A central library is slated to come up near Srimanta Sankaradeva Kalakshetra in Guwahati and (below) cultural affairs minister Bharat Ch. Narah addresses a news meet in Guwahati on Saturday. Picture by Eastern Projections

Guwahati, Nov. 13: Book lovers of the state will soon have a reason to rejoice, with Dispur planning to set up a state central library in the city.

“We have already procured a 5-bigha plot near Srimanta Sankaradeva Kalakshetra to build the library. The foundation stone of the said library will be laid by chief minister Tarun Gogoi in December,” cultural affairs minister Bharat Chandra Narah said here today, adding that Rs 35 crore has already been sanctioned for the project.

The state central library is the apex library of a state and can play a crucial role in several activities such as promotion of literacy, inculcating the reading habit among people, among others.

“We only have a district library here, but with the establishment of a state central library we hope to fulfil the demands of the reading public of the state,” said the minister.

The proposed library is designed to meet the requirements of the readers and is equipped with all modern facilities such as online access to books (digital library) and others.

The minister said work on the Siu-Ka-Pha Samanway Kshetra — a multipurpose cultural project — in Jorhat would also begin shortly. “The chief minister will lay the foundation stone of the Siu Ka-Pha Samanway Kshetra on December 2. This Kshetra will be built at par with the best national and international infrastructure, such as Victoria Memorial in Calcutta, Akshardham in Delhi and others,” said Narah.

The minister also announced the institution of two new awards — Lachit Borphukan Award and Jananeta Bhimbor Deori Award.

Moreover, the Gopinath Bordoloi Award for the years 2005, 2006 and 2007 will also be given, said the minister. “The Gopinath Bordoloi Award, 2005 will be given to prominent historian Nirod Baruah while Niketu Iralu, a social worker from Nagaland, will be honoured with the award for the year 2006. The award for the year 2007 will be given to eminent social worker and Gandhian, Shakuntala Chaudhury,” Narah added.

Besides these, the Siu-Ka-Pha award 2009 will be given to Puspa Gogoi, founder secretary of Purbanchal Tai Sahitya Sabha.