Guwahati, Sep 20: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday laid the foundation stone for Adani Power Limited’s 3,200 MW ultra-supercritical thermal power plant at Chapar in Dhubri district, marking one of the largest private investments in the state’s history.

The project, which entails an investment of around Rs 48,000 crore, is expected to significantly boost Assam’s power generation capacity while creating large-scale employment opportunities.

According to the company, the plant is likely to generate up to 20,000 jobs during the construction phase and around 5,000 permanent and indirect jobs once it becomes operational.

The foundation stone ceremony was attended by senior state government officials, industry representatives, community leaders and Adani Group Director Jeet Adani.

The Chapar thermal power project forms a major component of the Adani Group’s broader Rs 63,000-crore investment plan in Assam’s power sector.

The plant is scheduled to be commissioned in phases beginning in December 2030 and will comprise four units of 800 MW each. It will use ultra-supercritical technology designed to improve efficiency while incorporating modern environmental safeguards.

In his address at the event, Chief Minister Sarma said Assam is rapidly emerging as an energy hub for the Northeast and that several large energy projects are currently under development in the state. He described the Chapar project as a major outcome of the investment commitments made during the Advantage Assam Investor Summit 2.0.

“With an investment of nearly Rs 48,000 crore, this project will constitute one of the largest single investments ever made in Assam,” he stated.

Jeet Adani said the thermal power project marks the beginning of a new chapter in Assam’s development journey. “The project will also create jobs and open up opportunities for local contractors, suppliers and businesses. We are proud to invest in Assam and be part of the state’s economic growth,” he noted.

Highlighting the Group’s wider plans in the state, Jeet Adani said investments exceeding Rs 80,000 crore across power, aviation and cement sectors are already translating into projects on the ground.

Kolkata, Sep 20: A group of unidentified miscreants on motorbikes attacked and vandalised several party offices of the CPI-M and the house and party office of former Trinamool Congress MLA Debrabrata Majumdar in the Jadavpur area of south Kolkata, police said on Sunday.

CPI-M offices were targeted in six wards of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) area.

It is alleged that the party flag was taken down and thrown to the ground in the attacks.

The house and office of long-time KMC councillor of ward number 96 and former MLA Majumdar were also allegedly attacked, and some family members were assaulted.

It is still unclear who was involved in this incident.

According to a CPIM leader, party offices were vandalised in ward numbers 96, 99, 101, 102, 105 and 106. It is learned that among them, the tension was highest in ward number 96, i.e. in front of the house and party office of the former Trinamool MLA. The CPI-M’s martyrs’ altar in the ward was also attacked.

The miscreants also allegedly threatened the former Trinamool MLA’s elder brother and pushed him to the floor. After this attack, Majumdar’s family said: “We repeatedly called the police and informed them about the incident. The police came after an hour.”

In addition, unrest spread in ward number 101 and ward number 105. It is alleged that fights broke out there too.

A situation was also created in the office of former Trinamool councillor Tarun Mandal. However, local sources claimed that the police rushed in with batons. As a result, the chaos did not spread.

Allegedly, the bike gang has been creating chaos not only in the Jadavpur area but also in Narendrapur in South 24 Parganas district.

Following the incident, both the CPI-M and Trinamool have questioned the role of the police in this entire incident. Allegations have been made against the BJP. However, the party has not commented on this so far.

Majumdar said: “At least 100 people came and vandalised the house. They abused my elder brother. They pushed him. They abused me. I have never seen anything like this in my entire political career. They are all BJP supporters.”

A CPI-M worker said: “They tore the party flags. They abused us. They are telling us not to come here. They are all BJP. They used to be with the Trinamool.”

On September 15, miscreants vandalised several CPIM party offices in the Bali area of Howrah district. The Left had blamed the BJP. However, the BJP denied the allegation. The Dewangazi Zonal Party Office on Panchanantala Road and the party office on Belur Station Road were vandalised.

Last Friday, there were allegations of an attack on the CPI-M party office in Kodalia, ward number 20 of Rajpur-Sonarpur Municipality in South 24 Parganas district. The CPIM alleged that the BJP had vandalised their office.

Nanded/Nagpur, Sep 19: A massive political controversy has erupted in Maharashtra on Saturday after a video went viral on social media showing ministers, leaders and senior officials consuming cashews and almonds during an official drought review meeting in Nanded.

The incident occurred at the District Planning Hall, where officials had gathered to assess the severe agricultural crisis and crop loss across Marathwada, triggering widespread public outrage over the administration’s apathy toward struggling farmers.

Speaking to the media in Nagpur, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis acknowledged the customary administrative practices involved in such situations while stressing the need for greater empathy during times of crisis.

“It is a standard administrative protocol to provide dry fruits during official meetings. No one does this intentionally to mock the drought situation. However, the administration must keep ground realities in mind and act with greater sensitivity. Such practices should be avoided under these circumstances,” he noted.

Shiv Sena Minister Sanjay Shirsat, who was absent from the meeting due to prior commitments, shifted the accountability to bureaucratic arrangements.

“I did not attend as I had pre-scheduled engagements, and Agriculture Minister Datta Bhaarne was handling the responsibilities alongside the attending officers. It is the officials who arrange cashews and almonds, but elected representatives end up facing public criticism. I will issue strict directives to the divisional commissioner regarding this matter.”

Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) MLA Rohit Pawar launched a scathing attack on the government, accusing it of a lack of seriousness regarding the severe drought conditions.

“While the drought crisis across the state is extremely grave, the government shows zero seriousness and is busy relishing cashews and almonds. The state government must immediately convene a special legislative assembly session to address the drought and offer concrete relief to farmers.”

In response to the dry spell, crop failure, and impending water shortages, Fadnavis outlined several emergency relief steps initiated by the state government.

“Cabinet ministers have been assigned to conduct ground-level reviews in their respective districts. Preliminary reviews and loss assessments (panchnamas) will be finalised within a week to expedite financial assistance. Process for the loan waiver is progressing rapidly; three beneficiary lists have already been published, and the remaining lists are being compiled on priority,” he said.

“Leveraging planning under the fodder development program launched in response to the El Nino threat, fodder and drinking water are being arranged for heavily affected zones,” the CM said.

Fadnavis further stated that to help save standing crops, the state is providing extra electricity to farmers during evening hours, even in single-phase supply zones where wells still hold water. He added that water reserves in major reservoirs are being strictly reserved for drinking purposes to prevent shortages, especially in areas dependent on smaller, depleted dams.