GUWAHATI, July 26 ? As many as 1597 persons including more than eight hundred militants were killed in the State in the last three years. This was disclosed by the Minister of State for Home, Rockybul Hussain, in reply to a question by Jagadish Bhuyan (AGP) in the State Assembly today. The Minister said that during the period from June, 2001 to June this year, 857 persons were killed by police and security forces, while, 713 persons were killed by insurgents and 27 were killed by dacoits. During this period, 3818 cases of killing, 4499 cases of kidnapping, 2490 cases of rape, 14890 cases of theft, 1377 cases of dacoity, 1503 cases of robbery and 2944 cases relating to dowry were recorded. He said that during the same period, 29 children were killed and 477 were kidnapped.
Border problem: Hussain, in reply to a question by Prafulla Kumar Mahanta (AGP), gave a detailed account of the steps taken by the State Government to resolve border dispute with the neighbouring States. He said that despite the order of the Supreme Court to maintain status quo, people of Nagaland have been trying to encroach into the territory of Assam and even in recent months, such attempts created tension in Golaghat and Karbi Anglong districts. He, however, said that the State Government took all possible steps to prevent such attempts. He also said that a high level meeting between Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland, held on November 6 last year, decided to set up a border commission to settle the dispute and the Assam Government has already informed the Supreme Court about the decision.
In reply to a separate question by Mahanta, Hussain submitted a list of the persons injured in police lathicharge near Doyang on May 9 this year and said that the Government is considering setting up of new border outposts to provide security to the people living in the border areas.
Cutting of hills: Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today admitted that cutting of the hills is one of the main reasons for artificial floods in the city. Replying to a question by Dilip Kumar Saikia (AGP), the Chief Minister said that the Government has imposed a ban on cutting of the hills and steps are being taken as per law to prevent such illegal activities.
Tourism: The Minister of State for Tourism, Ajanta Neog, in reply to a question by Pabindra Deka (Ind), said that the Central Government released an amount of Rs 750.58 lakh in 2002-03 and Rs 158 lakh in the last financial year for the development of tourism in the State. She said that 6409 foreign tourists visited the state in 2002 and 6613 visited in 2003.
Power: The peak period demand for power in the State is 620 MW, while the demand in the off peak hours is 400 MW. But the Assam State Electricity Board (ASEB) is producing only about 90 to 100 MW of power, said the Minister of State for Forest Pradyut Bordoloi, who has been entrusted with the responsibility of replying to the questions relating to the Power Department in the State Assembly.
In reply to a question by Tara Prasad Das (Ind), the Minister said that different steps are being initiated to reduce the shortfall and the Namrup thermal power plant is being renovated and modernised with loan from the Power Finance Corporation. He said that as the GAIL has not been able to provide adequate gas for the Lakwa thermal power plant, the ASEB has initiated steps for meeting the shortfall by producing gas from the Oil India Limited.
BTAD: Chief Minister, in reply to a question by Karendra Basumatary (BDLP), said that the State Government has released Rs three crore to the BTAD under non plan head and Rs 54.65 crore has been earmarked in the Budget for the current financial year. However, the allocation may increase after receiving the report of the Babu Rajeev committee formed in this regard. He also clarified that the BTAD would have to pay the salaries of the employees of the BTAD secretariat staff, while, the State Government would pay the salaries of the employees of different departments. He further disclosed that the Central Government released an amount of Rs 560 lakh since the formation of the BTAD and of the amount, Rs 85 lakh has been spent for the construction of a hundred beded hospital at Udalguri, Rs 75 lakh was spent on construction of school buildings and Rs 400 crore has been released for setting up of special games centre at Kokrajhar.