Cabinet Approves Establishment of Barak Valley Development Department: Assam Chief Minister
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Guwahati, Dec 7 (NationPress) In the first assembly after the cabinet expansion led by Himanta Biswa Sarma in Assam, pivotal decisions were reached on Saturday.
The cabinet has approved the formation of the Barak Valley Development Department, which aims to create new opportunities for the advancement of the southern Assam area.
“To ensure that the administration reaches the citizens directly and to promote balanced development in Barak Valley, the Cabinet has sanctioned the establishment of the Barak Valley Development Department. This initiative will aid the residents of Cachar, Sribhumi, and Hailakandi by facilitating swift development and generating job opportunities for support staff,” stated the Assam government in an announcement.
Additionally, the cabinet has endorsed a Production Linked Incentive of Rs 2/litre of ethanol for three grain-based ethanol manufacturing units for a duration of three years to enhance farmers' earnings and transition to more sustainable fuel options.
Moreover, the cabinet has ratified a Compensation Policy for the legal heirs or Next of Kin (NOK) of prisoners in instances of unnatural death.
On social media platform X, Sarma shared, “In today's meeting of the #AssamCabinet post-expansion, we resolved to form a Barak Valley Development Department; approve financial aid to NOKs of deceased prisoners; and provide incentives for ethanol production to three units.”
On the same day, four ministers were sworn in. Prasanta Phookan, Kaushik Rai, Krishnendu Paul, and Rupesh Goala took their oaths as ministers.
This marks the first expansion of the cabinet since Himanta Biswa Sarma took office as Chief Minister three years ago.
Within the cabinet, there were four unfilled positions—three of which have existed since Sarma became Chief Minister, and one became vacant after former minister Parimal Suklabaidya won this year's Lok Sabha elections.
Kaushik Rai is anticipated to succeed Parimal Suklabaidya, as both hail from the same district.
Prasanta Phookan serves as an MLA from Dibrugarh, while Krishnendu Paul represents the Patharkandi Assembly constituency in the Sribhumi district.
Rupesh Goala is an elected representative from the Doom Dooma constituency in the Tinsukia district.
Both Rai and Goala became MLAs in the 2021 Assembly elections, while Paul has secured victory on a BJP ticket twice from the Patharkandi Assembly seat.
Prasanta Phookan is a senior BJP member and has served as an MLA from Dibrugarh for four terms.
