Vehicle Scrappage Policy of Assam approved; Remuneration of Municipality Chairperson, Commissioners hiked: Cabinet

July 5: In the weekly Assam Cabinet on 5 July, several key decisions related to scrapping of old vehicles, identification of 5 indigenous Muslim groups, exempting ex-servicemen & their widows from paying property tax, boost to renewable energy, improving data access, etc, among others were taken. The Cabinet Meeting was chaired by Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma. 

KEY DECISIONS:

►Vehicle Scrappage Policy:

• Approval to Vehicle Scrappage Policy of Assam, 2022 to ensure proper dismantling & scrapping of operations of End of Life vehicles
• To ensure effective implementation of Registration & Functions of Vehicle Scrapping Facility (RVSF), Policy to reduce vehicular pollution and phase out unfit & polluting vehicles, thereby promoting recycling of vehicle scrap in an eco-friendly manner
• State Govt to also launch a One Time Settlement scheme for a specified time period so that owners are given tax waiver up to 75% against their outstanding/arrear dues (if any) on voluntary offer of their vehicles to RVSF

►Hike in remuneration:

Enhancement of remuneration of Chairpersons, Vice-chairpersons and elected Commissioners of Municipal Boards by 25,000 to ensure proper remuneration of elected members.

► Improving data access:

Approval to Assam State Data Policy, 2022 to improve data access, data use and ensure efficient delivery of services. It will lay the foundation for a data-driven governance and policy-making

► Boost to renewable energy:

• Assam Renewable Energy Policy, 2022 approved to create an ecosystem to propel growth of Renewable Energy (RE) power sector
• The policy aims to install aggregate RE of 1,200 MW within 5 years
• Ambitious Mukhyamantri Souro Shakti Prokolpo for installing 1,000 MW on free Govt lands announced in 2022-23 State Budget

►Protecting interests of indigenous Muslims:

• Approval to identification of 5 Assamese Muslim sub-groups – Gorias, Moriyas, Jolhas, Deshis and Syeds – as indigenous Assamese Muslim communities in line with the recommendation of 7 sub-groups/ Committees constituted by State Govt
• The move will ensure their development in health, cultural identity, education, financial inclusion, skill development and women empowerment

►Honouring Ex-servicemen:

• As a gesture of gratitude to Ex-servicemen for their service to the nation, amendment bills for Guwahati Municipal Corporation Act, 1969 and Assam Municipal Act, 1956 to be tabled to exempt Ex-servicemen/ widows from paying property tax

►Fillip to MSME sector:

• Approval to collaboration between Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGTMSE) under SIDBI and Govt of Assam for providing additional guarantee coverage for loans given by lending institutions to Micro and Small Units in Assam and creation of a Corpus Fund of ?100 crore – 80% from CGTMSE & 20% from Govt of Assam
• Assam Industrial Development Corporation (AIDC) Ltd authorised to enter into an MoU with SIDBI

►Adjustment of recoverable dues: 

• In-principle approval to adjustment of outstanding dues recoverable from consumers of APDCL for FYs 2021-22 and 2022-23 to reduce losses of APDCL
• The proposed waiver for FY 2021-22 to cost the State Govt X309.86 cr
• Will facilitate assessment of actual arrear amount without any adverse impact on performance indices of
• APDCL vis-à-vis State exchequer APDCL directed to collect Aadhaar and EPIC details for all new connections and update the same for old/ existing connections
• Will be mutually beneficial for both Govt of Assam and APDCL as summarised below:

Venture Capital Fund:

• Creation of a Venture Capital Fund worth X200 crore via an MoU to be signed between SIDBI and AIDC Ltd