Assam Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on May 5, 2025, approved several significant policies and initiatives aimed at boosting energy security, rural development, education, and industry in the state.
In a major move toward energy self-sufficiency, the Cabinet approved the Assam Thermal Power Generation Promotion Policy 2025, which aims to ensure energy security for the state by 2035. The ambitious policy will promote private sector participation in thermal power generation with targets to develop 2,000 MW of thermal power by 2030 and 5,000 MW by 2035. The Assam Power Distribution Company Limited (APDCL) has been designated as the nodal agency to implement this policy through a dedicated single-window clearance cell.
In yesterday’s meeting of the #AssamCabinet, we approved
⏭️Assam Thermal Power Generation Policy
⏭️Expanding role of SWA-JAL Mitra
⏭️Approval to IIPA incentives
⏭️Water Supply Scheme, Lala Town
⏭️ Seamless embankment constructionAnd more👇🏼 pic.twitter.com/HuqfuxqgaZ
— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) May 6, 2025
In addition to the long-term power policy, the Cabinet also approved immediate measures to strengthen the power sector, including a targeted subsidy of ₹300 crore to APDCL to provide tariff respite to Jeevan Dhara and Domestic-A categories of consumers for the 2025-26 fiscal year. Another ₹200 crore subsidy will help avoid hikes in retail tariffs during the same period. The government also sanctioned ₹244 crore for land acquisition to upgrade and renovate the 220 KV Grid Substation of AEGCL at Sarusajai, Guwahati.
In a humanitarian gesture, the Cabinet approved an ex-gratia payment of ₹5 lakh each to the next of kin of victims of the recent Pahalgam tragedy. A Cabinet Minister will personally visit the homes of the deceased to deliver the financial assistance along with a letter from the Chief Minister.
The meeting also focused on rural development with the approval of several initiatives:
- Jal Mitras will be rebranded as SWA-JAL Mitras and given expanded roles in implementing the Swachh Bharat Mission-Gramin. They will be involved in individual household latrine (IHHL) monitoring and verification, raising awareness about waste segregation, and other sanitation activities. A structured performance-based incentive system will be introduced with a monthly honorarium of ₹1,000 and additional incentives ranging from ₹500 to ₹2,000 based on key performance indicators.
- The Cabinet approved the establishment of the Lala Town Water Supply Scheme under Hailakandi PHE Division to ensure uninterrupted water supply to every household in Lala Town.
- Recognizing the redundancy of Public Facilitation Centres (PFCs) as ARTPS services have stabilized, the Cabinet approved a one-time grant of ₹50,000 to 746 PFC operators along with existing computer hardware to help them transition to Village Level Entrepreneurs under Common Service Centres (CSCs).
For education and employment, the Cabinet approved priority consideration for 347 Operation Black Board (OBB) teachers of Nalbari district under CMAAA 2.0 as a one-time special provision. The beneficiaries will be selected only from among the successful applicants through interviews, rather than automatically qualifying based on their status as OBB teachers.
To boost the sericulture sector, the Cabinet amended the Assam Sericulture Technical (Gazetted) Service Rules, 2013, to provide 100% direct recruitment of Extension Officers from candidates with a minimum qualification of B.Sc. in Sericulture from recognized institutes. The selection will be conducted through the Assam Public Service Commission (APSC), creating new employment avenues for sericulture graduates.
The Cabinet also approved a convergence model between the Water Resources Department (WRD) and the Panchayat & Rural Development Department for constructing new embankments on the Brahmaputra and Barak rivers and their tributaries. The model will cover labor and earthwork components, material and structural components, technical supervision, administration and financial control, and operations and maintenance.
In a significant boost to industrial development, the Cabinet approved customized incentives under the Industrial and Investment Policy of Assam (IIPA) 2019 for 12 companies that signed Memorandums of Understanding during Advantage Assam 2.0. These companies are expected to invest a total of ₹7,730 crore and generate 16,466 employment opportunities in the state.
