Complete BTC poll by Dec 15: Cabinet to State Election Commission

GUWAHATI: The Council of Ministers has requested the SEC (State Election Commission) to complete the BTC (Bodoland Territorial Council) election by December 15, 2020. The Council of Ministers has also recommended the proclamation of Governor's Rule in the BTR (Bodoland Territorial Region) till the BTC poll is held.

After the expiry of the term of the BTC, Governor's Rule was promulgated in the BTAD (Bodoland Territorial Area Districts) for a period of six months. And the term of the Governor's rule is going to expire on October 27, 2020. This has necessitated the Council of Ministers for recommending further extension of the Governor's Rule in the BTR till the BTC poll is held.

The Gauhati High Court also recently asked the SEC to go ahead with preparations for the BTC polls.

In its meeting held on Thursday, the Council of Ministers took a number of other decisions. The Council of Ministers approved the amendment to Excise Rules that prohibit inter-district and intra-district shifting of liquor premises. Since such prohibitions were creating imbalance in the distribution of liquor shops across districts, there was enough space for illegal sale of liquor. This amendment is going to help in maintaining the ratio of liquor vendors across all districts.

In another major decision, the Council of Ministers exempted sand, steel, iron rods, bitumen and other construction materials to be used in the proposed bridge in Majuli from State GST, royalty and local taxes. It has also been decided that the State government will bear the expenditure of the land needed for the approach road to the proposed bridge in Majuli.

Another decision of the meeting is to provide funding to 'Gaushalas' to fill up the gaps in funding required to supply feed for cows.

The Council of Ministers has also approved Rs 10 lakh as ex gratia to the next of kin of a constable who died on the trail of cattle smugglers recently.

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