Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi has claimed that overall law and order situation in the State had been improving. The surrender of the militants of various outfits in a growing number has been an indicator to this, he said. However, in the same breath, he said that there was no scope for the Government to be complacent, as, there was a ‘clear understanding between ULFA and the jehadi groups’ to step up violent activities.

To substantiate his claim that law and order situation has improved in the State, he said that since the halt to the peace process between the Government and ULFA, 655 cadres of the militant outfits had surrendered to the authorities. But 44 of the militants surrendered when the peace process was on.

Mr. Gogoi said that it was due to the resentment among the rank and file of the militant outfits and also due to the realisation dawning on them that for the greater interest of the State they should join the mainstream of the society, the number of surrenderers had been growing.

The State Government is preparing a proposal worth over Rs 3,000 crore for development of Guwahati city under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewable Mission (JNNURM), said the Chief Minister.

It has already submitted a proposal worth Rs 1,100 crore to the Central Government for the purpose of strengthening the drinking water project of the city. The Central Government has allocated about Rs 500 crore so far under the mission and this entitlement has been made on the basis of population.

But the State Government is insisting upon the allocation of Rs 1,100 crore for strengthening the drinking water project of the city. Besides, it is also trying to impress upon the Central Government of the need to make an allocation of Rs 500 crore for the drainage and sewerage network of the city, he said.

The Prime Minister, in response to the above requests made by the State Government, has asked the latter to explore the probabilities of mobilising international funding agencies for the purpose, said the Chief Minister.

On top of these, the Central Government is going for setting up a good school in each of the development blocks of the State, he apprised.

He also told the media persons that the Central Government had agreed to improve road link of the NE states with the South East Asian countries. In Assam, the National Highway Authority (NHAI) has now proposed to enhance its investment to Rs 1,200 crore for the purpose. For the current year, it has earmarked an amount of Rs 280 crore, said the Chief Minister.

The State Government is very serious about the outbreak of diarrhoea in epidemic form in several parts of the State. The issue, particularly the issue of occurrence of the disease in the sick tea estates, has been taken up with the Prime Minister, said the Chief Minister.

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