Assam CM Sarbananda Sonowal dials former CMs, and former union ministers

GUWAHATI: Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Tuesday made telephone calls to the Leader of the Opposition Debabrata Saikia, former Chief Ministers Tarun Gogoi, Bhumidhar Barman, Prafulla Kumar Mahanta,
Leader of AIUDF Legislative Party Hafiz Bashir Ahmed (Qasimi), former Union Ministers Bijaya Chakrabarty, Kabindra Purkayastha, Rajen Gohain, Paban Singh Ghatowar, Chairman of State Senior Citizen Welfare Board Harekrishna Bharali, President of Sadou Asom Mukti Jujaru Sanmilan Krishna Lahkar among others and took their views about the prevailing situation and the State Government’s efforts to contain the Coronavirus outbreak.

The Chief Minister informed them about various measures undertaken by the State Government like setting up of 1000 bedded quarantine facility for COVID-19 patients at Sarusajai Stadium besides making the medical colleges capable of handling the Coronavirus patients, plans for setting up five prefabricated COVID-19 hospitals at Dibrugarh, Guwahati, Lakhimpur, Silchar and Bongaigaon, training for doctors and para medical staffs etc. He also informed the senior politicians about the steps taken by the State Government to provide free rice to 58 lakh families of Assam under National Food Security Act (NFSA) during these times of crisis.

Assuring the distinguished public leaders about the success of the State Government’s initiatives of containing Coronavirus outbreak, the Chief Minister told them that the Assam Government is fully prepared to tackle any steep rise in COVID-19 patients in the near future. He also requested them to appeal their followers to maintain social distancing and other protocols during the lockdown period.

Assam Transport Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary in a review meeting has directed the senior officers of Transport Department to ensure that adequate numbers of trucks are made available for carrying of essential food commodities in the districts.

There are three major railway yards located at Azara, New Guwahati and Changsari. Transport Department has deputed one nodal officer at each location to coordinate with railway authorities for quick unloading and movement of goods being brought through railway rakes. Around 100 trucks each carrying essential commodities from Azara and New Guwahati railway yards and 70 trucks from Changsari railway yard have been transported to various parts of North East on Tuesday.

Assam State Transport Corporation (ASTC) has also been extending support to manage the pandemic in the state by providing 76 buses which are now operating in coordination with district administration, hospitals, police and municipal bodies. Out of these 76 buses, 20 are operating in Guwahati and facilitating the movement of health officials.

From March 24 to April 5, essential commodities received by North East Frontier Railways are 74 rakes of food grains, 6 rakes of salt, 13 rakes of sugar, 3 rakes of edible oil, 10 rakes of mixed food items, 1 rake of fodder, 8 rakes of fertilizer, 7 rakes of potato and other items.