Assam Cabinet Meeting 21 July 2023 | Key Decisions

Assam Cabinet Meeting 2023: The Assam Cabinet approved Rs. 400 crore as the first installment of the SOPD-G fund for fast-tracking growth in BTR during the Assam Cabinet Meeting 2023 July 21. For more details about the Assam Cabinet decisions, please read our article.

Assam Cabinet Meeting 2023 | 21 July 2023 Key Decisions

The Assam Cabinet Meeting decision today, held on July 21, 2023, under the leadership of Assam Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma, resulted in key decisions aimed at promoting inclusive development in the state. The Assam Cabinet Meeting minutes and Assam Cabinet decisions July 2023 were discussed during the meeting, and important resolutions were made for the progress of Assam in 2023.

Listed below are the key decisions of Assam Cabinet Meeting July 2023 that have been undertaken:

1. New IT Society
   • Establishment of ‘Assam Information Technology, Electronics & Communication and Citizen Service Delivery (AITEC & CSD) Society’ under the Societies Registration Act XXI of 1860 as a PIU, for smooth implementation of IT-related policies and seamless delivery of citizen-centric services.
   • The Society will function as an apex autonomous body of Govt of Assam for ensuring seamless delivery of online citizen centric services being offered under Sewa Setu Portal.
2. Envisioning a Flood-free Assam
   • Consolidated administrative approval for Phase | of ADB-aided ‘Climate Resilient Brahmaputra Integrated Flood and Riverbank Erosion Risk Management Project’ to be executed through Flood and River Erosion Management Agency of Assam at a cost of Rs. 2,097.88 cr.
   • Under the Project, integrated flood and riverbank erosion risk management activities would be taken up in the main stem of Brahmaputra River at vulnerable reaches in districts of Tinsukia, Dibrugarh, Morigaon, Kamrup and Goalpara.
   • A total of 72.7 km of anti-erosion works and 3.27 km of embankment works are contemplated.
3. Light Bulbs for low-end Households
   • Free distribution of four 9-Watt LED bulbs to approximately 50 lakh low-end households in Assam under Mukhyamantrir Dakshya Pohar Asoni/Mukhyamantrir Sanchay Pohar Asoni at an estimated cost of Rs. 130 cr.
   • It will ensure reduced energy consumption for users thereby reducing their bills, while also helping manage electricity load during peak hours.
4. Relief for Electricity Consumers
   • Targeted Subsidy of Rs. 265.29 cr to Assam Power Distribution Company Limited (APDCL) with following provisions:
     • Subsidy of Rs. 1/Unit up to a maximum of 45 units for Jeevan Dhara category of consumers.
     • Subsidy of Rs. 0.75/Unit up to a maximum of 120 units for Domestic-A category of consumers.
   • This decision will provide tariff respite to economically weaker households on account of revision of retail tariff in APDCL from 1 April 2023.
5. Engaging Inquiry Officers
   • Approval to procedure for empanelment of retired officers as Inquiry Officers for conducting Departmental Inquiries.
   • Retired officers not below the rank of Joint Secretary or equivalent with an upper age limit of 70 years will be engaged for conducting departmental inquiries and submitting enquiry reports to the disciplinary authority within a time frame.
   • The concerned Dept will provide secretarial assistance and the officer will get remuneration at Rs. 1 lakh per Departmental Proceeding.
   • The officer should not take up DP in departments where he/she has worked earlier in the last 5 years of their tenure.
6. Fast Tracking Growth in BTR
   • Release of SOPD-G fund (normal works) of Rs. 400 cr as 1st instalment for financial year 2023-24 under Grants No.78.
   • This will ensure swift implementation of ongoing developmental projects in BTR.
7. Promoting Renewable Energy
   • Exemption of Electricity Duty on electricity generated from renewable sources of energy by a consumer on captive consumption for a period of 3 years with effect from 1 April 2023, via the issuance of a notification under the Assam Electricity Duty Act, 1964.
8. Ban on Plastic
   • Approval to prohibition on production and use of drinking water bottles made of PET of less than 1 litre in volume and strict implementation of ban on Single Use Plastic in the State as per the Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2021.
   • The ban will be placed in effect from 2 October 2023 with a 3 month transition period provided up to that date.
9. Expediting Amrit Sarovar construction
   • Financial Sanction for an amount of Rs. 250 cr as Grant- in-Aid in favour of Mega Mission Society – Chief Minister Samagra Gramya Unnayan Yojana (CMSGUY).
   • This will ensure that the ongoing developmental projects, notably the construction of 3,007 Amrit Sarovars across Assam, will be expedited, thereby boosting growth and employment in the State.
10. Preserving Indigenous Culture
    • Allotment of 45 bigha land for construction of ‘Bodousa Kalashetra’ under Tingrai Mouza of Tinsukia Revenue Circle, as part of the ‘One-time Special package grant’ declared by Govt of Assam during 2022-23.

Assam Cabinet Allocates Rs. 400 Crore for BTR Development

During the Assam Cabinet meeting 21 July 2023, the Council of Minsters convened to discuss strategies for expediting growth in the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR). A crucial decision was reached during this gathering to fast-track developmental projects in the BTR.

As a part of this Assam Cabinet decision July 2023, it was decided to release the first installment of the State owned Priority Development (SOPD-G) fund amounting to Rs. 400 crore for the financial year 2023-24 under Grants No.78. The primary objective of this decision is to ensure the rapid execution of ongoing developmental projects in the BTR, thereby fostering its overall progress and development.

Assam Cabinet Minister List

Here are the Assam Cabinet Minister List 2023:

1. Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma
   • Chief Minister of Assam
2. Shri Ranjit Kumar Dass
   • Panchayat & Rural Development, Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, General Administration
3. Shri Atul Boro
   • Agriculture & Horticulture, Animal Husbandry & Veterinary, Border Area Protection & Development, Implementation of Assam Accord
4. Shri Urkhao Gwra Brahma
   • Handloom & Textile, Soil Conservation, Welfare of Bodoland
5. Shri Chandra Mohan Patowary
   • Environment & Forest, Act East Policy Affairs, Welfare of Minorities
6. Shri Parimal Suklabaidya
   • Transport, Fisheries, Excise Department
7. Shri Keshab Mahanta
   • Health & Family Welfare, Medical Education & Research, Science & Technology, Information Technology
8. Dr. Ranoj Pegu
   • Education Minister, Tribal Welfare
9. Shri Ashok Singhal
   • Housing & Urban Affairs, Irrigation Department
10. Shri Jogen Mohan
    • Revenue & Disaster Management, Hills Area Development, Mines & Minerals
11. Shri Sanjoy Kishan
    • Welfare of Tea Tribes, Labour Welfare
12. Smt Ajanta Neog
    • Finance, Women & Child Development
13. Shri Pijush Hazarika
    • Water Resources, Information & Public Relations, Parliamentary Affairs, Social Justice & Empowerment
14. Shri Bimal Bora
    • Industries & Commerce and Public Enterprise, Cultural Affairs
15. Shri Jayanta Mallabaruah
    • Public Health Engineering, Skill, Employment & Entrepreneurship, Tourism
16. Smt. Nandita Gorlosa
    • Power, Sports & Youth Affairs, Cooperation, Indigenous & Tribal Faith and Culture

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