The Assam Cabinet has decided to hand over the investigation into the devastating floods that recently affected Upper Assam to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced after a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday.
The Chief Minister said the government would seek a detailed investigation into the causes behind the severe flooding in the districts of Sivasagar, Charaideo and Jorhat. The proposal to transfer the case to the CBI is expected to be formally processed within the next ten days.
In another major decision, the Cabinet approved the allocation of nearly 6,000 bighas of land at Nelli in Nagaon district for the establishment of Assam’s first Defence Park. The proposed park is expected to support India’s defence and military ecosystem and attract related industries to the state.
The Cabinet also cleared a proposal for setting up a caustic soda manufacturing plant at Jagiroad with an investment of ₹501 crore. Additionally, it approved the allotment of two bighas of land at Chandrapur to Manoj Agarwal, whose land had earlier been acquired for the Zubin project at Sonapur. Approval for the Zubin project is expected within the next ten days.
The state government also announced stricter measures against polygamy among government employees. Under the new decision, any Assam government employee found practising polygamy will face dismissal from service and will be barred from applying for government jobs in the future. The Chief Minister added that once the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) is implemented in the state, the provision will apply universally.
In a welfare measure for former defence personnel, the Cabinet approved raising the upper age limit for retired Army personnel applying for Grade III and Grade IV state government jobs to 45 years.
The Cabinet also approved five ropeway projects across the state. The proposed routes include Kamakhya Railway Station to Kamakhya Temple, Khanapara to Guwahati Railway Station, Ganga Nagar to Bhuvan Hill, besides ropeway projects at Jatinga and Agnigarh.
The decisions are expected to boost infrastructure development, industrial investment, tourism, employment and defence-linked economic activities in Assam.
