Bhogdoi Drinking Water Supply Project: A serious health hazard

Bhogdoi Drinking Water Supply Project: A serious health hazard

(Woes of Bhogdoi Part-2)

British era filters still in use

From our Correspondent

JORHAT, July 29: Bhogdoi Water Supply Project of Jorhat Municipal Board (JMB), the oldest water supply project of the town, has turned into a serious health hazard. Thanks to human interference, the Bhogdoi river located at Puja Dubi area of the town has been polluted beyond limits.

According to information received from JMB authorities, the Bhogdoi Water Supply Project was constructed during the British colonial rule in the country and is currently using the same age-old filter. The project provides drinking water to more than 1,200 people of the town, sources said. But, surprisingly, no major renovation project have been taken up so far.

This apart, thousands of people residing on the bank of the river have been throwing their garbage to the river since decades. As a result, the siltation of the river is on the rise for the last few years and the breadth of the river is also decreasing. Moreover, many people residing on the embankment have fixed their toilet outlets to the river at a very short distance from where the drinking water project lies right under the very nose of the district administration as well as the JMB authority.

Therefore, questions are being raised as to how the concerned authorities can allow such unhygienic water supply to provide potable water to the people living here? Why the Water Resources Department and the district administration have been playing the role of a mute spectator on these illegal activities?

It has been alleged that, thousands of people including a large number of suspected illegal migrants have been residing illegally at Puza Dubi on the bank of the river. JMB chairman Prasanta Bora also admitted to the facts and said many people are illegally residing on the bank of Bhogdoi river and have been polluting it.

THE SENTINEL

BJP to raise Assam issues in Parliament

BJP to raise Assam issues in Parliament

From our Correspondent

NEW DELHI, July 28: The BJP and other constituent parties of the NDA will raise the issue of multi-crore-rupee NC Hills scam and suspension of work of the pilot project on NRC update in Parliament. On Monday last, the party’s Guwahati MP Bijoya Chakraborty, Leader of the Opposition Sushma Swaraj and former party president LK Advani held a detailed discussion on the modalities to be followed while raising the burning issues of Assam in the Lok Sabha.

Former Union minister Chakraborty said during the meeting that the rampant corruption presided over by the Congress-led government in Assam and the suspension of the NRC update work should be strongly raised in the Lok Sabha during its monsoon session. “However, we will put pressure on the government on the rise in the prices of essential commodities and the hostile attitude of Pakistan first,” she said, and added: “We want a separate discussion on the issue of corruption in Assam.”

BJP’s chief whip Ramesh Vyas said: “We have decided two dates for raising the burning issues of Assam in Parliament. Such an arrangement has also been taken to raise the issues of Assam in the Rajya Sabha.”

According to party sources, the four BJP MPs from Assam will raise the issues of the State separately in the Lok Sabha. Sushma Swaraj, LK Advani and former Jharkhand Chief Minister Arjun Munda will take part in the discussion on Assam issues.

Meanwhile, AGP MPs Birendra Prasad Baishya and Kumar Dipak Das are also ready to raise the issues of Assam in Parliament. THE SENTINEL

BJP to raise Assam issues in Parliament

BJP to raise Assam issues in Parliament

From our Correspondent

NEW DELHI, July 28: The BJP and other constituent parties of the NDA will raise the issue of multi-crore-rupee NC Hills scam and suspension of work of the pilot project on NRC update in Parliament. On Monday last, the party’s Guwahati MP Bijoya Chakraborty, Leader of the Opposition Sushma Swaraj and former party president LK Advani held a detailed discussion on the modalities to be followed while raising the burning issues of Assam in the Lok Sabha.

Former Union minister Chakraborty said during the meeting that the rampant corruption presided over by the Congress-led government in Assam and the suspension of the NRC update work should be strongly raised in the Lok Sabha during its monsoon session. “However, we will put pressure on the government on the rise in the prices of essential commodities and the hostile attitude of Pakistan first,” she said, and added: “We want a separate discussion on the issue of corruption in Assam.”

BJP’s chief whip Ramesh Vyas said: “We have decided two dates for raising the burning issues of Assam in Parliament. Such an arrangement has also been taken to raise the issues of Assam in the Rajya Sabha.”

According to party sources, the four BJP MPs from Assam will raise the issues of the State separately in the Lok Sabha. Sushma Swaraj, LK Advani and former Jharkhand Chief Minister Arjun Munda will take part in the discussion on Assam issues.

Meanwhile, AGP MPs Birendra Prasad Baishya and Kumar Dipak Das are also ready to raise the issues of Assam in Parliament. THE SENTINEL

AGP hits back at BJP

AGP hits back at BJP

By our Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, July 27: At a time when the AGP-BJP electoral understanding in the 2011 Assembly elections in the State is under cloud, the AGP today hit back at the national party and asked it not to make any comment on the regional party vis-a-vis the issue of Bangladeshis living illegally in the State.

Two BJP leaders — P Chandra Shekhar and Tapir Gao — said at a rally at Golaghat yesterday that the AGP took a stand in favour of Bangladeshis illegally staying in the State. Reacting to the statement made by the two BJP leaders, AGP chief spokesman Atul Bora today said: “The two BJP leaders have no knowledge on the history of Assam and the Assam Agitation, and as such they have no right to make any comment against the AGP on the issue of illegal Bangladeshis. When the BJP-led NDA was in power at the Centre, the AGP was in power at Dispur. However, due to lack of support from the Central Government, the State Government couldn’t implement the Assam Accord.” THE SENTINEL

Former minister likely to be reinducted in Tripura Cabinet

Former minister likely to be reinducted in Tripura Cabinet

Agartala, July 26: Former Tripura Food and Minority Affairs Minister Sahid Chowdhury, who resigned in April 2008 following a controversy over his alleged links with a Bangladeshi arms dealer, is likely to be included in the cabinet, party sources said here today.

“The court has not found any proof against Chowdhury about so-called links with a Bangladeshi arms dealer. Hence, there is no bar on inducting him in the cabinet,” Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) State secretary Bijon Dhar told IANS.

However, Dhar, also a member of the CPI-M Central Committee, said: “No decision was yet taken to include Chowdhury in the ministry headed by Chief Minister Manik Sarkar.”

Chowdhury, a prominent CPI-M Muslim leader, was elected to the State Assembly in the last Assembly polls on February 23, 2008 from the Boxanagar assembly constituency in west Tripura for the third time and became cabinet minister in March in that year for the first time.

A court in Tripura on May 24 this year sentenced Bangladeshi arms dealer Mamun Mian (49), arrested in March 2008 for suspected links with terrorists, to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 1,00,000 on him for forging identity-documents.

The court found Mamun guilty of forging voter’s identity card, ration card, PAN card, driving licence and other documents used for identification. According to police, a resident of Pallabi on the outskirts of the Bangladesh capital, Dhaka, Mamun entered India along with two associates in 2007 and was staying with forged documents as Suman Majumder at a rented house in Agartala.

Mamun was arrested for his involvement in anti-India activities and trafficking arms and explosives. “I had resigned from the council of ministers for the investigation to take place smoothly and to uphold the moral values of politics,” Chowdhury said, adding that all allegations against him about links with Mamun were totally baseless and unfounded. (IANS)

‘Congress fomenting communal trouble to retain its vote bank’

‘Congress fomenting communal trouble to retain its vote bank’

By our Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, July 23: Taking a serious note of the recent Barpeta incident, noted lawyer Nekibur Zaman has alleged that the ruling Congress is trying to keep its Bangladeshi vote bank intact by creating communal disturbance over the issue of update of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in the State.

Talking to The Sentinel today, Zaman said the State Government was even using district administration to foment communal disturbance for its narrow political gains.

At least four persons were killed and over 50 injured in Barpeta town on Wednesday when the police opened fire on activists of the All Assam Minority Students’ Union (AAMSU) when they went berserk in protest against the NRC update exercise.

“If updating of the NRC is completed, the issue of Bangladeshis who came to the State after 1971 will be settled and the Congress will not get their votes. So the Congress is trying to create communal disturbance in order to stop the work on the NRC update. Since these migrants are drifting towards AIUDF and other regional parties, the Congress is desperate to retain its traditional vote bank. By creating such disturbance as in Barpeta, the Congress would try to give the impression that the party is with them and they need not worry,” said the lawyer.

Zaman said, “In fact, the State Government can’t stop the update of the NRC that takes place under the supervision of the Centre.’’

“During the recent rally organized by the Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) in Guwahati, barricades were set up in different places and security personnel deployed on the roads. The KMSS protesters were kept at a distance from the office of the Kamrup Deputy Commissioner. Why weren’t similar security arrangements made for the AAMSU rally in Barpeta?” asked Zaman.

He said, “The Barpeta district administration did not take any step to control the AAMSU rally that covered seven kilometres from Howli to Barpeta. Why were the AAMSU activists allowed to come near the office of the Barpeta Deputy Commissioner? Why did the district administration wait till the situation went out of control?”

THE SENTINEL

AASU demands 100% quota for locals in Group C, D posts

AASU demands 100% quota for locals in Group C, D posts

Lack of definition of ‘indigenous people of Assam’ resented

By our Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, July 20: The Centre today assured the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) of considering its demand for constitutional and political safeguard to the indigenous people of the State. The AASU leaders resented the State Government’s failure to define “indigenous people of Assam” at the meeting. The Assam Government team that took part at the meeting, however, said that the definition would be finalized soon.

Tripartite talks involving leaders of the students’ union and top-level officials of the Centre and the State Government were held in Guwahati today.

After the three-hour-long meeting, AASU advisor Samujjal Bhattacharya said: “We raised the demand for 100 per cent reservation of all Group C and D posts in all boards and Central and semi-central agencies that have offices in the State for indigenous candidates. There should be reservation for indigenous people of the State. We, however, don’t want to disturb the existing SC and ST reservation pattern in the State. We want reservation for local candidates only in places where there are no reservation for ST and ST candidates.”

The AASU leader said: “We have raised the demand for 100 per cent reservation of jobs for indigenous candidates in the Brahmaputra Cracker and Polymer Limited (BCPL), and the demand has received a response from the Central team. The Central team assured us that both the BCPL and the Bogibeel Bridge would be completed by 2012.”

The AASU leader further said that they had raised the demand for preservation of all xatras and other historical monuments of the State. “All encroachers of xatra lands should be evicted soon, and this demand got a positive response from the Central team,” he said, and added: “We have raised the demand for revival of Ashok Paper Mill, and the State Cabinet will take a decision in this regard within two months. We also raised the demand for double railway tracks in the State, and the Central team assured us of taking up the matter with the Railway Ministry.”

On the demand for according national problem status to floods and erosion in the State, Bhattacharya said: “We have raised the matter yet again. The Central team assured us that they would take up the matter with the Ministry of Water Resources. They also gave an assurance on our demand for visit to erosion-affected areas of the State by a Central team. They also agreed to take up the release of water by Bhutan from its Kurichu dam without any prior information.”

According to the AASU leader, they also submitted the expert committee report on mega dams to the Central team.

While the students’ body was represented by its president Sankar Prasad Rai, general secretary Tapan Kumar Gogoi, advisor Samujjal Bhattacharya and Professor Basanta Deka, the Central team was headed by Joint Commissioner of Home Affairs Navin Verma and the State Government by Home Commissioner Jishnu Baruah.

The Sentinel

AICC worried over Akhil’s allegations

AICC worried over Akhil’s allegations

From our Correspondent

NEW DELHI, July 19: The All India Congress Committee (AICC) is worried over the latest political developments in Assam. Top AICC leaders are of the view that the Tarun Gogoi-led Congress-BPF government in Assam is a popular government and that the Congress is all set to make it to Dispur yet again, but the latest developments pertaining to the multi-crore-rupee NC Hills scam and the startling revelations made by Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) general secretary Akhil Gogoi against State Health and Family Welfare Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has disturbed the party high command.

An anti-Tarun Gogoi lobby has always been active in New Delhi, and the latest developments in Assam, including the NC Hills scam and Akhil Gogoi’s allegations against Himanta Biswa Sarma, has made the lobby resume its tirade against the Chief Minister and his trusted lieutenant Himanta Biswa Sarma. A section of Congress leaders from Assam has already met party president Sonia Gandhi’s political secretary Ahmed Patel on the latest situation in Assam. According to sources, some leaders belonging to the anti-Gogoi lobby have also been sending reports of day-to-day developments in Assam, ranging from NC Hills scam to the KMSS’ revelations against Himanta Biswa Sarma, to party general secretary Rahul Gandhi.

Senior AICC leader Motilal Vohra said: “The AICC continues to keep itself informed of the day-to-day happenings in all Congress-ruled States, and what is happening in Assam is in the knowledge of the AICC.’’

A lobby against Tarun Gogoi has been active from Dispur to Delhi, and that lobby is very active now. The lobby includes former MP Kirip Chaliha, Dwijen Sarma, Bishnu Prasad, Sarat Barkataky, Ardhendu Dey, Bhubaneswar Kalita and MP Silvius Condpan, sources said.

“Preparations for Assam Assembly elections will be started after the polls in Bihar. The AICC had the notion that the Tarun Gogoi-led government in Assam would be able to make it to Dispur again, but the latest developments in the State where the Opposition has put the ruling party in an awkward position is a disturbing development and the AICC is worried,’’ Vohra said.

The main Opposition parties, on the other hand, are ready to raise the issue of corruption in Assam and the allegations brought against Himanta Biswa Sarma in the summer session of Parliament. “The issue of corruption in Assam and the allegations brought by KMSS leader Akhil Gogoi against a minister will be raised in Parliament. We will put pressure on the government to bring corruption in Assam and the allegations of Akhil Gogoi under the purview of a CBI probe,” CPI(M) parliamentary party leader Basudev Acharya said.

AICC worried over Akhil’s allegations

AICC worried over Akhil’s allegations

From our Correspondent

NEW DELHI, July 19: The All India Congress Committee (AICC) is worried over the latest political developments in Assam. Top AICC leaders are of the view that the Tarun Gogoi-led Congress-BPF government in Assam is a popular government and that the Congress is all set to make it to Dispur yet again, but the latest developments pertaining to the multi-crore-rupee NC Hills scam and the startling revelations made by Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) general secretary Akhil Gogoi against State Health and Family Welfare Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has disturbed the party high command.

An anti-Tarun Gogoi lobby has always been active in New Delhi, and the latest developments in Assam, including the NC Hills scam and Akhil Gogoi’s allegations against Himanta Biswa Sarma, has made the lobby resume its tirade against the Chief Minister and his trusted lieutenant Himanta Biswa Sarma. A section of Congress leaders from Assam has already met party president Sonia Gandhi’s political secretary Ahmed Patel on the latest situation in Assam. According to sources, some leaders belonging to the anti-Gogoi lobby have also been sending reports of day-to-day developments in Assam, ranging from NC Hills scam to the KMSS’ revelations against Himanta Biswa Sarma, to party general secretary Rahul Gandhi.

Senior AICC leader Motilal Vohra said: “The AICC continues to keep itself informed of the day-to-day happenings in all Congress-ruled States, and what is happening in Assam is in the knowledge of the AICC.’’

A lobby against Tarun Gogoi has been active from Dispur to Delhi, and that lobby is very active now. The lobby includes former MP Kirip Chaliha, Dwijen Sarma, Bishnu Prasad, Sarat Barkataky, Ardhendu Dey, Bhubaneswar Kalita and MP Silvius Condpan, sources said.

“Preparations for Assam Assembly elections will be started after the polls in Bihar. The AICC had the notion that the Tarun Gogoi-led government in Assam would be able to make it to Dispur again, but the latest developments in the State where the Opposition has put the ruling party in an awkward position is a disturbing development and the AICC is worried,’’ Vohra said.

The main Opposition parties, on the other hand, are ready to raise the issue of corruption in Assam and the allegations brought against Himanta Biswa Sarma in the summer session of Parliament. “The issue of corruption in Assam and the allegations brought by KMSS leader Akhil Gogoi against a minister will be raised in Parliament. We will put pressure on the government to bring corruption in Assam and the allegations of Akhil Gogoi under the purview of a CBI probe,” CPI(M) parliamentary party leader Basudev Acharya said.

Naga students in Manipur force shutdown

Naga students in Manipur force shutdown

Senapati (Manipur), July 15: A 72-hour shutdown called by the All Naga Students’ Association of Manipur (ANSAM) in protest over alleged suppression of their rights by the Manipur Government brought normal life to a halt in Manipur’s Senapati district.

“We take up this on-going agitation in protest against the arrest warrant issued against the Naga leaders by the Manipur Government for no fault of theirs. The way and the manner in which the government treated our leaders like criminals is very unfortunate. We feel the only option is to demonstrate our resentment,” said Apem, General Secretary, ANSAM.

The locals are supporting the shutdown call and complaining that the attitude of the state government is step-motherly towards the Naga people. “We totally support the shutdown, because we are against the communal government, which is of Manipur, and their attitude towards the Naga

Nagaland to mobilize communities to boost education

Nagaland to mobilize communities to boost education

Kohima, July 14: The Nagaland Government has communitised all elementary schools, under the Department of School Education, in both rural and urban areas from February 4, 2004 following the enactment of the Nagaland Communitisation of Public Institutions and Services Act on April 15, 2002.

According to the official report of the Department of School Education after the enactment of the Act, initially the Department had communitised a total of 205 elementary schools covering 90 villages in 2002 as a pilot project. In the second phase, 197 schools covering 128 villages were communitised in 2003.

Buoyed by positive response of the community, the Nagaland government had communitised all elementary schools from February 4, 2004. Altogether there are 1,778 communitised elementary schools covering both rural and urban areas under the management and supervision of 118 Village Education Committee (VEC), constituted by selecting members from the area where the school is situated.

Under the initiative of VEC, the community had been taking an important part in academic and development works by sponsoring additional private teachers to solve the problem of shortage of teachers. Some of the VEC had set up free coaching and remedial classes to help weak students. The report said initiatives had been taken by the VEC in imparting vocational training to school children by engaging them in folklore, folksongs and dances and customary law practices.

To ensure active participation of the community in the implementation of communitisation and Sarva Shikshya Abhiyan (SSA) programme, the department had formulated an action plan for community mobilisation. As part of the first step towards implementation of the action plan on community mobilisation programme, the department imparted resource persons training on communitisation of elementary education, the report said. (UNI)

21 of 116 IAS officers in State have cases

21 of 116 IAS officers in State have cases

Twenty-one of the 116 IAS officers in the State have cases against them from 2002 to 2010, and inquiry is going on against them. Replying to a question from Independent MLA Pranab Kalita, Administrative Reforms Minister Dr Bhumidhar Barman said: “The State has 116 IAS officers, and 67 of them are from outside the State. Twenty-one of the 116 IAS officers have cases for corruption, violation of rules,

BJP preparing vision document on highways in Northeast

BJP preparing vision document on highways in Northeast

Agartala, July 12: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will prepare a vision document for the appropriate management and use of national highways for better connectivity in the mountainous northeastern region, a party leader said here today.

“Mismanagement and inapt linking between the national highways and State highways caused rise in prices of all commodities and misery among the people of the northeastern region,” BJP’s northeast regional organizing secretary P Chandrasekhar Rao told reporters.

Nagaland ministers join World Cup party in SA

Nagaland ministers join World Cup party in SA

Kohima, July 7: Soccer fever has struck Nagaland with half of the council of ministers led by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio already in South Africa and are all set for the World Cup finals in Johannesburg July 11.

Of the 12 council of ministers, six of them are on a 10-day holiday to South Africa –– Rio, Home Minister Imkong L Imchen, Planning, Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Minister TR Zeliang, Health and Family Welfare Minister Azo Nienu, Power Minister Doshehe Sema, and Agriculture minister Chumben Murry.

Besides the ministers, Parliamentary Secretary for Rural Department Pangnyu Phom and press secretary to the chief minister Abu Metha are also in the South African safari team from Nagaland. The team would make the most of the junket by visiting places of interests in South Africa apart from being at the Soccer City Stadium for the finals.

“After all the ministers are taking a break for few days,” a close aide of the chief minister told IANS requesting not to be named. But the trip has come under attack from the opposition Congress party who accused the ministers of enjoying a ‘holiday’ when the state is reeling under an acute financial burden and the budget session due later this month.

Akhil Gogoi questions, Himanta replies and Riniki issues press release

Akhil Gogoi questions, Himanta replies and Riniki issues press release

Disclose details of cash, Akhil dares Himanta

By our Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, July 4: Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) secretary Akhil Gogoi today caught Assam Health and Family Welfare Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on the “wrong foot” in the manner of payment he had made while purchasing two luxurious cars costing Rs 40 lakh in the name of his five-year-old daughter Sukanya Sharma in March and April, 2008. Gogoi, also an RTI activist, dared the minister to disclose within 24 hours facts like from which bank or banks and when he had withdrawn the amount to make cash payment to two car dealers — Ghosh Brothers Automobiles and Gargia Auto Limited — or a public apology failing which he (Gogoi) would disclose all his corruption in social, political and financial spheres within two months. The RTI activist also claimed to have acquired all information regarding the misdeeds of Himanta Biswa Sarma from his political colleagues, persons whom he was protecting, and various other sources.

Addressing a press conference at Guwahati Press Club today, Gogoi said: “The minister purchased two luxurious cars in March and April, 2008 in the name of his minor daughter. While the price of the Honda CR-V A/T24 car (AS01AG5009) with chassis No. JHMRE-48418C311242 and engine No. K24Z12750874 was Rs 25 lakh approximately, that of the LMR Corola Car (AS01AF9395) with chassis No. MBJ53ZEC206841612-01/08 and engine No. 1ZZ3045297 was approximately Rs 15 lakh. In accordance with the standing rules, a person can’t make cash payment of such big amounts, but the information received through the RTI reveals that the minister made cash payment in purchasing both the cars. Now let the minister disclose when and from which bank or banks he had withdrawn Rs 40 lakh to make cash payment of the two luxurious cars. If he got the two cars as gift, let him disclose the name of the person and his source of money.”

In his affidavit to the Election Commission in the 2006 Assembly election in the State, according to Gogoi, the minister had shown a Maruti Zen, Rs 3 lakh cash, Rs 15,000 cash in the name of his wife, and Rs 60,000 PPF deposit and Rs 34,620 LIC deposit in the name of his daughter Sukanya Sarma. “Total of this property is about Rs 1 crore, but after two years, what magic made the minister able to purchase two luxurious cars costing Rs 40 lakh in the name of his daughter,” he said, and added: “The person in whose name a car is purchased needs to sign himself or herself in all related documents. In the case of Saukanya, her mother Riniki Bhuyan Sarma signed all related documents.” All the information, including sales certificates, which the KMSS leader showed to the press today, were copies duly certified by the DTO, Kamrup.

Gogoi alleged that a racket is out to suppress the democratic movement of the KMSS and offered crores of rupees to its leaders to ensure premature death of the movement. “Since we have refused to accept the offer, a threat perception continues to haunt us,” he added.

By our Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, July 4: Assam Health and Family Welfare Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma today said that it was unfortunate that Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) secretary Akhil Gogoi dragged a seven-year-old girl in his attack against him (Sarma) in connection with two cars that had been purchased by Riniki Bhuyan Sarma, mother of the girl.

Addressing a press meet here today, Sarma said that Riniki Bhuyan Sarma would give a clarification on the purchase of the two cars later in the day today. “There is no hide and seek in the purchase of the cars,” he said, and added: “Everything in this connection has been shown in the Income Tax file.”

Sarma said that when All India Congress Committee (AICC) president Sonia Gandhi had asked all ministers not to use red lights in their cars, Riniki purchased these two cars in the name of her daughter. “There is a tradition of feeling proud by purchasing property in the name of sons and daughters in Assamese society,” he said, and added: “Riniki Bhuyan Sarma gets Rs 1.5 lakh salary in the organization where she is working now, and that organization did business of Rs 14 crore last year. I take cash from her from time to time.”

Reacting to the 24-hour deadline set by Akhil Gogoi for him, Sarma said: “Akhil Gogoi can’t write the fate of my political career, but the people of the State can. If the people of the State want me to be a minister, Akhil Gogoi can’t stop them, and if the people of the State don’t want to make me a minister, Akhil Gogoi can’t be the king maker.”

“In fact, personal information can’t be obtained through the RTI. The DTO telephoned me yesterday about Akhil Gogoi seeking my personal information through the RTI. I asked the DTO to give details information to Akhil Gogoi or else he would make an issue out of that. He has dragged my seven-year-old daughter in his fight against me. This can be a fit case against him under the National Protection of Child Act, which, if found guilty, may land him in jail for seven years. If any of my colleagues has given information against me to Akhil Gogoi, he shouldn’t have disclosed that. Betraying a faithful informer is a dangerous trend,” Sarma said.

On the threat perception as mentioned by Akhil Gogoi, Sarma said: “If he wants, the government is ready to provide him PSOs.” When asked on the statement made by ULFA ‘c-in-c’ Paresh Baruah on Akhil Gogoi, Sarma said: “This is a cause of concern. There may or may not be a nexus between them.”

source: THE SENTINEL

AJYCP demands probe on Rs 3.5-crore anomalies

AJYCP demands probe on Rs 3.5-crore anomalies

From our Correspondent

JORHAT, July 1: Members of the Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuba Chatra Parishad (AJYCP), Titabor subdivision unit, took out a protest rally and staged a dharna in front of Titabor SDO office today. The parishad is demanding immediate probe on the alleged misuse of government funds worth Rs 3.5 crore released for the embankment strengthening works of Saraipani river in the Chief Minister’s home constituency, Titabor.

The organization has also submitted a memorandum addressed to the Jorhat Deputy Commissioner to take immediate steps in this regard. Titabor subdivision unit AJYCP president Debojit Hazarika and secretary Ashim Saikia said due to poor quality of construction works by the department concerned, water of Saraipani river has breached the embankment in three parts posing serious threat to hundreds of people of villages like Birinasayak, Mandalgaon, Sekuria and Madhabpur under Titabor subdivision.

Pointing at the shortsightedness and negligence on part of the officials concerned, the organization also alleged that due to inferior quality of construction work, the complete embankment strengthening fund has gone down the drains. They further alleged that the government officials have misused crores of government funds with tawdry construction work of the Saraipani bridge and reportedly siphoned off lakhs of fund money meant for the work.

They also warned the authorities concerned as well as local MLA and Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi of rigorous agitation if their demands are not met immediately.