Latest news with #AssamAgriculturalUniversity
Time of India
6 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Assam university's Rs 30cr guest house turns luxury hotel, stirs row; leased to private firm, faculty, students cry foul
GUWAHATI: An international guesthouse of the state-run Assam Agricultural University (AAU) built at a cost of over Rs 30 crore to host key seminars and conclaves has transformed into a luxury hotel listed on online travel platforms, sparking opposition from student and teacher bodies. Rohika AAU-International Guest House has come up in Guwahati's Khanapara at a veterinary college affiliated to the Jorhat-based AAU. It was inaugurated in 2023 by CM Himanta Biswa Sarma with the promise of advancing academic and research collaboration. However, within a year of its inauguration, the state-of-the-art guest house was leased out to a private firm for a five-year term, subject to renewal every 11 months. The decision, taken by AAU's board of management, was attributed to a lack of trained manpower to manage the facility of such scale, officials said. It boasts 12 VIP rooms, 43 executive rooms, a 40-seat VIP dining area, an eight-seat private dining space, and a conference hall, among other amenities. Student and teacher associations have decried the handover, arguing that property should remain in public control. With the veterinary college on the verge of becoming a full-fledged university, teachers are hopeful that guest house will eventually return to institution's control. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
Time of India
7 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Assam university's Rs 30 crore guesthouse turns luxury hotel, sparks row
GUWAHATI: An international guesthouse of the state-run Assam Agricultural University (AAU) built at a cost of over Rs 30 crore to host key seminars and conclaves has transformed into a luxury hotel listed on online travel platforms, sparking opposition from student and teacher bodies. Rohika AAU-International Guesthouse came up in Khanapara here at a veterinary college affiliated to Jorhat-based AAU. It was inaugurated in 2023 by CM Himanta Biswa Sarma with the promise of advancing academic and research collaboration. However, within a year of its inauguration, the state-of-the-art guesthouse was leased out to a private firm for a five-year term, subject to renewal every 11 months. The decision, taken by AAU's board of management, was attributed to a lack of trained manpower to manage the facility of such scale, officials said. It boasts 12 VIP rooms, 43 executive rooms, a 40-seat VIP dining area, an eight-seat private dining space, and a conference hall, among other amenities. "Before construction, it was not decided that the property would be leased out. But after construction was completed, it was decided it would be leased out on rent as staff members could not go there (Guwahati) to manage the guesthouse," said AAU registrar Tapan Kumar Gohain. Student and teacher bodies have decried the handover, arguing that university property should remain in public control. With the veterinary college on the verge of becoming a full-fledged university - only a vice-chancellor's appointment is due - faculty members are hopeful that the guesthouse will eventually return to academic hands. "A decision was made to bifurcate veterinary university from AAU. As far as we know, when the university starts functioning, properties will also be bifurcated. Since the guesthouse is on college land, we hope it will come back to the college and later to the university," said Raj Jyoti Deka, general secretary of AAU Teachers Association (Veterinary Faculty).
Time of India
11-08-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Agriculture univ's Rs 30cr guest house turns into luxury hotel
1 2 Guwahati: What was envisioned as a state-of-the-art international guest house to host high-level seminars and conclaves on agriculture and veterinary sciences, has now transformed into a luxury hotel listed on online travel platforms. Built by Assam Agricultural University (AAU) at Khanapara with a budget of Rs 30.79 crore, the facility was inaugurated in 2023 by CM Himanta Biswa Sarma with the promise of advancing academic and research collaboration. However, within a year of its inauguration, the guest house — now known as 'Rohika AAU-International Guest House' — was leased out to a private firm for a five-year term, subject to renewal of sub-aggrement every 11 months. The decision, taken by AAU's board of management in 2024, was attributed to a lack of trained manpower to manage the facility, officials said. "Before construction, it was not decided that the property would be leased out. But after construction was completed, it was decided that it would be leased out on rent as faculty members could not go there to manage the guest house," said AAU registrar Tapan Kumar Gohain. The guest house, built on land attached to the veterinary college playground, boasts 12 VIP rooms, 43 executive rooms, a 40-person VIP dining area, an eight-person private dining space, and a conference hall, among other amenities. The move to privatise the guest house has sparked opposition from student and teacher bodies, who argue that university property should remain under public university. With the veterinary college on the verge of becoming a full-fledged university — pending the appointment of a vice-chancellor — faculty members are hopeful that the guest house will eventually return to academic hands. "The guest house has already gone in the hands of a private party. In the meantime, a decision has been made to bifurcate veterinary university from AAU. As far as we know, when the veterinary university starts functioning, properties will also be bifurcated. Since the guest house is on veterinary college land, we hope that it will come back to the college and later to veterinary university," said Raj Jyoti Deka, general secretary of the Assam Agricultural University Teachers Association — Veterinary Faculty. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
Time of India
06-08-2025
- Business
- Time of India
‘Labanya' brings superfood nutrition to plates
Guwahati: At a time when consumers are seeking food that's not only nutritious but also sustainably and ethically produced, 'Labanya' — a vibrant, high-yielding purple rice — has emerged as Assam's answer: an ancient superfood reimagined for a modern world. Developed by Assam Agricultural University (AAU), 'Labanya' is India's first fully purple high-yielding rice variety and has secured registration under the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights Authority. The rice has gained widespread acceptance among farmers in 18 states, including Punjab and Daman and Diu. Researchers say 'Labanya' successfully blends the health benefits of traditional black rice with the practicality needed for everyday use and commercial farming. Unlike black rice, which is rich in amino acids, antioxidants, and fibre but comes with productivity and cooking challenges, 'Labanya' offers a solution. Black rice, while recongised for its distinctive flavour and nutrition, remains largely reserved for special occasions in Assam due to its low yield, sticky texture, and long cooking time. This gap prompted intensive research by AAU scientists at Titabor, leading to the development of 'Labanya', said Sanjay Kumar Chetia, director of research (agri) at AAU. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Elegant New Scooters For Seniors In 2024: The Prices May Surprise You Mobility Scooter | Search Ads Learn More Undo "Labanya contains higher levels of antioxidants, flavonoids, phenolic compounds, and essential minerals than common rice varieties. Its productivity reaches about five tonnes per hectare — more than double that of traditional black rice," Chetia told TOI. "Moreover, its head rice recovery exceeds 60%, compared to less than 30% for black rice," he added. Traditional black rice's inherent characteristics limit consumer preference and export potential. However, researchers said 'Labanya' addresses these limitations with consumer-friendly attributes, enhancing its export market prospects.
Time of India
01-07-2025
- Climate
- Time of India
Grim monsoon forecast: Below-normal rainfall in northeast this month likely to trouble farmers
G uwahati: There is an ominous sign for farmers in most parts of the northeast as deficit rainfall was recorded in the first month of the monsoon in June in four out of seven NE states. The IMD has predicted below-normal rainfall in July for the northeastern region. According to the probabilistic forecast of the rainfall during July, issued by the IMD on Monday, while most parts of the country are likely to experience normal to above-normal rainfall, most parts of the northeast are likely to receive below-normal rainfall. Prof Rajib Lochan Deka of the agricultural meteorology department of Assam Agricultural University said, "Mid-June to mid-July is very crucial for transplanting rice seedlings. If the rainfall-deficient situation continues in July, rice production in most parts of Assam and the northeast is likely to be impacted negatively." In Assam, he said that rainfall during the first month of the monsoon 2025 (June) was deficient. "It was largely deficient in Dibrugarh, Golaghat, Baksa, Barpeta, Bongaigaon, Bajali, and Goalpara, where the departure from normal rainfall varied from 62% to 72%," Deka added. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch CFD với công nghệ và tốc độ tốt hơn IC Markets Đăng ký Undo Despite rain wreaking havoc in most parts of the northeast, Assam, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, and Manipur recorded deficient rainfall between June 1 and July 1. Meghalaya recorded the highest 47% departure below normal, followed by a 40% departure in Arunachal Pradesh, a 34% departure in Assam, and a 20% departure in Manipur. Only Tripura, Mizoram, and Nagaland recorded rainfall in the normal range, with a minus 14% departure in Tripura, a 10% positive departure in Mizoram, and a minus 6% departure in Nagaland. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Doctor's Day 2025 , messages and quotes!
