Free electricity will be provided to new oxygen generation units and restore non-functional oxygen plants, as decided by Assam Government.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma chaired the second Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, where they took the decision.

State Health Minister Keshab Mahanta informed that at the moment the state has sufficient oxygen to meet its requirements but there is possibility of crisis in future as the need for oxygen in hospitals are increasing.

Mahanta said,“So the Cabinet has decided that the state government would provide a 100 per cent free power supply to new oxygen plants in Assam. Likewise, cent per cent free power would be provided to revive closed oxygen plants”.

“In case of expansion of the existing plant, the new unit would be given free power. Besides, all existing oxygen plants would be given 20 per cent free power,” he said.

Mahanta informed that from January 1, 2021 the decision will come into effect and the financial implications would start from April 1, 2021.

In other major decisions, Devajit Saikia has been appointed as the new Advocate General of Assam by the Cabinet.

The Cabinet has decided to accord Cabinet status to the Chief Executive members of Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) and the Autonomous councils of Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao.

Cabinet spokesperson Pijush Hazarika said, “Another key decision taken by the Cabinet is that the nomenclature of the in-charge minister would be changed to ‘guardian minister’ who would take responsibility for all aspects in their respective districts”.