Assam's vision is to be gateway to Southeast Asia: Sarbananda Sonowal

Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal recently completed his first year as the first BJP chief minister of the state. He spoke to Pratigyan Das about the strategic significance of the newly inaugurated Dhola-Sadiya bridge, his government's eviction drive against encroachers on religious and ecological lands and building greater connectivity with Southeast Asia.

What is your response to China asking India to be “cautious“ and to exercise “restraint“ after the recent inauguration of India's longest bridge over the Brahmaputra that has drastically reduced the distance and travel time between Assam and Arunachal Pradesh?
The 9.15 km Dhola-Sadiya bridge will put the development of the northeastern part of the country on a higher growth trajectory. The bridge will ensure seamless transportation between Assam and Arunachal Pradesh and bring people of both the states emotionally , culturally and geographically closer.

The bridge is also a way of exploiting and promoting the mystic, snow-clad beauties of Roing and Mayodia, the two tourist attractions in Arunachal Pradesh.

What is your government's take on the environment ministry's recent notification that effectively bans sale of cattle for slaughter?
The state government is examining all the provisions of the new law exhaustively.

You have publicly defended Major Nitin Leetul Gogoi over the human shield controversy in Kashmir. Why?
Major Nitin Leetul Gogoi who hails from Assam's fertiliser town Namrup has been rendering his duties in Kashmir as an Indian army officer. His action of tying a man to a jeep as a shield against stone-pelters led to the timely rescue of several polling officials and others. We hail Major Gogoi's timely action and his astute fight against militancy which is a threat to the lives of the common men of our country.

What is your government's view on the proposed citizenship amendment bill? How is the state addressing the refugee and infiltration issue?
Implementing the Assam Accord in its letter and spirit is a commitment of our government. We are according top priority to providing constitutional, legislative, social, cultural and economic safeguards as per Clause 6 of Assam Accord to the indigenous people of Assam.

We are also committed to protecting the Xatra (Vaishnavite monastries) lands and other religious, cultural and ecological lands from infiltrators. After coming to power our government initiated action against illegal encroach ment, subsequently huge chunks of land have been freed from the illegal encroachers. On the citizenship issue, we will be guided by our party's Vision Document.

What do you think are the three major achievements of your government in your first year?
Our government has been working resolutely to wipe out corruption. We have adopted zero-tolerance against corruption and we have already nailed several corruption schemes and corrupt officials, arrested them. Due investigation is going on against them.

We have also achieved remarkable success in recovering a huge chunk of land from encroachers. A series of eviction drives were carried out to free the land. For instance, in Kaziranga National Park illegal settlers were evicted from the forest land. More over, our government has over, our government has been working resolutely to maintain and strengthen the age-old bonhomie among people belonging to different caste, creed, ethnicities and religious back ground.

What is your government doing to attract investment?
Our long term strategy is to develop conducive infrastructure, including air connectivity to Asean countries, access to sea ports through Brahmaputra and opening of international trade routes connecting Myanmar, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China and other countries.

We plan to connect the state through a trans-Asian highway and trans-Asian railway network. We are also preparing to build an industrial corridor in Assam and create a high-tech industrial city with plug-and-play facilities for setting up new industries. This will be all world class infrastructure. So far as mediumand short-term strategy is concerned, we will improve the existing infrastructure, simplify the procedures, amend rules and laws to build business and create an enabling environment of ease-of-doing business in the state.

We also plan to hold a Global Investment Summit in November this year to start an industrial revolution in the state.

What are the major challenges in your roadmap for the next four years?

Assam is continually developing much-needed infrastructure towards its vision of being a gateway to Southeast Asia.

Brahmaputra express highway would be soon built on both sides of the river.The government has also undertaken a project for dredging the entire stretch of the river Brahmaputra from Sadiya to Bay of Bengal. This ambitious project will allow big ships to navigate and will open sea route access for Assam. This initiative to develop waterways up to Chittagong Port, Bangladesh, will boost industries and commerce in Assam.