ASSAM

Being an avid observer of anything related to wildlife and Environment, renowned Herpetologist Jayaditya Purkayastha did not miss sighting a small passerine bird known as magpie-robin that frequent his area of residence. On closely monitoring the bird he realised that the feathered friend comes every day at around 3 pm to quench its thirst from a dripping water tap that is operated at that particular time. The bird would not have to wait to satisfy its thirst if it were a rural area as open water sources are found abundantly and every other household has a pond at the front yard, said Purkayastha.

Ponds, locally known as Pukhuris, once dotted the landscape of the fertile land of Assam. However, with rapid Urbanisation the water bodies are shrinking and posing a serious threat to the ecosystem. This ultimately results in artificial floods that have been leaving a disastrous impact in the urban landscape.

Water bodies support a self-sustaining environment and host incredibly rich and Fauna. These water bodies can be used wisely to supply limitless Resources for the maintenance of dependent creatures. However, the majority of the water bodies have been completely destroyed by environmental deterioration. It is now essential to preserve the remaining water bodies. The Guwahati city has several water bodies distributed centrally and at the outskirt. The important water bodies include Jurpukhuri, Silpukhuri, Dighalipukhuri and Nagkotapukhuri. The Sola beel (lake) in the heart of the city and the Deeepor Beel in the western outskirt of the city on the other hand received highly polluted waste from surrounding areas and through a Network of drains.

TheIndian Meteorological Department(IMD), in its updated long-range forecast for the southwest monsoon season that spans from June to September, has forecast most likely normal rainfall over the country.

But over the northeastern region alone, the Probability of below normal rainfall is more.
The country is divided into four homogenous rainfall regions Northwest India, South Peninsula,Central Indiaand Northeast and the Monsoon Core Zone which depicts most of the rainfed Agriculture-notes-for-state-psc-exams”>Agriculture regions.

According to the IMD update, while the SW monsoon is likely to be normal over Northwest India (between 92-108% ofLPA) and South Peninsula (between 93-107% of LPA), Central India is likely to receive over normal rainfall (more than 106% of LPA).
But Northeast India is likely to get below normal rainfall (less than 95% of LPA). The monsoon core zone is likely to receive above normal (more than 106% of LPA) rainfall.
The IMD considers normal rainfall to be 96-108% of the long period Average (LPA) of the season rainfall over the country for the period 1961-2010, which is 88 cm.

Based on IMDs Multi Model Ensemble (MME) system for forecasting, the forecast probability of below normal rainfall over NE is more (40%), while the forecast probability for normal rainfall is 33% and the probability of above normal rainfall is just 27%.

The new strategy uses the existing statistical forecasting system to generate these forecasts along with a newly developed Multi-Model Ensemble (MME) forecasting system based on coupled global Climate models (CGCMs) from different global climate prediction and research centers including IMDs Monsoon Mission CFS (MMCFS) model.

The AssamState School Standards Authority(SSSA) has set the ball rolling for uniform assessment of all schools in the state, irrespective of boards, barring central government-run ones.

A final touch is being given to the Bill to formally create the SSSA in the state and it is likely to be tabled in the assembly soon.

In Assam, an interim committee headed by Education adviser to ,Nani Gopal Mahanta, has been formed and matrix is being created for assessment of subject skills, modalities of the key stage assessments to be done in classes III, V and VIII under the lead of State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT).

TheAssamhealth and family welfare department notified Covid-19guidelinesfor the comingBohag Bihucelebrations andother festivalsin the state.

The event organizers will have to take permission from the District Administration of the concerned district for organizing any event resulting in public gathering mentioning the number of people likely to gather at the proposed event and the maximum capacity of the place/site where the event is proposed to be held.

Kovind, the visitor of the varsity, also appealed to the students at the Kalaguru Bishnuprasad Rabha (KBR) Auditorium to actively participate in promotion and Marketing of organic products from the North-East region. He also lauded efforts of the Assam government for conserving and said he would visit the Kaziranga National Park later in the day to take stock of various such initiatives.

Assamwill attempt a shot at Guinness World Records for the “largestBihu dancein a single venue” by over 11,000 participants on April 14 here with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in attendance, chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said.
The will also invite governors and CMs of all states and all the ambassadors and high commissioners of the G20 countries and Southeast Asian nations in India to witness the spectacular programme, Sarma said.

Besides, the state government has decided to offer grants of Rs 1.5 lakh to each Bihu celebration committee and a detailed SOP will be published within the next few days.

A solution to the hawkers issue in the city seems to be shrouded in uncertainty as urban affairs minister Ashok Singhal said there is no land to create specific vending zones inside the densely populated city.

Creation of vending zones for hawkers and a survey of such traders in the city have been a long-pending demand of the All Assam Street Vendors Association (AASVA).

The associations president, Chandan Goswami, said the Guwahati (GMC) had identified seven locations Ganeshguri, Fancy Bazar, Borbari, Silpukhuri, Chandmari, near Meghdoot Bhawan at Panbazar and Col J Ali Road at Lakhtokia to set up vending zones in 2021.

In a continuous effort to reduce traffic congestion in densely populated Guwahati, chief ministerHimanta Biswa Sarmaon Tuesday laid the foundation of a 580-metre new flyover at Zoo Road Tiniali at a cost of around Rs 79 crore.

The CM has directed the public works department to complete the construction of the flyover at the earliest so that it can be inaugurated beforeBohag in April next year. The targeted duration for construction of the flyover is 18 months.