Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma visited the Somnath Temple in Gujarat to offer prayers. He recalled visiting the site before his state elections and welcomed current expansion plans. Sarma stated he is confident that, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the site will grow into a globally renowned destination.
Sarma also studied Gujarat’s SWAGAT Online system, a digital public grievance tool started in 2003. Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi briefed him on the three-tier process that covers village, taluka, and district levels. The state government claims the system boasts a resolution rate exceeding 90 per cent. Attendees included Assam Finance Minister, Gandhinagar MLA Alpesh Thakor, Additional Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Vikrant Pandey, and Officers on Special Duty Dhiraj Parekh and Rakesh Vyas.
On August 26, Sarma met with Union Minister for Power and Housing and Urban Affairs Manohar Lal Khattar in Gandhinagar. They debated Assam’s energy needs and power infrastructure. Sarma pushed for pro-consumer reforms to reach energy self-sufficiency. The pair talked about underground cabling for Guwahati to boost reliability and safety. They also reviewed natural gas pricing for local power plants.
Sarma brought up the Urban Challenge Fund during the session. He proposed creating spaces for healthcare, sports, and climate-resilient infrastructure. "I had returned to the temple to offer my obeisance to Baba Somnath," Sarma said of his visit to the shrine.
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