The Assam government has decided to implement a ban on the serving and consumption of beef in public places, hotels, and restaurants, as announced by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday. The decision follows a cabinet meeting aimed at amending the current law to introduce stricter provisions on beef consumption.
Sarma stated that while the existing law on beef consumption is already robust, it does not prohibit beef consumption in restaurants, hotels, or during social and religious gatherings. “We have decided to strengthen the law to enforce a complete ban on beef consumption in public places across Assam,” he said during a press conference.
In addition to the beef ban, the Assam cabinet, which Sarma attended virtually from Delhi, also approved the expansion of the road linking Guwahati’s Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi Airport to the city. The road will be widened from four lanes to six lanes to accommodate increasing traffic.
During his meetings in Delhi, the Chief Minister also presented proposals for various major infrastructure projects to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, worth Rs 1 lakh crore. Among the proposed projects are the enhancement of the Bongaigaon Refinery and Petrochemical Limited’s capacity to five million tonnes, a Rs 10,000 crore expansion of the Namrup fertiliser plant, and the development of a Guwahati ring road.
Furthermore, Sarma revealed plans for a new expressway connecting Guwahati to Silchar via Meghalaya, which would reduce travel time from 12 hours to just five. The Rs 25,000 crore project is expected to significantly boost connectivity in the region.
In another update, the Chief Minister announced that a cabinet expansion would take place on December 7, with new ministers set to take oath.
