Ganja worth over Rs 32 lakh seized
By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The officers of Customs Headquarters, Preventive Unit, Commissionerate of Custom (Preventive), North East Region, on Tuesday intercepted a truck bearing registration No. RJ-14GB-6731 near ISBT, Ramnagar, Silchar and recovered 475.610 kilograms of ganja (Cannabis) that was concealed in a false cavity specially built for the purpose on the roof-top of the truck. A person was also arrested in this connection.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Deputy Commissioner L Ralte said the narcotic weighing 475.610 kilograms is valued at Rs 32,53,050 (Rupees Thirty Two lakh Fifty Three thousand and Fifty).
Nine die of Malaria deaths in Arunachal Pradesh
Itanagar: Arunachal Pradesh has sounded a high alert following nine malarial deaths in Longding district bordering Nagaland. “In the past week, nine people have died of malaria at Longkhaw village in the district while 81 cases have been detected during a medical camp organised recently. Of the 81 patients, 74 were diagnosed with PF (Plasmodium Falciparum) and the rest were P V (Plasmodium Vivax) parasite,” district medical officer L Lowang said here on Wednesday. Of the nine deceased, four were children and three women, the DMO said. The deceased were identified as 9-year-old Nyanwai, Lailam (3), Sonlai (7), Chongpai (7), Khunkhang (60), Kamthai (24), Kaigan (56), Peakhang (55) and Paidang (55). A medical team from Pasight in East Siang district and another from Longding have rushed to the affected village, the DMO said. (PTI)
Drought-like situation in 14 Assam districts
Guwahati: A total 14 districts in Assam are facing drought-like situation due to lack of rains this year, state Agriculture Minister Nilamani Sen Deka told the assembly on Wednesday. “At present, 12 districts have witnessed normal rains and there is drought-like situation in 14 districts across the state,” Deka said. Baksa got the least rainfall but its yields are still higher, he said responding to a supplementary query by Congress MLA Pijush Hazarika during question hour. Deka said because of the drought-like situation, the resources of the state has become minimum and may affect the food production. Also due to less rain irrigation schemes are not successful. Referring to agricultural produce in the state, he said rice grown in Assam went to West Bengal and Bangladesh. “Red rice produced in Dhemaji is exported to USA for its high protein value. Its available for Rs 1,800 per quintal, which is more than the normal rice.”
Over 9 lakh hectares of agri land damaged in floods
More than nine lakh hectares of agriculture land have been damaged in floods across Assam during the last five years, the state Assembly was informed on Wednesday. In a written reply to a query by AIUDF MLA Abdur Rahim Khan, state agriculture minister Nilamani Sen Deka said a total of 9,22,342 hectares of agriculture land got damaged due to floods between 2009-10 and 2013-14. Of this, maximum amount of land was damaged in 2011-12 and it stood at 3,90,946 hectares, followed by 2,69,652 hectares in 2012-13 and 1,87,220 hectares in 2010-11, he said adding, 74,524 hectares of farm land was damaged by flood waters in 2013-14. The government tried to help the farmers by various means such as free distribution of seeds and other farming equipment, he added. (PTI)