Assam Minister for joint sector management

By Our Special Correspondent

GUWAHATI, JAN. 14. Veteran CPI leader and Assam Flood Control Minister, Mr. Promode Gogoi, on Thursday welcomed participation of the private sector in running sick State undertakings, even as he opposed the privatisation policy of the Centre.The Minister mentioned the Assam State Transport Corporation and the Assam State Electricity Board (ASEB) which had become ``unmanageable'' and said joint sector management for these two units was desirable.

Mr. Gogoi, briefing the media on the deliberations of his party's State Executive held here on January 11 and 12, said the party would organise Statewide dharnas on January 28 in support of its 10 demands which include the ``withdrawal of the anti-people economic policy of the Centre'' such as diesel price hike.

Asked about the State Government's move to lease out the Bongaigaon Thermal Power Station (BTPS), a unit of the ASEB, to Ogden, a U.S. multinational, ``on the latter's terms'', the Minister said when the Government could not provide the people something as essential as power, then the private sector should be allowed in.

Also, to meet the people's demand for consumer goods in the State, ``there is no alternative to developing the private sector'', Mr. Gogoi felt.

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Section  : Regional
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