EVMs to be used in Assam Municipal Board elections: Cabinet

Dec. 3: In the weekly Assam Cabinet on December 3, several key decisions regarding construction of new medical colleges, ensuring cooperative growth, financial relief to power consumers, enabling APDCL to improve its financial health, etc. among others were taken. The Cabinet Meeting was chaired by Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma.

KEY DECISIONS:

Two New Medical Colleges: Approval to new Medical Colleges in

• Charaideo district I Project cost: Rs. 557 cr
• Biswanath district I Project cost: Rs. 564 cr
• Projects to be financed by Assam Infrastructure Finance Agency through a term loan from NABARD

Paving way for Cooperative Growth:

To promote competitiveness and professionalism in Cooperative sector, approved deletion of Section 6(3) of Assam Cooperative Societies Act, 2007 that had barred registration of another cooperative society with similar objectives in the same area

GMDA Chief Engineer:

The post of GMDA Chief Engineer can now be held by any suitable person in the rank of Superintending Engineer of any department/organisation.

EVMs for Municipal Elections:

Approval to Assam Election of Commissioners of Municipal Board (Amendment) Rules, 2021 to facilitate use of EVMs in municipal board elections

Empowering APDCL:

To convert loan of X930 cr and grants of Rs. 3,359 cr to APDCL from Govt of Assam as on March 31, 2021 into equity in order to help improve the PSU’s balance sheets and facilitate better credit inflow.

Relief to Power Consumers:

• 480 cr approved for payment of tariff relief to Jeevan Dhara (BPL), Low Paying Domestic, LT Commercial and Industrial consumers for FY 2021-22
• It will benefit over 12 lakh BPL families currently availing free electricity besides providing relief to over 45 lakh low paying domestic consumers.