NTPC to hike power production in Assam by 250 MW
KOKRAJHAR: NTPC Ltd will add 250 MW to the existing 500-MW capacity in Assam’s Kokrajhar district after its third unit is commissioned in February, a senior company official said on Saturday. A total of 750 MW power generation is to be shortly made available, Dipankar Bose, Chief General Manager of NTPC, Bongaigaon, told PTI. “This will certainly be able to meet the power crisis in the region in a big way,” Bose said. NTPC is also mulling installation of 950 KW solar roofs in the plant area, he said. He also said the company undertakes several community welfare services in the area. (PTI)
Lt Gen Manoj Pande takes charge of Gajraj Corps
TEZPUR: The command of Indian Army’s Frontier Gajraj Corps Sunday changed hands from Lt Gen Gurpal Singh Sangha to Lt Gen Manoj Pande, a defence spokesperson said. Pande who has served in important command and staff appointments, both in Jammu and Kashmir and the North East, brings with him immense operational experience. He comes to Gajraj Corps from Pune, where he was the Chief of Staff in Headquarters Southern Command. “The General Officer has served in the UN mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea as the Chief Engineer. For his illustrative service, he has been awarded Ati Vishisht Sewa Medal and the Vishisht Seva Medal,” the spokesperson said. Sangha, who was replaced by Pande, had an eventful tenure of over an year at Tezpur during which the formation carried out its duties in the Kameng Sector as well as in the counter insurgency operations in Lower and Central Assam, he said. (PTI)
AGP plans to strengthen base in 2019
GUWAHATI: Asom Gana Parishad president Atul Bora Sunday said the party plans to strengthen the base by focusing more on women, farmers and youth in 2019. Addressing a press conference here, Bora said the party which is an ally of the Sarbananda Sonowal government is moving ahead with utmost caution after facing various challenges in the state politics. “We will take measures in the new year to strengthen the party on the basis of logic instead of emotions. From ground level, we will do some changes and move ahead taking along women, farmers and youth,” he added. Stating that it cannot shy away from its societal responsibility, AGP is committed to take forward regional politics in the midst of crisis in the Assamese society, said Bora, who is also the Agriculture Minister. He opined that regional politics is still relevant and is a strong force to solve the problems of the society, which have been proved in other parts of the country. “To maintain peace and harmony, the social and political issues should be kept above religious outlook. It is the right time to take the pledge to make a safe and strong Assam by preventing growing animosity between different linguists, religions, communities and tribes and spreading harmony among the people,” Bora added. (PTI)
Militant carrying Rs 2 lakh reward on his head arrested
IMPHAL: In a major development for the security personnel in the state, A militant carrying a cash reward of Rs 2 lakh on his head as he was on run for long time and wanted by security agencies in connection with the attack on Army personnel in the year 2015 in which 18 armymen were killed was finally arrested by the police, a senior police officer said in a statement on Sunday. Laishram Anand alias Sana (27), ‘Valley Commander’ of KCP (People’s War Group) wanted by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for his role in Paraolon ambush in which 18 army personnel were killed was arrested by police in Manipur’s Imphal West district on Saturday, the Superintendent of Police, H Jogeshchandra Singh said. The SP said the arrested militant had been on run for a long time and the security personnel in the area were looking to get hold of him by any means. The militant was also carrying a reward of Rs 2 lakh on his head. Anand was produced before a local court which sent him to eight days police remand, the SP added. (PTI)