Sarbananda Sonowal Reviews Issues, Gives Instructions to DCs & SPs

Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI: Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal has reviewed the situation in the State here with deputy commissioners (DCs) and superintendents of police (SPs) and spelt out clear-cut guidelines on the post-NRC situation, the social media, bonus by tea estates and the slow progress of national highway works in the State.

Directing the DCs and SPs on Friday, Sonowal said: “Maintain close relations with the influential people and opinion makers in the society, and ensure that no misunderstanding regarding the NRC process remains among the people.”

The Chief Minister also instructed the district administrations to take the help of public representatives like MLAs, zilla parishad members, panchayat members and dedicated NGOs to make all sections of people aware of the real implications of the NRC process.

Referring to a statement of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), he also strongly asserted that even people excluded from NRC will not be treated as foreigners and only Foreigners’ Tribunals are the ultimate authority in declaring a person foreigner after a judicial process.

Sonowal directed the DCs and SPs to extensively tour their districts and spread the right message about NRC among the people through discussions with various stakeholders. In order not to allow the social media to spread wrong messages in the post-NRC period, the Chief Minister also asked the police to make ‘the youth aware of the right use of social media and harms of spreading rumours and misinformation’.

Worried over the issue of slow pace of four-laning of national highways in the state by NHIDCL, Sonowal directed the DCs to disburse all payments to land owners whose lands had been acquisitioned for four-lane construction within September 30 this year. “There are allegations of some DCs willfully holding back payments to land owners. I warned that strong action will be taken against the DCs found guilty of anomaly in this regard, and thereby delaying the four-laning process in the State. People have high hopes from this government as it has carried out a ruthless campaign against corruption. I urge DCs and SPs to make their best efforts to completely eliminate corrupt practices from the system,” the Chief Minister said.

Taking seriously the recent hint from the Indian Tea Association that the tea industry might not be able to give 20 per cent bonus to the workers this year before Durga Puja due to heavy losses, Sonowal directed the DCs and SPs to hold talks with the trade unions and tea garden managements so that the issue could be resolved peacefully.

At the meeting, the Chief Minister also directed the DCs to ensure the fulfillment of the State Government’s commitment to provide land pattas to one lakh landless people of the State and for the purpose, he instructed the DCs to make necessary arrangements to distribute around 3000 land pattas in each of the districts by October.

Chief Secretary Alok Kumar, Additional Chief Secretary of Home and Political Department Kumar Sanjay Krishna, DGP Kuladhar Saikia and others were present at the meeting.

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