Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma chairs first cabinet meeting, rules out complete lockdown in state

The first meeting of the newly elected cabinet in Assam has ruled out complete lockdown due to COVID-19 pandemic and proposed further restrictions. The cabinet has proposed to set up a committee which will go in the nitty-gritty of providing one lakh jobs by March next year and waiver of loan of microfinance borrowers.Minister Keshab Mahanta and Pijush Hazarika said that the cabinet has gone into the details of COVID-19 prevalent in Assam.Mahanta said, “While there will be no complete lockdown, some additional measures will be announced, details of which will be announced on Thursday. All the ministers are allocated two-three districts, which they will review the COVID situation and within three days’ report to the Chief minister and health minister.”He added, “The measures which will be announced on Wednesday will be for 15 days, the government may consider coming up with an economic package seeing the outcome of these measures.”BJP in Assam in the run up to polls had promised to provide one lakh jobs by March next year and loan waiver to microfinance borrowers.Mahanta said, “Two committees are formed to chart elaborate road maps for implementing these two promises. The committee on loan waiver will talk to banks and other people and see the size of outstanding loans. Both the committees will submit a report in the next one month.”

The cabinet has also decided to meet every Wednesday. The Assam cabinet has asked the Finance department to make necessary arrangements to pay Rs 1,687 Crore for increasing the stake of state government in Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL).On 25th March, 2021 a Share Purchase Agreement (SPA) was signed between BPCL and consortium of

(OIL) and

(EIL) for sale of 43.05 crore shares in NRL to the consortium at a consideration of Rs. 9,375.96 crore. EIL paid Rs.700 crores for 3.21 crore shares while OIL bought 39.84 crore shares for Rs. 8,675.96 crores. The remaining 2.29 crore equity shares held by BPCL have been purchased by the Government of Assam for Rs. 500 crores. With these transactions, BPCL has transferred its entire 61.65% holding in NRL to the Consortium and Government of India.The Assam government initially had 12.35% stake which it increased to 15.47% and finally to 26 percent. After taking permission from Election commission Assam government paid Rs 500 crore as due to Assam election model code of conduct was in place.Managing Director of NRL S K Barua had on April 13 this year said, “Soon Assam will pay the amount and increase the stake. To achieve this, the government of Assam is likely to purchase remaining shares from OIL in due course of time at the same valuation at which OIL has purchased shares from BPCL.”Assam Industries and Commerce Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary said, “For increasing the stake we had to pay Rs 2187 Crore, we have paid Rs 500 Crore and the finance department is asked to pay the remaining amount in the first cabinet meeting. Till now we received a dividend of Rs 90. 80 Crore and in future our dividend will increase to Rs 900 Crore as the refinery is increasing its capacity 3(million metric tonnes per annum)to 9 MMTPA.This is largest investment done by Assam government in a Central PSU.”