In a significant move, ministers and senior officials in Assam will now have to pay for the electricity they use, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday mandated.

Stating that he recently came to know about how ministers and senior officers of the government have to pay only a nominal charge for the power they consume, the Assam chief minister sought to change the system.

In a post on X, Himanta Biswa Sarma wrote, "During my recent interactions with officials from the Power Department, I was informed for the first time that a very nominal monthly power bill is deducted from the salaries of ministers and senior officers."

In the aftermath of the conversation with the officials of the Power Department, the Assam CM directed the installation of individual prepaid meters in every government quarter, including the residences in the ministerial colony.

The move, he said, is to ensure that no subsidized power is enjoyed by senior government officers, employees, and ministers.

"Immediately, I instructed the department to install individual prepaid meters in every government quarter, including residences in the ministerial colony. This measure aims to ensure that no subsidized power is enjoyed by ministers, officers, or government employees," he further wrote on X.

The Assam CM's announcement was applauded by users on X who commended the initiative. Khumtai MLA Mrinal Saikia went a step ahead asking for similar measures in the MLA Hostel. "The same should be done in the MLA Hostel also sir ..," he wrote.