New CM gets down to business

DAY I, THREE DECISIONS

*    Orders to close down all illegal check gates run by syndicates

*    Oral interview for 3rd and 4th category jobs abolished

*    Instructions to reduce number of vehicles of CM's convoy to bare minimum

By Our Staff Reporter

Guwahati, May 25: At around noon on Wednesday, a convoy of seven vehicles silently vigated through the busy Guwahati traffic near Rajiv Bhavan.

"Who is this?" uttered an unsuspecting traffic personnel standing guard near Rajiv Bhavan gate.

"This is our new CM," replied a jourlist who overheard the traffic personnel while entering Rajiv Bhavan to cover a press conference there.

"What?" the traffic personnel exclaimed, quickly assuming the 'attention' posture.

"It seems there really is a change," he added with a gentle smile as the convoy passed, without bothering the police and regular traffic.

And that is how Assam's new CM Sarbanda Sonowal negotiated the city roads on his first day in office..

The first cabinet meeting of the new BJP-led alliance government today took three crucial decisions. Among them one was to reduce the number of vehicles in the CM's convoy to bare minimum.

Former CM Tarun Gogoi's convoy had 19 vehicles, causing much inconvenience to the general public by throwing traffic out of gear.

Sonowal is also learnt to have directed the police to ensure that his convoy will use the siren only during emergencies. He has also asked the police to stop the exercise of route lining. "Other vehicles will not be stopped for the convoy to pass. The CM's convoy will also stop at sigls," said a police official who is in the know of the instructions.

"The meeting decided to do away with certain restrictions put in place during the movement of Chief Minister's cavalcade so that it (CM's cavalcade) does not cause any traffic srls and effect emergency services," an official release said.

Sonowal chaired the first meeting of his Council of Ministers at the Brahmaputra Guest House in Guwahati today.

The meeting also decided to abolish all check gates which have "become a hub of syndicates and illegal activities" with immediate effect.

It also decided to do away with interviews for the 3rd and 4th grade government jobs in line with the Central government's policy.

The cabinet also decided to publish a white paper on the State's current fincial health.

Chief Minister Sonowal called upon his ministerial colleagues to work wholeheartedly and with all sincerity for the welfare of the people 'as they have reposed full faith and confidence upon us and gave a massive mandate in favour of the new Government to usher in change.'

Sonowal urged his ministerial colleagues to utilise their time to the optimum level for the all-round development of the State. The Chief Minister asked them to strike a close rapport with the people and to listen to their woes and redress their grievances.

The Chief Minister emphasised on the need to achieve the goals of 'maximum governce' to ensure files are pushed faster and decisions taken with speed.