Report on Excise revenue loss will be handed over to CID: Minister

By our Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, Dec 30: State Excise Minister Parimal Shuklabaidya has said that the special investigation team (SIT) that investigated into the revenue loss and other issues of the State Excise Department has submitted its report, and the department is planning to hand over the report to the CID for further investigation. He said that nobody would be spared if found guilty.

The SIT was set up in September this year. The minister hoped that over Rs 1,000 crore would be collected as revenue from the department in this fincial year. He said as of now under new the government has collected Rs 150 crore more revenue in comparison to the previous year.

On PWD, the minister that there are 1,800 bridges in rural areas and state roads will be converted to RCC bridges in phases. He said that Rs 2,000 crore has been earmarked for the construction and repair of roads in three years. He said that the Chief Minister has laid stress on timely completion of construction works.

On Fishery Department, Shuklabaidya said that the government has decided to provide insurance coverage to up to four persons of a fisherman’s family. “Insurance coverage of maximum Rs 2 lakh to a person is being given free of cost,” the minister said, and added that 10,000 ponds would be constructed by April next year under ‘Ghare Ghare Pukhuri, Ghare Ghare Maas’ initiative. “The aim of the project is to make Assam self-sufficient on fish production as 90 per cent of people in the State consume fish,” he said, and added: “The government will give Rs 98,000 against a bigha of land to dig ponds. A person with legal a land-owning certificate can avail this benefit. Medicines for fish will be made available in all districts, besides the setting up of 15 to 20 more hatcheries in the State.”