Guwahati to host Indian Road Cong’s 74th Annual Session
Guwahati: The 74th edition of Annual Session of the Indian Road Congress will be held here from January 18 to 22, with participation of dignitaries from across the country, besides some foreign delegates. “This is an important event for all who are involved in the road construction sector. The 74th Annual Session of the IRC will be organised by the PWD department of Assam,” state PWD Commissioner A C Bordoloi told reporters on Monday. The five-day session will see participation from civil infrastructure professionals, members of the IRC, experts from the state and central government and various public and private organisations from across India and abroad, he added. “The state and Central governments are working on to develop an integrated road network. There is also a need to connect the missing links. The IRC session is the most appropriate platform to discuss many issues encountered in road development,” Bordoloi said. The Indian Roads Congress (IRC) is the premier technical body of highway engineers in the country. It was set up in December, 1934 on the recommendations of the Indian Road Development Committee best known as the Jayakar Committee. Starting with a modest membership of 73 in 1934, the IRC has now about 13,500 members comprising engineers of all ranks from the Central and state governments, engineering services of the Army, Border Roads Organisation, Road Research Institutes, engineering colleges, local bodies and private enterprises. (PTI)
Eye donation camp in Guwahati
Guwahati: Sikh Foundation, North East, in association with Sankaradeva Nethralaya would organise a free eye donation and checkup camp on Tuesday at the Gopi Nath Gurudwara here. The camp has been organised to mark the birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh which is being observed by Gurdwara Singh Sabha and the Sikh Sangat of Guwahati, a press release said. Keeping in view of Gobind Singh’s teachings, the camp would be open to all and an appeal was made to donate ones eyes to help others see the world. An eye donation camp, organised by Sikh Foundation in Dhubri Gurudwara during Guru Tegh Bahadur’s martyrdom, received 235 pledges for donation. (PTI)
Police clueless on missing teacher
Guwahati: A senior faculty member of the premier Cotton College here went missing from the North East Book Fair two days ago. The police said on Monday that Bhagaban Goswami, head of the History department of the college, was dropped by his son at the book fair in the city on January 4 evening. He was reported missing since then, the police said. “An investigation is going on,” a police officer said. (PTI)
Arunachal should explore potential
Itanagar: The people of Arunchal Pradesh should explore the potential in tourism, horticulture, traditional handicrafts and seek opportunities in non-government sectors and self-employment, Governor Lt Gen (retd) Nirbhai Sharma said on Monday. “You have all that is required to reach on the top. Believe in yourself and think of the bright future lying ahead of you,” Sharma said while participating in the Si Donyi festival of the Tagin tribe here. He said that the state government would hold district job melas in the district headquarters which would open potential avenues of employment for the youth. Sharma said “We can become one of the leading states in the country if all of us contribute to the best of our ability and capacity towards the achievements of the aim.” He also called upon the youth and elders to preserve the age-old traditions and cultural heritage of the state. (PTI)
Nagaland Congress demands resignation of Home Minister
Kohima: The Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) has called for the resignation of Nagaland State Home Minister, G. Kaito Aye, citing the manner in which the Nagaland State Government handled the recent confrontation between the NSCN (IM) and members of the public at Mukalimi Designated Camp, under Zunheboto district In a press release, NPCC President S. I. Jamir said it was obvious that the State Government took the starring role only during Hornbill festivals. Pointing out that this was amply accentuated ‘loud and clear’ during the stand-off between Sumis and NSCN (I-M) at Mukalimi designated camp which showed the ‘incompetence’ of the Home Minister, the ‘ineptitude’ of the Chief Minister and ‘disappearance’ of any semblance of governance. NPCC said the State Government could have easily prevented the showdown leading to loss of precious civilian lives if it had promptly arrested the three erring cadres responsible for molesting two women passengers since the victims had already filed an FIR at Zuhneboto Police Station. However, the state government chose to play second fiddle leading to loss of precious lives, said NPCC. (UNI)