Assam Cabinet Gives Approval for Green Power Projects

The Assam Cabinet on Thursday gave approval for the implementation of green power projects in the state.

During a weekly meeting held at Janata Bhawan in Dispur, several key decisions including solar project, air connectivity, recruitment in colleges, compensation for land acquisition and employment of safai karmacharis were taken.

The cabinet approved to implement green power projects (cumulative capacity 620 MW) under joint venture between Assam Power Generation Corporation (APGCL) and OIL.

At least seven green power projects will be implemented in the following district:

• 70-MW Sonbeel Floating Solar Power Project

• 100-MW Tezpur Agrivoltaic Project

• 40-MW Golaghat Floating Solar Power Project

• 200-MW Margherita Solar Power Project

• 50 MW Lower Kopili Agrivoltaic Project

• 60-MW Chandrapur PSP with Solar Power Project

• 100-MW Batadrava Agrivoltaic Project

The above mentioned projects will be funded in debt-ratio of 80:20 with no liability on state government.

The cabinet said that as many as 125 small producer organizations and 1,250 farmers and their families will be benefited from the projects.

Meanwhile, the proposed projects in Sonitpur, Nagaon, Dima Hasao district of Assam will boost the sustainable economic growth.

The following are additional key decisions taken in the cabinet meeting:

New 70 MW Solar Project

• Approval to set up a 70 MW Solar Power Plant at Khudigaon Part-II under Bilasipara Revenue Circle in Dhubri district for sale of power to APDCL

• The proposed Solar Power Plant will be developed on Build-Own-Operate mode by Solar Power Generator.

Improving Air Connectivity

• Low-cost air services to be operated between non-UDAN routes

• ATDC will execute an MoU with FlyBig Airline

• In the first phase, such flights will operate on Dibrugarh-Guwahati and Guwahati-Silchar routes on pilot basis for 3 months and gradually the same services will connect other important routes too

• Airlines will sell tickets at market price, and prices cannot exceed Rs. 4,500 even during peak demand

• State Govt will provide Viability Gap Funding (VGF) through ATDC for operating of such air services

Streamlining Recruitment in Colleges

• Assam College Services Recruitment Board to be constituted for selection of Principals and Assistant Professors of colleges

Fair Compensation for Land Acquisition

• Assam Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Rules, 2015 to be amended for rationalisation of Multiplication Factors and review of the definition of 'urban area'

Streamlining Employment of Safai Karmacharis

• Assam State Commission for Safar Karmacharis to be constituted to monitor implementation of the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013.

In today's #AssamCabinet, we took several decisions pertaining to development of green power projects, improving air connectivity in the State, streamlining recruitment of college faculty, compensation for land acquisition and employment of Safai Karmacharis. pic.twitter.com/nuR4QaqSK7

— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) March 16, 2023

Also Read: Assam Cabinet Meeting | Feb 22, 2023 | Key Decisions