Housing and Urban Affairs (DoHUA) Minister Jayanta Malla Baruah recently addressed pressing issues faced by Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) in Assam during a meeting with representatives from Municipal Corporations and Municipal Boards. The meeting focused on reflecting the commitment to inclusive dialogue and collaborative urban governance with Chairmen, Vice-Chairmen, Mayors, Deputy Mayors, and Executive Officers.
“Today, we discussed the challenges faced by our Municipalities and the state policies regarding International Urban Cooperation (IUC) and revenue collection. The representatives shared valuable suggestions, and we plan to incorporate their inputs into our plans to improve urban administration,” Jayanta Malla Baruah told Business North East (BNE) while highlighting the agenda.
While addressing the financial aspects such as budget allocation and financial management, Minister Jayanta Malla Baruah revealed that the funds received from the 15th Finance Commission Fund serve as the major funding source for ULBs, allocated based on population patterns.
“In addition to the funds allocated by the 15th Finance Commission, we provide support from the state budget and devolution funds. These funds are directly given to municipalities, which execute their plans accordingly,” Jayanta Malla Baruah added.
“Efficient fund utilization is crucial. Municipalities need to align their projects with available resources while planning for sustainable urban development,” Minister Jayanta Malla Baruah added during the interview.
The Department is actively pursuing urban projects to improve infrastructure and enhance city facilities. The minister further highlighted notable initiatives such as constructing town halls in various cities. He said the Department invited private investments, particularly in key cities like Guwahati, Jorhat, Sivasagar, Dibrugarh and Tinsukia, to boost urban growth.
“We are giving many facilities to investors and organizing Advantage Assam 2.0 on February 25th. This summit will feature a dedicated session on real estate investment, and we are optimistic that top real estate developers will show interest in investing in Assam,” the minister stated.
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He also underlined that urbanization would be key to Assam's future. He pointed out that the present urban population of the state stands at around 17-18 per cent, and projects indicate it will rise to around 40 per cent by 2047. "Urbanization is a continuous process. Our focus is on providing better facilities and planning for a better quality of life for urban residents," he said.
Emphasizing the transformative role of urban development in Assam’s progress, Jayanta Malla Baruah said, "Urban facilities and infrastructure are vital for economic growth and better living standards. Our goal is to establish thriving urban areas that contribute to Assam’s development.”
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