Dibrugarh: Assam Minister for Housing & Urban Affairs, Food, Public Distribution & Consumer Affairs and Cooperation, Kaushik Rai, reviewed key development and public service initiatives in Dibrugarh on Saturday, inspecting infrastructure projects, sanitation facilities, the Public Distribution System and preparations for paddy procurement.
During his district tour, Rai inspected the ongoing drain construction at Chaulkhowa and the Town Hall project under the Department of Housing and Urban Affairs. He directed officials to ensure timely completion of the projects while maintaining quality standards.
The drainage project from Banipur Convoy Road to the Sesa River is expected to help address artificial flooding and improve drainage management in Dibrugarh city.
Rai also reviewed municipal sanitation and waste-management infrastructure, including the Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) and Faecal Sludge Treatment Plant (FSTP).
At the MRF and FSTP, the Minister examined waste processing, material recovery and scientific sludge-treatment mechanisms. He instructed officials to improve operational efficiency, hygiene and environmental compliance.
Rai also visited a Fair Price Shop at Lahowal to assess the functioning of the Public Distribution System. He inspected the quality and availability of foodgrains and essential commodities and checked the digital weighing system.
The Minister directed fair-price shopkeepers to ensure that beneficiaries receive their entitled ration at affordable prices and without inconvenience.
He further inspected the Kheremia Gaon Panchayat Cooperative Society’s godown and assessed the availability of essential foodgrain stocks.
Officials and cooperative members were instructed to ensure adequate preparedness for the distribution of subsidised pulses and sugar from August 10, alongside the ongoing ‘Anna Sewa Din’ initiative.
Rai later visited the Tengakhat Paddy Procurement Centre to review preparations for the second crop cycle of Kharif Season 2026–27. He examined the procurement process, storage arrangements and operational preparedness and called for measures to ensure farmers can access the system without unnecessary delays.
Later, Rai chaired a joint review meeting at the Dibrugarh Deputy Commissioner’s Office involving the Housing & Urban Affairs, Food, Public Distribution & Consumer Affairs, and Cooperation departments.
The meeting covered urban infrastructure and civic projects, sanitation, implementation of ‘Anna Sewa Din’, preparedness for subsidised pulses and sugar distribution, functioning of cooperative godowns and availability of essential stocks.
Cabinet Minister Rameswar Teli, MLAs Prasanta Phukan and Chakradhar Gogoi, Dibrugarh Municipal Corporation Mayor Saikat Patra, District Commissioner Bikram Kairi, DDA Chairman Ashim Hazarika, FPD&CA Secretary Anusua Saikia, AFCSCL Managing Director Parijat Bhuyan, Director of Municipal Administration Tankeswar Das, Joint Secretary (Cooperation) Ashwini Doley, DMC Commissioner Shivani Jernagal and senior departmental officials were present during the review and inspections.