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RN-1127/57 TECH/GH – 103/2018-2020, VOL. 82, NO. 206 GUWAHATI, THURSDAY, JULY 30, 2020

82 years of service to the nation

www.assamtribune.com Pages 12+8 Price: 6.00

PLANET Y UNGJuly 30, 2020

Unlocking a

positive outlook

by Marjita Baruah

I, Me, Myself:

Anirban Das

Where is zero?

by Aryisha Mir

Know your world:

Aladdin

Neelotpal Deka

Book Nook, Picture

Crossword.

Plus Quiz, Poems,

My Viewpoint, Little

Hearts, Comics and other

features.

JOCOSERIOUS

Survey is carried out on

elephant and tiger numbers,

while we are always

discriminated against!

p2 p11Political slugfest inSikkim over virus spread

Iran launches undergroundballistic missiles during exercise

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

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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)

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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,

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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,

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antioxidant potentiality and their

molecular characterization .”

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I, Purbasha Paul, D/o Prabal

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Guwahati-781022 have changed

my name to Bhramari Paul vide

affidavit dated 27-07-2020

before the Judicial Magistrate,

Kamrup.

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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!

(patricia.mukhim@gmail.com)

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: editor@assamtribune.com.

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)

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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: advt@assamtribune.com; news@assamtribune.com; atribunenews@gmail.com.

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

planet_young@assamtribune.com]

PAGE 2 THE ASSAM TRIBUNE,

GUWAHATI, THURSDAY, JULY 30, 2020

1 2

3

10

8

6

4

15

13

11

9

7

5

16

14

12

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!”

(only4_pol@yahoo.co.uk)

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.