Assam Cabinet: PWD to Use 5% Bamboo Materials in Buildings

National security clearance for setting up private universities 

Semiconductor plant site named Ratan Tata Electronic City

Cabinet decisions

Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI: The Assam Cabinet took several key decisions, including the use of at least five percent bamboo products in buildings to be constructed by the PWD, relaxations in norms for fresh engineers’ participation in bidding in PWD and Water Resources Department, mandatory national security clearance for the setting up of new private universities in the state, and naming the semiconductor plant site as Ratan Tata Electronic City, Jagiroad.

Speaking to the media after the Cabinet meeting, Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma said, “Bamboo is an indigenous resource of Assam. PWD uses granite and marble, but not bamboo, in erecting government buildings. However, in airports like that of Bengaluru, bamboo was used. Bamboo has been used in several buildings in the country. From now on, PWD has to use at least 5 percent bamboo materials in the construction of buildings. The percentage of bamboo use will go up later. Engineered bamboo can be used to cover floors.”

The Chief Minister said, “Fresh engineers in the state cannot participate in bidding due to lack of experience, lack of machinery, and being unable to pay security money. The Cabinet decided to exempt such engineers from meeting certain conditions of standard bidding documents in the PWD and Water Resources Department. Engineers will get these relaxations for five years from the date of their passing the examination. This decision will benefit local fresh engineers, besides putting an end to the monopoly in bidding.”

On the setting up of private universities in the state, the Chief Minister said, “Against the backdrop of USTM, today’s cabinet meeting took an important decision. From now onwards, if any party wants to set up a private university in the state, it will have to get a national security clearance from the Home and Political Department. New private universities in the state will have to be secular and cannot involve themselves in religious conversion, directly or indirectly. Such universities will end up with the cancellation of their registrations if their activities in religious conversions are proved at any stage. The Cabinet decided to add more teeth to the Assam Private University Act.”

The Cabinet also decided to name the entire area of the forthcoming electronic city as Ratan Tata Electronic City, Jagiroad, as a mark of recognition for the tremendous role and contribution of the late Ratan Tata and the Tata Group towards the development of the state. Tata Group is constructing a semiconductor plant at Jagiroad.

The Chief Minister said that the people of the state foresaw a new Assam in the post-Advantage Assam 2.0 summit. “The setting up of its semiconductor plant at Jagiroad is a bold decision of Tata Group. Many other groups took a cue from Tata Group to invest in Assam. The state is grateful to Tata Group,” he said.

The Cabinet approved two bills related to Maa Kamakhya National University in Sipajhar and EdTech Skill University in Tinsukia, for which MoUs were signed in the just-concluded Advantage Assam 2.0.

The Chief Minister said that the government would form cabinet groups to review the MoUs signed during Advantage Assam 2.0.

The Cabinet also approved the decision to set up ten skill centres in the state by the Pan IIT Alumni Association and the state government with help from the Government of India. The expenditure of the centres will be Rs 90 crore—Rs 80 crore to be borne by the association and Rs 10 crore by the state government.

The Chief Minister said that the Cabinet today took a resolution thanking and expressing gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his appeal to the investors to invest in Assam during Advantage Assam 2.0.

The Cabinet also amended the acts of several state universities to ensure the early appointment of their vice-chancellors.

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