The Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) will soon issue notification prohibiting distribution of plastic carry bags free of cost to the customers within Guwahati Municipal area. “Minimum price of carry bags depending upon their quality and size will be charged as and when the notification is issued by the Corporation,” an official statement said.

Oil companies engaged in drilling and exploration activities, power projects, coal and cement industries, besides developers of national highway in both public and private sectors have emerged as major environmental violators in the North-east. In a Question Hour discussion on Tuesday, Minister of State for Environment and Forest Jayanthi Natarajan allayed all apprehension over violation of environment norms in construction of dams in the North-east.

SHILLONG, May 10 – The Central Silk Board (CSB) and State Space Application Centres has taken up a project to extend the silk cultivation area in the State to meet the growing demand of silk in the country thereby provide employment in the rural areas of the State. The current demand for silk is 30,000 ton but the country produces about 23000 ton, according to the CSB. The board is trying to extend the cultivation of silk in non-traditional areas like Punjab, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, etc.

The revival of the Namrup fertiliser plant depends on the finalisation of its funding pattern. The Planning Commission has suggested that the funding pattern has to be finalised before seeking in-principle approval for the project and hence the Department of Fertilisers may explore the possibility of open bidding and expression of interest for equity participation from private companies, said Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilisers Srikanta Jena.

GUWAHATI, May 10 – There was no improvement in the power scenario of the State for the eighth consecutive day today. Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today reviewed the scene and directed the Power Department to take immediate steps for improving the dismal power situation. The State today had a shortfall of around 440 MW in power supply during the peak load hours. Its off-peak load shortfall today was around 255 MW. The Karbi Langpi Hydel Project generated 40 MW of power during the daytime and evening today, said Assam Power Distribution Company Ltd (APDCL) sources.

The raging debate over viability of mega dams in the seismologically sensitive North-east notwithstanding, the Centre has clarified that no conclusive study on non-suitability of construction of large dams in Brahmaputra region has come to the notice. Altogether 165 power projects were granted environmental clearance and 143 power projects were granted forest clearance by the Ministry of Environment and Forests during the past three years.

Power distribution network in the State collapsed today following tripping of the 220 KV Siliguri-Bongaigaon grid/circuit of the Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd (PGCIL). The 220 KV grid tripped because of the overloading it was subjected to owing to the non-restoration of the two 400 KV towers of the PGCIL at Binaguri in West Bengal.

Assam Power Distribution Company Ltd (APDCL) sources said that the tripping of the grid/circuit resulted in the total collapse of the NE region grid of the PGCIL.

NEW DELHI, May 7 – Contrary to reports about massive erosion of Majuli island, the Centre on Monday claimed that the total land mass of the river island has increased marginally. Based on satellite imagery, the land mass of the island was calculated at 520.26 sq km. The total area of the land mass of Majuli main island, according to satellite imagery, was found to be 502.21 sq km in 2004. The total area based on the satellite imagery as of February 2011 has been found to be 520.26 sq km.

NEW DELHI, May 7 – UNICEF has reported arsenic contamination in ground water in 18 districts of Assam and fluoride contamination in five districts.
Based on information from Chief Engineer (PHE) of the State Government, a UNICEF study has found arsenic and fluoride contamination, Minister of State for Water Resources, Vincent H Pala said in a Rajya Sabha reply to a question by Naznin Faruque.

Ignoring the crucial linkages of a river’s upstream, midstream, and downstream flows can endanger not just the river, but human communities and ecology sustained by it. A disregard of ‘environmental flows,’ by construction of dams, has already harmed many rivers in the Western Ghats, giving rise to political as well as environmental issues.