Friday 23 September 2011

Published in Eastern Chronicle Dt. 18-06-2011






POLICE FIRING RANGE SHATTERS DEOPAHAR’S PEACE

The peace of Deopahar Forest, the home to many endangered animal species, has been shattered by the frequent firing practices conducted by Police Training Centre (PTC), Dergaon at the firing range situated inside the forest. Such firing practices have brought a sense of insecurity among the animal species. Sometimes even the local people were also alarmed at the increasing rate of firing practice which has transformed the place almost into a war zone. Matters turns worst on 11th  June when a Battalion from PTC Dergaon was undergoing training on handling Signal Bomb, parts of live cartridges came flying from the firing range and cause panic in the adjoining areas of NRL, Township, Na-Pathar Village and Deopahar forest. Incidents such as causing harm to human lives have also occurred on many instances when local villagers goes to collect the empty shell and live cartridges.
However the worst affected are the animals for whom the Deopahar Forest is their home and out of panic, desperation the animal roam hither and thither in seeking safe shelter. Recently a group of jumbos from Deopahar Forest broke the boundary wall of NRL Township and caused havoc inside the township for quite some time. It was later learnt that the jumbos were terrified by high intensity sound produced by the constant shelling and firing practices carried out at the firing range. Such incidents have aroused great concern among the people and many such incidents are likely to follow in the future if prompt is not taken in order to stop such practices.


Published in Eastern Chronicle Dt. 07-08-2011





NETA DEMANDS RECOGNITION OF TEA AS STATE DRINK OF ASSAM

The 15th biennial general meeting of the North Eastern Tea Association (NETA) was held today at neta auditorium, Golaghat. NETA which represents seventy Tea Gardens of Assam made its beginning at Golaghat in the year 1981 NETA turned 30 in 2011. Golaghat has always been playing a significant role in the tea industry of Assam. There is a saying that one can’t make bad tea in Golaghat belt. The small tea growers’ movement was also started from Golaghat district. As per the latest statistics, Golaghat has the third highest number of small tea growers (STGs) and third highest number of bought leaf factories (BLFs) in Assam. Addressing the meet Bidyananda Barkakoty, Chairman NETA urged the  of Assam to officially declare Tea as the “State drink of Assam” and at the same time request Govt. of Assam to persuade Govt. of India to declare Tea as the “National drink of India”. Tea is the national drink of Britain and China and at the same time Sugar cane juice and Whisky is the national drink of Pakistan and Scotland respectively. Like national animal, national flower, national bird, national drink, national fruit etc. tea can also be declared as the National Drink. He further added that the 180 years old Assam tea industry contributes 13% of global tea production and also produces more than 51% of India’s tea. The total turnover of Assam tea industry is 5,000 crores and it employs about 5 lakh permanent workers and another 5 lakh seasonal workers. Assam tea industry is also helping to maintain ecological balance by providing huge green cover due to the tea plants and shade trees. In fact, many advanced countries are in search for such eco friendly industries. Regarding NETA’s demand for declaring tea as the State Drink of Assam, Mr. Barkakoty said that Tea is a health drink. Many researches worldwide found that drinking tea helps boost the immune system, lowers blood pressure, prevents heart disease, fights cancer, loses weight and so on. As per independent dietician Dr Carrie Ruxton's research on caffeine at King's College, London drinking eight cups of tea daily can help fight heart disease, improve brain power and also boost longevity. Assam tea is famous worldwide for its strong, bright and full-bodied liquor. Tea integrates India as 85% of households in India consume tea. Tea is widely consumed by all sections of people – rich & poor, young & old, men & women; and across all religions & communities and in all the States of India and is the cheapest beverage of the world after water. In Assam, tea is not just a product or commodity. Tea is a culture – a culture steeped in history; and a history replete with highlights of development and contribution to economic growth and social progress.





Published in Eastern Chronicle Dt. 31-08-2011





OFFICAL WEBSITE OF GOLAGHAT DISTRCT IN shambles
At the time when the govt. is spending crores of rupees for the advancement of information technology and has set up establishment like National Informatics Centre (NIC) exclusively for the purpose.  But such endeavor of the govt. have been proved futile when some govt. employees are making a mockery of all goodwill gesture of the govt. This fact is aptly proved by some shocking information on www.golaghat.nic.in the official website of Golaghat Dist. Administration. On May 17th a news in this regard has been published in Eastern Chronicle and later that news was published in many other dailies with equal importance.  As a consequence of the news report the website has been shut down for the last three months. If anyone today wants to have an access to the website, the reply “Cannot find server” is displayed on the screen.  Among the anomalies pointed out by the media regarding the website were Aideo Handique, the first female cine star of Assam who expired in 2002 have been mentioned in the website as still being alive, the hot water spring at Garampani was listed as being located in Golaghat Dist, the website also listed Harendra Nath Bora as the present DC of Golaghat etc. Moreover many prominent educational institutions and eminent personalities did not find a mention in the website. When this correspondent filed an application under RTI Act seeking more information on the website, Deepak Goswami, the senior technical director and public information officer of NIC, Assam vide its letter no. NIC (ASSC)-RTI/2011/3 has provided some information about the website. As per the information provided the technical maintenance including domain registration, renewal, website design, hosting and contents uploading in the NIC web server, whenever provided by the Dist. Administration is done by Pranab Chakraborty, District Informatics Officer, NIC, Golaghat. If the website is maintained and designed by Pranab Chakraborty then how come names of Anirban Singha and Abhinash Singha find a mention in the website as a designer and developer and banner designer respectively. When contacted Chakraborty, as when they will relaunch the website, he said that a new committee will be formed under the present DC to monitor the relaunch. But the big question of the hour is that when the dist. administration took three months to form a committee, to collect new datas and information then how long they will take to relaunch the website.


Published in Eastern Chronicle Dt. 17-05-2011










Wonders of wonders! Aideo Handiqe is alive!
Thanks to  Golaghat dist. administration Aideo Handiqe, the first female cine star of Assam is still alive among us. At the time when the state govt. announces a yearly award in memory of the late actress, still the website is utterly ignorant of her demise. Aideo Handiqe is very much alive according to the website and now leads a  lonely  life at her home in Panidihing Gaon, near Kamargaon.  When any body opens http://golaghat.nic.in the website of Golaghat dist. administration, there are many mild shocks and surprises in store for them. For instance the website name Mr. Harendra Nath Bora as the Deputy Commissioner and adviser of the website, but what will surprises the visitors the most that Mr. Bora had long been transferred from here. There is incomplete information about the local educational institution and even the oldest educational institute of Golaghat, the Govt. Bezbaruah Boys Higher Secondary School, which has completed 125 years of its existence did not find a mention, so also Golaghat Commerce College, the only commerce education institute in Golaghat. Also the name of  the present DC is missing from the site. Again if we see the personalities secction of the website, it did not mention the names of Syed Abdul Malik, Dr. Nagen Saikia, Upen Kakoti etc who has invaluable contribution to assamese culture and literature. No point in maintaining a website if its not updated. District administration websites are supposed to be the authentic source of information for people.  Internet which is the most effective mode of communication and information now a days has not been harnessed to proper use by the dist. administration of Golaghat which only points out to the sorry state of affairs prevailing in the administration.