Base for Yatri Niwas, Saraighat Lake project laid
HT Bureau
GUWAHATI, April 21: With a view to benefit patients and other visitors to the upcoming AIIMS at Changsari as well as strengthening tourism infrastructure at Amingaon, chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma laid the foundation stone of a guest house-cum-yatri niwas and a project for development of Saraighat Lake near DC office Kamrup at Amingaon on Thursday.
The Assam Tourism Development Corporation will implement the projects with an estimated cost of Rs 43 crore and Rs 5 crore respectively.
The chief minister on the occasion also launched a ceremonial distribution of financial assistance amounting to Rs 2 lakh to 114 numbers of registered Tour Operators and an amount of Rs 25,000 to 605 numbers of registered Tourist Guides under ‘Paryatan Sanjeevani Scheme’ of the Tourism Department.
Along with this, the chief minister also launched a flagship scheme named ‘Setting up of Godown for storage of Paddy in Rural areas of Assam’ under Chief Minister Samagra Gramya Unnayan Yojana (CMSGUY) being implemented by Assam Food & Civil Supply Corporation Limited (AFCSCL).
As part of this, the chief minister ceremonially distributed ‘Letter of Intent’ to beneficiaries such as entrepreneurs, private agencies, NGOs, etc., covered under this scheme for construction of godown and handed over a cheque of Rs 3.30 crore as 1st instalment towards implementation of the scheme from CMSGUY to the implementing agency AFCSCL.
Speaking on the occasion, chief minister Sarma said that Amingaon and its adjoining areas have witnessed tremendous growth in economic activities in recent times.
“Projects like AIIMS at Changsari and ongoing construction of a bridge connecting Guwahati with North Guwahati and many such projects have added economic value to the area apart from changing its socio-economic landscape,” he said.
The chief minister further said that keeping in view the new developments and to meet the growing demand, the state government has taken the initiative to construct the guest house-cum-yatri niwas.
CM Sarma said that the project for development of Saraighat Lake at Amingaon will cover 7 bigha land which will create an extension of the existing park along Saraighat Lake.
Along with Alaboi War memorial, work for which is expected to start from June, the Saraighat Lake and other sites of tourist interest will turn the area into an emerging tourism destination, he observed.
Sarma also said that coinciding with the 400th birth anniversary celebration of Mahabir Lachit Borphukan, recently he had written letters to the chief ministers of all the states of India to incorporate a chapter on the great General of Assam’s history in the school curriculum of their respective states.
The chief minister also urged the chairman ATDC and the officials to ensure completion of the projects in a time bound manner within a period of 18 to 24 months.
Further underlining the newly launched scheme under CMSGUY for setting up of Godowns at rural areas, CM Sarma said that the state government during this year took an initiative to procure paddy from farmers at MSP of Rs 1940 per quintal through FCI. While procuring paddy from farmers, the procurement agencies had to face challenges in terms of storage as the FCI godowns have limited capacity, he said adding that the new scheme will help to increase the storage capacity of paddy in paddy growing areas of Assam and provide safe storage conditions to prevent grain loss. The chief minister also informed the state government’s plan to procure paddy directly from farmers from next year.
Sarma informed that for implementation of this new scheme, the state government through CMSGUY has accorded approval for a total amount of 39 crores for setting up of godowns in 110 locations of rural areas in Assam with 50% subsidy, subject to a maximum of 40 lakhs per godown. The godowns would be able to store a minimum of 500 MT to a maximum 2000 MT of paddy at a time.
The chief minister asked the implementing agency to ensure time bound construction of the godowns to meet the goal set by the state government. He also urged the farmers to focus on cultivation of millet along with rice, which has immense potential to financially benefit farmers.
