Some images of the Helping Hands NGO, represented by Umesh Agarwal, Diptika Jain, and company feeding the poor and homeless under the Ulubari Flyover in Guwahati.

The opposition Congress on Wednesday said adopting the Gujarat model by the Assam government in the power sector will “totally destroy” the state-run companies and people will have to bear huge costs due to privatisation.

Addressing a press conference here, Assam Congress President Ripun Bora said the Gujarat model is “outdated and totally faulted”.

“The Assam government is now looking at that state. Gujarat and Assam are completely different as we do not have any big industry here. The government has a minority stake in power companies in Gujarat, while the Assam government owns the power distribution firms,” Bora said.

Adopting the Gujarat model will “totally destroy” power companies in Assam and the public will also bear the brunt of privatisation, the Rajya Sabha MP said. The power sector in Assam has been divided into three government-controlled companies – Assam Power Generation Corp Ltd (APGCL), Assam Electricity Grid Corp Ltd (AEGCL), and Assam Power Distribution Company Ltd (APDCL).

On Tuesday, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that the Assam government will try to replicate the Gujarat model in the power sector along with its state-of-the-art technological interventions to turn three power companies into profitable ventures.

The Assam government has decided to ban inter-district movement in the state to check surge in COVID-19 cases from May 21. Confirming this, Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Monday, “There will be a ban on inter-district movement from Friday. It is necessary to check the spread of COVID 19.”

The State government notification is already ready, he added. Director General of Police Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta also said the details will be notified shortly. A number of steps have been taken by the State government to contain COVID 19, including extended curfew hours and closing down of all educational institutions and offices.

Movement of goods and persons including frontline workers in connection with COVID-19 related duties on production of valid documents.

Movement of Officials and persons, both government and private involved in emergency services such as Health and Family Welfare and all related medical establishments, Police, Prisons , Home Guards, Civil Defence. Fire and emergency services, District Administration, Pay & Account Office, Electricity, Water and Sanitation, Public Transport (Air/Railways/Buses) including all incidental services/activities that are essential for smooth functioning of all modes of public transport ( such as handling of cargo, ticketing, air freight station, CFS, ICD etc.), Disaster Management and related services, IMD, CWC, Water Resources Department, PHE, NIC, NCC and Municipal services, and all other essential services on production of valid Identity card.

Movement of Judicial officers I officials of courts or Assam on production of valid Identity card. Movement or pregnant women and patients for getting medical/health services. Movement or persons coming from/going to Airports/Railway stations/ISBTs allowed to travel on production of valid ticket

Movement of Officers/officials related to functioning of offices of Diplomats of various countries as well as persons holding any constitutional post on production of valid Identity card. Movement of Electronic, print Media and Government servants handling media issues on production of valid Identity card

There shall be no restriction on inter-state movement of passengers and transportation of essential I non­ essential goods. No separate permission I e-pass will be required for such movements.

Starting today, curfew will be in place from 12 noon instead of the current 2 PM and all shops and business establishments would shut by 11 AM instead of the present 1 PM, the Assam government said in its new COVID-19 SOP.

The curfew will be in place from 12 noon to 5 AM the next morning. The new SOP came into effect from 5 AM today (May 16, Sunday). Other restrictive measures like plying of odd-even numbered cars, closure of government and non-government offices, educational institutes, weekly markets continue to remain the same. The exemptions announced earlier continue.

The new set of SOP has come amid talks of a lockdown in places like Guwahati, Dibrugarh and Tinuskia. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said in Tinsukia earlier in the day today that a decision is likely to be taken on whether to impose lockdown in these three locations after assessing the COVID situation in these places in the next 4-5 days.

He had earlier mentioned that the government is not looking at putting the entire state under lockdown.

Guwahati and Dibrugarh are topping the list of COVID positive cases. Kamrup Metro that includes Guwahati city has reported 1,107 positive cases followed by 352 cases in Dibrugarh, Kamrup (Rural) reported 323 cases, Nagaon 224 and Tinsukia reported 187 positive cases on May 14.

As many as 20 COVID deaths were reported in Kamrup Metro, Kamrup (Rural) reported 5 deaths, 6 deaths in Tinsukia, 2 deaths in Nagaon and 4 deaths in Dibrugarh in the last 24 hours.

Prominent litterateur, journalist of Assam Homen Borgohain is no more. Borgohain who was a former president of Asom Sahitya Sabha, the apex literary body of the state breathed his last at 6.58 AM at GNRC Hospital in Guwahati.

The eminent litterateur recently recovered from COVID-19.

Borgohain who occupied a distinguished place in Assam’s literary and intellectual arenas was serving as the chief editor of popular Assamese daily ‘Niyomiya Barta’ till his death.

He was born on December 7, 1932 at Dhakuakhana in Lakhimpur district. After his schooling, Borgohain joined Cotton College and graduated from the prestigious institution.

Before starting his career in journalism, the prominent novelist, essayist worked as an Assam Civil Service (ACS) officer for a brief period. Borgohain first edited an Assamese weekly newspaper Nilachal and later he edited the weekly Nagarik. Afterwards, he served as Northeast correspondent for Bangali daily newspaper Ajkal. Borgohain was also editor of Asam Bani and Amar Asom, two leading newspapers of Assam.

He was awarded the 1978 Sahitya Akademi Award in Assamese for his novel Pita Putra.

His other notable literary works include — Saudor Puteke Nao Meli Jay, Halodhiya Soraye Baudhan Khai, Astarag, Subala, Aatmanuxandhan etc.

Borgohain’s death has been widely mourned in the state.

The government of Assam in a press conference held on Wednesday in Guwahati announced new restrictions to control the spread of coronavirus in the State. These are the additional restrictions in respect of the Urban areas and peri-urban areas within 5 km from the periphery of Municipal Corporation/Municipal Boards/ Revenue Towns.

Chief Secretary Jishnu Baruah announced the following restrictions that will come into force from 5 AM of May 13:

1. All shops and commercial establishments shall shut down at 1 PM on all days

2. Weekly haats / bazaars shall not be allowed for 15 days.

3. All Educational Institutions including Schools/Colleges/Universities must provide quality virtual options. No physical classes shall be allowed for 15 days

4. All offices both Government and Non-Government shall shut down for 15 days

5. Government / semi government officers in the rank of Deputy Secretary and above and senior executives in Non-Government sector along with their key support staff will be allowed to attend office up to 1 PM only for emergency and essential works. However, organisations rendering Essential/Emergency Services, Law Enforcement Services and Election work can continue work from offices.

6. In case the test positivity of COVID-19 in any area reaches 5% or more in the last one week, District Magistrate will notify such areas as containment zone and ensure necessary containment measures for COVID-19.

7. Marriages and religious functions will be only private affairs and be allowed with presence of maximum of 10 persons. No reception parties will be allowed post or pre marriage.

8. Funeral / last rites related gatherings shall not be more than 10 persons

9. All Religious places shall remain closed for 15 days. However, the religious head of a religious place or his representative may perfom minimal religious rituals/prayers during this period of closure

10. All public transport will be allowed to operate only upto 30 per cent of seating capacity.

11. Auto Rickshaws, cycle rickshaws and taxis shall operate with one driver and two passengers.

12. Pillion riding will be totally prohibited in two wheelers, except with women and children.

13. All vehicles other than government vehicles will be allowed to ply in accordance with an odd-even formula to be decided by the jurisdictional District Disaster Management Authority between 5 AM to 2 PM.

14. There shall be total ban on movement of individuals from 2 PM to 5 AM daily except for exemptions specified in Order No. ASDMA.28/2021/63 dated May 2021.