STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI: To ensure that there is no counter-reaction in Assam against the recent violent attacks on the minority Hindus during this year Durga puja in Bangladesh, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that "All steps have been initiated to maintain peace and communal harmony in Assam. Addressing the media at Dispur on Friday, the Chief Minister specified. "All the DCs (Deputy Commissioners) have been already alerted.
On fuel price hike: The government is really concerned about the rising prices of fuel, said the CM, adding "We don't want that the public should suffer due to this scenario. In 2020, the Assam government had reduced the VAT (Value Added Tax) on petrol and diesel at the rate of Rs 5 per litre. The CM assured, "If required, the government will further reduce the VAT in this sector in the days to come.
Ethanol project: Of the 14 companies that had submitted proposals to set up 'EBPs (Ethanol-based Projects following the floating of advertisements by the State government department concerned, the authorities concerned have shortlisted seven firms, informed the media persons. CM Sarma pointed out, "the government will sign MOUs (Memorandums of Understanding) with the shortlisted companies very soon."
Sarma added, "The overall approximate investment of the participating companies will be between Rs 1,500 crore to Rs 2,000 crore."
COVID scenario: By January 15, 2022, all steps have been taken for the completion of both the anti-COVID doses to the masses in Assam. Declaring this in front of the media, the CM pointed out, "Till Thursday, altogether 2.07 crore first doses were administered, while around 77 lakh second doses were given.
He stressed, "The State government is committed to complete the first-dose vaccination of the targetted people across the State by November 15, 2021. Meanwhile, the Assam government will be sending the lists of those people of the State who left Assam after receiving the first dose. The lists will be sent to the respective State governments. This move will help these people to get the second dose in those States'.
"Following reports that a large section of the population primarily in the three hills districts of Dima Hasao, Karbi Anglong, and West Karbi Anglong, the State government has moved to galvanise the official apparatus to enlighten the masses. In this regard, the officials have been instructed to commence house-to-house health campaigning to tackle the pandemic.
Eviction drive: The Assam government has decided to initiate the process of face-to-face counselling with the encroachers in government lands in the State. Informing this, the Chief Minister added, "This move is a means to ensure that alleged encroachers evict the land."
Referring to the recent eviction drives at Dhalpur in Darrang district, "Following official counselling among the encroachers there, any among the encroachers left the place much before the eviction drive there. But due to the instigation of a section of the encroachers, the police was compelled to fire at that place."
The CM added, "The Gauhati High Court has directed the Government of Assam to carry out an eviction drive also in the encroached areas within Lumding RF (Reserve Forest). The authorities concerned are having counselling sessions with the encroachers in the RF. We will take further actions as per the HC order.
Census operation: Refuting alleged reports that the new Census process in Assam has not been started due to the yet-to-be finalized NRC (National Register of Citizens), CM Sarma commented, "We don't have any information. Both the processes have separate identities. There is no link between the two processes of NRC update and Census operation." The CM added,"The government wants the Census operation to also start in the State."
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