ASSAM

The Assam State Zoo-cum- in Guwahati has prepared to keep the animals and birds in the enclosure warm in the biting chill by installing heaters in the enclosures.

Zoo keeperRajnikanth Dekasaid the zoo is taking all precautionary measures to keep the animals warm during winter.

Deka said the zoo has installed heaters for the tigers, lions as well as other big animals.

However, the heaters are placed in such a way that it keeps their enclosure warm but at the same time prevents the risk of the animals directly coming in contact with the machines.

It also has a botanical garden spread over 82 hectares. It has varied Flora and Fauna species and houses 112 species in all.

Established in 1957, theAssam State Zoo, commonly known asGuwahati Zoo, was opened to the public in 1958.

No rhino poaching incident took place in 2022: Assam CM

While interacting with media during the first day of the year, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that in the year 2022, no rhino poaching incident took place across the State. The last poaching incident took place on December 28th 2021 at Hilakunda, Kohora in Golaghat district. The State govt has taken strict measures to prevent poaching of one-horned rhinos. A huge campaign was launched which was followed by the burning of 2,400 rhino horns seized from poachers. A special anti poaching task force was constituted by the Assam Government Special DGP (Law and Order) to protect the one-horned rhino.

Assamachieved the feat of the third best performing state in the category of non-communicable disease and common cancers screening among northeast, hilly and tribal states. The state Health department team, headed by Assam National Health Mission (NHM) director DrLakshmanan S.

NHM Assam was awarded the third rank by the Union ministry of health and family welfare (MoHFW). The central function was held in Delhi in the presence of all states to celebrate the Universal Health Coverage Day, which was organized byMoHFW, GoI and supported by the National Health Systems Resource Centre (NHSRC), Jhpiego and the World Health Organization-India.

Assamhas recoded 13th highest cases under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act in the country, where nearly 2,000 minor girls have become victims, while each of the remaining northeastern states has reported below 500 cases. A total of 1,925 cases were reported.

According to the NCRB report for 2021, more than two-thirds of the total Pocso cases were that of rape where 1,317 minor girls were allegedly raped last year.

Utsah is the only organisation in the northeast which provides comprehensive support person Services to children who are victims of child sexual abuse, under the Pocso Act.

But the positivity rate has dipped remarkably at the airport and in RAILWAY stations. However, markets are still being seen as super-spreaders in residential colonies, especially in East Guwahati.

Earlier truck parkings, warehouses and DEFENCE establishments in East Guwahati were in the radar but of late the market places have emerged as spreaders. Health officials said there is no community spread reported recently, though in some of the apartments and densely populated pockets, more people have turned positive.

Officials and staff of Central Library at Assam University Silchar, also known as Rabindra Library observed National Librarians’ Day to commemorate 129th birth anniversary of Padma Shri Dr. S.R. Ranganathan.

The Assam University library is going to play a role model for the libraries especially in implementing the technological applications.

Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the is on its own preparing to bring a bill in the assembly to ban polygamy in the state.

Pending the decision on UCC, we want to take up one of the segments of the entire UCC, that is polygamy. We want to ban polygamy in Assam immediately, Sarma said.

TheAssam governmentset up a four-member expert committee in May to examine if polygamy can be banned in the state through a state law. The committee headed by retired Gauhati High Court judge, Justice Rumi Phukan, has been given a 60-day time limit to submit its report.
If the state expert committee gives its report before the decision on UCC, we want to introduce our bill for banning polygamy in the state in the upcoming assembly session in September. If for some reason we cannot do it in September, we will do it in the January session, Sarma said.

In the meantime, however, if the UCC is implemented, we do not have to take this action as the ban on polygamy will be there, he added.
Sarma said the UCC is a matter to be decided by Parliament, but the state can also take a call on it with the assent of the President.

Assamchief minister Himanta BiswaSarma said that the Police has been given complete “operational freedom” to deal with drug traffickers and dealers, and asked to “act decisively” to uproot the drug menace from the Society.

He said that increased action on snapping the drug supply and consumption chains throughout the Northeast has been underway in the last two years afterUnion HomeMinister AmitShahissued specific directions to DGPs of the states in the region regarding the issue.

At another similar event in Diphu, the chief minister said that the police has been given operational freedom to act firmly and decisively within the law to uproot the illegal trade.

The Neyveli Uttar Pradesh Power Ltd (NUPPL) and theAssam governmenton Tuesday signed apower purchase agreement(PPA) to ensure 492 megawatts (MW) power supply to Assam fromGhatampur Thermal Power Plant.

Under this agreement, NUPPL, a joint venture subsidiary ofNLC India Ltd(NLCIL), will supply 492.72 MW of power to the Assam government.

Based on the revision, Uttar Pradesh and Assam have been allocated with 1,487.28MW (75.12%) & 492.72MW (24.88%) of power supply respectively.