Himanta lays foundation stone for construction of second bridge over Ranganadi River

 Alliance between Congress and AIUDF will benefit BJP: Himanta

A CORRESPONDENT

LAKHIMPUR: State Finance Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma stated that drastic change in development had come to the State under the regime of the BJP-led governments at the Centre and in the State.

"The developmental activities, which were mere dreams for the people of the State under the rule of Congress governments, are realities now. The BJP governments at the Center and in the State are committed to ensuring development and welfare of the people," said Sarma while taking part in the Vijay Sankalp Samaroh organized at Kharkati on the bank of the River Ranganadi in Lakhimpur district on Tuesday.

Sarma underlined the developmental and welfare schemes like Orunoday, Kanaklata Women Empowerment Scheme, widow pension scheme, Arundhati scheme, Kushal Konwar Old-age Pension Scheme, revolving fund distribution scheme to women self-help groups, Atal Amrit Yojana, Ayushman Bharat Yojana, free of cost admission and textbooks distribution scheme for the students and many other schemes, which have been 'successfully' implemented by the BJP governments at the Centre and in the State.

Declaring many new schemes, Sarma asserted that the financial aid of Rs. 830 to each woman beneficiary under Orunoday scheme would be hiked to Rs. 3,000 soon. Similarly, the State Government will credit Rs. 50,000 to women SHGs for their financial empowerment.

"We will establish a medical college and hospital and engineering college in Assamese medium within three years as Prime Minister Narendra Modi has suggested," said the minister. He further declared that the BJP-led State Government had implemented schemes of Rs 50 crore in Lakhimpur and the Lakhimpur Medical College would be inaugurated within one-month period.

The minister criticized the Congress and All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF). "Development turned stagnant during the 15 years of Congress-led government before 2016. Then corruption had engulfed the government machinery. The educated youths of the State had paid Rs 1 crore for APSC jobs. But now poor meritorious youths have got APSC jobs on the strength of their merit through fair and transparent process. Only 1,200 kilometre roads of the State were constructed in the five year terms under Congress government while 8,000 km roads have been constructed and black-topped per year under the BJP-led State Government. Thus 24,000 km roads have been constructed in the last three years. If the trend of construction of roads continue like this way, there will be no road in the State without black-topping," Sarma asserted.

He stated that the 'unholy' alliance between the Congress and the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) would benefit the BJP and the alliance of the two political parties could form government in Bangladesh only, not in Assam. He criticized AIUDF president Badruddin Ajmal for making 'ridiculous statement' about Sankardev and Ripun Borah for forming alliance with a political figure like Badruddin Ajmal.

Prior to this, Sarma took part in the bhumi pujan ritual for the construction of the much awaited bridge over Ranganadi at Kharkati-Phatasuti Ghat and laid the foundation stone for the same in the presence of Lakhimpur MP Pradan Baruah and MLA Utpal Dutta. The minister declared that the second bridge with a length of 240 metre over the river would be constructed within 24 months with the investment of Rs. 27 crore. Notably, the construction of the bridge, which was a long-pending demand raised by the local people, will benefit a large area under No. 110 Naoboicha Assembly Constituency and No. 111 Lakhimpur Assembly Constituency.

After taking part in the Vijay Sankalpa Samaroh, Sarma took part in a bicycle rally from Panigaon Chariali to Bormuriya Tiniali of North Lakhimpur town blowing the poll bugle for the assembly election in the district. Then he participated in a road show in North Lakhimpur town along with thousands of BJP activists and leaders. During the rally, he offered prayers in at least 30 roadside namghars and Boithawoti Dewalaya, one of the Devi Peeths of the district. The people feted him showering flowers and gamosa along with other mementos. In addition to taking part in these programmes, the minister laid the foundation stone for the construction of the Siu-ka-pha statue at the Ranganadi bridge.