Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma declared on Sunday a significant move to abolish ‘VIP culture’ by requiring ministers and government officials to pay for their own electricity usage. Starting from July 1, 2024, all public servants, including the Chief Minister and the Chief Secretary, will be responsible for their electricity bills, a decision shared by the CM on X, formerly known as Twitter.
In his post, Sarma stated, “We are ending the VIP Culture rule of paying electricity bills of Government officials using taxpayer money. Myself and the Chief Secretary will set an example and start paying our power bills from July 1 onwards.”
The CM also introduced a new energy conservation initiative which will automatically disconnect electricity at government offices at 8 PM, excluding the CM Secretariat, Home, and Finance Departments. This program aims to cut down on electricity consumption and is already in effect in 8,000 government offices, schools, and institutions across Assam.
To further the state’s commitment to renewable energy, Sarma announced the Janata Bhawan Solar Project during a ceremony at the state Secretariat Complex. This project involves installing a 2.5-MW capacity grid-connected solar PV system on rooftops and ground surfaces, expected to generate an average of 300,000 units of electricity monthly. With an investment of Rs 12.56 crore, the project is anticipated to break even within four years, saving about Rs 30 lakh per month.
With this initiative, the Assam Secretariat Complex becomes the first civil secretariat in India to rely entirely on solar-generated electricity for daily consumption.
