Author name: OnlineAge

GUWAHATI : Rich tributes were paid to Assam’s first chief minister Lokapriya Gopinath Bardoloi on the occasion of his 136th birth anniversary on Saturday. Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya in a message said that Bardoloi’s “profound patriotism, towering personality and visionary political decisions have enriched and safeguarded the Assamese and the state”. “On the birth anniversary of this great son of Assam, I offer my heartfelt respects,” he added. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, in a post on X, said, “Remembering Bharat Ratna Lokpriya Gopinath Bardoloi on his Jayanti. The architect of modern Assam, his leadership came at a defining moment in our history.” ”Through his courage and vision, he safeguarded Assam’s interests and played a pivotal role in ensuring that Assam remains an integral part of India,” he said. The Guwahati airport, named after the first chief minister, also observed his birth anniversary, with employees asserting that he was a visionary leader whose contributions continue to inspire generations. The team at the terminal also distributed saplings to passengers to mark the occasion. (Source: PTI)  

GANGTOK :  Union Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways Ajay Tamta reviewed a host of road and infrastructure projects in Sikkim and directed officials to expedite ongoing projects and fast-track the upcoming ones. Tamta travelled along NH-10 and NH-510 and inspected development activities in Gyalshing district, where he reviewed projects such as the Ayush Hospital and Krishi Vigyan Kendra, besides assessing the implementation of various central schemes, an official release said here. The minister also took stock of several major highway projects proposed for the state. These include the 15.30-km Rhenock-Rongli road project, which has received in-principle approval at an estimated cost of Rs 595 crore, and the upgradation of a 25.75-km stretch of NH-10 with a projected investment of Rs 1,018 crore. Proposed bypasses and realignment works between Rangpo-Rorathang and Melli-Singtam were also reviewed, with the projects aimed at easing traffic congestion and improving connectivity across key corridors, the release said. Tamta also inspected the progress of the Gangtok Bypass and directed officials to ensure its completion by November 2026. The National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) has completed six projects covering 58 km at a cost of about Rs 1,323 crore, while seven more projects spanning 147 km and worth Rs 3,749 crore are under implementation, the release said. The ministry’s Road and National Highways Wing has completed 117 km of road projects costing Rs 1,202 crore, with another 50 km under construction and 58 km of new projects in the pipeline. The release further said the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has constructed the 59-km Gangtok-Sherathang-Nathu La stretch of NH-310, a strategic route leading to the India-China border. Tamta directed BRO officials to create additional lay-bys for tourist vehicles and strengthen landslide mitigation measures along vulnerable stretches. The minister stressed the Centre’s commitment to improving Sikkim’s road network, saying better connectivity would boost economic growth, tourism, trade and access to remote areas. (Source: PTI)  

TEZPUR : The two-day Tezpur Litchi Festival 2026 began here on Saturday, showcasing the region’s celebrated GI-tagged fruit and its expanding footprint in international markets. The event has brought together farmers, exporters, scientists, entrepreneurs, and policymakers to explore new opportunities for the fruit that has become synonymous with the town’s agricultural identity. A major highlight of the inaugural day was the announcement of fresh export initiatives by Sonitpur District Commissioner Anand Kumar Das. He said one tonne of Tezpur litchi has been earmarked for export to Dubai, while arrangements have been finalized to send 500 kilograms to Singapore. In a symbolic gesture, 100 specially packaged boxes of premium Tezpur litchis will be dispatched to the Prime Minister’s Office, Das added. The festival is being organised at multiple venues, including the District Library Auditorium, the adjoining library campus, and Anand Chandra Agarwala Park. Proceedings began with a tribute to renowned Assamese litterateur Padmanath Gohain Barua, who had pioneered improved litchi cultivation in the region. The inaugural session drew participation from a wide spectrum of stakeholders, including elected representatives, agricultural experts, exporters, and growers. Entrepreneur Biswajit Saikia showcased innovative litchi-based products, including dehydrated litchi with an extended shelf life of nearly six months. He also shared plans to develop honey and other value-added products linked to litchi cultivation, highlighting the growing scope of agro-processing in the sector. A commemorative publication chronicling the journey of Tezpur litchi—from its historical roots to future market prospects—was released during the programme. The Department of Posts also marked the occasion by unveiling a special postal cover dedicated to the fruit. Exhibitions, documentary screenings, product displays, and sales counters were also organised. A technical seminar on food technology and litchi processing brought together experts and entrepreneurs to discuss value addition, branding, and market expansion strategies. Ten progressive farmers were honoured for their contributions to boosting litchi production and quality. As part of an awareness drive, the Indian Army distributed litchi saplings among NCC cadets, encouraging youth participation in horticulture and environmental conservation. The festival also highlighted the growing commercial potential of Tezpur litchi through innovative products such as litchi chips. Stakeholders claimed that these initiatives will open new avenues for entrepreneurship, increase farmers’ income, and further strengthen the global reputation of Assam’s prized GI-tagged fruit. (Source: PTI)  

GUWAHATI : six types of storks have been recorded during a survey in the Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve (KNTPR), officials said on Saturday. Altogether 271 raptors and 266 storks were found during the survey conducted by the KNTPR and researchers from various universities of Assam in February-March. The study was held across all administrative ranges under the Eastern Assam Wildlife Division, and the report was released on the occasion of World Environment Day on Friday. Most of these species are listed in Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972, which provides the highest degree of protection, prohibiting hunting, poaching, and unauthorised commercial trade of the birds. The park is home to a wide variety of diurnal and nocturnal raptors, which include eagles, falcons, vultures, buzzards and owls, while numerous resident and migratory stork species are found in its vast network of wetlands. These include Slender-billed vulture, Red-headed vulture, Pallas’s Fish Eagle, Steppe Eagle, Greater Spotted Eagle, Grey-headed Fish Eagle, Brown Fish Owl, Dusky Eagle-Owl, Greater Adjutant stork, Lesser Adjutant, Black-necked Stork and Black Stork. A total of 112 species of raptors are recorded from India, with Kaziranga National Park and the adjoining landscape harbours about 50 species of raptors. The state’s rich, diverse wetlands and Himalayan foothills provide critical habitats for these birds of prey. The survey of storks and raptors reveals a striking diversity of these birds across three administrative divisions, officials said. Kaziranga National Park reveals the highest number of raptors with 21 species and 5 species of storks, followed by Biswanath Wildlife Division with 20 species of raptors and 6 species of storks. The Nagaon Wildlife Division has 14 species of raptors and 5 species of storks. Among the stork species, Asian Openbill is the most abundant with 92 individual records across all divisions and Greater adjutant stork is the rarest species with only three individual sightings. Among the raptors, Himalayan Griffon vulture is the most common bird of prey with 69 individual sightings, while Booted eagle and the White-tailed eagle are the rarest species with only one individual sighting each. Kaziranga’s landscape also serves as a last stronghold for the enigmatic Pallas’s fish eagle. These findings underline Kaziranga’s importance for conservation and highlight priorities including nest and floodplain habitat protection, mitigation of powerline electrocution, continued telemetry and international collaboration to secure the species’ remaining populations, officials said. Nesting locations from the current year were also included in the overall analysis. The findings will contribute to ongoing efforts to protect these threatened raptor and stork species and enhance the biodiversity of the park’s diverse habitats. (Source: PTI)