The Assam Legislative Assembly on Tuesday cleared six Bills, led by the Guwahati Satellite City Development Authority Bill, 2026, and debated a range of issues from drinking water supply and Anganwadi infrastructure to land rights, cybercrime and agricultural self‑sufficiency. Earlier in the day, Education Minister Ranoj Pegu introduced the Assam State Higher Education Council Bill, 2026.
The House passed the Guwahati Satellite City Development Authority Bill after a prolonged debate over the proposed body’s composition, rehabilitation of affected families and employment prospects. Opposition members sought greater local representation in the authority, proposing inclusion of MLAs from constituencies within the satellite city’s limits, the Guwahati Mayor and chairpersons of the two Zila Parishads. The government accepted suggestions on rehabilitation and compensation but rejected making local MLAs permanent members of the authority.
Replying to the debate, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said it would be premature to fix the authority’s final composition because the satellite city’s full extent has not yet been determined. “At present, the identified area largely falls within my own Jalukbari constituency, which is why no other MLA has been mentioned in the Bill. As the satellite city expands and more constituencies are brought under its jurisdiction, the government can nominate the concerned MLAs accordingly,” Sarma said. He added that the satellite city would evolve as an economic hub rather than immediately generate jobs, noting plans to earmark nearly 100 bighas for healthcare, logistics, government offices and similar institutions that should create employment as they establish operations.
Alongside the Satellite City Bill, the Assembly approved the Assam Tourism Development and Registration (Amendment) Bill, 2026; the Assam Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Facilitation, Establishment and Operation Bill, 2026; the Assam Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2026; the Assam Ease of Doing Business (Amendment) Bill, 2026; and the Assam State Legislators Members Removal and Disqualification (Amendment) Bill, 2026.
The implementation of the Jal Jeevan Mission drew scrutiny after Khumtai BJP MLA Mrinal Saikia said many households lost reliable piped water after switching from tube wells. Saikia cited records showing 212 schemes marked complete and 39 in progress in his constituency. Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Krishnendu Paul said 251 schemes were sanctioned there, 209 completed and 191 functional, attributing some failures to damaged pipelines during road work and temporary power cuts, and promised to provide a full list for verification.
Questions were raised about Anganwadi infrastructure after Congress MLA Nurul Huda noted data collection on the condition of 62,142 centres is still underway. Minister Pijush Hazarika said conditions change and must be updated continuously, adding that nearly 10,000 centres were upgraded last year and another 10,000–15,000 Adarsh Anganwadi centres are planned.
The House also took up land pattas for indigenous Scheduled Caste families on grazing and forest lands after BJP MLA Chakradhar Gogoi urged legal titles for long‑resident families. Hazarika said current guidelines mainly cover forest dwellers and tribal communities but families continuously resident for over 75 years could be considered subject to village‑head certification and existing norms. Congress MLA Asif Mohammad Nazar urged tougher action on repeat cyber offenders; Hazarika said police will intensify enforcement and directed steps to strengthen policing in Lahorighat. On food self‑reliance, Congress MLA Abdur Rahim Ahmed called for greater investment in poultry, fisheries and food processing; Animal Husbandry Minister Nilima Devi said schemes are underway to expand poultry and fisheries to reduce dependence on imports.
