Rs 11,900-crore schemes to commence by December: Himanta Biswa Sarma

* 'Free kidney dialysis facility will be available in 20 more government hospitals this year'

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The State government kidney dialysis is going to start infrastructure and development works worth Rs 11,900 crore by December this year. Moreover, the government has lifted most of the cost-cutting measures that were imposed in April in the wake of COVID-19 and the pandemic-induced lockdown this year.

Talking to the media on Saturday, State Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said, "To bring about a situation conducive for such developmental works, we've lifted most the austerity measures that were imposed in April this year. However, such cost-cutting measures will continue to stay in purchasing vehicles, holding conferences in five-star hotels, executive-class travel barring the Chief Minister, Ministers' salary cut etc. Now on, the industries will get tax incentives, and various departments can give financial and administrative approvals to schemes on their own."

Giving details of how the Rs 11,900 crore will be utilized, Sarma said, "Construction works of four new medical colleges – one each at Charaideo, Biswanath, Goalpara and a second medical college at Guwahati comprising MMCH (Mahendra Mohan Choudhury Hospital) and Kalapahar TB Hospital – will start by December this year. The estimated cost of the four medical colleges is Rs 2,050 crore."

Spelling out developmental works in the Education sector, Sarma said, "The works of nine women colleges costing Rs 300 crore, six new degree colleges costing Rs 100 crore, ten law colleges costing Rs 33 crore among others, will begin by December.

"This apart, the works of two flyovers – one at Maligaon in Guwahati costing Rs 421 crore and the other at Mission Chariali at Tezpur costing Rs 321 crore – will be started by this December. The work of a first-of-its -kind fast-track corridor comprising 12 roads is going to be started by December. The estimated cost of the project is Rs 2,626 crore. Besides the Majuli-Lakhimpur bridge, a road from Gohpur to the Holongi Airport (Arunachal Pradesh) will also be started this year."

The Minister added that the ADB (Asian Development Bank) and the AIIB (Asian Infrastructure Improvement Bank) would fund Rs 6,640 crore.

The Minister also said that as the second phase of teachers' appointment, 10,789 teachers – around 5,700 of high schools and 5,000 of lower and upper primary schools – will be appointed by December.

On the freebies in the Health sector, the Minister said that the Prime Minister's free- of-cost kidney dialysis facility made available last year in 20 government hospitals in the State rendered service to 56,168 patients. "This year we're going to make this facility available in 20 more government hospitals. This will solve the problem of private hospitals not conducting dialysis of patients without COVID negative certificates," he said.

Also Watch: Watch: When a 11 Feet King Cobra Came Calling at This House