Guwahati: A meeting of the Assam Council of Ministers, chaired by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, was held at Lok Sewa Bhawan on Sunday. The Cabinet approved several major decisions related to policing, industry, land, and governance.
Key Cabinet Decisions
- The Cabinet approved ₹97.90 crore to modernise Assam Police’s 112 emergency response service. Under the project, 200 vehicles will be deployed as 24×7 mobile police units to respond to emergencies such as law and order issues, fires, accidents and disasters.
- Approval was given for the allotment of 33 bighas of land at Biswanath Chariali for setting up an Amul dairy processing unit.
- The Cabinet withdrew the ban on foreign travel by government officials and employees, which had been imposed as an austerity measure. Officials can now travel abroad for urgent personal work, official duties or training at their own expense after obtaining prior government approval.
Bills to Improve Ease of Doing Business
The Cabinet approved the introduction of several Bills and amendments in the upcoming session of the Assam Legislative Assembly, including:
- Amendment to the Assam Tourism Development and Registration Act, 2024, to simplify the registration process for hotels, homestays and other tourism establishments.
- Amendment to the Assam Minor Mineral Concession Rules, 2013, including a transit fee on forest resources entering Assam from other states to increase state revenue.
- Amendment to the Assam Shops and Establishments Act to align it with the relevant Central law.
- Introduction of the Assam Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (Facilitation of Establishment and Operation) Bill, 2026, allowing MSMEs to begin operations without prior government approval, except for large and polluting industries.
- Introduction of the Assam Ease of Doing Business (Amendment) Bill, 2026.
- Introduction of the Assam Jan Vishwas Bill, 2026, which proposes relaxation of certain rules related to town and country planning, fire safety and land classification.
Guwahati Satellite City Authority
The Cabinet approved the Guwahati Satellite City Development Authority Bill, 2026. The authority will be fully government-run, with the Chief Minister serving as Chairman and the Chief Secretary heading its Executive Committee.
Land Regulation
The Cabinet approved amendments to Chapter XII of the Assam Land and Revenue Regulation Bill to strengthen land laws. The changes will introduce stricter rules for the purchase and sale of land within a 5-kilometre radius of specified religious institutions and cultural heritage sites to improve transparency and regulation.
Agarwood Committee
To promote and streamline the agarwood sector, the Cabinet approved the formation of a ministerial committee led by Ministers Pijush Hazarika, Bimal Borah and Jayanta Malla Baruah. The committee will coordinate with the Industries, Agriculture and Forest Departments to strengthen the agarwood business and support farmers.
