GUWAHATI, Aug 23 ? In accordance with the directive of the Supreme Court of India to introduce ?Environmental Studies? as a compulsory subject and following the guidelines of the University Grants? Commission, Gauhati University has introduced the subject in all its affiliated colleges from the current academic session, informs a press release.

The subject will be taught through a 50-lecture course to students of all streams (Arts, Science, Commerce) at the second year of the 1+1+1 degree course and in the second semester of the professional courses (Engineering, Medical, Law etc). Each...

NEW DELHI, Aug 24 ? A long-term analysis of ground water levels by Central Ground Water Board has revealed ground water depletion of over four meters in 306 district including Jorhat, Karbi Anglong and Morigaon districts. In a RS reply, Water Resources Minister Priya Ranjan Das Munshi informed that the Government of Assam has initiated actions for preparing legislation for regulation of ground water development. The Nagaland Government has taken measures to promote water harvesting. East Siang district in Arunachal Pradesh and W Garo Hills in Meghalaya are the two other NE districts where...

NEW DELHI, Aug 24 ? On a mission to thwart any anti-Gogoi move, party high command?s cold response has left the State Congress MLAs confused and angry. It has not been a happy experience for these MLAs as the AICC high command has rebuffed them. AICC president Sonia Gandhi is yet to grant them an audience.

Meanwhile, the pro-Gogoi faction met CWC member and in-charge for Assam, Digvijay Singh, besides Motilal Vohra and Ahmed Patil and submitted a memorandum with the contention that those claiming to be the seniormost Congressmen were in fact new entrants who joined the party in 1990. They...

NEW DELHI, Aug 24 ? In what could lead to a big boost to the local farming sector, an initiative to procure defence supplies locally in the North East has gathered momentum, with the State-owned STATFED being identified as the nodal agency. Success of the initiative to procure the day-to-day requirement of the defence forces estimated now rests on the success of the pilot projects to be launched simultaneously in Guwahati and Tezpur by STATFED, said the Minister of State for Defence, Bijoy Krishna Handique.

The move, initiated at the behest of the Minister of State, took a concrete shape after...

GUWAHATI, Aug 24 ? Surabala Bardoloi, the widow of Bharat Ratna Gopinath Bordoli ? the first Prime Minister of Assam, passed away at 6: 40 pm, in her Ulubari home today. Bardoloi who was 98, had been suffering from illness since the last couple of days.

Surabala Bardoloi shot into prominence with her devoted support to her husband who emerged as the undisputed leader of Assam during the freedom struggle despite his difference with the then Congress leaders on many issues. It needs no mention that Bardoloi was reckoned as the man championing the cause of the people of the State. Surabala was...