British MP delegation to visit Kolkata, Guwahati
Kolkata: A delegation of UK parliamentarians will be visiting Kolkata and Guwahati on Tuesday to strengthen links and cooperation between Indian and British legislators. The 10-member British delegation, consisting of members from the House of Lords and the House of Commons and led by Baroness D’Souza CMG the Lord Speaker of the House of Lords, will have interactive sessions with elected representatives from the West Bengal and Assam legislative assemblies from Tuesday. “The visiting parliamentarians are keen to gain a better understanding of the challenges faced by their Indian colleagues on various fronts including the relationship between business, civil society and elected representatives; the representation of women in political life and progress towards achieving gender equality in politics; and relationship between the union and state legislatures,” a statement from the British Deputy High Commission here said. (PTI
Kamrup bans use of plastic bags
Guwahati: To maintain its beauty and a pollution-free environment, the Kamrup Metro district administration has banned the use of plastic bags in the Umananda temple area on Peacock island in the river Brahmaputra along Guwahati. The district administration has prohibited the use of plastic polythene bags for carrying puja items by any person for Sivratri puja on Tuesday, said a release from the administration. Stating a strict vigil will be maintained against the use of plastic bags, the release said for the convinience of the people paper bags will be kept in the Uzan Bazar ferry ghat from where boats ply for the island, which is considered to be the smallest inhabited riverine island in the world. Meanwhile, the district administration has made all arrangements for the devotees to perform their puja on Sivratri in the temple built in 1694 by Bor Phukan Garhganya Handique under the orders of Ahom King Gadadhar Singh (1681– 1696). The main shrine is reached by a flight of steep steps from the bottom of the island. Upon the original structure being damaged by the 1897 devastating earthquake, the temple was reconstructed by a local merchant who inscribed the interior parts of the Siva temple with Vaisnavite tenets. (PTI)