TEZPUR, April 5 - The Sonitpur District committee of All Bodo Students� Union (ABSU) and the Tribal Sangha today took out a rally from Dhekiajuli town to Thelamara area in Sonitpur district in protest against the alleged failure on the part of the state government to include around 535 forest villages of Sonitpur district into the Panchayatiraj system. Around 5,000 people from various parts of the villages took part in the rally and demanded granting of land pattas to the people living in the forest villages.
Later people assembled at the Thelamara High School field. Addressing the gathering, ABSU president, Pramod Boro criticised the ruling BJP government for its inaction towards solving the perennial issues of the Boro community. He also appealed to the state government to provide land pattas to the Boro people immediately.
�Despite repeated demands, the ruling BJP government of the state has turned a blind eye to the vexed Boro problems. We will not remain silent, rather we will take a vigorous agitation soon,� he said.41,774 industrial units set up in Assam: Patowary
Staff Reporter
GUWAHATI, April 5 - The total number of industrial units set up in Assam over the years is 41,774.
This was stated in a written reply to the Legislative Assembly on Wednesday by Minister of Industries and Commerce Chandra Mohan Patowary.
�As per the 4th All India Census carried out during 2006-07 on MSME, published by the Development Commissioner, MSME, New Delhi, total number of industries in Assam was 19,864. The number of units set up from 2007-08 to 2010-11, compiled manually, was 6,706,� he said.
Patowary added that as per online data introduced by the Department since 2011 and other data, the number of units from April 1, 2011 till March 29 this year stands at 15,204. �Hence, the total number of units set up is 41,774,� Patowary said.
�Further, there were 11 industries run by the government, out of which nine industries have been declared closed and two are either partially functioning or non-functioning,� he added.
Patowary said the government has no plans to reopen the nine closed units but the land occupied by these units are being handed over to the Assam Industrial Development Corporation and has been incorporated in the Land Bank.
�As regards to the Assam State Fertilisers and Chemicals Limited, which is functioning partially and running on loss, the State government is planning to revive it after modernisation. The government is also planning to set up Ashok Paper Mill Integrated Economic Zone. Ashok Paper Mill at Jogighopa was closed down in 1983,� he said.
The Minister further stated that the government, on its own, is not contemplating setting up of any new industry.
�However, we are encouraging private investment in focus sectors, including setting up of primary processing centres, based on the availability of raw materials in a particular area,� said Patowary.
