: The ruling Congress in Assam promised to develop the towns in the State as “smart towns” equipped with modern amenities.
The party also promised to double the financial assistance by the State Government from Rs 500 crore to Rs 1,000 crore in 74 municipal bodies and town committees, if voted to run these civic bodies.
Making public the highlights of the party’s poll manifesto for the February 10 elections at Rajiv Bawan here on Wednesday, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said, in presence of PCC president Anjan Dutta that his party would focus on development of smaller towns as under the criteria for the Smart City scheme of the BJP-led government at the Centre, only Guwahati is eligible to be included in the scheme.
The ruling party has promised to improve the road network, drainage system, modern markets, housing facilities for the homeless and slum dwellers, loan subsidy to rickshaw pullers, pull cart pullers, petty shop owners, wi-fi facilities at important public places, hostels for students, working women in small and medium sized towns.
Mr Gogoi exuded confidence that his party would perform better in the elections to municipal boards and town committees.
In the last election, the Congress captured more than 50 municipal bodies and town committees. However, during the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, the Congress’ performance in areas under these municipal boards and town committees was poor with the BJP causing heavy erosion in its support base.
The Assam government in its memorandum to Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to the State had asked him to consider Guwahati and Golaghat, Silchar, Jorhat, Tezpur, Tinsukia, Barpeta and Bongaigaon towns in the Smart Cities Scheme.
The memorandum also stated that Assam has the largest urban population in the North-east region, with 44.38 lakh people living in urban areas, which is 14 per cent of the total population of Assam.
There are more than 214 census towns in Assam, which includes 95 notified towns.
There are only four Class I towns, having a population of more than one lakh, out of the 95 Notified Urban Local Bodies including Guwahati, the only Municipal Corporation which contains more than 25 per cent of the total urban population of the State.
Assam also has the highest slum population in the North Eastern Region which is about 1.97 lakhs, it added.
Promises to double the financial assistance
