Guwahati : Emphasising the need to strengthen urban governance amid rapid urbanisation, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday handed over appointment letters to 43 Urban Technical Officers under the Housing and Urban Affairs Department.

The appointment ceremony was held at Lok Sewa Bhawan in Guwahati. With these recruitments, the total number of jobs provided by the present Assam government has reached 1,42,029, reinforcing its focus on transparent and merit-based appointments.

Of the newly recruited officers, 16 are Mechanical Engineers, 11 Electrical Engineers, eight Public Health Engineers, six Environmental Engineers and two Civil Engineers.

Addressing the gathering, Sarma recalled a time when urban local bodies in Assam faced an acute shortage of technical manpower. “Earlier, entire urban administrations were being managed with only one or two junior-level engineers,” he said, noting that such constraints had limited effective urban management.

Highlighting Assam’s transition from a predominantly rural state to one with a growing urban footprint, the Chief Minister said the state earlier had only one municipal corporation, which has now increased to three, along with several newly declared urban areas.

This expansion, he said, has brought complex challenges related to solid waste management, drainage, housing, fire safety and water supply. Referring to the state’s terrain, he added that towns located in hilly areas face additional challenges such as water scarcity and artificial flooding.

Sarma said financial management in urban bodies has also become more demanding. While municipal administrations earlier depended largely on government grants, the Centre now emphasises financial self-reliance. “Streamlining property tax and related matters has therefore become a major responsibility,” he said.

He highlighted reforms such as GIS-based property mapping, digital self-assessment and transparent accounting, which have led to an increase of over 30 per cent in municipal revenues. Measures like QR code-based payments, SMS alerts and tax collection through self-help groups have further improved transparency.

“A fully digital administrative system has also been established at the Directorate level,” Sarma said, adding that efforts are underway to deliver citizen services through a Unified Municipal Portal. He also referred to the UPYOG double-entry accrual accounting system, which has strengthened financial transparency across urban local bodies.

Recent steps to reinforce urban administration include the provincialisation of services of 664 municipal employees and the appointment of 96 Executive Officers, 100 Financial Management Officers and 96 Urban Technical Officers (Civil).

Urging the newly appointed engineers to view themselves as partners in local governance, Sarma reminded them that urban local bodies constitute the third tier of governance under the Constitution and are accountable to both the state government and the municipalities. Officers, he said, should work in a manner that municipal bodies regard them “as assets rather than burdens”.

Stressing the importance of public trust, the Chief Minister noted that citizens often approach municipal bodies before the state administration to seek redressal of grievances. He cautioned against misuse of authority, recalling how the implementation of building by-laws in Guwahati over decades had damaged the city’s natural drainage system. Officers, he said, must interpret rules in the public interest, as both lapses and good work are quickly noticed.

Encouraging the officers to maintain transparency throughout their careers, Sarma acknowledged that working in urban local bodies can be challenging but said transforming cities into better and more liveable spaces would bring lasting professional satisfaction.

Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Jayanta Mallabaruah, Guwahati Mayor Mrigen Sarania, Dibrugarh Mayor Saikat Patra, Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority Chairman Narayan Deka and other dignitaries were present at the programme.