Assam Governor takes stock of DoHUA and Welfare of Minorities & Development Department

GUWAHATI: Governor Gulab Chand Kataria, in a meeting on Friday at Raj Bhavan, took stock of the Housing and Urban Affairs Department in the presence of the Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs, Ashok Singhal.

Commissioner and Secretary, DoHUA Kavitha Padmanabhan, presented an overview of all verticals of the department. She initiated the proceeding by elucidating the amalgamation of three erstwhile distinct departments, namely the Urban Development Department, the Guwahati Development Department, and the Town and Country Planning Department, a consolidation that happened in 2021. She underscored the ongoing efforts towards the systematic reassessment of property tax and the department's commitment to enhancing public service accessibility through the development of a unified portal and applications. The Commissioner also shed light on the strides in solid waste processing across 103 municipalities and the significant accomplishments in the implementation of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Urban, with the construction of 68 thousand houses since 2021.

Kataria, recognizing the role of well-developed cities in bolstering the tourism sector in Assam, emphasized the need for robust infrastructure and amenities. He particularly stressed the improvement of the drainage system and waste management projects, especially within the framework of the Smart City initiative. Delving into fiscal matters, the governor took stock of the department's budget over the past three years, emphasizing the meticulous monitoring of budget utilization and a requisite increase in capital expenditure. He underscored the indispensability of timely utilization certificates (UC) for securing funds from the central government, thereby urging the department to prioritize the expeditious preparation of such documents.

In another meeting, Kataria also took stock of the activities of the Welfare of Minorities and Development Department. Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary outlined various initiatives undertaken by the department for the welfare of religious and linguistic minorities in the state. Secretary to the Welfare of Minorities and Development Department, Adil Khan, provided an overview, highlighting the department's commitment to addressing the needs of the sizable minority population in Assam, stated a press release.

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