Assam CA 6 June

1.

An alleged poacher was injured in firing with forest rangers which took place at Laokhowa Wildlife Sanctuary in Assam on June 5 night

About the sanctuary:

It is a part of the Laokhowa-Burachapori eco-system. The sanctuary is an ideal habitat for Indian rhinoceros and Asiatic water buffaloes. Other animals found here are the Bengal tiger, Indian leopard, Indian boar, leopard cat, hog deer. Over 200 species of birds have been recorded in the sanctuary, including migratory birds

Laokhowa had more than 70 Indian rhinos in early 1980s which were all killed by poachers. In 2016, two rhinos, a mother and her daughter, were reintroduced to the sanctuary from Kaziranga National Park as part of the Indian Rhino Vision 2020 (IRV 2020) program, but both animals died within months due to natural causes

2.

Assam Government will be extending an ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh each to the next of kin of the victims of Assam-Arunachal border firing incident that took place on June 5. 

Additionally, the injured persons, Jagat Gogoi and Puspa Gogoi will be receiving Rs 1 lakh each

a shooting accident took place in Assam’s Dhemaji district on June 5 resulting in two fatalities and two others getting injured.

The incident took place at Dhemaji district’s Panbari area which is located along the Assam-Arunachal border, where some unidentified miscreants from Arunachal Pradesh opened fire at the men who were planting saplings on the occasion of World Environment Day.

What were past efforts to resolve this issue?

In April 1979, a high-powered tripartite committee was constituted to delineate the boundary on the basis of Survey of India maps, as well as discussions with both sides. While around 489 km of the 800 km were demarcated by 1983-84, futher demarcation could not take place because Arunachal did not accept the recommendations and claimed several kilometres of the 3,648 sq km, which was transferred to Assam in line with the 1951 report.

Assam objected to this and filed a case in the Supreme Court in 1989, highlighting an “encroachment” made by Arunachal Pradesh.

To resolve the dispute between the states, the apex court appointed a local boundary commission in 2006, headed by a retired SC judge. In September 2014, the local commission submitted its report. Several recommendations were made (some of which suggested Arunachal Pradesh get back some of the territory which was transferred in 1951), and it was suggested that both states should arrive at a consensus through discussions. However, nothing came of it.

3.

In a significant step towards promoting agricultural development in the North East region, 3F Oil Palm, the country’s leading end-to-end Oil Palm Plantation and Processing company, joined hands with the State Government of Assam to organize a momentous ceremonial plantation of Oil Palm under the National Mission on Edible Oil – Oil Palm (NMEO-OP). The event took place at Bokanala, Baginadi Block, Lakhimpur

The collaboration between 3F Oil Palm and the Assam Government aims to uplift farming communities and contribute to India’s self-reliance in edible oils. This first Oil Palm Plantation under the NMEO-OP in Assam signifies the government’s commitment to the development and progress of the Oil Palm Plantation sector.

3F Oil Palm, known for its expertise in the industry, has already established a state-of-the-art oil palm nursery in Bokulbari village, Lakhimpur district, with another nursery in the pipeline at Chirang. The company’s dedication to Oil Palm development and processing led to the signing of an MOU with the Government of Assam in December 2022. As part of the NMEO-OP, 3F Oil Palm aims to develop Oil Palm plantations and processing facilities in sub-zone 1-b and V-a, covering Lakhimpur and Chirang districts.

The ceremonial plantation of Oil Palm under the NMEO-OP is a significant step towards the development of the Oil Palm industry in the state of Assam. It gives me immense pride to note that we are the first company to have commenced our investment and set up a state-of-the-art nursery and commence plantation activities through this ceremony

With ambitious plans to develop 23,500 hectares of Oil Palm plantations over the next five years, 3F Oil Palm is actively seeking a suitable parcel of land for the establishment of a greenfield processing plant. This move will enhance the value chain and contribute to the overall growth of the sector, revolutionizing the agricultural landscape of the North East region. Additionally, the company has an upcoming greenfield integrated Oil Palm processing unit in Arunachal Pradesh.

The ceremonial plantation of Oil Palm under NMEO-OP is a significant milestone in the agricultural development of the North East region. 3F Oil Palm, a pioneer in the field, has been involved in integrated Oil Palm development projects since 1993. Headquartered in Hyderabad, the company is engaged in various aspects of the Oil Palm industry, including nursery activities, development of plantations through contract farming, farmer services, crude palm oil extraction, refining, and power generation. With contract plantations across Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, and Arunachal Pradesh, 3F Oil Palm possesses the only end-to-end supply chain in India, covering seed to sapling, plantation, crude oil, and refined branded Palm Oil. The company operates a total Palm area of approximately 55,000 hectares with five processing units spread across the country.

4.

In a move to streamline the education system, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has announced the abolition of Matriculation or Matric exams in the state. The decision comes as part of the state’s adherence to the National Education Policy (NEP) and aims to provide students with a seamless transition from Class 10 to higher education.

Under the new guidelines, there will be no separate Matriculation examinations in Assam. Instead, the school administration will be responsible for conducting assessments, including class unit tests, for Class 10 students. This change enables students to immediately proceed to Class 11 and 12 after completing their Class 10 exams, without the burden of a separate board examination.

From now onwards, there will be no such examinations called Matriculation or Matric exams. The focus will be on a pass or fail system within the school itself. The decision has been taken to ensure students can begin their studies for Classes 11 and 12 right after completing Class 10.”

To facilitate this educational reform, the Assam Higher Secondary Education Council (AHSEC) and the Board of Secondary Education Assam (SEBA) will merge to form a single organization. This merger aims to streamline administrative processes and ensure a cohesive approach to education at the secondary and higher secondary levels.

5.

Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Shri Nitin Gadkari inaugurated the 4-Lane Section between Nagaon Bypass-Teliagaon, and Teliagaon-Rangagara and laid the foundation for Mangaldai Bypass and the 4-lane section between Daboka-Parakhuwa in Assam

 These 4 projects are worth 1450 Crores symbolizing a significant investment in the state’s infrastructure.

The 18 Km long 4-Lane section between Nagaon Bypass-Teliagaon and Teliagaon-Rangagara is worth Rs 403 Crore. This widened highway enhances accessibility between North Assam and Upper Assam, fueling economic growth and opening new opportunities.

6.

Assam is currently grappling with a power shortage, despite claims by the Energy Minister that there are no power cuts in the state.

With a meagre generation capacity of 250 MW, Assam has to purchase an average of 2,000-2,100 MW of electricity daily from neighboring states to meet the rising demand caused by a scorching heat wave.

The heat wave has compelled the power department to procure additional electricity from neighboring states on a daily basis. While the usual requirement stands at 1,400-1,500 MW, the government is now forced to purchase 2,000-2,100 MW daily due to the heat wave. However, this increased reliance on imports comes with a cost, as the government faces fines for sudden surges in electricity purchases.

As a result, power cuts have become a routine occurrence in certain areas of Assam. Despite these challenges, Energy Minister Nandita Garlosa has denied the allegations of power cuts, assuring that the situation will be resolved promptly if any such issues are reported.

The power crisis in Assam can be attributed to various factors, including low rainfall and technical difficulties that have hampered the generation capacity of key projects. With 385 MW of electricity generation hindered, Assam currently generates only 250 MW. However, the demand for electricity continues to rise daily, particularly due to the heat wave, with an estimated requirement of 2,300-2,500 MW.

To meet this demand, the power department has resorted to purchasing electricity at high rates from neighboring states such as Manipur, Tripura, and NEEPCO. However, the limited capacity for imported electricity poses a challenge, as exceeding the allotted limits incurs penalties of Rs. 8-9 per unit.

Moreover, Assam faces the issue of unfinished power projects that could potentially contribute hundreds of megawatts to the state’s power supply. Projects such as the Silchar Power Project (30 MW), Margherita Thermal Project (660 MW), and the procurement of two projects near Barapani (14 MW) remain incomplete. Instead of prioritizing these projects, the emphasis has been on buying electricity from outside sources, leaving the reasons behind this decision shrouded in mystery.

The unfinished Namrup Replacement Project (100 MW) and Lakua Replacement Project (70 MW) also contribute to the electricity shortage in the state. As a result, there are concerns about how long the rising electricity demand will continue to strain Assam’s power supply.

Immediate attention is required to address the incomplete projects and alleviate the persistent power shortage in Assam. With the heat wave intensifying and the demand for electricity on the rise, resolving the power crisis remains a pressing concern for the state.

7.

The cabinet approved to implement green power projects (cumulative capacity 620 MW) under joint venture between Assam Power Generation Corporation (APGCL) and OIL.

At least seven green power projects will be implemented in the following district:

• 70-MW Sonbeel Floating Solar Power Project
• 100-MW Tezpur Agrivoltaic Project
• 40-MW Golaghat Floating Solar Power Project
• 200-MW Margherita Solar Power Project
• 50 MW Lower Kopili Agrivoltaic Project
• 60-MW Chandrapur PSP with Solar Power Project
• 100-MW Batadrava Agrivoltaic Project

The above mentioned projects will be funded in debt-ratio of 80:20 with no liability on state government.

 as many as 125 small producer organizations and 1,250 farmers and their families will be benefited from the projects.

Meanwhile, the proposed projects in Sonitpur, Nagaon, Dima Hasao district of Assam will boost the sustainable economic growth.

The following are additional key decisions taken in the cabinet meeting:

New 70 MW Solar Project

• Approval to set up a 70 MW Solar Power Plant at Khudigaon Part-II under Bilasipara Revenue Circle in Dhubri district for sale of power to APDCL
• The proposed Solar Power Plant will be developed on Build-Own-Operate mode by Solar Power Generator.

8.

Improving Air Connectivity

• Low-cost air services to be operated between non-UDAN routes
• ATDC will execute an MoU with FlyBig Airline
• In the first phase, such flights will operate on Dibrugarh-Guwahati and Guwahati-Silchar routes on pilot basis for 3 months and gradually the same services will connect other important routes too
• Airlines will sell tickets at market price, and prices cannot exceed Rs. 4,500 even during peak demand
• State Govt will provide Viability Gap Funding (VGF) through ATDC for operating of such air services

9.

Department of Science, Technology and Climate Change, Government of Assam conferred ‘Parivesh Mitra Sanman, 2023’ on Dr. Prabal Saikia, the Chief Scientist of Assam Agricultural University (AAU)- Zonal Agricultural Research Station, located in North Lakhimpur, on the occasion of the World Environment Day. Dr. Prabal Saikia is a dedicated environment activist from the district of Lakhimpur who has been actively associated with the conservation of nature and wildlife during the last three decades in his capacity as honorary secretary of Geen Heritage, a nature activist organization of Assam based at Lakhimpur. He has designed and distributed more than ten thousand artificial nest boxes for sparrow free of cost among farmers, students, housewives and common people in 23 districts of Assam and popularized the concept of artificial nest boxes for common birds, viz- sparrow and barn owl. He has initiated citizen sparrow programme in Assam by involving common people to conserve common local birds, did survey of them and established two sparrow villages at Borbali Chamua and Dikhowmukh. He has initiated steps to observe the World Sparrow Day in 23 districts of Assam since 2010 in collaboration with KVKs to sensitize common people about the bird biodiversity of rural and urban ecosystem. He, along with other members of his organization, has also played a crucial role for the protection of Satajan wetland of Lakhimpur district, a unique habitat of residential and migratory birds. He and his team did extensive survey of residential population of river dolphin in Subansiri and conducted extensive awareness programme among riverine communities to conserve the Gangatic River Dolphin population and Golden Mahaseer in Subansiri.

10.

Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday inaugurated the permanent building of the pre-historic Dhalpur Shiva Mandir at Dhalpur in Sipajhar Revenue Circle in Darrang district. He at the same time inaugurated the guest house and pujari griha along with the temple

for the convenience of the devotees of the State to visit the Shiva Mandir and offer their prayers, a good quality road along with three bridges will be built in Dhalpur area. Moreover since the area is flood prone, to save Dhalpur from recurring floods an embankment will be built.

The Dhalpur encroachment started during the late ’70s.

The 5000 years old Dhalpur Shiva Mandir is at the top of the Dhalpur hill in the middle of the river Brahmaputra. The Kirat community established the Cave Mandir during the 4th century. The Archeological Department has discovered many age-old structures at the Mandir site. ……