Key decisions of Assam Cabinet

Guwahati: The Assam Cabinet has taken some important decisions regarding the Health, Power, Tourism, Revenue and Transport departments.

During a meeting on Friday, the Cabinet decided to increase the retirement age of professors of various medical colleges of the state from 65 years to 70 years, informed Information and Public Relations Minister Pijush Hazarika.

He said that around 1,100 doctors pass out from medical colleges in the state each year, which is not enough to meet the demand. The decision to increase the retirement of professors of medical colleges has been taken in this context. The Cabinet further approved Rs 136 crore to the Health Department for the purchase of medicines.

The Cabinet approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the Assam Tourism Development Corporation (ATDC) and Indian Hotel Company Limited for setting up hotels in two tea estates of Assam – Hatikhuli TE and Kellyden TE. The Cabinet also accorded approval for the Assam State Transport Corporation (ASTC) to set up Automated Vehicle Testing Stations in PPP model at Mirza, North Lakhimpur, Dibrugarh, Raha, Jorhat, Bihpuria, Tinsukia and Biswanath.

On the other hand, the Cabinet decided to change the nomenclature of mandals and kanungos under the Revenue Department. Mandals will henceforth be called ‘land record assistants’ and kanungos will be called ‘land record supervisors’. These ‘land record supervisors’ may later be promoted as ‘land record inspectors’ or ‘land record officers’.

Moreover, the minimum educational qualification for the post of land record assistants will be graduation and they will be liable for transfer across the state after every five years.

The Cabinet approved two agreements for generating renewable energy under the Power Department.

The first agreement is between the Assam Power Generation Corporation Limited (APGCL) and Oil India Limited (OIL), under which 25 MW of power will be generated at Namrup.

The second agreement is between the Assam Power Distribution Company Limited (APDCL) and SJVN Green Energy Limited for a renewable energy project worth Rs 2,450 crore. APDCL will have a 49 per cent stake in the venture.

The Cabinet decided to include Assam-cadre IAS and IPS officers in the Compassionate Family Pension scheme. This scheme extends full-pay benefit till the respective retirement age to the families of government employees who die while still in service.

The Cabinet also approved appointment of 66 employees of the defunct Nagaon and Cachar paper mills in various departments of the state government.