Afternoon News - 30 April, 2020
08:35 Share

**1. Assam government spells out austerity measures in the wake of Corona outbreak - **As anticipated, the State government has taken a slew of measures to cut its cost in the wake of the new Coronavirus pandemic outbreak. Announcing the austerity measures taken by the government before the media here on Wednesday, State Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said, “Not only Assam, the entire nation is ridden with a financial crisis in the wake of coronavirus pandemic.”

**2. Bhutan extends relief packages to border villagers in India during nationwide lockdown - **The Bhutan-India Friendship Association (BIFA – Gelephu Chapter) of Bhutan has extended generous help to border villagers on the Indian side who are suffering due to the nationwide lockdown. The BIFA distributed relief packages to 610 families in the Datgari and Hatisar areas of India through the Village Council Development Committees.

**3. Three media persons arrested on charges of extortion in Namrup - **Three media persons of Namrup have been arrested on a number of charges and legal action initiated against them. The trio identified as Bitu Boruah, Hiren Gogoi and Samiron Boruah was sent to Dibrugarh Jail on Wednesday. Based on an email received at the office of the DC, Dibrugarh, an FIR was registered as Namrup PS case No 62/20 u/s 120B/342/353/387/419/468/34 IPC on Tuesday. This relates to an incident where some media persons of the Namrup area were found stopping vehicles to check documents citing authorization by the DC, Dibrugarh. They had, allegedly, demanded money from truck drivers.

**4. Licenses of 8 Fair Prices FP shops suspended in Dibrugarh - **District Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs (FCS&CA) Department has suspended licenses of eight fair prices shops scattered in the district so far on charges of corruption in distribution of subsidized commodities to the beneficiaries and other irregularities. Superintendent of Food Civil Supplies and Consumer Forum (FCS&CA),Jugananda Changmai, who is functioning as a licensing authority, FCS&CA, Dibrugarh, has cancelled the PDS license granted in the name of Nikhil Bhagawati under  Nigam Balijan village, Naharkotia with immediate effect on charges of corruption in distributing rice to beneficiaries under National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013.

**5. 13 swab samples from Lakhimpur sent for Corona test - **The Lakhimpur District Health Department sent 13 swab samples to the Regional Viral Research and Diagnostic Laboratory, ICMR, RMRC of Dibrugarh district for novel coronavirus test on Wednesday. Of them, 11 swab samples were sent for repeat test while the rest two are the swab samples collected afresh from two persons with suspected coronavirus exposure.

**6. Sale of high-yielding rice variety at Regional Agricultural Research Station, North Lakhimpur - **The Regional Agricultural Research Station (RARS), North Lakhimpur under Assam Agriculture University (AAUA) has managed to sell the seeds of high yielding rice variety innovated in various research stations under the university. The seeds of the rice variety are suitable for the upcoming kharif season. Intending seed wholesalers, retail sellers and farmers can purchase the seeds at Rs. 38 per kilogram, the price fixed by AAU, at the outlet of the RARS located at Boicha-Gorumuriya during the office days from 10 am to 2.30 pm.

7. **Coronavirus update: Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal rings up senior citizens - **Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Wednesday called several senior citizens of the State over the phone and enquired about their health condition in the wake of novel coronavirus pandemic.  Chief Minister while talking to them informed about various steps taken by the State government to deal with the pandemic.