Assam Cabinet takes key decisions for State's development

Assam Cabinet takes key decisions for State's development

The Assam Cabinet today took some significant decisions for the development of the State.

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The Assam Cabinet today took some significant decisions for the development of the State. These include investing in power projects of other states, setting up a unit of the Chief Minister's Secretariat in Dibrugarh, setting up the State Floriculture Mission and a discussion on the proposed new industrial policy.

Addressing media persons after the Cabinet meeting held in Dibrugarh, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced that the Assam Government would invest Rs 1000 crore in Uttar Pradesh's Ghatampur thermal power project. The Chief Minister said, "Assam has limited scope for power generation but our power requirement keeps increasing. To meet the power demand, the government is purchasing power from power grids at Rs 12 per unit and selling to consumers at an average of Rs 4 per unit. To meet the demand and supply gap, we have to invest in power plants of other states. The Assam Government has decided to invest Rs 1000 crore for a 20% stake in UP's Ghatampur thermal power project."

The Chief Minister will leave for Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday to finalize the deal. The Government of India has a 51% stake in the Ghatampur thermal power project while the Uttar Pradesh government has a 49% stake. Out of the 49% stake, the Uttar Pradesh government has consented to give the Assam Government a 20% stake for an investment of around Rs 1000 crore. After the commissioning of the thermal power project, the Assam Government will get 400 megawatts (MW) power at a subsidized rate.

"Investing in power projects of other states is the only option left for us to meet our increasing power requirement. The government is also in talks with Coal India Ltd.," said the Chief Minister.

To ensure an efficient administrative machinery in upper Assam, the Cabinet has decided to set up a unit of the CM's Secretariat in Dibrugarh. The Chief Minister will visit the Secretariat 2-3 times a month and take stock of the administrative works. Besides this, the government will also set up a new Raj Bhavan in Tezpur -the cultural hub of the State.

To boost the flower market in the State, the Cabinet today decided to set up the State Floriculture Mission with an investment of Rs 150 crore. "There is a huge floral market in the State but most of the flowers are procured from outside the State. The State Floriculture Mission will bring a boom in the floriculture sector of the State. Initially, 20,000 farmers will be engaged," said Sarma.

The Cabinet also decided to take Assam's Bihu dance to the world stage by creating a Guinness World Record. "During Rongali Bihu on April 14, 10,000-15,000 Bihu dancers will perform at the Sarusajai Stadium and create a Guinness World Record. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be present during the performance," said the Chief Minister.

To prepare for this event, a cabinet committee has been formed with ministers Bimal Borah, Dr Ranoj Pegu, Keshab Mahanta and Jayanta Mallabaruah.

The Cabinet also approved Rs 300 crore for renovation and construction of police stations across the State under the ongoing MOITRI scheme.

The Chief Minister said that as job seekers register their names at the employment exchange through the online process, the workload on the employment exchange offices across the State had invariably reduced. "The Cabinet has in principle agreed to convert all the employment exchange offices to youth welfare offices. These offices will organize Nyog Melas, conduct career counselling and create awareness about youth-related services," he said.

The State Cabinet today discussed the proposed new industrial policy of the State and offered some suggestions to the State Industries and Commerce Department. It is expected that in the next Cabinet meeting the proposed new industrial policy of the State will be announced.

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