Vol 4 issue 19 by G Plus

The fate of Guwahati’s garbage; checking out the Boragaon dump yard PG 08

VOLUME 04 | ISSUE 19 MAR 04 - MAR 10, 2017 PRICE `10

The Assam Police Dog Squad

Assam altogether has 18 dogs of which 9 are posted in Dibrugarh, Silchar, Nagaon, Sonitpur and Jorhat while the other 9 are in Guwahati. Meanwhile, 2 of the 9 dogs in Guwahati are believed to be no longer fit to visit crime spots and are currently in an Assam Police kennel located on the city outskirts. For Guwahati and its adjoining areas, two dogs are stationed at the 4th Assam Police Battalion headquarters in Kahilipara. Although there has been a constant demand for dog squads from various districts, the requirement has not been met for various reasons.

‘Chacha’ is the oldest serving Labrador with Assam Police and has a distinguished career of 9 years having cracked a number of cases. Read more on

500 mtr ruling might shut down GS Road liquor outlets

PG 02

New Chick on the Block Kakali Das PG 24

G PLUS MAR 04 - MAR 10, 2017

Lead Story

Rahul Chanda

500 mtr ruling might shut down GS Road liquor outlets

With former chief minister PK Mahanta raising a question on the process of classifying highways as ‘state’ and ‘national’ stakeholders are facing a vexed situation on which wine shops and bars will be affected after 1st April; meanwhile the excise department has sent notices to 82 wine shops and bars to shift their locations which include prominent hotels like Radisson Blu and Bhargav Grand

File photo of a liquor retail outlet

he new excise rules, set to be implemented from 1st April, are going to create chaos for a number of wine shop and bar owners located on the highways as such wine shops and bars are expected to shift 500 metres away from national and state highways. What is the rule? Which roads in Guwahati are state and national highways? Will only wine shops get affected or are bars also set to suffer from the move? How many bars and wine shops will be affected? G Plus looks into the scenario to find out the possible fallouts after 1st April, 2017.

The rule In December 2016, a Supreme Court bench ordered a ban on sale of liquor on the national and state highways from 1st April, 2017. The apex court in its order said that issue of licenses for new liquor shops in and around the highways would be stopped. It also said that any advertisement of any liquor shop should not even be visible from the national or state highways. The Supreme Court said that existing liquor shops can operate till the period that their licenses are in force. No renewal of licenses would be made after 1st April, the court said. The court actually ruled that liquor shops must be located 500 metres away from the highways. Excise department PRO Shailendra Pandey, talking

to G Plus, said that after the infamous GS Road molestation case, a committee was formed in the excise department to formulate strict rules for the safety of all and accordingly, among others, one rule was that there would not be any wine shops or bars within the radius of 100 metres from national highways. He said that after the SC order in December 2016 it was mandated that bars and wine shops on national and state highways have to shift 500 metres away from the highways and renewal of licenses after 1st April will not be entertained. Now, according to media reports, Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi has told the Kerala government that the Supreme Court order banning liquor vending within 500 metres of state and national highways does not apply to bars and restaurants that serve alcohol. On enquiring about this, Pandey said as of now the state government has identified all the state and national highways and accordingly sent notices to all the wine shops and bars which are within the 500 metre radius and the government is not aware of any such clauses by which the bars will not be affected. On enquiring about the classification of the national and the state highways, he said that the state highways were identified according to the PWD department. G Plus tried finding out which roads are classified as

national and state highways in and around Guwahati.

National and state highways According to a traffic police official there are two national highways viz. NH-37 (Goalpara side to Khanapara) and NH-31 (Baihata Chariali side to Jalukbari) and rest of the roads according to him are state highways. But he also added that only PWD can clarify which roads exactly are state highways. G Plus talked to the OSD to the PWD minister who said that Adabari to Amingaon check gate and Narengi Tiniali to Gobardhan Bazar are state highways. Moreover, Chamata Pathar Tiniali to Kolongpur, Kalitakuchi to Bijulighat and Singimari Road to Hajo are also state highways. G Plus then enquired on what basis these roads were classified as state highways and what were the classifications of roads like GS Road in Guwahati. The OSD informed that former chief minister and present AGP legislator Prafulla Kumar Mahanta had recently raised a question in the assembly asking how many state highways are there in Assam and on what basis were these declared as such. He said that Mahanta had also asked for details to be furnished on whether there was any notification to declare such state highways in the state. So the department is working on it and

they will inform G Plus about the same after the records are pooled. Meanwhile, All Assam IMFL Retailers Association secretary general Alok Dutta, talking to G Plus, said that the association has filed an impediment application in the Supreme Court against the decision which is expected to be implemented from 1st April. Dutta said that the state government had already declared the lands near highways as forest, agriculture and wetland. So moving the liquor vends 500 metre will not be possible as such land will become commercial which is again not possible according to government announcements. Dutta also said that the order mentioned national and state highways but according to him the Assam Highway Act 1989 states that all roads in the state are state highways. He said, “According to the Assam Highway Act 1989 even the lane leading to your house is a state highway.” He said that they have moved the court on all these points because if the rule applies for all state highways then every road having liquor shops will have to follow the order and no road in the state will be spared. So this essentially means that even GS Road and all other city roads are state highways and all the wine shops and bars will have to shift 500 metres away from the road. The big question now is which are the wine shops and bars in Guwahati that will be affected?

are, for the time being, waiting for the SC verdict on the impediment application which has been filed in the apex court by the IMFL association. So only after 1st April it will be known whether all the bars and wine shops will be shifted or not and it will also become clear which roads exactly are the state and national highways in the state.

The affected ones According to the excise department PRO Shailendra Pandey, in Kamrup District (Kamrup Metro and Rural included) PWD had given them a list of 5 state highways and 2 national highways. Accordingly, 82 wine shops and bars will be affected. As for just Guwahati, around 30 bars and wine shops will be affected and these include Radisson Blu, Bhargav Grand, Dichang Resort, Dhoom Bar, Delight Dhaba, and New City Dhaba. He said that these 82 bars and wine shops have to shift their locations before 1st April as after that their licenses will not be renewed. Talking to many wine shop owners on NH-37, G Plus found that the owners are irked by the decision and

rahul.chanda@g-plus.in

G PLUS MAR 04 - MAR 10, 2017

1200 illegal establishments demolished in NH 37 eviction drive

Lead Story

Juthika Baruah

In a massive eviction drive undertaken by Kamrup (M) district administration from Khanapara to LGBI Airport big establishments like hotels, car showrooms, shops etc. have come on the casualty list yy

A casualty of the massive eviction drive | G Plus photo

n its latest and biggest eviction drive undertaken from Khanapara to LGBI Airport, the Kamrup (M) District Administration has targeted big commercial establishments along the National Highway and demolished around 1,000 illegal structures. The eviction drive was carried out from 25th February along the stretch of NH 37 to facilitate construction of a drain which will carry out the excessive rain water coming from Meghalaya thus easing the city off its annual monsoonal flash flood problem. This time it is not only the small huts

had encroached both sides of the highway. All the owners, proprietors and authorised dealers of vehicle showrooms and godowns have been directed by the district administration to remove the vehicles that are usually placed on the highway. The stretch of the National Highway 37 along Guwahati is a major transit route of the region and is dotted by many commercial establishments including two five star category hotels. “There are several showrooms and godowns situated along NH-37 which usually park vehicles like trucks and cars on

and shops that have been evicted but the big establishments including car showrooms and hotels which have flouted the norms have also come under the axe. Conducted from 25th February by the district administration and officials of the GMC, the eviction drive has till date removed illegal structures of hotels, car showrooms, godowns, shops, street vendors as also uprooted illegal parking of cars, etc. which

both sides of the highway causing inconvenience to the commuters as well as to traffic movement. Moreover, the service lanes of the highway are also blocked due to illegal parking of heavy vehicles,” said the Deputy Commissioner, Kamrup (M), M Angamuthu. He added that the district administration is conducting the massive eviction drive to remove all unauthorised structures, shops, street vendors, illegal

parking of vehicles, etc. illegally encroaching both sides as well as the service lanes of NH-37 from Jorabat to LGBI Airport. The DC further warned the people to remove their vehicles which are parked illegally on the service roads causing trouble to the commuters from Azara to Jorabat and also warned that cranes will be used to remove such vehicles and any damage caused to the vehicles will be the sole responsibility of the owners themselves. The administration has also issued a directive to the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) to erect permanent pillars and construct a permanent boundary to stop further encroachment and misuse of the National Highway. The entire stretch of the Highway was divided into five parts and one team each was put in charge of each stretch to carry out the drive. The stretches were from Khanapara to Basistha, Basistha to Gorchuk, Gorchuk to Saraighat Bridge including the Jalukbari Intersection, as well as sections of the NH-37 under Azara and Sonapur revenue circles. Each team included officials from the district

administration, city police, Guwahati Municipal Corporation, National Highways Authority of India and PWD. Stressing on the need for the eviction drive, Angamuthu said that illegal encroachments in the form of temporary shops, hotels and street vendors are causing great inconvenience to the commuters along the NH 37 in Guwahati, it being a lifeline to the northeast. He added, “Moreover, haphazard and improper garbage disposal and littering on the road all along the NH-37 from the

airport area to Jorabat by residential apartments and commercial establishments like restaurants, shopping malls, hotels and godowns is not only causing blockages of natural and secondary drains but also enhancing environmental pollution in the city.” The eviction drive has almost come to an end and hereafter the administration will continue to clean the drainage for the upcom-

ing monsoon season. In the eviction drive taken on 1st March from Jalukbari to Boragaon, 30 houses, shops and boundary walls have been demolished. 25 houses along the stretch from Jalukbari point to Assam Engineering College have also been removed. Lucas India in Boragaon has also been demolished as it had encroached on government land. juthika.baruah@g-plus.in

G PLUS MAR 04 - MAR 10, 2017

Governance

A ‘dog-gone’ problem: Assam Police facing shortage of canine troopers

Kalyan Deb

G Plus checks out the dog squad strength of the Assam Police and also reviews the process of selection and training that these trained sleuths undergo

The Assam Police dog squad set to enjoy a lunch | G Plus photo

hile being the best friend to Homo sapiens, dogs have also been humankind’s guardians, protectors and eyes. It needs no mention that dogs have rendered invaluable service to police forces across the world. Dog squads have been an integral part of the security forces since time immemorial but their silent service often goes unnoticed. There is more to a serving dog squad member than to just detect explosives and narcotics, trace ev-

idences and alert about enemy intrusions. Dog as a protector is as old as the battlefield itself; the bond goes back to the middle ages. In France, dogs were used in the 14th century. Bloodhounds used in Scotland were known as “Slough Dogs” - the word “Sleuth” (meaning detective) was derived from this. Meanwhile, the rapid urbanization of London in the 19th century increased public concern regarding growing lawlessness - a problem that

Oldest serving dog of Assam Police

was too intricate to be dealt with by the existing law enforcement of the time. As a result, private associations were formed to help combat crime. Night watchmen were employed to guard premises with many of these individuals being provided with firearms and dogs to protect themselves from criminal elements. Over the years the bond has only become stronger to a point where dogs have become an integral part of our security system.

The recruitment of dogs in police These specially trained members of an investigating team are always instrumental in providing the breakthrough and each member of the platoon have to go through a meticulous training process. The most preferred breeds for a squad are Labrador, German Shepherd and Doberman; the training process of each canine begins at the age of five months and the training duration is of six months. During the first three months the dogs undergo obedience training and are taught to respond to specific hand gestures and even ver-

Name: Chacha Breed: Labrador Age: 10 years Category: Sniffer Served: For 9 years involving around 200 cases Status: Retired

bal orders by their handlers. In the following months the dogs are given specialised training after determining the categories they are most suited for. The dogs are divided into four categories. “Trackers” help in identifying evidences in crimes such as theft, burglary, murder, etc. “Narcotics” is where the dogs are trained to trace illegal drugs. “Sniffer Explosives” involve VIP security checks and identifying presence of explosives. The last one, “Rescue,” helps during disaster management. Their general duties include regular visits to the airports, railway stations, VIP/VVIP meetings and other key establishments besides routine crime and narcotics detection. During the specified training process the canines are trained according to the aforementioned categories. The most preferred breed is the German Shepherd because of its natural ability to adapt to any training module. It is easy to train and has the special ability to perform the required tasks. Labradors are the preferred breed for Explosive Sniffers as they are calmer and can easily be controlled in comparison to the Doberman. The calm nature of the dogs helps in locating any kind of explosives while being cautious at the same time. Meanwhile, the aggressive nature of Doberman helps in tracing the presence of narcotics. Following the rigorous training, the dogs serve for 8 years before retiring.

The shortage in Assam Police Sadly enough, the canine platoon of Assam Police has been taking a beating for quite some time now as the troopers are outnumbered against its massive requirement to crackdown on crime. The strength of the dog squad is not even half of what is actually needed in Guwahati leave alone the state and only six districts have been provided with the service. Assam altogether has 18 dogs of which 9 are posted in Dibrugarh, Silchar, Nagaon, Sonitpur and Jorhat while the other 9 are in Guwahati. Meanwhile, 2 of the 9 dogs in Guwahati are believed to be no longer fit to visit crime spots and are currently in an

Facts India’s first dog squad was raised in Shimla in 1957 and the first dog to become part of policing was a German shepherd named “Hero” imported from Ireland for a princely sum of 250 pounds then.

The strength of Assam Police dog squad is 18

2 each of the squad are posted in Dibrugarh, Silchar, Nagaon, Sonitpur and 1 in Jorhat while the rest are in Guwahati

Of the 9 canine troopers in Guwahati 2 are unfit to perform their duties In Guwahati there are 2 Dobermans and 7 Labradors of which 4 are Trackers and 5 are Explosive Sniffer dogs

The state has a requirement of 50 canine troopers

The training of the dogs begin at the age of 5 months and continues for a duration of 6 months The members of the squad serve for 8 years of their life span of 10-12 years Each dog of the squad is fed with 1 litre milk, bread made of 250 gms of flour, 400 gms of mutton boiled with 250 gms rice and 230 gms of vegetable every day.

G PLUS MAR 04 - MAR 10, 2017

Governance yy

Assam Police kennel located on the city outskirts. For Guwahati and its adjoining areas, two dogs are stationed at the 4th Assam Police Battalion headquarters in Kahilipara. Although there has been a constant demand for dog squads from various districts, the requirement has not been met for various reasons. “Of the 18, nine are trackers (used for murder, dacoity, theft) and the rest are explosive sniffer dogs. Trained initially at the National Training Centre for Dogs, Tekanpur (Gwalior), the strength of the dog squad is not even half of what is actually needed in the state. We require at least 50 dogs in the state; discussion is already in process to bring around 10 dogs specifically trained in tracing narcotics,” said an official of the Dog Squad attached to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). It could also be learnt that the Assam Police kennel located in Lokhra does not even have a training field of its own till date. Another appalling fact in the shortage of dogs is that there are no narcotics tracers in the squad despite its constant demand. Guwahati has had its share of drug problems and its illegal trade. Large amounts of several illegal

Labrador Jackie, a tracker, enjoying a meal | G Plus photo

substances are constantly recovered by the police from national highways and the railway station and the absence of “Narcotics” in the dog squad is a major drawback. There are several goons who run this secret market and on several occasions absence of

the sniffer dogs helps them get away. Thus, adding some teeth to the dog squad will certainly help in future crackdowns – the recruitment of the aggressive Doberman will add muscle. kalyan.deb@g-plus.in

G PLUS MAR 04 - MAR 10, 2017

Concern

Labour minister commits to eradicate child labour in 2 years

Juthika Baruah

Meetings, seminars, workshops won’t help eradicate child labour until and unless the corrupt officers feel the pain of the child yy

The typical child rag picker at work amidst the Boragaon squalor | G Plus photo

uwahati is yet to be made free from child labour and it often does not come as strange that many educated families of the elite classes still employ children as servants in their homes. Such culprits are not meted the deserving punishment as the concerned departments are hardly bothered about such cases. According to an official of Labour Commission, domestic child labour is still prevalent despite rescue operations being tightened up since 2012 after which child labour in commercial establishments have reduced. “It is a known fact that the weaker sections of the society cannot employ children for household work and so, this feature is more common among the elite class. This factor gives an unfair advantage to this privileged class to suppress cases of child labour and employment as such cases are handled by renowned advocates weakening the cases for the victims with none being there to raise a voice for them,” said the official while speaking to G Plus. As an example, the official pointed to the recent case in the Spanish Garden apartment complex where a child was rescued from a well-to-do family where after the matter was dismissed as there was no one to raise a voice for the child and the employer made an unofficial settlement resulting in the case not even

getting any media attention. “According to National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NSPCR), there is a District Level Task Force (DLTF) where officials, people from related NGOs, police and the Deputy Commissioner are to oversee and execute rescue operations of child labourers. In fact, there is a government level protocol to rescue the child labourers by DLTF but it seems that DLTF in the city is basically defunct,” the official informed. He further lamented that there have been many meetings, workshops and seminars held for rescuing child labourers and to make the state child labour free and most of the high level officers give speeches on child related issues but not too many such meetings have been effective enough to eradicate the menace of child labour. The official of the labour department further alleged that the officials are least bothered to take a serious look at the issues. On the bright side however, minister of labour, Pallab Lochan Das announced that the state will be made free from child labour within 2 years and projects worth crores of rupees have been taken up to make the mission successful.

A Recent Case Recently, a case was registered with Dispur police station against a city-based associate

yy professor of the Khanapara Veterinary College and his wife for allegedly harassing a girl child sexually, mentally and physically and also for cruelty and exploitation. The FIR was lodged by the Universal Team for Social Action and Help (UTSAH), an organisation working for the rights of children. The matter came to light when the victim fled from her

fare Committee (CWC), Kamrup (Metro), the rescued child mentioned that she had been working as a ‘child labour’ for the last two years at Juripar, Guwahati, despite her mother’s unwilling-

was away, he would ask her to give him a massage. She also stated that she now wants to go back home. Police said that the investigation is on and the facts are being verified. The accused associate professor, when contacted, however, refuted the charges alleging that the entire episode is concocted. He said that he had reported the incident to the police immediately after the girl had gone missing and he and his wife even appeared before the CWC. Chairperson of Assam State Protection for Child Rights (ASPCR), Runumi Gogoi, while commenting on the issue, said that on investigating the matter, it has been found that the professor is absconding and police is unable to find the culprit. Now the question is how a government officer can abscond for so many days. Gogoi said that he should have been immediately suspended from his job but instead no action has been taken against him. “As the culprit is from the upper echelons of the society he has managed to abscond and no one has been able to take action against him and eventually he will close the matter with a final settlement with all the departments. And

Case Statistics of Childline 2016(Apr)2017 (Feb)

Category

2010-11

2011-12

2012-13

2013-14

2014-15

2015-16

Restoration

111

114

125

135

189

267

941

Missing

417

Shelter

122

104

565

Rescue/PFA

197

131

206

226

203

288

1251

Medical

ESG

ROCL

216

Unclassified

Grand Total

509

474

529

903

590

762

employer’s home unable to bear the ordeal and was later rescued by a team of Childline. Co-ordinator of Childline, Nirmal Deka, said that the child was rescued on 1st February. Miguel Das Queah, chairman of UTSAH, told this reporter that in her statement to the Child Wel-

ness. She also told the CWC that she was made to do all the household chores and was frequently tortured mentally and physically. According to the victim, she was underfed and was not allowed to keep any contact with her mother. She also said that whenever the associate professor’s wife

313

Total

3767

as there is no one who can take a stance on behalf of the victim she will not get justice. So basically it is a win-win situation for everyone except the victim who is from the weaker section,” said Gogoi. juthika.baruah@g-plus.in

G PLUS MAR 04 - MAR 10, 2017

Buzz

Sanskrit mandate draws flak from all corners Sanskrit teachers from outside since the state, as of now, lacks the required strength. “But we won’t allow outside teachers to be recruited in our schools,” said Talukdar. He said AJYCP is never opposed to Sanskrit in the schools since it is the ancient language which needs to be promoted and preserved in schools and colleges. “But we do express grave concern over the way the government is in the process to impose the subject in a haste. The decision is too premature in view of the shortage of teaching staff in hundreds of schools and many of these schools have been running with one teacher,” he said. In his statement, the AJYCP president questioned the intention behind the move when many schools have been falling short of staff and thousands of TET qualified youths have been waiting for appointments. He said, “Where will the government get so many Sanskrit teachers to be recruited? This is not unknown to chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal and his education minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. The conspiracy is being micro managed from New Delhi and Nagpur.

The SEBA office at Bamunimaidan, Guwahati | File photo

he recent decision of the state government to mandate Sanskrit as a subject till class 8 may be lauded by literature bodies like All Assam Sanskrit Students’ Union (Aassu) and the Assam Sanskrit Sahitya Sabha, but many student bodies like Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuba Chatra Parishad (AJYCP) and All Assam Students Union (AASU) have opposed the move and has asked the government to rethink on the decision or else they said that the state

will be submerged with protests.

AJYCP says Sanskrit mandate a conspiracy AJYCP opposed the move to impose Sanskrit as a compulsory subject till Class 8 alleging a well orchestrated conspiracy being micro managed and monitored from Nagpur (headquarter of RSS). In a statement issued in Guwahati, President Biraj Kumar Talukdar charged the government with preparing to recruit

Lack of Sanskrit teachers at home would force the government to hire thousands of teachers from outside.” AJYCP demands an early step to provide adequate teaching staff in all schools apart from free textbooks to the students and recruitment of all TET qualified candidates before making Sanskrit a compulsory in the schools.

AASU asks govt to rethink AASU education Secretary Sarat Hazarika, talking to G Plus, said that the decision of the government to mandate Sanskrit in the schools will put extra load on the students. He said that the infrastructure of the schools are already pathetic where instead of improving all these the government is coming up with decisions because of which the students will suffer. He said that the decision of the government is unplanned and they should rethink on the decision or else the students’ body will protest aggressively against the move. He said that people can learn Sanskrit and the body has no issues related to it as the language is ancient but the way the government has planned to implement it

North East Style Awards held in the city

he first season of North East Style Awards was held on 26th February at Shilpgram, Guwahati. The event was graced by several prominent faces of Northeast India’s fashion industry including Founder and President of Fashion and Design Council of Northeast India,

The show began with a lamp lighting ceremony done by eminent personalities like speed painter Rabin Bar, the co-partner of Byatikram Group and Vicky Publications, Pintu Gupta and the Managing Director of Geogems, Gopal Karmakar. It followed with a welcome speech by Executive Editor, Debarupa Bhattacharjee where she emphasized on the importance of fashion being seen as an art, and the contribution of all the nominees for taking it to the next level in Northeast. Both the winners of NES Male Model of the Year 2016-2017, Opang Jamir and Piyush Sharma were elated on receiving their respective trophies and said that the award show was like a watershed

Medha Saikia, Opang Jamir and Mr. India International 2012. The jury members of the Award show were renowned fashion designer, Asa Kazingmei, Assamese actor/ producer/director/writer, Rajni Basumatary and the Executive Editor of North East Style, Debarupa Bhattacharjee.

G Plus News in the history of Northeast Fashion Industry and it will only motivate them to do even better in the future. There were some dazzling performances throughout the show by speed painter Rabin Bar, Assamese singer, Bhrigu Kashyap, Star Voice of India Kids Finalist, Mismi Bose, and belly dancer, Tanushree Baruah. Popular Designer Duo, husband and wife, Jyoti and Kashmiri showcased their collection on stage with the showstopper being the stunning Assamese actress, Preeti Kongana who is also the brand ambassador of GEOGEMS. The event was organised by North East Style magazine, founded by Dibyarup Purkayastha and powered by Geogems

G Plus News

is not correct.

Other opinions A city based parent talking to G Plus said that any language which can be used after learning in the day-to-day life is important and people should learn it. In Assam people don’t speak or write in Sanskrit so it will not be of great use to the children. Instead of Sanskrit, Assamese could have been made mandatory which is at least used in the state for maximum communications. Another parent talking to G Plus said that Sanskrit is a scoring subject but it is tough to learn and it’s tough to get teachers of Sanskrit easily in Assam. He said if it is made mandatory it should have been done till class 10 so that students can score as after working hard and learning it for 8 years they should be able to score good marks on the same subject. The parent also said that the government should make sure that they have adequate teachers for the subject if implemented. Meanwhile Congress said that it is an agenda to impose RSS ideology in the state.

Guwahati city on high alert G Plus News A highly placed source in the city police said that Guwahati has been placed on high alert as there is a looming bomb threat in the city from ULFA (I). The source said that the threat, that has come from ULFA (I), is being seen as ULFA (I)’s attempt to make its presence felt in the city. The source said that the entire city police are on the job and suspicious people will be picked up by the police if required. The city has always been targeted by the ULFA (I) and the city’s security has been beefed up for the same.

Weather report for the week Guwahati

SUN

MON

TUE

WED

THU

FRI

Mostly Cloudy

Sunny

Mostly Sunny

Sunny

Rain

29° / 18° C

29° / 17° C

28° / 17° C

27° / 18° C

25° / 18° C

SATURDAY Sunny

30° / 18° C

G PLUS MAR 04 - MAR 10, 2017

Ward Watch

The fate of Guwahati’s garbage

Kalyan Deb

G Plus paid a visit to Pashchim Boragaon which is the location of the city’s dump yard to understand how Guwahati’s 500 MT of daily garbage is being managed by the GMC

he overwhelming stench of municipal waste hits one hard on entering Boragaon. Women and children from the nearby squatter’s colony squabble over the truckloads of garbage unloaded here from all over Guwahati - the sprawling business hub of north-eastern India with a million-plus population. The 120 bigha (19.4 hectare) municipal dump shares its border with Deepor Beel on the western corner, a biodiversity-rich wetland which is also the lone Ramsar site in Assam. Wetlands of global importance are conserved and protected through the international treaty, Ramsar Convention. The dump yard came into existence in 2006, four years after Deepor Beel was declared a Ramsar site. The

water-body is also adjacent to the Rani-Garbhanga reserve forests, a crucial elephant corridor and habitat of the Hoolock Gibbon. The shifting of the dumping site took place on directions of Gauhati High Court which came after the Usha Nagar Unnayan Samiti, a voluntary organisation, filed a PIL saying that the former dump yard in its locality is a residential area. It was reported that during laboratory tests the Pollution Control Board found presence of substances such as chromium, cadmium, nickel, lead and zinc, which are carcinogenic in nature and can easily contaminate ground water sources. Thus the Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) shifted the dumping ground to Pashchim Boragaon in Gorchuk.

Cows, ‘hargillas,’ humans and machinery at work | G Plus photo

The reason for dispute The dumping ground was surrounded by controversies soon after its shifting as it threatened the existence of the Ramsar site. A part of Deepor Beel was declared a Wildlife Sanctuary in 1989, the Municipal Solid Waste (Management and Handling) Rules were passed in 2000 and the wetland was declared a Ramsar site in 2002. Despite all these factors, dumping of garbage started near the wetland in 2006. Concern is being raised time and again over the conservation of Deepor Beel which is an important destination for migratory birds. Of the several moves suggested for the preservation of the water body, some were also initiated. The water body today has shrunk from 40 sq km to 10 sq km. In 2008, the GMC outsourced the collection and disposal of municipal solid waste to Ramky Enviro Engineers Ltd., a part of the Hyderabad based Ramky group – a global enterprise in environment and waste management. With a view to promote public-private partnership, the Rs 102.16 crore project for a 20 year period was the first of its kind in the region that involved door-todoor collection of solid waste, its transportation, scientific treatment and disposal for compost and power generation. However, the project slowed down within a year’s time and the contract was terminated in 2014 due to allegations of mismanagement.

Where hygiene goes out of the window

Rush of rag pickers as a dumper unloads garbage | G Plus photo

The landfill operation Guwahati generates over 500 metric tons of waste on a daily basis. There are about 200 dustbin points excluding those collected directly from shops, corners of roads and several other points in the city from where waste is collected and transferred to the dumping ground. Since 2006, the 120 bighas of land has been covered by several massive mounds of garbage with garbage trucks operating to and fro Boragaon from as early as 4 am and plying till 6 pm. There are two excavators that are on roundthe-clock duty with two operators for each vehicle who work in shifts. Despite being the only disposal ground of the city, it lacks proper disposal method. The municipal trucks simply carry the waste to the dumpsite and dump it there. Without adequate processing, the area has now become a health hazard to the local people with the resultant pollution of the air and water. The ever growing amount of municipal solid waste disposed indiscriminately in the city ultimately stands as a problem to the civil society.

The hovels or miserable dwellings of rag pickers right next to the dump yard | G Plus photo

Apart from the dumping ground, the fringes of Boragaon also house around 200 families. Besides playing an active role in polluting the living environment, it however provides bread and butter to rag pickers, who work to segregate the massive amount of garbage generated every day. These rag pickers live in wretched conditions in the nearby slums and comprise persons of all age groups. Adults apart, even children as young as three years of age can be found rummaging through the garbage. There are around 1,000 rag-pickers who line up around each garbage truck that arrives in the area in order to collect their share of bottles (made of plastic or glass) taking them by the bag full for trading elsewhere. The rag-pickers are hired by several contractors of GMC who collect garbage such as bottles, wrappers, plastic and glass products and separate them from the pile of garbage. These rag-pickers spend their days amidst the filth and with their minimal knowledge about health and hygiene they are always exposed to severe health hazards.

GMC’s Support system for garbage collection

Garbage compactor trucks

Dumpers

Excavators

Mini loaders

64 200

Auto-vans

Tricycles

G PLUS MAR 04 - MAR 10, 2017

Ward Watch The hillock on fire

The Paschim Boragaon dumping ground came into existence in

Several spots in the GMC’s garbage dump have smoke continuously billowing out of them. While this is another cause of concern, the source and cause of the fires are simply unknown to all, be it the officials, the rag-pickers as well as those who reside around the area. It could be seen that the solid waste in massive piles that include plastic and other hazardous waste, were burning at the corporation’s dumping ground. While the officials present at the site were asked about the cause of the fire, the officials denied that this was the handiwork of the corporation’s staff and suspected that some of the rag-pickers could be involved. “It is suspected that someone may have lit the garbage or it could be an accident,” an official said. The thick, black smoke can be seen from a distance and this is a serious violation of Municipal Solid Waste (Management and Handling) Rule, 2000. The matter requires immediate intervention. Meanwhile, it was also learnt that the piles of garbage have been continuously burning for the past three months. A GMC official mentioned that the garbage produces large quantity of methane gas which is highly inflammable. “The fire may have started by a rag picker who might have stubbed a cigarette butt in the pile of garbage. This is not the first time that it has happened. On several occasions we had to engage water tankers in order to douse the fire,” the official said.

2006

The dumping ground covers an area of

500

120

bighas

metric tonnes of garbage is collected everyday

Smoke of the hillock; the mound has been burning for 3 months | G Plus photo

Where the ugly turns good

4-5 Earlier such dumping grounds existed in

tonnes of manure is produced on a daily basis

Barsapara, Adabari and Chachal

In each shift the compost plant in the dumping ground can process garbage of

50 MT

Apart from the filth and the rubbish that submerges Paschim Boragaon, the dumping ground is also a major source of manure production. Once collected, the garbage is segregated and then dumped at the dumping site in Boragaon, where it is incinerated by combusting machines. The dumping ground has a compost plant with the capacity of processing 50 MT per shift where 100 MT of garbage gets processed daily. After processing 100 MT garbage the plant produces approximately 4 - 5 tons of organic manure. This is sold in the market as Nagarjuna Fertilizers. After processing, the waste material is dumped in a trough that covers an area of 7 - 8 bighas and has a depth of around 10 ft. The water from the garbage is also poured into the trough which shares boundaries with Deepor Beel. Apart from the existing compost processing plant, GMC was planning to upgrade the plant to a processing capacity of 250 MT of garbage which would then produce 20 tons of organic manure. The plant was also expected to have a plastic recycling unit and would also produce red brick. But the plan still remains a plan. Moreover, the dumping ground has the potential to be a Fertilizers produced from recylicng the garbage | G Plus photo major producer of natural gas. However, nothing has materialized due to lack of scientific processing and fund constraints. With rainwater sweeping large amounts of garbage from the dumping site into the Deepor Beel thereby adversely affecting the natural flow of water as well as the ecological balance of the entire area and blocking the flow of water from other areas of the city creating situations of artificial flood inundating large areas of the city, Guwahati’s dump yard is a far cry from a modern garbage management system that the city ought to have had by now.

Post eviction review meeting on cleanliness and beautification G Plus News

DC M Angamuthu chairing the meeting | G Plus photo

n completion of the eviction along the stretch of the National Highway 37, the Deputy Commissioner Karmup (M) Dr. M. Angamuthu convened a meeting on 3rd March, 2017 at his office chamber to discuss about the proper cleanliness drive and to work out a plan on it. In this meeting along with Addl. Deputy Commissioners Pulak Mahanta, Khitish Pegu, Pranati Majumdar and Nabadip Pathak, Project Director National Highway Authority K. Chakraborty, DTO Enforcement P. Gosh, DTO Incharge L&R B. Kalita, ACP Traffic B. Morang and Circle Officer Gu-

wahati L.N. Saharia were present. Dr. Angamuthu ordered N.H.A. to start from Khanapara to Jalukbari and clear all garbage and other materials by 10th March. Enforcement wing of Transport Department and Police Department have been asked to clear all plying vehicles stationed at the avenue roads. ACP Traffic B. Morang was requested to help with respective team to remove vehicles parked in front of show rooms, malls, plazas, petrol pumps etc. either by using crane or other methods. B. Kalita, DTO In-charge was asked to identify areas where bus stop-

pages may be constructed. The Circle Officer Guwahati was asked to identify the area near Boragaon were vehicles will be dumped. ADC P. Mahanta has been asked to issue show cause notice to all establishment/ institutions to strictly adhere to principles laid down by N.H.A. Any deviation in this regard will be treated seriously, the D.C. said. The D.C. also asked ADC P. Mahanta to convene a meeting with the Terminal Manager of IOC regarding parking of their vehicles on the service road of the National Highway. He also ordered ADCs to ensure proper barricading of evicted areas.

G PLUS MAR 04 - MAR 10, 2017

GFA Special

Meet

Convent, Guwahati and graduated in History from Cotton College. Being a great foodie herself, opening a food joint that would serve quality rolls caught Pranamika’s fancy. This was a venture that she felt would supplement her family income. “I got married very early when I was in Class XII. My husband Debo Kumar Barman was an employee of Doordarshan. But to run a family and live well, his salary was just not sufficient. Therefore, we thought of opening a restaurant,” said Pranamika. “The concept of opening a food joint came to our mind when we saw the massive response that Momo Ghar was receiving from the public and Momos were turning out to be a very popular snacking item at that point of time. I am a foodie, have always

Pranamika Barman Food Entrepreneur

orn and brought up in Guwahati, Pranamika Barman, proprietor of the J14 and Kolkata Roll chains of fast food outlets that are the city’s best known snacking joints has won the Food Entrepreneur Award at the Guwahati Food Awards, 2017. Pranamika, daughter of retired IAS officer Dinesh Chandra Barman, had completed her school from St. Mary’s

been one, but I never wavered from my understanding that the most important fallout from starting a food joint is the monetary support we wanted to run a family and therefore we started the first joint at Commerce point. At that time there were no other eateries there and the place was almost vacant. After we started our first food joint in 1997 we got good response from the public and we felt that we needed to open branches at other places as well. People took to our food very well, the demand for fast food was high and in response we opened branches on B. Baruah Road and at Sixmile,” Pranamika reiterated. Although both she and her husband run the business together, it was her husband who had zoomed in on the idea and decided to open the food joint under her proprietorship. With time, the business went from strength to strength as more and

more branches were opened. It not only gave them handsome returns but their business also provided job opportunities to many young people who today are working as their staff. “We feel happy that we have been able to give opportunities to those who were struggling with their lives searching for jobs as most of them are school drop outs. They have also got an opportunity to earn their livelihood which gives us immense pleasure,” said Pranamika. Pranamika is also interested in fashion designing and has a dream of opening an apparel line under the name of J14 itself when her second daughter grows up. She has two daughters; her elder daughter will appear for degree finals this year and the younger daughter is in Class VI. They have other branches which are lined up with three more joints coming up - one in front of Hub, Bhangagarh, one in Beltola

and the other in Bhetapara. Sharing her feelings of winning the Guwahati Food Award, she said that it was a great experience of having won for three consecutive years in different categories. In the first year J14 won the best Fast Food Joint (Chain). In the second edition, she won the Jury’s Award for the most consistent food and this year she herself won the title of Best Food Entrepreneur of the Year. “I was not able to go to the award ceremony as my daughter was having her exam and I missed the opportunity to receive the award with my own hand. This is my first award in my personal name and I will definitely participate in the coming years of the GFA as this has been a great experience. And winning such kinds of awards also gives us the opportunity to get more exposure among the public. It gives us the impetus to provide better service to the people,” concluded Pranamika.

Catching up with Ashish Chopra, Chairman of Jury, Guwahati Food Awards

Kalyan Deb

“The language of food binds and connects people and it brings people from all over the world closer to each other,” Ashish Chopra

Punjabi by origin, a foodie by passion and a connoisseur of north-eastern cuisine, Ashish Chopra has been making his presence felt in the culinary world for several years now. A food critic and author of NE Belly - a book on the cuisines of the north-eastern states, Ashish is also the maker of several documentaries on the cuisines, culture and various tribes of northeast. To this food enthusiast, northeast India is an obsession that has taught and given him much and this time the reason for his visit was his role as the Chairman of Jury, G Plus Guwahati Food Awards, 2017. Talking about his obsession with the northeast, Chopra said, “I have been coming to the northeast for over three decades now. My first foray was as a child when I spent most of my time in Maligaon during my holidays from school when my uncle was in the railways. Being a foodie runs in the family as my father was fond of cooking and so was my grandfather and the passion for northeast also comes from my father who was an anthropol-

ogist working in the region which gave me exposure to the northeast.” Apart from being a food enthusiast Chopra has had a vastly chequered career where he was the Executive Director of the Institute for Environmental Management and Social Development and a former Advisor to the Governor of Mizoram. He cut short a promising administrative career after he decided to take permanent sabbatical to pursue his passion for food and travel and is now dedicating his quality time as a culinary historian, food critic and travel writer among many other interests. Ashish’s love for north-eastern cuisine has taken him to over 2,000 villages of the region in the past three decades allowing him to learn about the diverse cultures as also to make several documentaries on the region. He has also documented the traditional tribal foods of India and written a cookbook – Tribal Cuisines of India. He has another book on the ‘Street Foods of India.’ “There is a huge array of culinary tradition of northeast that

has neither been showcased nor exposed to the rest of the world. In most parts of India, northeast was known for all the wrong reasons because there was no political patronage. Northeast is the home to almost 200 tribes and a major part of India did not understand or even know the simplicity, the humility and the huge variety of culture that is in store here. I thought it was very important that people in the rest of the country and the world know of the rich culinary traditions and the cultural Diasporas of the entire northeast region. So I have tried to do the best within my abilities to document as much as possible and that is how my interest has evolved,” Chopra stated to G Plus. Chopra organises culinary tours and heritage food walks for food lovers. He contributes to the Exotica magazine, The Pioneer newspaper, Travel World magazine and Global Food & Traveller magazine. Talking about the G Plus Guwahati Food Awards, Chopra said that the awards are contributing towards evolvement of the food scene in Guwahati that was once negligible. “We started from inches to inches and now we are galloping from milestones to milestones and I know for a fact that a time will come when we will cover not just Guwahati but the entire region,” said Chopra. He also mentioned that the food entrepreneurs should research and document their own traditional cuisines which are not

only rich but are there in thousands. “It is very necessary to have the understanding of one’s culture and food is the strongest medium to showcase the identity of culture and tradition. The language of food binds and connects people and it brings people from all over the world closer to each other. That is why more and more north-eastern cuisine restaurants are opening up

in cities like Bangaluru, Chennai, Mumbai, Delhi and several others in a huge way,” the food enthusiast added. Chopra is currently working on a documentary with BBC named India Unplugged that has a series of stories related to food and travel and the aspects of Diasporas on different kind of cuisines based on cultural tradition.

G PLUS MAR 04 - MAR 10, 2017

GFA Special

GFA 2017 sets new benchmarks in city’s foodscape

Chandrika Das

“There is no love greater than the love of food,” quoted George Bernard Shaw, and the whole world swore by it.

Vivanta by Taj decked up for the Guwahati Food Awards, 2017 | File photo

uwahati witnessed a dazzling night with an overspread of delicacies when foodies and stakeholders of Guwahati came under the roof of Vivanta by Taj on the evening of 26th February last. An initiative of G Plus to give the people of Guwahati the best in the food industry – Guwahati Food Awards (GFA) successfully accomplished its third edition. Awestruck by the enthusiasm of the people towards food, Riyaaz Amlani, Restaurateur & President, National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI), who was the chief guest at the event commented, “It’s so good to see people of Guwahati coming out to participate in such competitions. Assam has a lot of unique food habits and GFA is a platform to give these habits recognition. The metropolitan cities of the country try new experiments with food and it’s a good feeling to see this city of the northeast actively moving towards innovation with food. Food is so much more than a thing; it’s an emotion. And food lovers like to play around with that emotion.” Following the footprints of the previous two editions, Guwahati Food Awards 2017 was also aimed at bringing ahead the best players of the food, drinks and catering industry of the city. This edition of Guwahati Food Awards witnessed participation of 106 food joints over 186 nominations across 25 categories. And the food loving city that Guwahati is, it chose the best of the

best through a whopping 1,60,000 votes. This year, the organizers of Guwahati Food Awards went a step further to blend more creative segments and choose connoisseurs that dominate the gastronomic industry from not just restaurants but also from their homes. The Home Baker of the Year was one such new initiative this year to acknowledge a baker of the city who, while being an authority with his/ her baking skills, serves clients from home. The contest that saw participants competing with innovative baking techniques and customized cakes was a huge success. Upasana Saikia, who baked a colourful improvised cake in the shape of a KFC bucket, was declared the winner of the contest by the jury duo of Kashmiri Barkataki Nath, Founder of Northeast Food Forum and Amit Chatterjee, Pastry Chef of Vivanta by Taj. The jury panel that chose the winners from all the categories of the restaurants comprised Chef Atul Lahkar, Chef Faruq Ahmed, Kashmiri Barkataki Nath, Sisir Kalita, Chef Sovan Das, Chef Amit Chatterjee, Farah Pasha, Shanti Doley, Hrishiraj Talukdar, Suman Das, and Rimzim Lahkar. Apart from the jury members, the customers of the restaurants were the significant players who voted for the eateries on the basis of their food and service. Chosen from a long list of nominations, the 31 winners (see win-

ner’s list on Page 14) have created vibrant, delicious and sustainable local food economies. Barbeque Nation, that emerged as the winner of the most coveted ‘Restaurant of the Year’ title in the first edition, missed out during the second edition. The restaurant however, returned to the scene with a bang and grabbed the title for the second time. Setting a benchmark in the coffee house business that is evolving into quite a trend these days, Corner Cafe bagged the award for ‘Best Cafeteria’ for the third time in a row. Corner Cafe is the only joint to grab two titles this year viz. ‘Best Cafeteria’ and ‘Best Hangout Place’ of Guwahati. Speaking on the achievement, owner of Corner Cafe, Abhishek Baruah said, “It was a great experience winning the awards. We have witnessed an increase in our customer base after the award show. We are thankful to G Plus and our customers who have trusted us for three years. Corner Cafe is an approachable place. After we won the award for the second time, we renovated the place and gave it a look that would be liked by the young crowd. But again, we have a long way to go. Ashish Chopra pointed out that the food joints of Guwahati need to cater well to the patrons coming from outside. And we want to work on that and return next time being even better.” Raja Mircha, a fairly new food joint in the city, has proved its

brilliance by grabbing the award for ‘Most Promising New Entrant (Ethnic Cuisine).’ “Guwahati Food Awards has become a good platform for the food lovers of the city. I want to thank the organizers for opening up this platform. I was confident that we will win a title. We know we have bigger expectations from the people of the city now. We are planning to open up another branch with the same brand name that would serve the same cuisine somewhere in the core of the city. We want to make it easily accessible for the people,” said Bedanta Bhagowoty, owner of Raja Mircha. While Shahi Darbar bagged the award for ‘Best Vegetarian Restaurant’, Red Hot Chilli Pepper made it to the list for ‘Best Restaurant for Fine Dining.’ Rituraj Koushik, Manager, Red Hot Chilli Pepper while talking to G Plus said, “For us it’s a big achievement. The recognition that G Plus has given us would help us to grow and serve better. It’s not only an award but also a motivation. We would like to thank all the customers for trusting us and helping us achieve something so big. We hope to carry the good work in the future.” A first of its kind interactive workshop on Restaurant Management and Marketing was conducted by the organizers this year, where restaurateurs were mentored by Suresh Hinduja, CEO of

Gourmet India and Author, Times Food Guide. Some of the topics discussed in the workshop were – evolution and innovation in the Food & Beverage Industry, concept, pricing and location, importance of cuisine and authenticity, and the like. The finale also witnessed the release of a coffee table book that carried photographs from the last year’s event. It was released by (L-R) Rishi Baruah, Benoy Babu, Sunit Jain, Riyaaz Amlani, Ashish Chopra, Suresh Hinduja and K.K Agarwal

that formed part of a wonderful memorabilia of the GFA’s journey. The grand finale was enriched by the presence of dignitaries and celebrities of different backgrounds such as MLA Siddhartha Bhattacharya, Assamese film actor Kopil Bora, Children’s Rights activist Miguel Queah among others. One of the best parts of the night was the musical performance by the Roi-Roi-Roti fame star Abhishruti Bezbaruah, who charmed the audience with her melodious voice over 4 mellifluous tracks. The event was co-hosted by Swapnil Bharali, editor of G Plus and Dr. Asha Kuthari Chaudhuri, professor of Gauhati University. Organiser of the Guwahati Food Awards, Sunit Jain, who is also the publisher & director of G Plus said, “It was an exciting celebration of the success of the best in the city’s food industry and G Plus proudly accomplished the 3rd edition of GFA. The winners shall lead the way towards a tasty, authentic and responsible food system and work towards setting new benchmarks.” There can never be enough love for food. And Guwahati Food Awards is the spark to keep it alive in the hearts of the people of the city. Food is an art. From subject to statement, food has played a role in art for millennia. And the organizers of Guwahati Food Awards strive to keep it alive.

G PLUS MAR 04 - MAR 10, 2017

GFA Special Benoy Babu, Regional Head, Pernod Ricard presenting an award (Below)

Celebrating culinary

The Guwahati Food Awards (GFA), 201 February last at the Vivanta by Taj. This t far, the biggest with 104 city eateries nominations in 25 categories that include Restaurant for Continental Food, Best F

(Above) (L-R) Actor Kopil Bora, Radha Barooah Panesar, Miguel Das Queah along with a friend at GFA 2017

he glitzy evening saw the Joysagar Hall at the V hosts Swapnil Bharali (editor of G Plus) and Dr. As down the awards. Prior to the grand finale, unprecedented voting activity by the public of Gu were polled on the website and via SMS. Beside checking out the nominees and their compe

(Right) Chief Guest Riyaaz Amlani announcing the Restaurant of The Year

Underdoggs bagged the award for the Best Pub/Bar

Red Hot Chilli Peppers bagged the award for the Best Restaurant for Fine Dining (Above)

A transparent collating system was decided the winners. The evening President of National as the chief guest, Suresh GFA, Ashish Chopra, Siddhartha Bhattaharyya, constituency and pioneer among a deluge of food competitors. Bar B Q Restaurant of the Year while Promising New Entrant Award.

MLA Siddhartha Bhattacharya presenting the award to Yellow Chilli for Best North Indian Cuisine

(Below) The Jury of GFA 2017 posing with their mementos along Jain, Sameer Anjaria of Airtel and MLA Siddhartha Bhatta

G PLUS MAR 04 - MAR 10, 2017

GFA Special

g the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s y experts

17 was held in a grand event on 26th third edition of the food awards was, by s nominating themselves across 186 ed Restaurant of the Year, Best Fast Food, Best Mithai Shop, etc.

Vivanta full to its brim even as sha Kuthari Choudhury counted the GFA saw an uwahati. Over 1,60,000 votes es this, a 13-member jury went around etence to qualify for their nominated award.

Sunit Jain (L) presenting the memento to Sameer Anjaria (middle), CEO Airtel and Pradeep Jain, Director Shreeram Chemfoods (R) Abhishruti Bezbaurah poses with the Best Restaurant for Assamese Cuisine award bagged by Paradise (Right)

put in place for the final count that was graced by Riyaz Amlani, Restaurants Association of India Hinduja, Principal Advisor to the Chairman of the Jury and MLA Gauhati East restaurateur of Guwahati aficionados and nominated Nation was awarded the Bellini won the Most

(Right) Abhishruti Bezbaruah dazzled the audience with her voice for the evening

A Coffee Table book was released as a part of the memorabilia of GFA 2016 by the organizers of Guwahati Food Awards

with (L-R) Sunit acharya

(Top) Anahita Bajoria of Magik Cook Presenting an award

Selfies galore (Bottom) Suresh Hinduja, Ashish Chopra and Riyaaz Amlani were the Guests of honour for GFA 2017 (L-R)

G PLUS MAR 04 - MAR 10, 2017

In Conversation

Himanta Biswa Sarma is a liability to any party Ripun Bora, APCC President Rahul Chanda

orn in 1955 at Gohpur in a village called Borigaon, the present APCC president Ripun Bora did his schooling from Gohpur and later joined Cotton College. As a student he was active in students’ politics and even became the general secretary of the Cotton College Union Society. After graduating he joined Gauhati University, completed his masters and later did LL.B. He was working as a teacher and cleared the APSC to serve the government for a while. Later he left his job and joined politics full time. He was not able to contest in 2011 as two CBI cases were registered against him. But on getting a clean chit he was selected as the Rajya Sabha MP in 2016. Bora, as president of the opposition party, is confident that Congress will come back to power in 2021. He talks exclusively to G Plus giving his observations on the present government and its performance in the last one year.

When Congress was dethroned people said that they voted for a change. Can you honestly tell us what changes have you witnessed in the state since the BJP government came to power? It is totally disappointing and people are fed up now because of their expectations were too high. Congress was in power for 15 years and obviously there was the anti incumbency factor. After whatever people got during

our administration, their expectations increased. They wanted more benefits than whatever we could give. The Congress regime gave them many benefits but their expectations were more than that. BJP’s campaign was aggressive and they marketed themselves with too many false promises increasing the people’s expectations. People felt that with BJP coming to power they would get so many things like Rs 15 lakhs in their account, and accordingly they were mesmerised. There were so many promises by BJP like rooting out corruption entirely, bringing down prices of commodities. People thought BJP was far better than the Congress. With all these expectations people voted but I have seen no change at all. The style of functioning is totally different and they have taken a U-Turn on their promises. People are obviously fed up.

Without being diplomatic please tell us according to your observations what are the three positive and negative decisions taken by the present government? You will think I am biased if I do not mention any good things but I really have not seen a single good thing done by them. On careful observation, I only see that for three-four months there was a slight change in the environment, but now it has gone from bad to worse. Talking about negative things there are many.

Just to name three, firstly, they are dividing the people of the country - especially in Assam - in the name of fundamentalism, religion, caste, creed and so on. They want to impose the ideology of RSS but in a very silent, meticulous and camouflaged manner. This will damage the social fabric of our state. Secondly, they have compromised on what they had said about corruption as now I see that they are surrounded by the corrupt people. I do not want to name people. But while some ministers and high profile political leaders were in Congress it is the BJP who raised alarm and voiced that Congress is

the most corrupt government in the country. Even the BJP parliamentary party, in their white paper, had said that among the Congress ruled states, Assam is the most corrupt state and they had targeted one particular minister of Assam at that time. Even big BJP leaders like SS Ahluwalia, Amit Shah and even Rajnath Singh used to say that when BJP government comes to power in Assam so and so persons will be put behind bars. I will not take names but everybody knows that after joining the BJP these corruption charges are gone and they have become as pure as the water of Ganga. BJP is hypocritical where corruption is concerned. Thirdly, the government has taken a very destructive step regarding the liquor policy in Assam. This is a democratic country. We cannot curtail the democratic freedom

of any person and yet the government’s main motto should be to try its best to minimise the consumption of liquor in the state. Our government had introduced measures like dry days to reduce consumption but BJP government abolished the rule. In our time wine shops used to open at 2 pm, now they have advanced the time. With the recent liquor policy on country liquor people will easily start selling such liquor everywhere. The younger generation will be badly affected and this is a very destructive step.

After the new government came to power what has the Congress party done all these days to prove that they are a constructive opposition? We took up some issues which are anti-people. They have taken many anti-people policies and we have highlighted these issues. For example talking about eviction, there is a provision in the Su-

preme Court that if the government has to carry out eviction, the government must give the encroachers alternate accommodation prior to such eviction. Alternate arrangements, due compensation and their human rights must be ensured. But the BJP government has only targeted the religious minority community and those places where they are settled in. This will definitely create social tension and division. We all want to preserve Kaziranga, but what they have done is evict people only from two-three selected villages. There are so many places in Kaziranga which have been encroached by very high profile people. Resorts, tea plantations have come up by encroaching Kaziranga’s land but the BJP government has not touched these. They have this capitalistic tendency. Everywhere they are go-

ing for privatisation which is an issue we have taken to the people. They are intelligent enough to know that if they directly go for privatisation to help the corporate section they will be exposed. So to cover it they say one thing and indirectly do something else. There are many examples. Like, what is the necessity of giving the oil fields to the private companies? The two big industries in the state, the Nagaon Paper Mill and the Cachar Paper Mill are now running at losses. UPA government had taken a decision to give a package to revitalise these two paper mills, but they have not given it. Similarly the industrial promotion policy which was declared and its validity was up to 2017 was abolished as soon as they came to power in 2014. They have suspended the industrial policy of the northeast India. We are raising all these issues.

How are you raising it as people are unaware of the issues stated by you? People are aware of course but they are maintaining a safe distance. About the demonetisation also people suffered but they have not raised their voice only because they are still hoping that till the government is there they might get something. This is the tendency of the people; that is why they are still bearing all the pain with the hope that the BJP government will give them some benefits.

After BJP formed the government, prominent faces of your party like Pradyut Bordoloi, Rockybul Hussain, Nilomoni Sen Deka etc are not seen anywhere. Is it that they like working only when they are in power? I do not agree to this. Of course, Rockybul Hussain is raising many issues and touring many places. But so far as Pradyut Bordoloi and Nilomoni Sen Deka are concerned, man to man, things vary. Some people are hard working Congressmen but they are not proactive by nature. That is their style of functioning. You have not seen them only because they are not proac-

G PLUS MAR 04 - MAR 10, 2017

In Conversation tive but they are dedicated Congressmen.

To revive Congress again in the state after Tarun Gogoi who is the face of the party? With face you mean the next chief minister or the next leader? It is always the culture of Congress that the party has never

projected anybody well ahead of time. It will depend only on the situation and environment and will be decided just before the election or after the election. We have lots of potential leaders but the situation has not yet come to project anyone. Our prime duty is to revive the party.

Why are many regional Congressmen joining BJP even after almost one year of the formation of the new government? Some people are joining BJP but many people who had deserted Congress before the 2016 assembly elections have returned. Among the people who went were some block and district level people. Some went under compulsion and some do not have the dedication; they are opportunists and only want to stay with the ruling party. No prominent state level leader went except Robin Bordoloi, who was simply an MLA. Man Singh Rangpi was elected on Congress ticket. He resigned and joined BJP and was elected again. That is exclusively one person. It is the opportunists who have gone to BJP. In 1977, after emergency Indira Gandhi lost. That time all these people had joined the Janata Party. But after three years they all returned.

All Congressmen in the country are confused about the central leadership headed by Rahul Gandhi. Some people want him as the leader but many don’t. What is your opinion? Do you want him as your leader or not? To those people in our party who have confusion about the leadership of Rahul Gandhi, I want to say that they are themselves confused. They do not have any idea about the Congress party. While UPA government was there Rahul Gandhi could

have become home minister if he wanted. He could have become finance minister if he wanted. In fact, Dr Manmohan Singh and many others had requested him to become a union minister. At that time the argument was that since he was projected as our future prime minister he should get some administrative experience and for that he should join

the union cabinet. Rahul Gandhi refused all these and wanted to make Congress an institution. He wanted to empower everyone in the country through Congress.

But he has failed? Not failed. It is a continuous process. It will be possible but will take time. His father, his mother and all his family members did not take so much time. In my opinion, he has a democratic thought process. He never interferes in the affairs of the state. He always takes opinions. He never wants to impose any idea. He wants to know from us.

As president of the party do you think in 2021, you will be able to bring Congress back to power? Yes. 100%! There is no doubt about it.

Many people in Assam say that because Himanta Biswa Sarma went to BJP, the party was able to form government in the state. If he returns to Congress will you take him in? I can’t say that right now but presently the perception that he carries in the Congress party is one of an opportunistic politician. Himanta Biswa Sarma is a betrayer. He cannot be an asset to any party. He is a liability to his party. Now Himanta Biswa Sarma has become a liability to BJP; he has come into so many controversies and there are so many failures in both the departments. Every day he is the one person coming into controversies. So is he not a liability? In Congress it was the same thing. He was only in controversies. I don’t agree with you that it was because of Himanta that BJP came to power. And I will tell you why. When he was a Congress minister, he was

made in-charge of the Barpeta District and he was given over all charge of the election campaign of the Barpeta District in 2011. But in Barpeta District, we lost all the 7 out of 8 assembly constituency seats. So where is his competence? In the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, what happened in Jalukbari? BJP got 12,000 more votes than the Congress from that constituency which is his. He could not keep the entire people with him. Similarly, if he is as confident now as the BJP or he or many an outsider claim that he is most efficient and competent then look what has happened in these nine months. If this is the situation of a competent minister of his two departments than what will be the picture of this government? You have seen what is going on in the education department. No textbooks, he was not able to give textbooks on time, he has given computers after one year just before the HSLC examination. The students have not got uniforms till today. There is irregularity in midday meals in many schools and many teachers have committed suicide. This chaotic situation he has created leakage of question paper and all. All these have made him a failure and these are liabilities for the BJP government.

Sanskrit will be made mandatory till 8th standard. What is your opinion on it? If they really wanted to promote Sanskrit they would have made it compulsory in all the schools. Why have they made it compulsory only in certain schools? Why only the government schools? Because this is the

dictation of the RSS. This is the hidden agenda of the RSS. Our argument is why only Sanskrit and not Assamese? Why not history, why not geography? History and geography will help the young students to learn about the state.

As the person who is expected to observe and raise issues in the present government, who according to you are the ministers who are working and who are the ones not working? It is a very tough question you have asked but from what I have seen a few ministers seem to be working and coming on the media, but nothing visible are being seen from their efforts. There is no visibility of their works. I cannot say if any of the ministers in BJP government is performing. This government is so indecisive. Nine months have passed and they have not been able to fill up their full cabinet. Eight ministers are yet to be inducted.

After BJP government came to power there have been a lot of enquiries taking place. Like the social welfare scam, agriculture scam, APSC scam. Many Congress politicians are being quizzed. Why were the scams not enquired into during the Congress regime? Firstly, I want to make it clear that we are against corruption and we the Congress party never compromise with corruption. The BJP government’s motive on conducting enquiries is totally political. Before election they had said that they will root out

corruption totally. But corruption has not stopped in offices and day-to-day work across Assam. We are getting the feedback. They have instituted enquiries just to create sensation and divert the attention of the people from their failures. They have been total failures during these nine months. If they really want to root out corruption, why haven’t they taken other departments? There are many other departments where there are allegations of corruption. There are allegations education, health, panchayat and rural, forest department. These departments also have allegations of corruption but they have not started any enquiry in these departments. They were the most vocal party against Rs. 1,000 crore NC hills corruption but now they are totally mum.

Last thing I want to ask you is about the long cold war between you and Himanta Biswa Sarma. Is there any enmity? From my side there is no enmity at all. But what I have observed of Himanta Biswa is that he is a man with high ambitions. His thinking is no leader around him should go up to his level. He always has an apprehension that his colleague may be his threat or may be an obstacle in his political path. He always has this apprehension and therefore any of his colleagues who has potential, he targets them. Likewise, I was his target but I never did anything to harm Himanta Biswa Sarma and I never exposed it to anybody also. rahul.chanda@g-plus.in

G PLUS MAR 04 - MAR 10, 2017

G Talk E

Significance of GFA

FA – Guwahati Food Awards! A germ of an idea that sprouted with a modest first edition has today, in its third edition, grown into a tall, sturdy oak, its canopy spread in “umbrellaic” fashion with the city’s multitude of eateries finding solace, grace and recognition under it. But the GFA is not merely an award ceremony as is commonly perceived. As its host, I would rather define it as a guiding force that seeks to encourage better and improved culinary services year after year from the nominated players who hope for an award. The lead up to the gala awards night was a flurry of gastronomic activities that sent the appointed jurors into a tucking frenzy. The finest restaurants in the city offered its choicest delicacies as ordered by the jurors or as suggested by the nominated outlets. Brilliant cooking, satisfying meals! And yet, almost on all occasions and despite the rather immodest prices on some menus, the fish and prawns on offer were not fresh from the local market; these were the frozen variety available in department stores. The fact remains that fine dining in Guwahati is a great experience but one still needs to visit the regular Maa Kali variety of restautants in Paltan Bazar, Maligaon et al for that ultimate local fish or jumbo prawn experience. More often than not, the waiters in the restaurants, including

the star category hotels, were found wanting in their knowledge of the food that they serve. And this gives a clear indication of their lack of adequate training thus portraying a picture of careless unprofessionalism. The significance of GFA lies in understanding its underlying spirit – that of excelling or performing to one’s full potential rather than trying to be just about better than one’s nearest competitor. The GFA is like the game of golf. It is about beating the opponent by playing at one’s best. It is about exceeding one’s own expectations – on every occasion of service with every customer. I would not say that this significance was missed by all of the nominees and yet I am inclined to believe that each nominee would have stood a better chance had they been a bit more meticulous with their products and service. We at G Plus have hosted top artists and other visitors who have often tweeted their enthusiasm and appreciation for Guwahati’s food. But should this make us complacent or should this be a shot in the arm to do even better? For a huge step forward, the frozen Basa fish can be discarded and replaced with local Aree. If the Maa Kalis can do it at lower prices, I wonder what stops the fine dines from following suit. Hope the significance of GFA is understood better. Swapnil Bharali Editor

Guwahati Adda 3 friends strike up a text conversation after they get back to Guwahati from Delhi, and they discuss a certain tourism campaign that they’ve come across on their social media feeds featuring Priyanka Chopra. Himangshu: Dear, Assam Tourism, rehne do, tumse na ho payega. Man, not only do they lack creativity, the photo has no appeal and the poor rhino doesn’t even look happy posing next to that hottie! Neelakshi: Lol! And why is she chosen as the ambassador for our State’s tourism, someone remind me again? Leena: For her international stature of course! Himangshu: Just a thought, but I think the rhino is a far better ambassador than what we’ve gone for. Live, real, indigenous and not available in swimsuit alternatives.

t the outset, let it be clear that I am quite aware of the negatives about this city. Oh yes, it’s all there, upfront, isn’t it? She doesn’t hide her flaws under cosmetics, Guwahati doesn’t. We know about the overflowing dustbins and the drains and the floods. But then, “A friend is someone who knows all about you, and still loves you”. And those of us who are Guwahati lovers ...and let me tell you, there are quite a lot of us around ...love this city, warts and all. Guwahati has always been much derided, especially by those who live in the towns of Upper Assam. But those who live outside the State always go into rhapsodies after a single visit to this place. People from the metros as well as the smaller towns of the rest of India love Guwahati, and jump at any opportunity to come here again. Several people I know, who have had postings here, have decided to stay on even after retirement. And indeed, even those who consider the towns of Jorhat and Dibrugarh, for instance, to be superior to this place that was once The Light of The East, surreptitiously acquire a flat in this city they love to hate. So. To quote Elizabeth Barrett Browning...How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. The river, of course, in all its majesty, has its deceptively calm surface hiding a shocking turbulence. Green-fringed, edged with hills, it is an entity that is never

Neelakshi: Couldn’t agree more. Plus, the State doesn’t have to part with all that money. Leena: The Government says she doing this for free. Hmm... Film stars who charge a crore for a second? Pinch me, please? Neelakshi: They could have at least come up with a better lie. Himangshu: A better lie and a better line actually. Pise ami bohut “wild” hoi kintu die. SIDHARTH BEDI VARMA

Opinion

Confessions of a rabid Guwahati lover

Mitra Phukan

far from a true Guwahatian’s consciousness. We gambol on its hospitable sandbanks in winter, and watch with awe its Tandav of destruction during the rainy season. But mostly, I go, at least twice or thrice a year to a hillock overlooking it, just to refresh my soul. It calms, soothes, comforts, humbles, in a way even the sea does not, for me. Reviewers of my books have noted that the river is always present in them. It is not a conscious thing. It is inevitable, for like all Assamese, the Brahmaputra is fused into our DNA. Other cities and countries are where I grew up. Yet when I finally reached Gauhati, just before my marriage, it was like a homecoming, though of course it was much smaller then. But it was, and still is, a place that is nurturing. One can explore one’s talents in various fields, and there is always scope and encouragement to be found here. What I love about the place is its heterogeneity, its “Live and let live” attitude. True, there are aberrations. But Guwahati today is just the right size, not too big, not too small. One can, and does, have a huge assortment of friends of all ages, all with different interests, who add so much richness and colour to life. And there are all those functions which Guwahatians are so happy to organize. Musical, literary, sports, dramatic, religious, oh yes, so many kinds. The many varieties of cuisines on offer here make Guwahati a foodie’s delight. And there are so many genres too, that flourish here, in these spheres in this city whose inclusiveness is becoming legendary. For instance, all kinds of music, rooted in so many different cultures, add vibrancy. And the organizers actually take the trouble to hand deliver the invitations. Who bothers to do that anymore elsewhere? It always has been a place of rich cultural experimentation. Its drama festivals, and the All India Music Conferences of the past, were legendary, spawn-

ing many stalwarts in their fields. People here have time just enough to nurture friendships. Most have a rollicking social life. Indeed, it is just the right size, again, for this. There is balance. The anonymity of the huge cities, on the one hand, and the nosey, judgemental neighbours of the smaller towns, is both soul deadening. Here one can be close or not, as one wishes and there are no hard feelings. And it’s always heart-warming to see the support given in times of need. There is a sense of community here. This is, indeed, a “manageable” size. One can go across town to take in a concert, or to party, knowing it’s ok if one returns late. This is not always possible in a place such as Delhi, for instance, even if one has one’s own transport. To drive home thirty, forty kilometres at two in the morning is a daunting prospect. And yes, this is still a woman friendly place which is safe in general for all. Many young women routinely drive back at midnight alone, and indeed, are quite confident doing so. This is a sociable city, warm and cordial. People smile at strangers. There is banter in the market places and compassion when times are hard. And no matter what others say, this is a city that is green, not of course due to Government initiatives, but because the citizens plant trees and flowers in available spaces and pots. The marvellous weather, mild in winter, and bearable in summer, is conducive to botanical growth, of course. Perhaps also, it makes people less prone to aggression and anger. This rapidly growing city, so vibrant and all embracing, is an exciting place to live in today. Best of all, it is always amenable to course correction. Hopefully, the travails of the recent past can be a closed chapter, so that all of us, Guwahatians who love this city with passion and commitment, can move forward to make it an even finer place to live in.

Letter to the Editor r Fill up the blanks After going through the latest dirty games played by our politicians irrespective of any political party, yours truly is again reminded the age old saying which goes as “Politics is the last resort of the _______.” Dear readers, please fill up the blanks. I shall be obliged. Dr. Ashim Chowdhury, Ambari, Guwahati.

G PLUS MAR 04 - MAR 10, 2017

Trotter

Hermaphrodite Dog becomes an online hit after social media calls for new owners

rare hermaphrodite dog which had been struggling to find a new owner may be about to get a fresh start. Holly, a six-year-old Staffordshire bull terrier, has both male and female reproductive organs. While it does not cause any physical or health problems, RSPCA carers had feared Holly’s unusual situation was putting potential owners off since her arrival at the re-homing centre in November. But since a media appeal last month, the staff at the charity’s Coventry and Nuneaton District

branch in the West Midlands has had inquiries from as far afield as Denmark. Now a local family is coming to see Holly to start the process of giving the canine a home. Ross McAlpine, animal care assistant, said: “Holly came into us from a previous owner; they were getting a bit older so didn’t have the time to give her. When she came in, she was something I had never seen before – a female hermaphrodite dog. It’s very rare. “But it doesn’t cause her any concern, the vets have

checked. It doesn’t cause her any discomfort but it can put off potential adopters. They see there’s a stigma around it. Potentially, with the insurance, they think there may be health issues, even though she’s been given the allclear by vets. She’s absolutely fine. It’s not going to affect her at all.” He added: “The appeal has reached quite far and we’ve got a potential adopter coming on Friday to visit her, so fingers crossed that all goes well.” (Source: Daily Mail)

GOVERNMENT OF ASSAM OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL EDUCATION, ASSAM SIXMILE, KHANAPARA, GUWAHATI-22 __________________________________________________________________________________ No DME/PG/06/2016/ Dated 27/Feb/2017 EDUCATIONAL NOTICE Admission into P.G. Courses in the 4 Medi cal Colleges of Assam, Session, 2017. It is for general informa tion tha t the candida tes whose names appea red in the Sta te of Assam meri t list of NEET -PG 2017 conducted by Na tional Boa rd of Examina tion and who has se rved i n the remote & diffi cul t a reas as mentioned below a re hereby directed to appl y in plain paper to the undersigned for awa rding additi onal ma rks as per following rules of Assam Medi cal Colleges (Regula tion of Admiss ion to PG ND courses) Rule, 2006 and submi t the same in the Drop Box which will be a vailable a t the 0/o the DME, Assam (2 Floor). "In determining the merit in the Entrance Examination for Post Graduate admission, additional mark shall be given at the rate of 3% of marks obtained in the Entrance Examination against completion of each year of service in 'remote & difficult areas' subject to the maximum of 9% of the total marks obtained, provided the candidate produces certificate/ certificates to the effect issued by the DHS/DHS (FW) Assam & Jt. DHS of Assam of the concerned area, in the format as prescribed at Appendix-IV. Provided that total marks obtained after inclusion of additional marks shall not exceed the total marks of the Entrance Examination. Provided, however that the period of service in remote and difficult area shall be counted with f*ct from D1 -01-2010 onwards only and service offered prior to this date shall not be counted for awarding this additional marks. Provided also that Doctors serving in rural area in establishment other than establishment of the Govt. of Assam or Society/Agency created for implementation of National Programmes of disease control or N.H.M. shall not be eligible to be awarded additional marks as mentioned above." th

REMOTE & DIFFICULT AREAS IN ASSAM (As per the amendment notification in the Assam Gazette dated the 13 January/ 2010. "Remote and Diffi cul t Area" means a n a rea whi ch is situa ted in the two hill Dis tri cts of Assam i.e. North Ca cha r Hill s and Ka rbi Anglong Dis tri ct as well as remote a reas namel y, Dhema ji Distri ct, Sadia Sub -di vision, Ma juli Sub-di vision, Dhakuakhana Sub-di vision and South Sal ma ra sub-di vision other than the head qua rters of the said Distri cts /Sub -di vision". However all concerned candida tes a re requested to go through the ori ginal gazette notifi ca tion thoroughl y. SUBMISSION OF APPLICATION :- All the applica tions with necessary enclosures a re to be submi tted wi thin 10th March/2017. FORMATE OF APPENDIX-IV :Certificate This is to certify tha t Dr…………………………………………….. has been working/ has worked in (Na me of the Dispensary/ Hospi tal/ Heal th es tablishment)……………………………………………………………………. s i tua ted a t (Name of the Village)………………………………. i n the distri ct/Sub-di vision of………………………………As sam from………………………….. to………………………… as the (Name of the post)……………………………. for a period of………….. Yea rs …………. Months …………… Da ys , continuousl y and satisfa ctoril y. The pla ce where he/she has been working/ has worked is si tua ted in an a rea other than the head qua rter of the Dis tri ct/ Sub-di vision. IMPORTANT NOTE : • Candi dates must submi t the following informa tion/ documents with the applica tion :1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Completed APPENDIX-IV of the P.G. Admission Rules -2006 a mended up to 2012 wi th signa ture of concerned authori ty. Copy of the Appointment letter showing a ppointment in 'remote & difficult areas'. Cha rge taking over & ha nding over reports of the posting of 'remote & difficult areas'. Period of servi ce in 'remote & difficult areas'. From………….. to………………………. Roll No. , Ma rks & Meri t posi tion of NEET-PG 2017. Prof. (Dr.) A. K. Ba rma n Di rector of Medi cal Educa tion, Assam Si x-Mile, Khanapa ra , Guwaha ti – 22 Janasanyog/2430/16

‘I’m vegan’: Woman intentionally crashes car into chicken truck, flees scene

ive and let live is apparently not the motto for one Georgia woman who was so angry at seeing a truck transporting chickens that she purposefully drove her car into it. Judith Armstrong, 26, was driving in her red car on a stretch of Highway 72 in Hull, Georgia when she spotted the foul fowl freight. She drove her car into the side of the chicken-transporting truck, the unnamed driver told police. When the trucker hit the brakes, the car again drove into his truck, according to the Athens Banner-Herald. The impact of the collision sent the red car into a spin. Armstrong reportedly fled the scene without exchanging information, but she was still easily identified. Her license plate remained at the crash site, along with pieces of her car, which the police deputy responding to the

scene promptly found. The truck driver had also given a basic description of the woman, saying she had shoulder-length red hair, WXIA reported. When officers went to Armstrong’s home in Comer, no one answered the door. On a second attempt, she and her partially crumpled car was there. Armstrong then refused to leave her home, but spoke to deputies through “multiple windows,” WXIA reported. She told them she drove off because she was scared of what would happen to her driver’s license, according to the police report. She also admitted that she purposefully caused the crash because “she was a vegan and hit the truck due to it being a chicken truck,” the police report said. Armstrong denied having had anything to drink before her fateful drive home from work, but then said she had “taken a couple of shots” when she got home. After deputies secured an arrest warrant, Armstrong finally surrendered and was taken into custody. At the police station, officers tested her blood alcohol level. It was .089. The legal limit for Georgia is .08. Armstrong faces charges of hit-and-run, aggressive driving, driving under the influence, and obstruction. (Source: RT)

Waterway in Spain turns green – but it’s not toxic

uthorities in Spain and Andorra have moved to allay fears that a waterway where bottled water is sourced has been contaminated after it turned an alarming sickly green colour. Some people suggested the newly green waters had something to do with the Irish St Patrick’s Day celebrations on March 17. However, the cause has been revealed by the mayor of Seu d’Urgell in the Catalan Pyrenees, Spain to have no connection with either the Irish holiday or to a dangerous contaminant. According to Mayor Albert Batalla, the glowing hue was part of a water test which used biodegradable dyes on the Arinsal River north of the Spanish border which has continued downstream. In a statement, Batalla said he had spoken to Andorran officials, who insisted the dye “is not toxic [and] has no involvement with human health.” “It seems that the tests were limited to the Arinsal River, but the colour has gone downstream,”

Batalla said. He added that the colour should disappear in the coming hours. Andorra’s Ministry for Health has also released a notice informing people that the dye is being used to trace areas that could potentially be hit by real contamination. “The coloration of the river resulting from research in the Arinsal is safe both for people and for the environment,” it read. The government added that the research results will be included in a water report in May. Last year some 3,166 people contracted a gastroenteritis stomach virus from water bottled in the Arinsal, reported El País. The bottles were sourced in Andorra but later sold in the Spanish cities of Barcelona and Tarragona. (Source: RT)

G PLUS MAR 04 - MAR 10, 2017

Lifestyle

VAASTU SHASTRA

The Inner Space of The Mind

hida Akasha (the causal space) is different from the Chit Akasha. It is just like the space inside each pot is different. Suppose you have ten pots of different sizes, the amount of space inside each pots will be different. It depends on the pot. How do you calculate something as one liter? Because the container has one-liter space in it. Another pot has two liters’ space. A third pot has half liter space in it. It is like that. Astrological predictions are just like meteorological predictions. They need not always be correct. Meteorological predictions don’t work all the time. So, in a similar way, by looking at the different astrological charts, people decipher the different kinds of chit Akasha. Someone who is Aquarius will keep quiet until one day they’ll explode. With someone whose moon is in Gemini, you might predict that the person is double minded, always yes and no. From the chart of a person who is Taurus, you may predict that they’re very focused, they’re go getters. In the chart of someone who is Leo, you see that they’re very adamant, and they never listen to anybody. So some of these traits are identified

from these charts. It indicates the Chit Akasha - the type of thoughts and emotions this person will have. Then time also matters. When someone has Jupiter in the 8th house, this person, for that one whole year will have all kinds of doubts. They will doubt everything; they will doubt themselves and doubt others. With the 8th house in Jupiter, wherever they are, they will want to run away from there. But it won’t stay forever. After they manage to get through that one year, then it all changes and becomes different. Similarly, when there is a combination of Saturn and Kasturi BorKotoKi Mars, you Kasturi will find anger is a palette knife in artistthe and impressionist floral designs individual,paints as well as in the soin oils. She hails from Guwahati. Blog:cosmos kasturiscanvas.blogspot.com ciety, in the and in the nation. You can say that in the KasHmiri natH be anger nation there’s Foodie,going owner attoXOXO cupcakes, food running blogger, recipehigh. developer and and conflicts See expert on Assamese cuisine. what is happening now, these last two to three months, there raHman are bombKuLKuL blasts, issues, and Entrepreneur, mother and a problems in so many passionate cook. areas. (This is a two part article. The continuation of the article Hemanta in Kumar will be available thesarmaH next isEngineer, Businessman, Advanced Pranic Healer and Su Jok Acupressue) sure specialist. sHri sHri ravi sHanKar Founder- Art of Living Foundation.

ASTROVAASTU TIPS FOR THE SHORT TEMPERED

hough Vaastu has nothing to do with religion, it has a deep relation with the directions and their rulers. While Vaastu talks about favourable directions, Astrology talks about planets, houses and signs which control the directions. For example, the northeast is ruled by Jupiter, the south by Mars or Mangal, the west by Saturn or Shani etc. Vaastu talks about elements (earth, water, space, air and fire) which, when in harmony generate positive bio electric energy that bestows health, wealth, comfort and prosperity in natives. Astrology is the study of the positions and aspects of celestial bodies and says that they have an influence on the course of natural earthly occurrences and human affairs. The combination astrology

Restaurant Review

Nest Asia Radisson Blu, (Oriental Kitchen)

The best Oriental Food in Guwahati has to be at Nest Asia, Radisson Blu. Chef Vikas is a full of ideas and adventure, turning the old into new, overhauling and enticing the city with new flavours and taste.

he amuse bouche of melon scoops in a chilli tangy sauce set the mood for a culinary sojourn. Chef decided to wow us with an Indonesian Fish wrapped in Banana Leaves. Flaky fish steamed with a light sauce and lime, hums with fresh galangal topped with a hypnotically aromatic basil and fiery chilli. It was a well made, engaging appetizer and brought conversation on the table to a standstill. Next to arrive at the table was the Vietnamese Chicken Skewer with Nouc Cham Sauce. This quintessential Vietnamese sweet and tangy sauce elevated

the flavor of the skewered chicken bites, which by itself was mild. The skewers used were not the traditional bamboo sticks but the Chef cleverly used lemongrass stalks. Try the Dimsums too, they will not disappoint you. The accompanying trio of dipping sauces that arrived on the table was: a Coriander and Chilli Sauce, a spicy Chilli Yam Sauce and a Black Bean Chilli Sauce. Delicious! These aggressive sauces are just the kind that enjoyed sparring with the dimsums, creating an amazing flavor in the mouth. Next, the Chef brought out

gorgeous looking Honey Glazed Barbeque Pork Ribs. Glistening with a dark gold sheen and speckled with white sesame seed, this dish arrested our attention and our taste buds. The best pork ribs I have tasted anywhere, the meat collapsing and melting in the mouth. This is a dish you would like to have with some old school friends, laughing over jokes and chilled beer and fighting for the last morsel. The Pork Ribs were exceptional. The Chow Chu Key (smoked chilli chicken) comes on a bed of tossed green chilli. The chicken pieces were comfortingly crispy and smoky but, be warned! The

with Vaastu is called Astro-Vaastu. Whenever traditional Vaastu remedies like demolition and changes in structure are not viable, the help of Astro-Vaastu is sought. A person can become short tempered when the moon-sign is aspected by strong planets like Sun, Mars, Rahu and Ketu. The following Vaastu remedies can help in controlling short temper and make the person cooler:1. The short tempered person should sit mostly in a northwest direction of a living room as the Moon is the ruler of northwest direction and it helps in keeping the mind calm. 2. Keep a Moon yantra on the eastern wall of living room. 3. The short tempered person should avoid sitting in southeast corner of a living room.

green chilli heat can sneak up for the unwary. I wouldn’t recommend it those with a low heat tolerance. The Char-Grilled Smoked Lamb arrived with iceberg lettuce leaves. Skip these; there are better options on the menu. The mains arrived; Singaporean Rice Noodles, Phad Thai Prawn, Indonesian Sayur Lodeh and Thai Green Curry with Jasmine. The Singaporean Rice Noodles would be a nice meal on a lazy slow day, packed with all the vegetables and done quite well but a bit boring and dull. The Phad Thai Prawn packed in a punch of flavours and textures: sweet, tangy, sour and spicy and with juicy large prawns. This dish is brilliant. The Sayur Lodeh was a fascinating dish of creamy coconut curry with vegetables and mushrooms, fragrant with

4. Sleep with the head in the south or east direction 5. Keep a picture of a flying white dove without water at southeast. 6. Place a bunch of peacock feathers in the northwest corner of the bedroom. 7. Place green agate crystals in the southwest corner of living room. 8. Use soft shades of pink, blue, green, peach and white for furnishings. 9. Use a green or white night lamp in bedroom 10. Do meditation, and chant “OM HRIM NAMAHAA.” Bonus Tip: It is believed that when you light a lamp in the house, it wards off all the negative energies. can light an KasturiOne BorKotoKi Kasturiplace is a palette knifethe artisteast and oil lamp and it in paints impressionist floral designs direction. inThe lamp have oils. She hails should from Guwahati. Blog: a minimum ofkasturiscanvas.blogspot.com two wicks; you can also have a maximum of 5 to 7 KasHmiri natH wicks in a Foodie, lamp.owner Theatlamp should XOXO cupcakes, blogger, and never facefood south asrecipe it isdeveloper inauspiexpert on Assamese cuisine. cious. The lamp should never be lit with one wick. You can also KuLKuL raHman keep a lamp in front of a deity or Entrepreneur, mother and a near Tulsipassionate plant in the cook. courtyard for spiritual benefits. Hemanta Kumar sarmaH Engineer, Businessman, Advanced Pranic Healer and Su Jok Acupressure specialist. sHri sHri ravi sHanKar Founder- Art of Living Foundation. spices and wonderfully light. The Thai Green Curry was again beautifully created, silky and smooth. Nobody judges Asian Cuisine by its desserts but the dessert that was put on the table after this humongous meal completely won me over. The Thai dessert Tub Tim Grob, gently sweetened coconut milk, soothingly bland but an un-putdownable with the ruby red water chestnut bits in it. Cool and calming end to a meal. NestAsia indeed has not received its due; it serves the finest dishes oriental cuisine has to offer; each dish was fresh, vivid and intense. I loved the way the dishes here are created- if some of them have robust flavours bursting, there are others which are stripped down to natural purity. This is a meal I’m unlikely to forget in a long time. And in my opinion, we finally have an authentic and the best oriental restaurant in the city. Kashmiri Nath Foodie, owner at XOXO cupcakes, food blogger, recipe developer and expert on Assamese cuisine.

G PLUS MAR 04 - MAR 10, 2017

Best Bakery (chain)

The Winners are...

Best Restaurant for All Day Dining

JB's

Repose

Best Pub/Bar

Best Bakery (single outlet)

Underdoggs Sports Bar & Grill

in Association with

Boutique Bakery Hotel Dynasty

People's Choice Award

NE Food Express

Best Cafeteria

The Corner Café

Best Restaurant for Vegetarian food

Shahi Darbar

Supported By:

Best Multi-Cuisine Restaurant

Florentine

Best Restaurant for South Indian Cuisine

Fine Dining Restaurant

Chennai Kitchen

Best Catering Service Provider

Best Restaurant for Bengali Cuisine

Omji Catering

6 Ballygunge Place

Best Catering Service Provider (Vegetarian)

AB's by the Grand Aﬀairs Best Club/Lounge

Terra Mayaa

Food Entrepreneur of the Year

Pranamika Barman

Best Restaurant for Fine Dining

Red Hot Chilli Pepper

Best Restaurant for Naga Cuisine

Nagameez

Setting Benchmark Through Innovation

Café Craft The Zouq Taii Singpho 6 Thir(s)ty Three Guys

Best Mithai Shop

Most Promising new entrant

Mughlai/North Indian Food - Mughals Cafeteria - The Basement Café Pub/ Bar - Brooklyn Blues Multicuisine - Spectrum Dine Europeon/Continental - Bellini Ethnic Cuisine - Raja Mircha Club/ lounge - Nyx

Best Restaurant for European cuisine

Ziya

Best Restaurant for Assamese cuisine

Paradise

Best Restaurant for North Indian/Mughlai Cuisine

The Yellow Chilli

Best Restaurant for Oriental cuisine

Kiranshree Sweets Best Fast Food Joint (chain)

Chick n Chilly

Co-Sponsored by:

Yo! China

Restaurant of the Year

Barbeque Nation Radio Partner:

Home Baker of the Year

Best Hangout place

Upasana Saikia Hospitality Partner:

The Corner Café Outdoor Partner:

G PLUS MAR 04 - MAR 10, 2017

Review Cast: Allison Williams, Bradley Whitford, Catherine Keener, Daniel Kaluuya Director: Jordan Peele

familiar phrase pops up when Chris (Daniel Kaluuya) tries to explain to his girlfriend, Rose (Allison Williams), why he feels so uneasy around her groundskeeper, Walter (Marcus Henderson): “It’s not what he says, it’s how he says it.” It’s one of maybe a half-dozen lines of perfect, vibrating meaning in Get Out, Jordan Peele’s horror-comedy directing debut. It’s charged by the fact that Chris is black and Rose isn’t; he’s already expressed uneasiness at the fact Rose didn’t happen to mention that fact to her family before they came up for their meet-the-parents weekend. It doesn’t help that Chris has just endured a night of her father (Bradley Whitford) proudly explaining how he would have voted for Barack Obama for a third term, and her brother (Caleb Landry Jones) remarking on his frame and genetic makeup, nor that Walter and the equally how-she-says-it housekeeper, Georgina (Betty Gabriel), seem to be the only black people around for miles and they are,

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naturally, the help. So that phrase – which you might have recently heard in, say, The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story, used to describe Mark Fuhrman – is both red flag and white noise: a suggestion of a deep worry on Chris’s part, but something Rose can easily brush off as him being paranoid. It’s a code that she just doesn’t get – that she plays off, suspiciously frequently, by appealing to his jealousy and sexual vanity – which makes it that much easier for Chris to pass it off as nothing, even as the weird hows and code glitches start piling up. This works better as a pointed statement than as an actual, you know, horror film, but both aspects benefit from Peele’s facility with detail. Just as he knows how to make a social interaction feel wormy and uncomfortable – not quite right, but not quite wrong, exactly, nah, you wouldn’t get it – he knows how to make an image placid but uneasy, the scares sometimes right in front of you, and sometimes lurking just off the screen.

Cast: Eddie Izzard, J.K. Simmons, Kenan Thompson, Lewis Black, Luke Wilson, Mae Whitman Director: Ash Brannon

ake a father-son bonding tale set in the mountains, combine it with a story of a budding musician in search of a superstar, throw in gangsters, a compassionate robot and magic powers, and the jumbled result is the animated film “Rock Dog.” It’s one of maybe a half-dozen lines of perfect, vibrating meaning in Get Out, Jordan Peele’s horror-comedy directing debut. It’s charged by the fact that Chris is black and Rose isn’t; he’s already expressed uneasiness at the fact Rose didn’t happen to mention that fact to her family before they came up for their meet-the-parents weekend. It doesn’t help that Chris has just endured a night of her father (Bradley Whitford) proudly explaining how he would have voted for Barack Obama for a third term, and her brother (Caleb Landry Jones) remarking on his frame and genetic makeup, nor that Walter and the equally how-she-says-it housekeeper, Georgina (Betty Gabriel), seem to be the

Album I See You By The XX

ften the xx have seemed like rabbits caught in the glare of their own success. As the most widely-influential band of recent years, the fact that their original formula – part Cocteau Twins, part Joy Division, part Everything But The Girl – proved quite so winning seemed to take them aback as much as it did the rest of us. On-stage, as their recent high-profile appearance on Saturday Night Live performing tracks from this, their third album proved, a certain physical awkwardness lingers. It’s something co-singer Romy Madley Croft addresses in Brave for You, her words directed perhaps at the band’s audience, thanking them

for emboldening her to “stand on a stage for you / Do the things that I’m afraid to do.” The USP of the xx has always been the heart-play dialogue between Sim and Madley Croft, and here it veers between intense passion and jaded emotions. In other words, this is the sound of the xx growing up and examining how far they’ve travelled. I See You is more nuanced and upbeat than their previous records but, perhaps shrewdly, it enhances their blueprint rather than completely redrawing it. A solid third album, then, it will shore up their popularity and expand their reach. In 2017, it will likely be everywhere.

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Game For Honor Platform Xbox One

hen you get a major publisher like Ubisoft to put its might behind trying to perfect the ultimate “Rock, Paper, Scissor” experience, and you throw in the some of the biggest names in war, you get a rough idea of the foundation of For Honor. Recently released, For Honor is Ubisoft’s attempt to innovate the hack and slash genre, because let’s face it, that’s all you do. Hack and Slash. So, is this simplistic button masher just another generic slasher with a pretty skin, or does For Honor provide depth that will entertain you for months on end and hone your blade work? Another major victory has to come with the graphics of For

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only black people around for miles and they are, naturally, the help. It’s an ingenious twist by writer/director Peele, heretofore known as the more sedate, nerdy half of the Key and Peele sketch-comedy duo. With one device, he not only solves the problem of horror-film participant credulity – something he mocks even harder with the chorus-like presence of Lil Rel Howery, who pops up from time to time specifically to comment on how weird the whole situation seems – he satirizes the uneasy peace of oh-I-guesswe’re-not-actually-post-racial-who-knew America. The tool of rising horror in Get Out is overbearing accommodation, a bunch of smiling people trying to insist that nothing is wrong and making a young black man feel paranoid for thinking that something might be. This works better as a pointed statement than as an actual, you know, horror film, but both aspects benefit from Peele’s facility with detail.

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Honor, because they are strikingly detailed. Every detail in the environments to those found in your character is brought to life in a way that does a sensational job immersing you into the life of the warrior. Overall, For Honor does a great job trying to find a new way of telling a very old and very familiar story. It accomplishes so much that it does provide an entertaining way to push you through the repetition of a hack and slash game. However, when you least expect it, you get impaled right through the heart by a broken multiplayer experience where the fragments of microtransactions.

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G PLUS MAR 04 - MAR 10, 2017

Entertainment

Zubeen Garg lashes out on social media

‘Chor (The Bicycle)’ earns global accolades

the tune and bits and pieces of the lyrics reportedly matched with Zubeen’s song, ‘Pakhi pakhi ei mon’. Zubeen Garg on his social media profile said that the song sung by Udit Narayan ji is a copy of “pakhi pakhi ei mon” and while he condemned this act, he also declared that he will take legal action against this.

ssam’s singing sensation, Zubeen Garg took to social media to vent out his frustration at veteran Bollywood singer, Udit Narayan over a song that has reportedly been copied from one of Zubeen Garg’s timeless classics, ‘Pakhi Pakhi ei mon’.

Zubeen’s ‘Pakhi pakhi ei mon’ is one of his most popular songs and was released in 2007. However, a video that was released on February 22, 2017 on YouTube, a song ‘Pakhi Pakhi’ from the movie Tapori, was sung by veteran Bollywood singer, Udit Narayan where

new full length Assamese feature film titled ‘Chor – The Bicycle’ is set to hit the theatres. The film has been written and directed by Khanjan Kishore Nath and produced by Sanjive Naraine under the banner of ‘AM Television Productions’ in association with Ramdhenu Films and Whiteflower. The story of the film revolves around a few kids and their attraction towards a bicycle which changes their friendship, love, relations and their lives. The key roles in the film have been essayed by Gunjan Saikia, Raktim Gayan, Abhilasha Kakoty, Sachin Nath, Amiya Hazarika, Seema Baruah, Purabi Saikia among others. The music of the film has been scored by Anurag Saikia whereas song has been rendered by Nahid Afrin. The cinematography of the film has been done by Jayanth Mathavan from Tamil Nadu, edited by Bikash Dutta. The film has already been selected for Goa Film Bazaar organized by International Film Festival of India 2011 and also invited to Producer Lab, Cinemart organized by International Film Festival of Rotterdam 2012. Notably, this is the

first film in Assamese language which has been invited to Producer Lab, Rotterdam. Among the 23 projects in Goa Film Bazaar only 4 projects were invited to the lab and ‘The Bicycle’ is the first project for that. Except these, ‘Chor’ was also invited to Video Library Selection organized by 32nd Guadalajara International Film Festival 2017 in Mexico, the most prestigious film festival in Latin America, and also got the official selection under the Competitive Panorama at 10th International Children’s Film Festival, Bangladesh 2017. The film will hit the theatres sometime this summer.

A look back at Assamese Classics- A series of old movies for the readers with a story, its origin, its cast and its relevance to contemporaries. comes to know about Malati’s whereabouts. Meanwhile, Upina along with her fiancé Lehem, make an escape plan which is discovered by Chandiram. Chandiram follows them on a dramatic boat chase and good finally triumphs over evil and Indra meets Malati, Upina and Lehem. Malati is saved, but refuses to go back home fearing that she will be the centre of the sociFilm: Indramalati (1939) ety’s discussion and the people will question her Synopsis Produced by: Jyotiprasad Agarwala on behalf of Tezpur “Chitralekha” Movietone chastity. Indra, the only son of BarMalati’s thought is a rerister Mahendra Nath BaStory/Screenplay/Lyrics/Music/Art Direction/ flection of the society’s rua, loses his mother died Editing and Direction: Jyotiprasad Agarwala mentality towards womwhen he is very young. Indra en. Although women studies in Calcutta and visits Cast: Monobhiram Barua, Phani Sarma, RakTezpur during his vacation. heswari Barua, Bhupen Hazarika (child artist) were victims of molestation, this attitude of the He once goes to meet his and Jyotiprasad Agarwala society still persists touncle who stays 5 to 6 miles day and the movie back away from Tezpur. There he in 1939 voiced a very serious meets Malati and both of them fall in love. They spend some memo- the opportunity to escape from the concern that is still prevalent today. rable time together. Indra, does not village. However, in due course of Dr. Bhupen Hazarika appeared as feel like leaving Malati or going to time, Indra comes to know about the a child artist and sang the song Calcutta for further studies. However, kidnapping and decides to come back “Biswabijoy Naujuan” in his voice. he leaves with the promise of coming to search for her. Indra comes and All the artists in the film took no remuback soon. Chandiram, another char- meets Malati’s father who by now had neration for their work and even used acter in the plot, is attracted to Malati lost all hopes of getting his daughter their own costumes. and wants to marry Malati despite back. But using several sources, Indra Indramalati was a tale of romance penned by Jyotiprasad Agarwala. It is said that Jyotiprasad was the first filmmaker to introduce the style of movie making by using the names of the leads. In this film Indra was the hero and Malati was the name of the heroine. Set around the scenic beauty of Tezpur, Indramalati was the second film of Jyotiprasad after “Joymoti”.

her and her father’s refusal. However, Chandiram kidnaps Malati and takes her to a distant village. There she meets Upina, the headman’s daughter and develops a friendship. Upina comes to know that Chandiram actually kidnapped Malati. Several seasons pass and Malati never gets

Mirza Arif Hazarika

G PLUS MAR 04 - MAR 10, 2017

Fun Horoscope of the week

A relationship could be the catalyst for some dynamic action or a decision that could alter your life in a significant way. Your thinking may be oriented toward the future by an encounter that allows you to see possibilities you’ve never considered. Also, your ruler Venus enters its retrograde phase on Saturday, so avoid making any commitment to a person or a partnership until after April 15. You’ll know exactly what to do by that time.

Certain spiritual insights could have a powerful effect on you and encourage you to leave your comfort zone. In fact, an exciting array of aspects could be a game changer for you, encouraging you in a direction that offers adventure and fresh opportunities. There’s also a powerful focus on your romance sector, which could see a budding relationship become quite tender in the days ahead. With Venus turning retrograde, it might be wise to keep things light and easy for now.

You may not be able to avoid the impulse for fun and adventure that motivates you in the days ahead. If you have an opportunity to take a short break, this would be the ideal time to consider it. Concentrating on everyday tasks and chores may not be easy with your mind focused on fun and games. If you do get away for some sunshine and find yourself falling in love, the Venus retrograde indicates it might not turn out as you hope.

Information that comes out of the blue could urge you to seize an opportunity you’ve long coveted. Regarding financial matters, you might need to take extra care with the confusing energies of Neptune muddying the waters. Think very carefully before signing anything, and go over the terms and conditions with a fine-tooth comb. If it’s a really big deal, get a lawyer to go over it for your peace of mind. The weekend should be a lot more productive, though.

As the Sun in your sign ties with Neptune, your imagination could soar in the coming days and encourage you in your creative endeavors. You may also be drawn to cultural activities, such as art exhibitions or concerts, that speak to your soul. Go easy with finances, though, as you could find that an impulsive buy costs you dearly and leaves you strapped for cash. Later, Venus turns retrograde in this same zone, which is even more reason to look after your money.

Picture Perfect

blob-like aquatic creature has been discovered recently. Due to its funQ This nel-shaped shell, it is named after a famous character from the world of literature and movies. Name the character.

Cosmos Redshift 7 is a high-redshift Lyman-alpha emitter galaxy (meaning it is one of the oldest, most distant galaxies), in the constellation Sextans, about 12.9 billion light travel distance years from Earth which is reported to contain the first stars formed soon after the Big Bang. Whose name inspired the name of this galaxy?

According to the director, they are coloured in such a way so as to create a conceptual parallel with traditional Hindu depictions of God (e.g., Vishnu and his later manifestation in bodily form--such as Rama, Krishna, etc.) and also because the director just liked the colour. Who is the director and colour of what is being described?

The television broadcasts in Japan included text in the upper-left corner of the screen while broadcasting a 2010 science fiction thriller film directed by Christopher Nolan. Name the film and what is the purpose of the texts?

Which term associated with playing cards was first used during World War I for a pilot who had brought down at least five enemy aircraft? Maharnav Gogoi (Quizmaster) This quiz has been brought to you by Brain Jam, a property of Priya Communications

Garfield by Jim Davis

Picture Perfect

4 1

49 5 77 6 3 9 5

3 4 6

4 6 5 8 1

6 5 2

Daily Sudoku: Thu 23-Feb-2017

Daily Sudoku: Sun 12-Feb-2017

4 1 3 9 8 75 39 82 67 16

2 7 9 4 4 1 6 38 55 12 87

5 6 8 5 2 3 1 71 46 94 38

9 1 2 5 7 4 6 1 3 8 4 2 89 6 62 7 37 8 55 9

8 3 6 7 9 27 45 11 94 32

7 9 2 3 5 98 24 73 16 41

6 8 1 1 7 53 72 99 85 64

3 4 5 8 6 4 9 16 83 25 72

2 6 5 4 3 9 Daily Sudoku: Thu 23-Feb-2017 medium 1 2 6 9 3 5 8 4 7 7 5 9 2 4 8 6 http://www.dailysudoku.com Word of the week3 1 8 4 3 7 1 6 5 2 9

Malfeasance

Daily Sudoku: Sun 12-Feb-2017

Gandalf ( The scientific name of the creature is Arcella Gandalfi)

curio-city

During the 2nd World War, which defence organisation formed a resistance group on the Indo-Burmese border to counter the Japanese invasion and to disrupt their lines of communication which later came to be known as ‘Victor Force’?

1. The Assam Rifles. 2. Christiano Ronaldo (CR7) 3. James Cameron & the Na’vi in Avatar movie. (Vishnu and his later manifestation in bodily form is known as Avatar. That was the clue.) 4. Inception. To remind viewers which level of the dream a specific scene takes place in so as to avoid confusion. 5. Ace

curio-city

Go easy with finances this week, as the temptation may be to splurge on something that could radically change your life. However, doing so could jeopardize your security, so think very carefully before paying a large sum of money, especially if it’s on the spur of the moment. It might be better to wait a few weeks, until Venus turns direct on April 15, before you splurge. You’ll have plenty of time to consider whether this is a wise decision.

On the one hand, the Sun in a more intense sector of your chart can pull you inward to explore the deeper layers of your personality. On the other, a dynamic blend of energies could see you looking outward to new opportunities and discovering new territory. Radical insights are possible whichever way you turn. On Saturday, love planet Venus turns retrograde, and this can provide an opportunity to reconnect with someone you once knew.

5 6 7 6 2 5 1 84 8 1 85 65 6 3 7 8 4 7 8 2 9 5

9 4

noun [mal-fee-zuh ns]

There’s a lot going on that’s very exciting concerning your career. Whether you tread a professional path, own your own business, or seek a new job, things are looking up for you. It’s said that he who dares wins, and this week you could be very bold and you certainly can win. With Venus entering its retrograde phase in this same zone, be very careful about signing a binding contract. In fact, you might want to wait until Venus turns direct.

The desire to start a home-based business could excite you this week, and you’ll be eager to get things underway. But it might be wise to look into the details first and make sure you’re on the right track. As amazing an opportunity as it seems, there could be pitfalls you haven’t considered that need to be factored in first. Venus turns retrograde, so it may be just as well to get the financial side of things thoroughly sorted out.

Sudoku

There’s a lot going on this week that could pave the way for some fabulous new options, but it might be wise not to make key decisions until early next week. You’ll have had a chance to look into the details by then. With Neptune’s ethereal energies in the mix, there could be a misunderstanding about what to expect. Clearing this up first can ease your mind. On the social scene, a new friendship could prove to be a game changer.

A dynamic urge for change has been building for some time. This week it could come to a head and you may be called to take action. If an opportunity comes your way, grab it with both hands. Even if you don’t feel ready to embrace a new way of life, go for it anyway. You’ll gain the experience as you go. At the same time, you could decide to pull back from a relationship in order to better understand your motives.

last week solution

Although the Sun in a spiritual sector of your chart can encourage you to close doors and relinquish situations that no longer serve you, there are also plenty of opportunities to open new doors. The idea of knowing when to let go of something and when to embrace it can be a powerful concept now. Venus enters its retrograde phase in your sign, encouraging you to develop your relationship with yourself. Be more forgiving and accepting of your faults.

hard

Wrongdoing (used especially of an act in violation of a public http://www.dailysudoku.c trust).

Crossword Across

Down

1 Darling (10) 7 Conflagration (7) 8 Substantial (5) 10 Dog noise (4) 11 Catastrophe (8) 13 Servile follower (6) 15 Noon (6) 17 Opposite (8) 18 Winged insect (4) 21 Slack (5) 22 Large crustacean (7) 23 Branch of mathematics (10)

1 More secure (5) 2 Merit (4) 3 Cancer or Capricorn (6) 4 Rapturous (8) 5 Akin (7) 6 Fiendish (10) 9 English county (10) 12 Worshipful (8) 14 Frankness (7) 16 Refuge (6) 19 Relating to sight (5) 20 Assist in a crime (4)

Last week’s solution

G PLUS MAR 04 - MAR 10, 2017

Snippets

Assam has twice the cancer cases against the national average

G Plus News

one of the reasons for the same is that people consume much more tobacco here than in other parts of the country. Dr. Amit Dutt Dwary, Medical Oncologist, Apollo Gleneagles Cancer Institute who visited the city on Friday said Vivanta by Taj decked up for the Guwahati Food Awards, 2017 | File photo is in the that Assam 2nd position in cancer ancer has always been a cases, Aizawl being the 1st. “The threat to northeast and number of cases of cancer is twice Assam and it is very surthe number compared to national prising that the region witnesses average and in case of male if the twice the number of cancer cases number is 160 per 1 lakh populaagainst the national average and tion nationally the number is 280

Sony India MD visits Guwahati

he Managing Director (MD) of Sony India, Kenichiro Hibi, during a recent visit to Guwahati announced the plans of expansion of Sony in the northeast region. Speaking at the event, Hibi said, “We will continue to establish ourselves as a premium brand player in the smartphone segment, focussing on Sony’s key strengths like camera, display and audio technology.” The northeast market for Sony India comprises Assam, Barak Valley, Guwahati, North Bank (AS), Meghalaya, Manipur, Mizo-

G Plus News

ram, Nagaland, Tripura, that hold immense significance in expansion of the brand in the region. Hibi also said that Guwahati is the most strategic market for northeast India and contributes to onethird of sales in the region. Sony India has seen a 20% increase in sales for Consumer Audio Video Category in financial year 2016. During the festive season of Bihu, SONY however expects an increase of 20-25% growth in sales in consumer base compared to corresponding period last year.

per 1 lakh in Assam. In case of female, if the number is 150 per 1 lakh population nationally, in Assam the number is 237. The most common form of cancer in Assam is head and neck cancer and stomach cancer as consumption of smokeless tobacco and smoked or processed meat is much more here in the state,” said Dr. Dwary. The doctor further informed that 54% of the cancer cases are head and neck cancer in NE while in rest of the country it is 30-35%. On the other hand, Dr. Shaikat Gupta said that the incidence of cervical cancer among females is more in northeast and it is most common due to the Human Papilomavirus (HPV) virus contract-

ed during sexual intercourse. The doctor further stressed that women aged from 9-26 years should take the vaccine in order to avoid contracting cervical cancer. “The vaccines namely Gardasil and Cervarix should be taken in three doses - one to start with, the next in one month’s time and the last in nine months. The cost of the same is Rs. 7,500. Cervarix is used only in females. Other HPV vaccines (Gardasil and Gardasil 9) are used in both females and males. This medication guide provides information only for Cervarix,” Dr. Gupta said. Dr. Dwary further said that in a statement said by the Health Minister of Assam Himanta Bis-

wa Sarma, 90000 cancer cases have been detected in the last five years in Assam. The doctor also said that obesity is also one of the reasons for which the disease is more in the state and India is heading towards the western countries following their lifestyles for which the cases of cancer is increasing. With 14 lakh new cases being reported every year, a figure that is projected to surpass 17 lakhs by 2020 cancer has emerged as one of the leading causes for death in the country. Extensive studies and reports further show that northeast as a region tops the charts when it comes to geographical incidence of the dreaded disease.

OFFICE OF THE ADDITIONAL DIRECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE :: SPECIAL BRANCH : ASSAM :: KAHILIPARA GUWAHATI-19. NOTICE INVITING TENDER Sealed tenders on plain papers affixing with non-refundable court fee stamp of Rs.8.25 (Rupees eight and twenty five paise ) only are invited from the intending contractors/ suppliers for supply of the Electronics spare parts and repairing charges of security equipments for the financial year 2017-18 & 2018-2019 and will be received by the undersigned up to 1400 hours on 31-03-2017 and will be opened on the same day at 1500 hours in presence of the tenderers or their authorized representatives. The intending tenderers may obtain detailed tender papers on payment of Rs.500.00(Rupees five hundred) only in the form of Bank draft pledge in favour of the undersigned. Tender paper will be issued during office hours up to 30-03-2017. The intending tenderers may also download the tender papers from the Assam Police website www.assampolice.gov.in In such case, the tenderer will have to deposit the cost of tender papers Rs.500.00(Rupees five hundred) only at the time of submission of tender. Superintendent of Police, SB(E), Assam, Kahilipara, Cuwahati-19. Janasanyog/731-A/16

G PLUS MAR 04 - MAR 10, 2017

Catching Up

Kakali Das

Most shared story of the week “Bribing will not get things done”

501 facebook.com/guwahatiplus

ffering an example to be replicated, an arrest was made in the city for offering Varnali Deka,GMDA CEO, a bribe. Although bribes come in because of lengthy and time consuming processes in the government offices, the new CEO has made a statement with this act, that bribes will only make you go behind bars and not expedite your work.

twitter.com/guwahatiplus

GYAN

Did you know?

Ganeshguri

ocated in the southern part of the city, Ganeshguri is one of the major commercially dominated areas of the city. A small trivia is that Ganeshguri is named after the Ganesh Temple located on RP Road and is one of the prominent temples of the city that witnesses massive footfall of devotees. The area is surrounded

by structures such as Assam state secretariat buildings, several shopping avenues mainly of segments such as garments, home decor, eateries among several others including the important establishment of Guwahati Tea Auction Centre. The area made to headlines on 30th October 2008 with the serial blasts in what was one of the worst terrorist attacks in the state till date and which claimed several innocent lives. Every year on 30th October hundreds of people join the memorial service to pay homage to those who lost their lives in the blast.

WHAT DID I JUST

New

Chick About Me

on the block

A warm Hello to all the people! I am Kakali Das, a graduate in English and Masters in Mass Communication & Journalism. I am a very jolly and fun loving person who believes in being practical in every situation, no matter how hard it is. From being a post graduate student to a professional photographer at present, life has given me new experiences at every step. Currently I am working as a wedding and fashion photographer across the city and outside. Mojo Photography has taught me lessons of hard work and patience. I have faced a lot of hurdles while being in the profession, but with perseverance, I have kept on moving ahead giving my best at every step. I get a divine feeling when people appreciate my work now. Route in the Woods I love to make people happy, and that’s what I want to continue doing in my future. My profession is my passion and with that I want to deliver people priceless moments captured in frames which they can cherish for lifetime. Photography by - Deepak Das

PIC OF THE

HEAR?

WEEK

RSS leader Kundan Chandravat, who had announced a bounty of Rs. 1 crore for beheading the Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, has retracted his statement after it drew condemnation from various quarters including the Sangh. Chandravat, an RSS functionary, made his shocking offer in Madhya Pradesh’s Ujjain, saying, “If anyone gets me the head of Vijayan, I will give him my property, which is worth around 1 crore.”

Kamur

of the week

A high alert was sounded in the city by the city police as sources said that the rebel group Ulfa (I) is trying to target the city to make their presence felt. The irony remains that even after having some fatal blasts which took place in the past the city do not have efficient CCTV surveillance in place. The police since a long time is claiming that CCTV is getting installed in the city permanently but inspite of huge amount of money spent, suspicious people cannot be identified looking at the CCTV control room.

In a world of your own with G Plus

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