced to his fifty off just 12 balls, which still
remains as the fastest half century in the T20 format.
Since that forgettable night at the Kingsmead, Broad has
gone on to play 140 Tests, 121 ODIs and 56 T20Is for Eng-
land, bagging 744 international wickets across formats.
The two share a cordial relationship.
When Yuvraj called time on his international career, Broad
posted a picture of the two with the caption, “Enjoy retire-
ment Legend @yuvisofficial.” With 589 wickets, Broad’s
longtime pace colleague James Anderson leads the fast bowl-
ers’ pack followed by Glenn McGrath (563), Courtney Walsh
(519) and Broad (501). – PTI
LONDON, July 29: Former West
Indies captain Courtney Walsh feels
the Jason Holder-led side became
defensive after their win in the first
Test of the recently-concluded
three-match series against England.
The Windies lost the next two
games at the Old Trafford after win-
ning the first Test in Southampton,
thereby losing the chance to retain
the Wisden Trophy.
“They were probably thinking
‘we’re 1-0 up, let’s play safe and try
not to lose the next two’ and I think
that played into England’s hands, es-
WI played into England’s hands: Walshpecially in the last one with the his-
tory of the ground,” Walsh told Sky
Sports.
“To win the toss twice and not
bat first, it is a good question for
them to answer. I think it probably
cost us.
“But you still can’t take anything
away from England, they played
some very good cricket, they had
some top-class bowlers and Broad
came in with a point to prove in the
second Test and just continued with
that momentum. Once momentum
swung England’s way, they were
dominant,” the legendary fast bowl-
er added.
Meanwhile, Former England cap-
tain Alec Stewart heaped praise on
all-rounder Chris Woakes, saying he
is an unsung hero in the team.
Woakes returned figures of 5/50
as England beat West Indies by 269
runs in the third and final Test at the
Old Trafford to clinch a 2-1 series
win and regain the Wisden Trophy.
In the two Test matches that he
played in the series, Woakes picked
up 11 wickets, five less than Stuart
Broad.
“He’s almost the unsung hero of
the England set-up because we talk
about Broad and Anderson then the
pace of Archer and Wood, where as
Woakes just goes quietly about his
business,” Stewart was quoted as
saying by Sky Sports.
“I’m a massive fan of Woakes,
especially in England. His record in
England is outstanding. It’s a real
feather in his cap that he got the
nod when Chris Silverwood said
‘we are picking our very best bowl-
ing attack for this Test match we
have to win,” he added. – IANS
ROME, July 29: Inter Milan completed a
double-kill against Napoli in Serie A as they
dominated the Coppa Italia winners 2-0 at
the San Siro.
Danilo D’Ambrosio put Inter ahead in the
first half while Lautaro Martinez sealed the
victory after coming off the bench on Tues-
day evening, reports Xinhua news agency.
The away side had the most of the posses-
sion, but it was Inter that broke the deadlock
in the 10th minute as Antonio Candreva’s
cross found Cristiano Biraghi, who pulled back
for D’Ambrosio to finish with a low-strike.
Inter were under siege later but goalkeep-
er Samir Handanovic performed well to keep
a clean sheet.
The Nerazzurri doubled the lead in the 74th
minute when Lautaro surged forward and re-
leased a missile that flew into the far corner.
Elsewhere, Atalanta continued their un-
beaten run with a comeback 2-1 victory over
Parma.
Ruslan Malinovskyi’s free kick wiped put
Dejan Kulusevski’s opener, and Alejandro
Gomez scored the winner in the 84th minute.
Inter remain at the second spot with 79
points, one ahead of Atalanta. The Dea will
host Inter in the final round on Saturday which
will be a head-to-head showdown for the run-
ners-up spot for the season. – IANS
Inter Milan conquerNapoli 2-0 in Serie A
Napoli's Diego Demme, right, controls the ball in front of Inter Milan's Borja Valero, left,during the Serie A soccer match between Inter Milan and Napoli at the San Siro Stadium,in Milan, Italy. – AP/PTI
ROME, July 29: Brazil foot-
ball legend Pele has congrat-
ulated Juventus for their
ninth consecutive Serie A ti-
tle win and hailed Cristiano
Ronaldo, who according to
him is “the modern athlete”.
35-year-old Ronaldo finished
as Juventus’ top scorer in the
league with 31 goals in 32
appearances.
“@Cristiano is the mod-
ern athlete, who shows eve-
ryone that success always
comes to those who are ded-
icated and love what they do.
Also, I would like to congrat-
ulate my fellow Brazilians
@douglascosta, @alxsn-
dro12 and @daniluiz2. Great
work winning the @seriea
Cristiano Ronaldo is themodern athlete: Pele
title, @juventus,” Pele
wrote on Instagram.
Ronaldo had earlier dedi-
cated the title victory to the
victims who have suffered
the most during this unprec-
edented times put forward by
the coronavirus pandemic.
Juve got over the line on
Sunday by beating Sampdoria
2-0 at home. This was their
36th title in the Italian top flight.
Ronaldo, who scored the
opening goal in this encounter,
took to social media to express
his happiness after winning
back-to-back league titles in It-
aly. He also sent across a heart-
felt message to people who
have been hit hard by the on-
going pandemic. – IANS
Players need to grabopportunities: Jeje
KOLKATA, July 29: India striker Jeje Lalpekhlua believes
the Indian Super League (ISL) has done whatever it could to
promote football in the country and it is now up to the play-
ers to take the league in India forward.
The ISL, launched in 2014 is now India’s premier football
league. From the previous season onwards, the league win-
ners are awarded a direct group stage spot in the AFC Cham-
pions League (ACL), Asia’s marquee club football tourna-
ment – a first for Indian football.
“Compared to our time back in 2007-2008, when I turned
professional, we never got such facilities like it is now in the
ISL. Now, things have changed. Players are very important
to take Indian football to the next level now. Players now are
very lucky to get these opportunities. They need to grab
these with both hands and make use of it,” Lalpekhlua told
ISL Media. – IANSLAHORE, July 29: Former
Pakistan cricketer Ramiz Raja
feels England will start as fa-
vourites when the two teams
lock horns against each other
in the upcoming series. The
two teams are scheduled to
play three Tests and as many
T20Is starting August 5.
Riding on heroics of vet-
eran fast bowler Stuart
Broad, who picked up 10
wickets in the match and also
completed 500 wickets,
England recorded a compre-
hensive 269-run win over
West Indies in the third Test
in Manchester and clinched
the series 2-1.
Ramiz feels England will be
battle-hardened going into
the series and they will start
as favourites against Pakistan,
who according to him, still
England will holdedge over Pak: Ramiz
lack proper match practice.
“The pressure on Pakistan
team has increased because
of England’s series win
(against West Indies). They
will be well-oiled, battle-
hardened and will hold a com-
petitive edge over Pakistan,”
Ramiz said in a video upload-
ed on his YouTube channel.
“Pakistan have been in
England for a month now and
they have done well in prac-
tice matches which would
have helped them in acclima-
tizing with the conditions.
But they still lack the real
match practice.
“This England team will
properly test them and espe-
cially their bowling attack. I
think going into the first Test
match, England will start as
favourites,” he added. – IANS
Akmal’s banterm reduced
LAHORE, July 29:
Former Supreme Court
Judge Justice (retd) Faqir
Muhammad Khokhar, in his
capacity as an independent
adjudicator, announced his
order on Umar Akmal’s ap-
peal on Wednesday.
The case against the appel-
lant stands proved to the hilt.
The learned Chairman [of the
Disciplinary Panel] has quite
justifiably found the appellant
guilty of both the charges.”
However, whilst taking a
compassionate view, the In-
dependent Adjudicator re-
duced the length of Umar
Akmal’s ban to one year and
six months. The period of
ineligibility imposed on
Umar Akmal shall run from,
backdated to 20 February
2020 when he was suspend-
ed provisionally. – IANS
‘Pressure willbe on England
in ODIs’SOUTHAMPTON, July
29: Ireland coach Graham
Ford feels the pressure will
be on England to not lose
against them, and on their day
they can give the world cham-
pions a fight.
Ireland fared well in a Test
and ODI last year before
England prevailed.
“We’ve shown in the ODI
at Malahide and the Test at
Lord’s that we can give Eng-
land a fright,” he was quoted
as saying by BBC. All three
games in the ODI series will
be played at the bio-secure
Ageas Bowl in Southampton.
It will be a young England
side led by Eoin Morgan
which will take on Ireland
with many first team stars
like Ben Stokes, Joe Root and
Jofra Archer rested after the
West Indies Test series.
“We must get the basics
right in order to compete – they
would take a lot of flak if they
lose and they have the pres-
sure on them,” added Ford.
“Not having a crowd is defi-
nitely not a disadvantage for us
and it may calm the nerves of
the younger players. It’s not
strange for us to play with not
many people in attendance but
for England it could be an issue.
“Yes, there’s a bit of rusti-
ness but everyone is highly
motivated and energised –
there’s a lot of positivity in
the squad and I’m pleased
overall”. – IANS
Workers construct a COVID care centre at Nehru Stadium for the treatment of infectedpatients, in Guwahati, on Wednesday. – PTI
Mercedes to use all-blackbase livery
STUTTGART, July 29: The Mercedes cars in Formula E
season will witness all-black base livery for the final six
races of the season. This comes after Mercedes had earlier
changed its colour from silver to black for the revamped
2020 Formula 1 season.
Mercedes-Benz EQ Formula E Team announced the
change on their Twitter handle and their post read: “We
stand against racism. Our team will contest the season’s
final six races with an all-black base livery, taking a firm
stand against racism and all forms of discrimination while
advocating greater diversity.”
Mercedes’ reigning F1 champion Lewis Hamilton has been
particularly vocal about racism and he has spoken time and
again about the same since the death of George Floyd at the
hands of a Minneapolis police personnel in May. – IANS
Ibrahimovic models forAC Milan kit
MILAN, July 29: Hostshot striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic was
pictured modelling for AC Milan’s next season’s jersey amid his
uncertain future in Italy. The former Sweden striker’s contract
with Milan comes to an end at the conclusion of this season.
Milan took to social media to upload photos of few first
team stars in next season’s jersey and their post read: “Bring-
ing eternal architecture onto the pitch. #ThisisMilan #Sem-
preMilan.”
Ibrahimovic was one of the stars who posed for the photo
in the newly-designed kit. This is not the first time that
Ibrahimovic’s certain action sent rumour mills rolling re-
garding his potential extended stay in Milan.
Recently, after completing 100 games in Rossoneri col-
ours, Ibrahimovic had said he hoped to play many more
games for the club.
Following his 100th appearance, he was awarded with a
momento by club legend Paolo Maldini and in a video up-
loaded on Milan Twitter handle, he said: “Thank you all for
your congratulatory messages for my 100th appearance in
Rossoneri colours”. – IANS
Reaping benefits oftechnical tweaks: BroadLONDON, July 29: Veteran fast-bowler Stuart Broad helped
England to a 2-1 series win over the West Indies, taking 16
wickets in the two Tests he played in the three-match rubber.
In the process, he also became the fourth fast bowler to cross
500 Test wickets and his long-time new ball partner James
Anderson backed him to even surpass the latter’s record for
most wickets in the longest format for England.
“I feel fit, my fitness testing post lockdown was the best
it’s ever been,” Broad was quoted as saying by BBC Sport.
“I feel excited. I’m really enjoying playing around this group.
“You know what, why not try and follow in Jimmy’s (An-
derson) footsteps? He’s been wonderful to play with. I don’t
feel like I’m the old outcast and I feel like Jimmy feels exact-
ly the same.” – IANS
Delhi Capitals kick offawareness drive
NEW DELHI, July 29: On the occasion of Global Tiger
Day, Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Delhi Capitals
kicked-off an awareness campaign for tiger conservation
with WWF India.
This collaboration brings together WWF India and Delhi
Capitals, who will work closely together to activate the
cricketing community to build awareness about the need
for tiger conservation in India, a statement said.
Speaking on the occasion, Delhi Capitals CEO Dhiraj Mal-
hotra said: “Tigers being integral to our team identity and DNA,
Delhi Capitals is happy to stand for the cause of tiger conserva-
tion in collaboration with WWF India. This cause needs constant
momentum and sharing of knowledge and we hope our collec-
tive efforts will bring about more awareness and participation
towards the cause of securing our tigers.” – IANS
Yet another defeat forViswanathan Anand
NEW DELHI, July 29: Indian grandmaster Viswanathan Anand
suffered his seventh defeat in the ongoing Legends of Chess
tournament as he went down 0.5-2.5 to world No.3 Ding Liren.
Anand, who came into Tuesday’s game against the Chi-
nese after ending his six-match losing streak, lost the first
game in just 22 moves. The second game ended in a 47-
move draw in the second. However, Liren sealed victory in
the third game with black pieces in 41 moves.
After losing first six matches in row, Anand had on Mon-
day got back to winning ways, beating Israel’s Boris Gelfand
2.5-0.5. The 50-year-old, who is making his maiden appear-
ance on the Magnus Carlsen Chess Tour, had earlier lost to
Ian Nepomniachtchi, Peter Leko, Peter Svidler, Magnus
Carlsen, Vladimir Kramnik and Anish Giri. – IANS
PAGE 8 THE ASSAM TRIBUNE,
GUWAHATI, THURSDAY, JULY 30, 2020
GUWAHATI, THURSDAY, JULY 30, 2020
We have forgotten how to be good guests, how to walk lightly on the earth as other creatures do. - Barbara Ward
M ost parts of the world are still under lockdown due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, and people are panic-stricken. But, is being
panic-stricken the solution to our problems? The answer is obviously ‘no’. We must be rational. Focussing more on negativity is just like growing weeds in the garden of our
How to remain positive during
these times.
Who was Edward Jenner?
Marjita Baruah, Class-X,
Vivekananda Kendra Vidyalaya, Nalbari.
“”
CREATIVE ENDEAVOUR
OF THE MONTH
Jishnu Shreya Choudhury,Guwahati.
O ne aha! moment came when I was a very young boy. I had the good fortune of sitting on Kalaguru Bishnu Rabha’s lap, and singing one of his own
songs... Nahar phule nuxuwai. In music, like in everything else, one
must not limit oneself. My mother, Dr. Lakshyahira Das, taught me Borgeet, Adhunik Geet, and other de-votional songs. This widening of scope is invaluable in terms of experience and also discovering what you want to spe-cialise in. I found my niche in the genre of ghazals. Ghazals demand a lot from you in terms of mastery over language and the ability to express oneself in subtle ways.
My most memorable moment was performing before a global audience at the British House of Lords. Even after decades of performing, I still get a bit nervous. It was especially challenging to sing in front of legends like Dr. Bhupen Hazarika. I owe a lot to my mother for moulding me and my career. I truly love what I do.
(As told to Indrani Raimedhi.)
This year has led people into learning and doing things they never thought of before. Doing things we love not only help us stay happy and positive, but it is also a way of expressing self-love. Quarantining also helps us to work on our health through exercise and yoga. Meditation has always proven to have positive effects on our mental health. If we focus only on the brighter side, then these times have made families spend time together – which is a major factor in keeping ourselves happy and positive.
The pandemic has increased the stress levels of people tremendously, and staying positive is the real challenge here. What we can learn from this pandemic is to inculcate good hygiene habits, maintain social distancing, wear masks and keep our hands sanitised.
During the lockdowns, there has been a change in the environment. The otherwise polluted sky turned bright and blue. Blissful chirping of the birds, wild animals strolling on roads became the new normal. To stay calm and positive, we can do a lot of activities like – creative writing, reading, drawing, online or digital creativity, etc.
As human beings, we are always social in nature. To overcome this difficulty of social distancing and staying indoors, we should be mentally strong. To remain positive during this pandemic, we should try to spend some quality time with our families. We should participate in creative activities like singing, dancing, drawing, playing indoor games, etc., as these activities will spread happiness and positivity.
Arnab Das, Class-IX,
Delhi Public School,
Digboi.
Ayush Deka, Class-VI,
Don Bosco H. S. School,
Baghchung, Jorhat.
@2001 Viacom International Inc. Created by Arlene Klasky, Gabor Csupo, and Paul Germain.Dist. by Creators Syndicate. rugrats.nick.com www.creators.com
Maitreyee Saikia,
Class-VII, Springdale High
School, Jorhat.
Ghazal legend Anirban Das opens up
about his life.
L. Mansica Devi,
Class-XII, Don Bosco
School, Guwahati.
During this pandemic, when the entire world is facing difficult times, it is essential that we spread positivity, hope and encouragement. As I have a lot of free time now, I am using it to explore my abilities. Also, I try as much as possible to have a proper, balanced diet. It is important to take care of our health to boost our immunity. There are many other activities, including spending time with family, reading books, etc., that have helped me overcome negative thoughts.
Unlocking a positive outlook
minds. So, why not fill this garden with bright flowers?
As I sit here by the window in peace, there is the chirping of birds, a clearer sky, no rushing around, as if it is the haven of stillness. I can meditatively feel my deep
breathing, the purity of the inhaled air, and my presence in my village. Nature is the strongest force – she tolerates a lot of pain, but when the pain becomes unbearable, she begins her reign to recreate a harmonious world and make people realise their wrongdoings. This is my first positive realisation.
People are spending time with their
families, doing creative work, and most importantly, we have learnt to be grateful for what we have. We are learning an important life lesson, i.e., to be happy with the least available resources.
The whole world is fighting together. Everyone is praying for the Earth to heal. So, let us strive to work for universal brotherhood.
Meet Eros, a Labrador who trots through the streets of the hilly city of Medellin, Colombia, several times a day with a straw basket in his jaws, taking vegetables, fruits and
packaged foods to customers of the El Porvenir mini-market. He belongs to the owners of the market, and he has helped the
owners and the customers maintain social distancing norms by acting as the delivery agent. With practice and a lot of treats, Eros has memorised the names and locations of about five people across town. He is paid with a treat and some heavy petting.
Are you feeling loved?Parent-teen conß icts are less troublesome when teens feel loved.
One must
not limit
oneself.
Eros, the delivery dog!
CONTRIBUTOR OF
THE WEEK
Marjita Baruah,Nalbari.
POEM OF THE WEEK
Akangsha Phukan,Moranhat.
SKETCH OF THE WEEK
Yasir Imdad Rehman, Guwahati.
A new study from the Yale Child Study Center finds that parents can lessen the effects of inevitable conflict with their teenage children by showing emotional warmth, and that this can make a difference within the
course of a day. Published on July 13 in the journal Emotion, “When Do Adolescents Feel Loved?” is the first study of its kind to examine fluctuations in how loved teens feel at a daily level.
Using three weeks of daily diary entries submitted by parents and teens, the investigators – John
Coffey, Mengya Xia, and Greg Fosco – were able to link parents’ displays of warmth and parents’ perceptions of conflict to daily fluctuations in how loved their teens were feeling. Irrespective of the general closeness of the parent-teen relationships, researchers found that teens reported feeling more loved on days when parents reported showing more warmth in the form of affection, understanding, and praise. Likewise, teens reported feeling less loved on days when parents reported more conflict than usual.
More importantly, the researchers said, they also found that parents can mitigate the impact of
conflict by showing their teen warmth. In other words, on days when parents were warm, high levels of conflict didn’t reduce how loved teens felt. To mitigate conflict, warmth had to be conveyed on the same day – but the
warmth and conflict did not need to be related, the researchers found.
To reach these conclusions, the researchers collected surveys self-reported by one teen and one parent from 151 different families. Participating teens were in the ninth and tenth grades, and ranged in age from 13 to 16 years.
Edward Jenner (May 17, 1749 – January 26, 1823) was an English physician and pupil of John Hunter, a pioneer in comparative anatomy and morphology. Jenner’s invaluable experiments, beginning in 1796 with the vaccination of an eight-year-old James Phipps, proved
that cowpox provided immunity against smallpox. His discovery was instrumental in ridding many areas of the world of a dreaded disease and laid the foundations of modern immunology as a science. Jenner invented the term “vaccination”.
Jenner trained in Sodbury, Gloucestershire, as an apprentice to Dr. Ludlow for eight years from the age of 13, and then went to London in 1770 to study under surgeon John Hunter, a noted experimentalist, and later a fellow of the Royal Society and others at St. George’s, University of London. Jenner was soon noticed by men famous for advancing the practice and institutions of medicine, and Hunter remained in correspondence with him over natural history and proposed his name for the Royal Society. Returning to his native countryside, by 1773, he became a successful general practitioner and surgeon, practising in purpose-built premises at Berkeley.
Around this time, smallpox was greatly feared, as one in three of those who contracted the disease died, and those who survived were badly disfigured. In the years following 1770, there were at least six people in England and Germany who had successfully tested the possibility of using the cowpox vaccine as an immunisation for smallpox in humans. Jenner thought the initial source of infection was a disease of horses, called “the grease”, and that this was transferred to cows by farmworkers, transformed, and then manifested as cowpox.
Jenner died of a second stroke on January 26, 1823. In 1980, the World Health Organization declared smallpox an eradicated disease. This was the result of coordinated public health efforts by many people, but vaccination was an essential component.
(Agencies)
Aladdin
© Ken Egan - mm1216
Calculate the
clues and fi ll
in the grid with
the answers.
1. 18 – 7
2. 11 + 45
3. 70 – 42
4. 42 + 22
6. 78 – 47
7. 26 + 45
8. 8 + 54
9. 16 + 8
10. 42 + 31
11. 50 – 9
13. 48 + 4
14. 5 + 12
15. 91 – 16
16. 69 – 40
1. 40 – 22
2. 37 + 17
3. 13 + 13
4. 18 + 43
5. 79 – 28
6. 79 – 47
7. 62 + 12
8. 78 – 15
9. 47 – 26
10. 79 – 7
11. 51 – 9
12. 97 – 40
13. 50 + 5
14. 43 – 24
ACROSS DOWN
SO
LU
TIO
N
ACROSS DOWN
1. The Airbus 380, 2. The Boeing 737, 3. Airbus, 4. Near
Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, USA, 5. McDonnell Douglas.
ANSWERSPAGE 7 THE ASSAM TRIBUNE,
GUWAHATI, THURSDAY, JULY 30, 2020
J KES
Please collect your certifi cates from our offi ce.
[Send your entries to
PAGE 2 THE ASSAM TRIBUNE,
GUWAHATI, THURSDAY, JULY 30, 2020
1 2
3
10
8
6
4
15
13
11
9
7
5
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Dear Ishani Aunty,
My grandmother will have a pace-
maker put into her chest. I am very
worried. Will she be okay?
– Anahita
Dear Anahita,
A pacemaker is a small device
which is implanted into the chest
to regulate the rhythm of the heart.
She will recover soon and please
give her my regards.
Dear Ishani Aunty,
I feel suffocated when I wear a
mask. What should I do?
– Prantik
Dear Prantik,
You have to wear a mask, and you
better get used to the idea of wear-
ing it. Wearing a mask over longer
periods of time may help you over-
come your problem.
Dear Ishani Aunty,
I love to read at bedtime, but my
sister says it disturbs her sleep. We
often fight over this. Please help.
– Panchi
Dear Panchi,
There is a very simple way – you
can do your reading in another
room and come to bed when you
are sleepy. That way, your sister
won’t be disturbed.
Dear Ishani Aunty,
My father scolds me when I keep
my light on all night. But I am
afraid of the dark. Please help.
– Mini
Dear Mini,
Use a zero power bulb and learn to
be unafraid of the dark. We must
not give in to our weaknesses.
Dear Ishani Aunty,
I feel bored very quickly. What
should I do?
– Zainab
Dear Zainab,
Cultivate hobbies and make friends.
Learn to be receptive to the world
around you.
Rajanya Shekhar Pal, Class-IV,
Faculty H.S. School, Amingaon, North Guwahati.
NEXT WEEK’S PICTURE
1
4
5
3The fi rst aircraft that
the Wright brothers
built took off from
which place?
Which is the most
commonly used
aircraft in the world?
Which aerospace
giant manufactures
the A 320?
2The MD-80 aircraft
is manufactured by
which company?
Which is
the largest
passenger
aircraft in the
world?
Q: “What question can you never answer yes to?”
Ans: “Are you asleep yet?”
Nancy: “Do you know where success comes before work?”Joey: “No. Where?”Nancy: “In the dictionary!”
Nitt: “What would be a ghost’s favourite food?”Witt: “Spook-etti!”
He remains one of the most popular
folklore heroes till date.
Jim: “How do trees get on the internet?”Tim: “They log in!”
A laddin is the folklore hero of Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp in the collection of stories known in English as The Arabian Nights, Arabian Nights or The Thousand and One Nights. It is a collection of stories
from Persia, Arabia, India and Egypt, compiled over hundreds of years. Most of the stories originated as folktales, anecdotes or fables that were passed on orally. They include the stories of Ali Baba, Alad-din and Sindbad the Sailor, which have become particularly popular in western countries. The sto-ries in the Arabian Nights are told by a legendary queen named Scheherazade, which starts at the beginning of the collection and gives a context to the various stories it contains. The earliest re-cord of the Arabian Nights is a fragment of the collection that dates from the 800s. The collec-tion grew during the following centuries until it reached its present form, written in Arabic, in the late 1400s.
In most versions of the story, Aladdin is the lazy son of a poor Chinese tailor. After his father’s death, he meets a magician who poses as his uncle and persuades Aladdin to retrieve a wonderful lamp from a hidden cave. When Aladdin fails to give the lamp to the magician before emerging from the cave, the magician becomes enraged and seals the cave, leaving Aladdin to die. In his misery Aladdin
W henever you touch something, your fingers leave behind marks
or fingerprints. Every person has his or her own unique set of
fingerprints, which are different from anyone else’s. So finger-
prints are also used by the police to help identify people who have com-
mitted crimes.
If you look at the tips of your fingers, you will see that each one has a
pattern of tiny ridges on the surface. Your fingers also have sweat pores.
So when you touch any object, you leave behind a slightly sticky impres-
sion of the ridges on your fingertips. These are called fingerprints. The
six most common kinds of fingerprint patterns are shown in the illustra-
tion. But these patterns can also have ovals, forks and other shapes in
them. The result is that no two people have the same fingerprints. Even
identical twins, who look exactly alike, have different sets of fingerprints.
FFascinatingacts
weeps and wrings his hands, releasing a genie from a ring the magician had given him. The genie frees Aladdin, who soon discovers that the lamp also produces a powerful genie when rubbed. He grants Aladdin his every wish, and Aladdin eventu-ally becomes immensely wealthy and marries the
daughter of the Sultan. The magician returns to steal the lamp, but is
defeated, as is his evil brother who also tries to obtain the lamp. Free of these enemies, Aladdin lives a long, happy life and succeeds the Sultan to the throne.
The tale of Aladdin reflects the formal, stylistic, and
functional characteristics of the Marchen, or magic tale: it is
adventurous, filled with the super-natural and unrealistic, has multiple episodes, and is told for entertain-ment. It illustrates common fairytale themes such as the conflict between good and evil and the triumph of the
weak. The 18th-century French writer Antoine Galland added the story of
Aladdin to his translation of the Ara-bian Nights. Galland’s text was derived from Arab oral traditions (probably Syrian), and the tale still exists in Arab
folktales. The literary version of the Alad-din story is known worldwide, especially in Europe and the Americas, and has been
the inspiration for many artistic works.
Why Þ ngerprints matter
“Is there
any
font
size
gre
ate
r
than my
specta
cles’
power?”
NNN
Hurjyudoy Borah, Class-VI,
Delhi Public School, Khanapara,
Guwahati.
This caveman has lost his club.
Can you help him fi nd it?
UGH ! THANKS.
1: Is there lead or graphite in a lead
pencil?
2: Are elephants afraid of mice?
3: Icebergs contain fresh or salty water?
4: Is a sponge a plant or an animal?
YOU COULD
LEAD ASTRAY.
ICE SEE!
...ORA CAKE?
ANSWERS1: Graphite, 2: No,
3: Freshwater, 4:An
What can you serve
but not eat?What did the digital
clock say to its
mother?
A tennis ball. Look mom, no hands.
masterpiecesKnow your
Paul Galdone
Karma
a) Unexplained event
b) Illusion
c) Love
d) Fate
Jihad
a) Tribal custom
b) Religious sect
c) Jewel
d) Islamic holy war
Byzantine
a) Complex
b) Peaceful
c) Visionary
d) Conduct
Philistine
a) Uncultured person
b) Foreigner
c) One who is ingenious
d) Selfi sh individual
Pic
k the w
ord
s c
losest in
meanin
g.
5
1 4
2
3
PAGE 6 THE ASSAM TRIBUNE,
GUWAHATI, THURSDAY, JULY 30, 2020
PAGE 3 THE ASSAM TRIBUNE,
GUWAHATI, THURSDAY, JULY 30, 2020
Across: 1. Pumpkin, 4. Sun visor, 7. Eraser, 9. Eel, 10. Fireman,
11. Tree, 12. T-shirt, 15. Triangle.
Down: 2. Pyramids, 3. Mirror, 5. Volleyball, 6. Television, 8. Sun,
9. Ear, 13. Switch, 14. Maze.
SOLUTION
9 ac
15 ac
12 ac
11 ac
10 ac
14 dn
13 dn
4 ac
8 dn
7 ac
9 dn
5 dn
3 dn
2 dn
1 ac
6 dn
Ergonomics – study of
a) Population
b) Economic growth
c) Workplace design
d) Industrial profi ts Answers:
1. d) Fate,
2. a) Complex,
3. c) Workplace design,
4. d) Islamic holy war,
5. a) Uncultured person.
Miss Nelson is Missing!By Harry Allard
Where is zero?
12
13 14
15
11
1 2 3
4 6
87
9
10
5
The Mouse and the MotorcycleBy Beverly Cleary
The number zero is the most important discovery in modern mathematics! It was Aryabhata who discovered it. Zero is noth-ing and everything, the beginning
and the end. It is a portal between nega-tive and positive numbers.
One day, all the numbers decided to have a meeting. They were all present at the meeting hall. There was endless chatter.
Number 9: “Quiet, all of you! QUIET!”The chatter lessens.Number 9: “We are here to discuss
which one of us is more powerful.”The numbers become angry.Number 5: “Isn’t it unfair to discrimi-
nate between our powers?Number 3: “We have our own identity,
don’t we?”All the numbers agree.Number 9: “No! Nine is bigger than any
of you. If you put ‘2’ against ‘9’, I always win!”
Number 8 laughs mockingly: “I am the largest one-digit ‘even’ number among all of us! No one, not even 9 can defeat me!”
Number 2: “That doesn’t mean you have any power over me! I am both prime and composite!”
Number 7: “Wait, wait, don’t you see what 9 is trying to do? He is trying to break us apart! We must remember that we are all unique in some way and we
must embrace it and not fight about it.”Number 9: “Why would you say that? I
am just trying to spice things up.”Number 1: “Hey, where is 0? He hasn’t
been here since the beginning!”Number 9: “Forget him! He doesn’t
have any value, anyway!”Number 7: “How could you say that?
That’s just mean!”Number 4: Let’s not fight about this!
Let’s go find our friend. Competing against each other like this won’t get us anywhere!”
Number 2: “I agree! Let’s go.”All the numbers go in search of 0,
except 9.After a few minutes.Number 6: “Hey look! I think that is 0!
Behind the tree!”Number 2: “Oh yes! Let’s go ask him
why he wasn’t at the meeting.”The numbers head to the tree.Number 8: “Zero, why are you crying?”Number 0 wipes his tears: “What are
you talking about? I’m fine!”Number 2: “It’s okay... You can tell us!”
Zero explains his problem.Number 8: That is such a silly thing to
think about! Come on! Let’s confront 9! They return to the meeting hall with 0.Number 8 shouts: “We found 0!”Number 9 (harshly): “What? Really? Oh
that’s such a relief.” Number 8: “He wants to tell us some-
thing! Go on, 0!”Number 0: “I’m sorry, I didn’t attend
the meeting. It is just that I thought I didn’t have any value! I overheard 9 talking about the most powerful number, so I thought instead of embarrassing myself, I should just leave!
Number 7: “What? That’s ridiculous!”Number 4: “Oh! That’s not right! If you
stand beside 1, you become 10, who is even more powerful than 9.”
Number 9: “What? No!”Number 2: “If he is placed with me, I can
become more powerful! I become 20!”Number 1: “Oh! And if we put two of
you with me, I can become 100!”Number 9: “But, I am the most powerful.Number 7: “It’s okay, 9, if we put 0 with
you, you become 90 and more powerful!Number 9: “Oh yes! That’s right! Now I
see the importance of 0.”Number 7: “But remember, we don’t
need to be competitive! Life isn’t about being perfect or being the best of the best, it’s about living a good life!
Number 9: “Oh yes... I agree to that.”
T he kids in Room 207 were misbe-having again. Spitballs stuck to the ceiling.
Paper planes whizzing through the air. They were the worst-behaved class in the whole school.
So begins this quirky classic, first published in 1977 and still relevant today as a light-hearted reminder to show our ap-preciation for those we value. The students don’t proffer a shred of respect for their good-natured teacher Miss Nelson, but when the substitute Miss Viola Swamp appears on the scene, they start to regret their own wicked ways. James Marshall’s cartoonish full-colour ink and wash illustrations are hilarious. It’s a back-to-school perennial!
Aryisha Mir, Class-VI,
Don Bosco School, Panbazar, Guwahati.
TERM OF THE WEEK
Hand over Þ st
T o work hand over fist is to work quickly and continuously. This is probably of naval ori-gin. The allusion in this phrase is to the ac-tion of hauling on a rope. An earlier version of the phrase was ‘hand over hand’, which
dates to the mid-18th century. This was found in a paper by Cooke in the Royal Society’s Philosophical Transactions for 1736.
Not longer after that, William Falconer’s An Uni-versal Dictionary of the Marine, 1769, had this entry: “Main avant, the order to pull on a rope hand-over-hand.”
The term is now used to suggest speed, especially in financial dealing, e.g. ‘making money, hand over fist’. In the 18th century, ‘hand over hand’ and then later, ‘hand over fist’ had a different meaning though and meant ‘making steady progress’. ‘Hand over fist’ is a little more descriptive of hauling on a rope than ‘hand over hand’, after all, when we grab on a rope to pull it, we do make a fist and then reach forward with our other open hand. This term makes an ap-pearance in William Glascock’s Naval Sketchbook, 1825: “The French... weathered our wake, coming up with us, ‘hand over fist’, in three divisions.”
Many of the early citations refer to slow and steady progress – exactly what could be expected if a ship were being pulled closer to another by means of a rope.
Throwing caution to the winds!
Dear Bhaity, Bhonti,Today I want to discuss the attitudes of people towards
COVID-19. While some tend to panic and believe every rumour, others get obsessed and start having all kinds of foods to keep the disease at bay. I am particularly saddened by what is happening in the U.S.A. People are refusing to wear masks or maintain social distancing. They are ignoring the warnings of health experts. They have a President who is in denial about the pandemic. People are tired of being cooped indoors and are partying at cafes and beaches. Whether we like it or not, COVID-19 will continue to wreak havoc till a vaccine comes along. So, you and I must remember what Gandhiji said: “To lose patience is to lose the battle.”
With love, as always,
“P b-pb-b-b-b. Pb-pb-b-b-b.” With these magic vocables, Ralph the mouse revs
up a dream come true – his very own motorcycle. Living in a knothole in a hotel room, young Ralph has seen plenty of families come and go, some more generous with their crumbs than others. But when young Keith and his parents check-in to the hotel, Ralph gets his first chance to check-out. He has always fantasised about venturing beyond the second floor, maybe even outside. Curiosity overcomes caution, and Ralph must have a go at Keith’s toy motorcycle. Soon, the headstrong mouse finds himself in a pickle, when all he wanted was to ride a motorcycle. Lucky for him, the boy understands how it is. When he discovers Ralph in his thwarted at-tempt to abscond with the toy bike, Keith generously encourages the rodent to ride. He even teaches him the simple trick of starting the motorcycle: ‘You have to make a noise... pb-pb-b-b-b.’ The subsequent situations Ralph motors into require quick thinking and grown-up-sized courage.
P aul Galdone, a children’s au-thor and illustrator, studied art and served in the U.S. Army.
He also won the Kerlan Award for his work.
His books include:
Basil of Baker Street.
Anatole and the Cat.
Three Little Kittens.
Akangsha Phukan, Class-VIII,
Rajani Kanta Phukan Public School, Moranhat .
Kabir Aditya Kashyap, Class-V,
Maharishi Vidya Mandir-IV, Barsajai, Guwahati
Samprity Sarma, Class-V,
St. Francis De Sales H.S. School, Narengi, Guwahati
Dhruvika Bhuyan, Class-IV,
Springdale High School, Jorhat
Pratyusha Datta, Class-IV,
Shemford Futuristic School, Guwahati
Jitanjana GD Sarma,
Gauhati University Model School (English Section), Guwahati
Aranyak Barua, Class-VII,
Maharishi Vidya Mandir-IV, Barsajai, Guwahati
Surya Vijay Baruah,
Faculty H.S. School, Amingaon, North Guwahati
Dishnu Shreya Choudhury, Class-V,
Shrimanta Shankar Academy, Dispur, Guwahati
Sushmita Rabha, Class-II,
Mangaldai Maharishi Vidya Mandir, Mangaldai
Yasir Imdad Rehman, Class-VI,
Delhi Public School, Guwahati
Poem of the WeekSketch of the week
Do your best!The moments of life,Each important to us,Each can helpFulfil our dreams.The moments of life,Bring emotions galore,Happiness, sadness,Some crazy, some funny,Some happy, some sad.The moments of life,Are like the rainbow,Each colour can bring a change.Our mind holds the key.Focus, pursue and be persistent.Don’t worry about what Tomorrow might bring,Just do what is important today.Life is a bag, full of joy,Live every moment,Do what is best,And leave the rest!
PAGE 5 THE ASSAM TRIBUNE,
GUWAHATI, THURSDAY, JULY 30, 2020
PAGE 4 THE ASSAM TRIBUNE,
GUWAHATI, THURSDAY, JULY 30, 2020
Jemim Zaman Hoque,
Frontline English School, Baihata Chariali
Facing the ß oodsI am the one who loves Nature,Where one can find serenity and a way for peace to enter.I am also the one who needs time To play, learn and grow.But, why did I become the one to face the disaster of Nature?The one to lose my family when I needed them near?The floods!It is not only the water that drowned Animals and humans,It is a barrier that makes me different from you.This sudden rush of water will, one day, stop, Taking many things from me.I neither have my own family to share my experiences,Nor do I have a permanent place To cultivate love, dreams and hope.But, I just have a life to survive…
Jeba Kuddus, Class-IX,
Pragjyotika English School, Titabor .
The choice is yoursI am Corona, I don’t know your identity,But you are my best friend,Because you haven’t worn a face mask.I am Corona, I don’t know your profession,But you are my best friend,Because you have not maintained social distancing.I am Corona, I don’t know your caste,But you are my best friend,Because you have not washed your hands.I am Corona, I don’t know your religion,But you are my best friend,Because you have not sanitised your belongings.I am Corona, I don’t know your gender, But I am knocking at your door.Let me in or keep me outdoors,Now, the choice is yours.
Taneesha Chakraborty, Class-VI,
Maharishi Vidya Mandir-IV, Barsajai, Guwahati.Megha Thakuria,
St. Mary’s H.S. School
A unique bondTogether, they grew up.Those memories,Which they had created,They’ll cherish forever.
Though they have conflicts,Still they love each other.Their bond is so strong Because they always stand by each other,Motivate the other, when one feels low.Their relationship is connected by heart.
Sometimes, they would act like They never care for each other,But one would raise a voice When the other feels humiliated.
As they grew up,They found less time to spend together.But they tried to find time to visitDuring occasions,And celebrate them well,Recollecting fond memories.
Akangkhya Puzari, Class-XII,
St. Mary’s Sr. Sec. School.