Government to announce austerity measures, says Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma

DEPLETING STATE COFFER

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: With a financial crisis looming large due to the ongoing lockdown, the Assam Government will announce certain austerity measures to tide over the situation.

The hint towards this end was given by State Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma during a press conference held at the NHM office on Sunday afternoon. Sarma said that the government is expected to announce the austerity measures either on April 28 or 29. He said a Cabinet meeting scheduled to be held on Monday is expected to take a call on the Ministry of Home Affair’s order to open certain establishments and standalone shops in the neighbourhood areas across the State. Seemingly perturbed with the deteriorating financial situation, Minister Sarma even urged the landlords and owners of paying guests (PG) accommodations to be lenient while charging rent and fees.

“Even though the State Government cannot impose any order on landlords and PG owners, I request them to be considerate while collecting rent and fees. Even though the State government employees staying in Guwahati and other parts of the State as tenants will not have any problem in paying rent, those working in private organizations will have problems to pay the same due to the ongoing lockdown,” Sarma said.

Sarma recently told the media that the State might have problem in paying monthly salaries to its employees if the ongoing situation arising out of COVID-19 break out does not improve. The Opposition has already started criticizing the ruling regime in Dispur for taking casual approach to tackle the financial crisis due to the lockdown. The Congress has questioned the rationale behind taking costly helicopter rides by Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Health Minister Sarma and a few other Ministers to travel to different parts of the State to take stock of COVID situation.

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