Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal planning law to crack down on corrupt officials

GUWAHATI: Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal has asked the chief secretary to prepare modalities for a legislation which will assess the property of the Ministers, MLAs, government officers -both working and retired, and former ministers. "The new legislation is a move to weed out corrupt practices and will recommend stringent action like confiscation of property if it is disproportionate to the known sources of income," he said.

Sonowal also directed that a system should be put in place which will make it must for all grade-I and grade-II officers of the state government to submit their property return (immovable) within December 31. Officers of public sector undertakings and autonomous bodies will also come in this ambit.

All grade-I and grade-II officers have to submit their property return up to June 30 by August 31, 2016.

According to a government statement, officers failed to comply with the new rules will invite stringent action like denial of timely promotion, bank loan, passport, etc. Sonowal on Sunday took stock of the pro gress of construction work of the country's longest bridge between Dhola and Sadiya in Upper Assam and expressed hope that the bridge can be commissioned by April 2017.

Sonowal, who is on a two-day tour to Upper Assam,met senior officials of the Navayuga Engineering Company Ltd which is constructing the 9.15-km bridge and asked them to give final touches to the bridge construction.