Guwahati Projects thread

[sunny20rocky]

[sunny20rocky]

[sunny20rocky]

http://www.pprguwahati.com/index.php

[sunny20rocky]

May 2: The Assam State Transport Corporation is planning to increase the bus fare of the JNNURM city buses running on different routes in the city, as the revenue earned from the current fare is insufficient to meet the expenditure of operating these vehicles.

However, the bus fare has not been decided yet.

The Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) was supposed to purchase 200 low-floor buses from the Centre under the JNNURM scheme.

However, only 183 were purchased, of which three were set on fire by a mob during clashes between police and protesters at Last Gate on June 22 last year.

At present, 179 buses are running.

The rest are yet to be launched on the streets.

These buses were formally launched in December 2010 by chief minister Tarun Gogoi.

At present, the ASTC charges the same fare from passengers travelling in the JNNURM city buses as is being charged from those commuting by private city buses.

While the minimum buses fare of private city buses is Rs 3.50, the minimum bus fare of JNNURM buses is Rs 4.

The maximum bus fare charged by both private as well as JNNURM buses is Rs 15.

“The low-floor buses were introduced by the GMDA to enable commuters to have a comfortable ride in the city. Although 183 vehicles were running at different routes across the city, three of them were damaged by a mob last year. We charge very less from passengers commuting by the present fleet of 179 such buses. But after the launch of these vehicles, the cost of diesel has risen several times. As such, the cost of running them has also gone up. But the fare charged currently is not on a par with the rising expenditure incurred in running and maintaining these buses. Therefore, we are planning to increase the bus fare in the future,” said Khagen Saikia, the managing director of ASTC.

The GMDA claimed that the remaining fleet of low-floor buses would hit the streets soon.

“Though money was sanctioned for 200 low-floor buses, in the initial stage, 183 buses were bought from the Centre under the JNNURM scheme. We will run the rest of the fleet in about a month or so,” said GMD chairman M. Angamuthu.

“Travelling in the low-floor buses is definitely more comfortable than travelling in private city buses, as the interiors of these buses are spacious and can accommodate more passengers. Though more money is required to maintain and operate them, we will be relieved if the fare is not increased too much,” Manoj Saikia, a professional who commutes by bus.

http://www.telegraphindia.com/112050...p#.T6K52dkgn48

[sunny20rocky]

May 4: Delay in handover of land that is free from all encumbrances has hampered work on the second phase of the four-lane 6.4-km Gauhati University bypass.

Frustrated, the GU Post Graduate Students Union, under general secretary Dipjyoti Deka, today said they have decided to resort to road blockade in the last week of May in protest against the delay.

The busy NH 37 passes through the university. The second phase bypass plan has a four-lane diversion of 2.4km from Dharapur to Jalukbari.

The sites in question are located on the right side of Dehang Garigaon and Pachim Jalukbari, involving 29 establishments/houses when you approach from the Jalukbari junction.

Kamrup (metro) deputy commissioner Ashutosh Agnihotri, however, told The Telegraph that the district administration would hand over the land within a week.

“We have been exploring all possible steps to ensure a smooth handover because land remains an emotive and sensitive issue. It needs a lot of convincing and cajoling to get people on board. We have cleared one area and are working on the other. These things take time and we are confident of smooth handover in a week’s time,” he said.

Deka welcomed Agnihotri’s assurance but said they would go ahead with their protest if things do not take off in the right earnest.

“The bypass was conceived keeping in mind the increasing number of mishaps on the stretch that passes through the university. We would also like the administration to ensure a speed limit of 40km per hour on the existing stretch in the interim phase,” he said.

Gauhati University vice-chancellor .K. Medhi said the pace of work has slowed down but all agencies involved in the execution of the project had promised to sort out all problems in a review meeting held on April 9.

“We will meet again after three months,” he said.

The issue was also raised by the PWD (building and national highway department) at the two-day deputy commissioner/superintendent of police meet that concluded yesterday. A source said the firm executing the project has told the PWD that it would not be able to continue work since the department had not been able to hand over encumbrance-free land to it.

It even sought price escalation if the PWD wanted to continue according to the tender clause. The original cost of the project was Rs 47 crore in 2010 but was revised to Rs 58 crore in 2011 because of additional features.

The PWD has acquired 40 bighas of private land and 80 bighas of government land.

It had even released the compensation amount of Rs 13.9 crore in 2009, following which the affected people moved court in May 2010.

But the court ruled in favour of the project on January 3, 2011.

“The district administration gave possession of the land to the PWD in February 2011 but it was not free of encumbrance. Since the PWD does not have the power to evict, work has been progressing at a very slow pace. One affected party dismantled his dwelling on his own after getting the compensation amount. The completion date was March 2012,” the source said.

http://www.telegraphindia.com/112050...p#.T6R4yFIgn48

[sunny20rocky]

May 4: Dispur has given the green signal to procure an amphibian dredger to clean up the waterbodies of the city.

“GMDA has issued a tender to get the equipment,” the chief executive officer of Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority, M. Angamuthu, told The Telegraph today. He said chief minister Tarun Gogoi has taken a personal interest to see the city clean and has given his assent to procure the equipment.

The estimated cost of the machine is Rs 5-Rs 6 crore.

He said amphibian dredgers have been used to clean the Dal lake in Kashmir. “We have placed the quotation today,” he said.

The official said barring the waterbodies, it could also be used to clean up big drains. “The aim is to clean up the Bharalu,” he added.

The dredger will be equipped with a hydraulic self-propulsion system, cutter and pumps. One of the conditions is that the firm should have supplied at least three similar dredgers during the past five years in the country with proof of satisfactory performance from the client.

The firm should have an annual turnover of Rs 5 crore in the past three years.

Officials said because of clogged drains — the result of a huge accumulation of plastics and other materials — there were flash floods in the city after a downpour.

In previous meetings, Gogoi called upon officials to make an effort to keep the city clean at all costs. He said a new act would be formulated under which a penalty will be imposed on those breaching the cleanliness norms.

Under the Clean School, Clean Guwahati project laun-ched recently by Gogoi, the top three “cleanest schools” of the city will be given cash awards — Rs 1 lakh, Rs 75,000 and Rs 50,000 respectively.

http://www.telegraphindia.com/112050...p#.T6R5ZlIgn48

[sunny20rocky]

Job training scheme for 2 lakh youths


Guwahati, May 4: Dispur has formulated a scheme to impart training to two lakh youths in identified employable trades during the 12th Five Year Plan (2012-2017).

In the first phase, 150 youths will be imparted training under the multi-disciplinary skill development programme (MDSP), which was inaugurated by chief minister Tarun Gogoi here today.

“This scheme will go a long way to mitigate unemployment, which is considered one of the burning problems of Assam. The need for arming youths with soft and hard skills has been felt over the years. Development and creation of jobs are a priority and with time, new jobs require new skills like the skills required to be a tattoo artist or a beautician to cite a few examples,” Gogoi said while addressing the gathering at the function.

The flagship programme taken up by the industries and commerce department during 2011-12, aims to provide skill development training in demand-based employable trades and extend handholding support to youths for acquiring jobs. The training will comprise soft skills development for capacity building, hard skills development in employable trades, skills upgrade of local entrepreneurs and setting up a job studio.

“The department has carried out a resource mapping survey across the state to determine the natural and human resources available in the districts. For example, in regard to water hyacinth, it was found that Morigaon and Golaghat were the resource-rich districts,” industries and commerce minister Pradyut Bordoloi said.

The department will first set up four multi-disciplinary skill development training centres at Badarpurghat (Karimganj), Bilasipara (Dhubri), Bajiagaon (Nagaon) and Margherita (Tinsukia), besides upgrading the existing facilities at the Cottage Industries Training Institute in Kalapahar here.

“Another 23 centres will come up during 2012-13 under a plan to provide one centre to each district of the state. The department has proposed to create 219 training centres covering every block in the state, in a bid to impart training to two lakh youths by end of the 12th Plan in 2017,” Bordoloi said.

Till the centres come up, training under the scheme will be arranged in institutes such as the National Academy of Construction, Hyderabad, MSME Tool Room Training Centre, Guwahati, Central Institute of Plastic Engineering & Technology (CIPET), Changsari, National Small Industries Corporation (NSIC), National Centre for Design and Product Development, New Delhi, among others.

A total of 4,359 micro and small units had filed the entrepreneurship memoranda- form 1 (intent to invest) from January 1 to July 18 last year, with an expected workforce requirement of 1,85,726 people in different sectors.

Along with modernisation of the industrial sector, the need for a demand-driven skilled workforce in the manufacturing and service sectors has increased.

Besides, the existing trades taught in the industrial training institutes (ITIs) and other vocational institutes are not compatible to meet the demands in the modern industrial scenario.

The industry department in its mission for providing handholding support will also create a job studio cell in 2012-13 where a database of skills of trained persons and the requirement of skilled manpower for industries would be maintained. The information will also be uploaded in the departmental e-portal.

“The need for skilled manpower goes back to 2006, the year before foundation of the gas cracker project at Lepetkata, when 4,000 bighas were required for the project. Those who had to part with their land had demanded semi and skilled jobs for at least one member of the family. Of the 14,000 workers that the project demanded, there was a requirement for 5,000 skilled labourers. Towards that end, we had in 2007 selected youths from Tinsukia, Sivasagar, Dibrugarh and Jorhat districts and sent them in batches to the National Academy of Construction in Hyderabad for training,” the industry minister added.


http://www.telegraphindia.com/112050...p#.T6R6M1Ign48

[sunny20rocky]

Guwahati, May 4: Dispur has constituted a panel of experts comprising vice-chancellors and officials of corporate houses who will visit top universities and colleges in the US, the UK and China, and take tips from the premier institutes that can be implemented at home.

Education minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the panel headed by the vice-chancellor of Dibrugarh University, K.K. Deka, would visit the leading institutions, including Oxford University, and then submit comprehensive reports as how the curriculum of Assam’s universities and colleges can be modified by incorporating components from these leading foreign institutions.

He said besides the vice-chancellor, the expert committee includes the former chairman-cum-managing director of OIL, Nayanmoni Bora, managing director of Bina Refinery, Madhya Pradesh, Bhupati Das, and corporate leader Ranjit Borthakur.

The team will together help prepare syllabi for college and university education by suitably blending conventional, skill development and professional courses to enhance students’ employability.

“Assam will be the first state in the country to launch the higher education mission to bring about drastic changes in university education. Forming of the expert committee is the preliminary exercise to launch the mission. Students of colleges and universities in the state cannot be job seekers after completing their education. Rather they should be job givers, for which we must make a departure from conventional education,” Sarma said, while addressing a convention of vice-chancellors and college principals here.

The expert panel is expected to submit its report within the next six months.

“During my recent visit to the US and other foreign countries I had keenly observed that the sole objective of their higher education is to prepare syllabi in such a manner that students can have multiple choices of careers and accordingly employ themselves after their education in suitable profession. Our system is totally reverse where we are forcing a student to become a surgeon who otherwise has a good hand for photography,” the minister said.

He said the government is planning to introduce the “credit system” by which university students would earn credit for the successful completion of each course in each academic term.

Chief minister Tarun Gogoi distributed cheques to college principals at the event for various projects, including infrastructure development, digital libraries and college magazines and youth festivals.

Speaking on the occasion, Gogoi said there is much to be done to bring about reforms in the education sector in the state.

He expressed serious concern that the universities in the state are functioning monotonously and there is no effort to bring about innovation in the field of higher education.

“Our system of education has become outdated and it is high time to change. The conventional definition of education must be changed and more stress should be given on skill development depending on students’ aptitude. I consider that even good hair-cutting and inking tattoo is part of education since they create an opportunity to earn a living,” Gogoi said.

K.K. Deka said higher education across the globe has witnessed a sea change in terms of curriculum, which must be reflected in Assam too. He said his university has already sent an instruction to all its affiliated colleges to introduce innovative courses.

[sunny20rocky]

GUWAHATI, May 4: Toilet paper, sanitary napkins, shampoo sachets, leftover rice, and a range of plastic items: these are the mind-boggling list of items men from the Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) find when they descend into the city’s sewers. The GMC authorities are now on a cleaning drive of city’s clogged sewers.

But the city residents say that the timing of the cleaning drive chosen by the GMC authorities is not right as the monsoon has already set in and the drive will not help much to get the residents out of the drain related woes. And the worst thing is that all the items after being lifted from the sewers are ‘nicely’ kept alongside the roads for number of days as if the roadsides are the dumping places.

GMC sources said that Rs 6.63 crore was earmarked for cleaning of 88 of the city’s big drains and 27 contractors were given the job. GMC sources added that the cleaning drive would be completed by May 15. “With the present speed, it will not be possible for the GMC personnel to complete the cleaning drive of the city’s drains within the May 15 deadline. It will need almost a month’s time to complete the process,” said the GMC sources.

GMC sources further added that Rs 3.2 crore was earmarked for cleaning of 79 of the drains in the city’s residential areas and 15 contractors were given the job.

It is also alleged that the GMC authorities had submitted a report to the district administration saying that it had completed the cleaning of the drains in the city. But the reality is totally different. Many of the drains in the city are yet to be cleaned by the GMC men.

http://www.sentinelassam.com/ghy_cit...5&ppr=1#116128

[sunny20rocky]

May 9: The Assam Tourism Development Corporation Limited plans to launch a dedicated airport radio taxi service by August.

The corporation will operate the service under public-private partnership model.

“At present, there is no dedicated airport radio taxi service from the city to the airport,” Assam Tourism Development Corporation Limited managing director Anurag Singh told The Telegraph.

A meeting will be held with the bidders on May 23.

People coming from the airport to the city often face problems at the pre-paid counter at the airport as sometimes there are not enough vehicles.

Most of the cities like Delhi, Calcutta, Mumbai and Bangalore have radio taxi service.

In the first phase, the Assam Tourism Development Corporation will purchase a fleet of about 15 vehicles and make these ready with the following accessories:

• Electronic meter-cum-printer

• Electronic roof-top signs

• Radio taxi road map/digital map

• GPS device

• Other related accessories

The corporation plans to make the fare competitive yet keep it relatively affordable to make it a popular form of public transport.

This will be reviewed from time to time by the corporation for approval.

“The vehicles would be brand new and would be purchased by the tourism corporation and these would be placed at the disposal of the service provider for day-to-day operation,” Singh said.

The radio taxis will have fuel-efficient diesel engines with lower emission and noise levels.

“The specifications of the vehicle that qualifies for the operation will be decided by the corporation,” Singh said.

The corporation is looking for firm, company, tour operator and travel agency, which have experience in the similar nature of business to manage and operate the airport radio taxi service on revenue-sharing basis initially for a period of three years.

“A separate and distinct colour scheme of the vehicles will be adopted for easy identification under the scheme. The service will be known as ATDC airport service,” Singh said.

There would be an Assam Tourism Development Corporation counter at the airport, he said.

The arrangement of vehicles, their operation and management would be under public-private partnership model.

The selected operator will have to bear the day-to-day operational expenses like engagement of drivers and other support staff, fuel, minor repair and maintenance, servicing charges, parking charges and a call centre.

The vehicles will be provided to a selected private operator/service provider for day-to-day operation initially for a period of three years according to the terms and conditions of an agreement between the corporation and the private party.

The corporation will approach the Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport to provide a separate parking area for the vehicles under this arrangement.

A small space will be provided inside the airport building at the Assam tourism counter for facilitating booking of the taxis for the visitors.


http://www.telegraphindia.com/112051...p#.T6sjF1Ign48

[sunny20rocky]

Kangkan Kalita, TNN | May 10, 2012, 10.45PM IST


GUWAHATI: A month after the British-era central jail at Kedar Road in Fancy Bazar was shifted to a new location at Sarusojai, the Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) has decided to convert the 64 bigha sprawling old jail campus into a merry-making point.

The only open space in Fancy Bazar, Machkhowa and the nearby Paltan Bazar area is all set to become a popular amusement destination with an open air auditorium, food court and toy train, M Angamuthu, CEO of the GMDA said on Thursday.

However, since the lucrative plot in the heart of the city is under encroachment, the GMDA will have to first free the land from encroachment. One katha of government land in the city now costs Rs 50 lakh, which is the highest in the northeast.

"In one month's time, the GMDA will demarcate the 64 bigha old campus of the central jail. We will go for decongestion of the land plot. We are also planning to construct a multi-level parking place with minimum three levels. We hope the traffic snarls in the city caused by road side parking will reduce considerably as we have a plan to accommodate as many as 5,000 vehicles in the multi-level parking to come up in this plot of land," said Angamuthu.

He said the road network around plot of land will be developed in such a way that the entire area is turned into a complete pedestrian zone. The GMDA will carry out an eviction drive with the help of the district administration soon to demolish illegal structures that have come up inside the jail land with the passage of time. Angamuthu said the GMDA will make the open space above the parking lot an ideal place for relax ation.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/c...w/13085663.cms

[sunny20rocky]

GUWAHATI, May 12 – Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, who is also in charge of the Guwahati Development Department, today made a tour of Guwahati city along with Water Resources Minister Rajiv Lochan Pegu and senior officers to monitor the operation launched to clean the drains and directed the officers concerned to expedite the process to prevent water logging during the rainy season.

The first stop of the tour of the Chief Minister was the Jonali path in RG Baruah road, where the desiltation and cleaning operation of the Bharalu river is going on. The work is being carried out by the Water Resources Department at a cost of Rs 65.12 lakh. The Water Resources Minister apprised the Chief Minister of the progress of the work, and said that the five-kilometer stretch of the Bharalu river, the main drainage channel of the city, would be cleaned during the operation. Gogoi directed the Water Resources Department to expedite the work.

The Chief Minister also monitored the de-siltation and cleaning of the drains in RG Baruah road and Gopinath Bordoloi road and directed the authorities of the Guwahati Municipal Corporation to complete the work before the onset of monsoon season.

Gogoi then visited the Uzanbazar area to see the progress of the construction of drains and pavement. He spoke to local people including office bearers of Save Guwahati Build Guwahati, who apprised the Chief Minister of the problems faced by the residents of the area due to water logging. He assured the people that the Government would try to complete the ongoing schemes as soon as possible and sought the cooperation of the people in this regard.

The Chief Minister also visited GS Road and Kahilipara areas to see the process of cleaning of the drains.

http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/...d=may1312/at07

[sunny20rocky]

Guwahati, May 13: The Centre is mulling a Rs 120-crore special package to rejuvenate the handicrafts sector in the Northeast.

“There has been no scheme till date in the handicrafts sector in an integrated and holistic manner though the region is rich in this sector. To overcome the lacuna, it is proposed to have an inclusive growth scheme for the development and promotion of handicrafts of the region,” North Eastern Handicrafts and Handlooms Development Corporation Limited managing director Jagdish Borah told The Telegraph.

The Planning Commission-constituted working group on the handicrafts sector has proposed a special Rs 120-crore scheme for the Northeast in the Twelfth Plan to provide an integrated and inclusive model for the overall development and promotion of the handicrafts.

The total proposed outlay for the country has been kept at Rs 4,519.06 crore.

The Northeast has more than 8.87 lakh artisans employed in the sector with production of around 2.4 lakh units contributing around Rs 500 crore to this sector.

Some of the initiatives, which have been proposed in the special package, are setting up of state design centres, design bank, raw material bank and international craft complex at Guwahati on public-private partnership model.

The important crafts of this region are cane and bamboo, mat weaving, basket making, woodcraft, brass craft, artistic textiles/hand block printing, jewellery, stonework, terracotta and jute products.

The working group said there was a need for dedicated scheme for the region. Despite the good quality of handicrafts and diverse range, the sector has not gained access to the national and international markets, it said.

The handicrafts of this region also suffer on account of logistics problems.

The sector in the region requires assistance to meet the high transport cost, dedicated and exclusive set up for development and promotion of the products, enhanced marketing opportunities through an umbrella organisation, rationalisation of taxes, tariffs and other levies among all states of the region on items of handicrafts and their input materials.

“The target is to convert a strong and skilled workforce of more than 5,000 entrepreneurs into successful marketers/exporters over a passage of three years with the creation of strong backward integration (when an organisation controls subsidiaries that produce some of the inputs used in production) by creating additional employment of more than 5 lakh people in the next five years,” Borah said.

He said some of the major problems that the handloom and handicraft sectors in the region faced are lack of design, innovation and technology upgrade, limited resources for production, distribution and marketing.

The group in its report said one of the objectives was to create northeastern handicrafts and handmade textiles clusters as centres of excellence with well-integrated forward and backward linkages.

“It is also to provide adequate infrastructure to improved quality and productivity and enable entrepreneurs/artisans to access a larger market segment, both domestic and international,” the group said in its report. It added that it would also increase competitiveness of entrepreneurs of the region and their entry into formal economy.



http://www.telegraphindia.com/112051...p#.T7FfwFIgn48

[sunny20rocky]

Guwahati, May 13: Direct selling firms are making vital inroads into the fashion-conscious Northeast, with companies such as Amway, Oriflame and Modicare in a race of one-upmanship in healthcare, skincare and wellness categories.

In line with the trend, Amway India plans to launch a slew of products in health and beauty categories in the region this year. “We had launched a range of healthy ageing products in March. This month, we are launching two more — Nutrilite Coenzyme Q10 Complex (for the heart) and Nutrilite Vision Health with Lutein (for the eyes). We have plans to introduce more products in the second quarter,” Amway India managing director and CEO William S. Pinckney said.

“The launch of healthy ageing category under Nutrilite brand is in line with our strategy to strengthen the wellness portfolio and provide choices of nutritional supplements to different segments of population,” he said.

Healthcare apart, the company is also planning to promote products in the beauty category this year.

Domestic firm, Modicare, which has a turnover of over Rs 100 crore and a range of 125 products in nine categories, is cashing in on the preferences of the region’s fashion-conscious people.

Modicare Limited vice-president (marketing) Manisha Amol told The Telegraph, “The company’s success in categories such as skincare and colour cosmetics, health and wellness in the Northeast can be attributed to its people, who are conscious about health, skin and fashion. Besides, they are more aware of international brands.”

The company, which started its Northeast operations in 1998, has three main centres (Modicare Success Centres) and four billing points in the region.

“Of late, we have done well in Dimapur, Tinsukia, Gangtok and Guwahati. In the wellness category, the brand, Protein Nourisher, has grown by over 300 per cent in terms of sales in the Northeast. Our strategy this year would be to gear up sales and promotion through events, fashion shows, besides theme-based programmes. We intend to hold more training programmes for our consultants as well,” Amol said.

Amway considers the Northeast a potential zone to drive its growth. “The Northeast contributes a significant pie of Amway’s business. In the first quarter of this year also, all northeastern states have registered double-digit growth,” the company’s managing director said.

Assam registered a growth of 35 per cent during the first quarter (January to March 2012) while Tripura recorded the highest growth at 61 per cent.

“Amway India has clocked a turnover of Rs 2,130 crore in 2011, registering a growth of 19 per cent over 2010. Amway East is the highest growing zone, with a first quarter growth of 25 per cent. In the Northeast, we are intensifying our focus on locations with high distributor base, productivity, expansion, extensive training of our distributors and home delivery,” Pinckney added.

Swedish cosmetics major Oriflame, too, is going aggressive in the marketing and promotion of beauty and skincare products in the region.

“The Northeast, with its growing fashionable population, has vast potential and Guwahati has emerged one of the biggest branches in the country. People in the region have a great understanding of beauty and well-being. Fragrances, colour cosmetics and skincare are the top three selling categories. We have skincare products for all ages. Men’s creams are a fast moving segment,” an official of the company had said recently.

Oriflame offers a portfolio of over 650 products for men, women and children in four key categories of colour cosmetics, skincare, personal and hair care, fragrances and accessories.

The region accounts for nearly 20 per cent of Oriflame’s sales in the country, and the company is adding 25 more service points here to make the tally 100. It currently has over 70 service points in the region.


http://www.telegraphindia.com/112051...p#.T7FgX1Ign48

[sunny20rocky]

May 15: The Guwahati Municipal Corporation today issued an order prohibiting use and sale of disposable plastic utensils and thermocol in the city.

The GMC order has been issued after taking into consideration the fact that drains in the city are clogged to capacity with plastic packets and other similar items, thereby obstructing free flow of water.

Under this particular order, no person will be allowed to indulge in the sale or use of plastic cups, plates or similar products.

Besides, people will also have to refrain from using thermocol for packaging of food products like fish, vegetables and ice among others.

They will also refrain from depositing plastic items and thermocol at a public place or a drain or waterbody within the GMC area after three weeks of issuance of this order.

The order also stated that no carry bags shall be made available to the customers free of cost. Minimum price of carry bags — depending upon their quality and size — will be charged as and when a notification is issued by the GMC in this regard.

“People in the city continue to throw plastics items into drains. In fact during the ongoing de-siltation process, a large quantity of plastics has been dug out by the workers. The plastic items are non bio-degradable and have been the major cause behind clogging of small and major drains here. As a result, outflow of excess rainwater is obstructed, thereby resulting in flash floods during heavy rain. To put an end to this we have issued an order banning use of plastic cups, plates and thermocol,” GMC commissioner Puru Gupta said.

The corporation has given buyers and traders here a period of three weeks to comply with this order or face strict action.

“If anyone fails to abide by the order and is found retailing or wholesaling plastics cups and plates, we will seize the entire stock. His trade licence can be also cancelled and the premises of his shop closed down. We can also file a criminal case against him depending on the nature of the case. Be it a small or a big trader, no offender will be spared,” Gupta said.

“If any one wishes to use plastic carry bags they will have to pay for it. We will also fix the price of these bags in such a manner that the customers will feel the pinch in their pockets. Factors like dimension, thickness and label of the plastics will be taken into consideration while fixing their price,” Gupta said.

Major malls in the city are already charging customers a few bucks if they wish to carry their new purchases in plastic bags.

Seujee Dharanee the Green Earth, an NGO, has appreciated the initiative taken by the GMC.

The NGO had recently carried out a survey on use of polythene in the city. The survey found that almost 70 per cent of those surveyed were willing to abandon use of polythene bags if they found an alternative.

Only 20 per cent were unaware about the adverse impact of polythene bags and the remaining 10 per cent blamed their negligence.

“The impact of polythene bags is terrible. Now an alternative that is cost effective and easy to carry should be made available in the market. Organic resources like jute and water hyacinth that are available here in abundance can be used to make such carry bags,” said Satya Ranjan Borah, president of the NGO, said.


http://www.telegraphindia.com/112051...p#.T7MGKFIgn48

[sunny20rocky]

GUWAHATI: Cotton College is emphasizing on improving the quality of education and research and solve the hostel accommodation problem so that college can be at par with national and international educational institutions, principal of Cotton College, Nirada Devi said.

"The purpose is to present the northeastern region as an educational hub. The college is soon to be given the status of a university and once that is done, we will collaborate with national and foreign universities and organize exchange programmes for the academic development of teachers and students," said Devi.

Devi stated that the college has been witnessing a healthy competition from other private educational institutions and to maintain its status as a centre of excellence, the college will put more emphasis on its academic pursuits. "We not only want to be the best in the northeast, but at par with national and foreign educational institutions as well," she added.

The 112-year educational institute, which is considered one of the best educational centres in the northeast, is known for its outstanding results in different examinations at various levels. The college authorities is gearing up for the college to be upgraded to a university; the infrastructure of the college will also be developed to include better hostel facilities, smart digital classrooms and research cells.

Since there is no hostel for female students, Devi said that hostel facility for women is their top priority. "Due to the limitation of seats, the female students have to opt for private hostels. However, parents of girls are mostly hesitant in putting their wards in private hostels because of the high rates and security problem. I have already sent some proposals to the government. Some of the boy's hostels are in a dilapidated condition and we plan to improve the boy's hostels too. Though funds were sanctioned to improve the hostel conditions, the issue of preservation of heritage buildings came up. A good environment will foster a positive outlook amongst students," she added.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/c...w/13159709.cms

[sunny20rocky]

Kolkata-based Medica Superspeciality Hospital plans to double its capacity to 1,000 beds in West Bengal this year.

Bulk of the capacities will be added at the existing hospitals with a total of 500 beds in Kolkata and Siliguri in North Bengal. Also on the cards is a new 300-bed hospital at Asansol in South Bengal. The company recently purchased two acres of land at Asansol.

“We expect to achieve 1,000-bed capacity in West Bengal alone by the end of this year,” Dr Alok Roy, chairman, Medica Hospitals Pvt Ltd, told Business Line.

Other states

Apart from West Bengal, Medica will soon set up three hospitals through brown-field expansion at Ranchi in Jharkhand, at Banaras in Uttar Pradesh, and at Guwahati in Assam. A new hospital is also planned in Bihar capital Patna.

The company will invest Rs 300 crore for its expansion. Of the total, Rs 55 crore is raised from private equity.

The company is planning to set up a nursing institute and a training centre for paramedical staff in Kolkata. “The facility will meet our increasing demand for nurses,” Dr Roy added.

[sunny20rocky]

May 17: Chief minister Tarun Gogoi today met a team of officials from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to check the progress of a water supply project in the city, whose implementation is being assisted by the Japanese agency. Gogoi also discussed a new sewerage system project that will be implemented soon.

“There are certain practical problems that workers are facing while laying pipes for the new water supply project . At times it is difficult to detect where underground telephone cables lie and these may get damaged when workers dig the ground to lay water pipes. But we will have to face these problems and proceed with the effective implementation of the project, which once completed, will help provide water to several households across the city. However, workers are taking care to ensure that least amount of discomfort is caused to the public work is in progress,” a senior official of the Guwahati development department said.

Also, plans have already been prepared for a new sewer system project that has been undertaken by the Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) and will be funded by JICA. The Rs 16,000-crore project will take about seven years to complete.

“The city does not have a (proper) sewerage system and there is an urgent need for one, taking into account the sewage that is generated from households and business establishments from the city every day. Copies of the plan have been submitted to the department of economic affairs, Union ministry of finance and Union ministry of urban development. The project will be implemented once the plan is approved by the ministries,” said the official.

Under this project, sewerage treatment plants will be established at Boragaon on the outskirts of the city. After the treatment, the solid wastes will be disposed of and the treated water will be supplied to industries in the city. “The sewerage system will be very modern and the sewage generated will be treated before segregating it. Since industries require a huge amount of water on a daily basis, this treated water from the sewerage treatment plant can be supplied to them. This will help save water from other sources,” said the official.


http://www.telegraphindia.com/112051...p#.T7XM58pVLSg

[sunny20rocky]

May 17: Dighalipukhuri, the little splash of history which was dug by king Bhagadatta of Pragjyotishpur for his daughter Bhanumati’s swayamvar, will be turned into an iconic tourist spot of international import, if Dispur’s plan works out.

“The Centre has already prioritised the project for funding and we have been asked to prepare a detailed project report by June,” managing director of Assam Tourism Development Corporation Limited Anurag Singh told The Telegraph.

The estimated project cost is Rs 25 crore.

“There would be improvement of the water quality of the pond with the latest technology and the surroundings would be beautified,” Singh said, adding that the length and breadth of the pond would not be disturbed.

Bhupen Hazarika’s statue will also be well preserved and beautified with a unique lighting system, Singh said.

Dighalipukhuri is a rectangular artificial 4.5-hectare pond, originally supposed to have been dug straight out from the Brahmaputra. The pond derived its name because of its half-a-mile length, (dighol).

Historian Rai Bahadur Kanaklal Barua (1872-1940) in his seminal masterpiece Early History of Kamrup wrote that the “Dighali-pukhuri was as old as the epic Mahabharat itself. Dighali-pukhuri’s history dates back to the time of the Mahabharat.”

One part of history mentions how king Bhagadatta of Pragjyotishpur — present-day Guwahati — had dug the tank for his daughter Bhanumati’s swayamvar.

Dighalipukhuri now makes for a soothing getaway in the evening hours, thanks to its relaxing ambience and boating facilities.

The Assam Tourism Development Corporation Limited has invited expression of interest for consultancy services and preparation of detailed project report for development and beautification of the waterbody.

The selected company would have to prepare a concept design for complete beautification with recreational facilities, lighting, creation of iconic structure and symbols and pathways, gardens, and landscaping.

A detailed plan for improvement of the quality of water will also have to be chalked out, besides an effective traffic management plan for areas leading to the waterbody.

“Once the firm is selected, it will then have to prepare the detailed project report within 35 days. Before that, the firm will have to give us a concept note,” Singh said.

The detailed project report will then go to the government for approval. Once that is cleared, a firm will then be selected for execution of the project. The last date for submission of bids is May 31 and the bids would be opened on June 8.

Singh said the corporation would keep all factors in mind like the waterbody’s proximity to Gauhati High Court, Cotton College and other institutions, and the need for improvement of traffic in the area.

The pond is surrounded by a number of other institutions like Handique Girls College, Assam State Museum, Rabindra Bhawan, India Club and District Library.

The Ambari excavations make for an important archaeological site close to Dighalipukhuri.
http://www.telegraphindia.com/112051...p#.T7XQj8pVLSg

[sunny20rocky]

NEW DELHI, May 18 – The Railways have projected an outlay of Rs 17,495 crore for completion of 13 new line projects in the North Eastern region.

The new projects taken up by the Railways envisage to bring all the State capitals of the North Eastern region barring Sikkim on the railway map of the country. The 13 new lines on completion will provide connectivity to all State capitals, said Minister of State for Railway Bharat Sinh Solanki.

The capitals of Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Manipur and Mizoram currently do not have railway connectivity.

A dedicated North Eastern Region Rail Development Fund has been created for funding execution of national projects in the region.

The survey for doubling of Guwahati-Lumding-Tinsukia-Dibrugarh line has been completed. The proposal will be further considered after scrutiny of survey report, the Solanki said in a Rajya Sabha reply.

Gauge conversion of Rangiya-Murkongselek along with completion of Bogibeel bridge will provide alternate route to Dibrugarh-Tinsukia via North bank line, the Minister said in reply to a question by Kumar Deepak Das.

Meanwhile, the Guwahati Railway Station has been identified for development as a world class station on Public-Private-Partnership (PP) mode by leveraging the real estate potential of the land around and the air space above the station, the Minister said in reply to a question by Naznin Faruque.

http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/...d=may1912/at06