Assam to invest ₹1.5 lakh cr in infra in 5 yrs: Himanta

Guwahati, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday said that ₹1.50 lakh crore will be invested in capital expenditure in the state in the next five years, of which ₹50,000 crore will be from its own resources.

Speaking after hoisting the National Flag on the occasion of the Independence Day celebration here, he also appealed to people from various parts of the country who have settled here and assimilated into its culture to mention 'Assamese' as their mother tongue during Census data collection.

He, however, added that people of Barak Valley and tribals may mention their own languages in that category. The Barak Valley comprises the majority of the Bengali-speaking population.

"For building a 'Vikshit Assam' by 2047, we shall be spending ₹50,000 crore in capital expenditure. The next four years will see investment in roads, schools, urbanisation, rural growth, etc, and this will be from our own funds," Sarma said, in his first Independence Day speech after retaining the chief minister's position for the second term.

"In the next five years, we shall try to get ₹1 lakh crore from the Central government. From 2026 to 2031, the state will spend ₹1.50 lakh crore on infrastructure," Sarma added.

He said the state's economy has tripled in a decade and the state is now known from 'chai' to 'chip' of semiconductors, referring to the upcoming Tata facility in the state.

"We don't have the sea and resources like Odisha; faced decades of insurgency; but the 'Assam model of development' is shining now," the CM asserted.

Condoling the loss of lives in the recent floods, which especially devastated four eastern districts, Sarma said that funds for rehabilitation of the affected people and areas will not be a constraint.

He also announced a 30-day special crackdown on child marriage from Nov 1 and affirmed that the government will not rest till underage weddings and polygamy are eradicated.

Dismissing the concepts of Gen Z and Alpha as "European" ones, the CM announced formation of a new Youth Development and Empowerment department that will work for the skill enhancement and all-round growth of the youth.

He also announced eight new co-districts and disposal of pending government files in mission mode.

The CM added that the state will commemorate 800 years of the arrival of Swargadeo Chaolung Sukapha of the Ahom dynasty which ruled the state for 600 years and was credited with first integrating the state.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.