Assam revenue joint secy jailed for embezzlement of funds
Jorhat (Assam): A local court on Monday remanded the joint secretary of Assam revenue department to five-day police custody in connection with alleged misappropriation of funds. Bubul Lekharu, who was arrested yesterday following his surrender, was produced at the Chief Judicial Magistrate’s court here. Lekharu had allegedly diverted funds meant for two children who had lost their parents. He has been booked under various sections at the Jorhat Sadar police station. (PTI)
Air India plans northeast expansion, to inject more flights
New Delhi: The Air India plans to expand its network in the northeast as it seeks to tap into passenger demand following government’s push for regional connectivity. Air India’s Chairman and Managing Director Ashwani Lohani will visit three north-eastern states next month to review operations in the region. “We are focused on increasing connectivity to the northeast by injecting more flights of our Airbus and Turboprop aircraft,” Lohani said. Lohani is likely to survey several airports in the region to increase frequency, add new routes and, if required, discontinue non-profitable ones. It will be Lohani’s first visit to the region in his capacity as AI’s CMD. Within the north-eastern region, Air India and its subsidiary, Alliance Air, cater to 10 destinations, including Guwahati. The nine other destinations are in six of the seven states of the region– Agartala (Tripura), Aizawl (Mizoram), Dimapur (Nagaland), Imphal (Manipur), Shillong (Meghalaya), Dibrugarh, Silchar, Tezpur and Lilabari (all in Assam). “Frequency on the Delhi-Guwahati route too is likely to be increased,” an airline source said. He also added that the additional flights are likely to be operational as part of the winter schedule, which kicks in from October 29 this year. From Delhi, Air India operates a daily flight each to Guwahati, Imphal and Bagdogra. PTI)
Arunachal to set up Special Tiger Protection Force
Itanagar: Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Monday issued specific directives to expedite establishment of Special Tiger Protection Force (STPF) in the state. The STPF would have one company consisting of 112 contingents of various ranks and it would be deployed for protection of tigers in the 862 sq. km. Pakke Tiger Reserve in the state’s East Kameng district.The Pakke Reserve is home to many rare and endangered wildlife species, such as leopard, wild dog, Himalayan black bear and elephant. Khandu, who held a review meeting of Environment and Forest Department, also underscored the importance of field protection for tigers and said that with the establishment of STPF, dual purpose would be served. While conservation of tigers would be ensured, unemployed youth will get employment, Khandu said. The Chief Minister also asked the Environment and Forest department officials to give preference to local tribal youth during recruitment as they are familiar with the environment and the habitat of the big cats. The Chief Minister also reviewed the progress of third-party monitoring by the Rain Forest Research Institute (RFRI) in Assam’s Jorhat for all the schemes under Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA). He also asked for engaging RFRI, which is under the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) as the third party monitoring agency for monitoring and evaluation of all works. IANS)