Assam cabinet approves defence park, CBI flood probe and paddy price hike

The Assam cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma, met on Tuesday and approved a series of measures that include allocating land for a defence park, assigning flood investigations to the CBI, tightening rules on polygamy for officials and raising the paddy procurement price to Rs 2,440 per quintal.

Polygamy rules for officials

The Sentinel Assam reported that the cabinet decided to initiate departmental proceedings against any government official found to have indulged in polygamy with proof. The action includes dismissal of the official and a ban from future government employment. The Civil Service Conduct Rules on the matter also received the cabinet's approval.

Defence park and ropeway projects

The cabinet approved the transfer of 6,000 bigha of land near Nellie in Morigaon district to the Industries & Commerce Department for the creation of a defence park aimed at attracting defence-production units. In the same meeting, the cabinet gave the nod to a memorandum of understanding with the Centre for Ropeways. A Ropeway Development Authority will be set up with the Centre holding a 51% stake and the state government 49%. Existing work on the ropeway from Kamakhya railway station to Kamakhya temple will continue, and new ropeway projects are planned between Gangananagar and Bhubon Pahar in Barak Valley, Agnigarh Pahar and Bharavi Mandir in Sonitpur district, and at Jatinga in Dima Hasao district.

CBI investigation of flash floods and Zubeen Kshetra land regularisation

The cabinet decided to hand over the probe into the flash floods that affected Charaideo and Sivasagar districts earlier this year to the Central Bureau of Investigation. Dispur will submit a request to the CBI within the next 10 days to take up the case and determine its root cause. The cabinet also approved the regularisation of two bighas of land adjacent to the Zubeen Kshetra site after acquisition, providing the private party that owned the land with an alternative site. Approval for the Zubeen Kshetra project is expected within the next 10 days.

Paddy price increase and administrative reforms

To support farmers, the cabinet resolved to provide a state incentive of Rs 199 per qunital of paddy, adding to the central government’s Rs 2,241 per quintal, bringing the total to Rs 2,440 per quintal for growers. The cabinet also simplified promotion rules for state officials, a move described as enabling jobs for two lakh youth. To improve monitoring of government schemes, 15 councils will be constituted to advise the administration on implementation. Additionally, the Satellite City Act received approval, and the posts of mayor and deputy mayor in Silchar Municipal Corporation will be reserved on a rotating basis among general, Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe and women categories over successive five-year periods.