Assam declares drought-like situation in five districts, clears infrastructure, welfare push ahead of monsoon crisis

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJuly 18, 2025

Facing a steep monsoon shortfall, the Assam Cabinet on Friday approved the declaration of a drought-like situation in five Western Assam districts—Kokrajhar, Barpeta, Dhubri, Baksa, and Bongaigaon—where rainfall has fallen 40 per cent below normal.

The move, based on assessments from the Indian Meteorological Department and the Central Ground Water Commission, will pave the way for relief measures targeting affected farmers. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the revenue department would issue the official notification shortly.

“Once notified, we can extend financial and other support to farmers,” Sarma said, adding that continued dry conditions through July and August could cause a sharp drop in paddy production. Farmers covered under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana will be eligible for compensation, and the state will begin verifying the number of such beneficiaries.

While rainfall has been normal in Charaideo, Sivasagar, and Jorhat, the Chief Minister noted that Dibrugarh and Tinsukia are also seeing deficits.

Alongside the drought declaration, the Cabinet cleared several major policy decisions and development projects amounting to over Rs 700 crore.

In a significant regulatory shift aimed at boosting energy projects, the Cabinet approved the exemption of hydrocarbon exploration activities from the Assam Regulation of Reclassification and Reclassification cum Transfer of Lands Act, 2015. This will allow public and private sector entities such as OIL and ONGC to directly purchase or lease land from private owners through negotiated settlements. A new online portal will be created to streamline land reclassification and payment of required premiums.

Another major decision was the approval of a Rs 357.28 crore project to expand and modernise infrastructure at Assam Medical College and Hospital (AMCH) in Dibrugarh. The plan includes building quarters for faculty, nursing and staff residences, student hostels, a dining facility, and a community hall across 85,509 square metres.

The Cabinet also gave its nod to set up a National University for Disability Studies. For this, the state will transfer 150 bighas of land in Chhaygaon Revenue Circle to the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, along with a waiver of Rs 8.63 crore in land premium charges.

Further, under Mission Basundhara 3.0, the Cabinet approved digitalised land allotments for non-individual juridical entities. In a separate move, 12 individuals, including Dinesh Buragohain, were granted land settlements in North Lakhimpur with the waiver of settlement premiums.

To commemorate 200 years of Assam Tea, the Cabinet sanctioned Rs 342 crore for a direct benefit scheme—Mukhya Mantri Eti Koli Duti Paat—aimed at tea garden workers. Around seven lakh eligible workers will each receive a one-time payment of Rs 5,000 directly into Aadhaar-linked bank accounts.

On the healthcare front, employees of Assam’s power corporations and Adarsh Vidyalayas will now have the option to join the Ayushman Asom-Mukhya Mantri Lok Sevak Arogya Yojana. Enrolled employees will be reimbursed from the month of registration, with cashless treatment benefits available after one year.

Under the state’s Advantage Assam 2.0 investment initiative, the Cabinet also approved long-term land leases to promote private sector investment in health and hospitality. Global Health Ltd. will receive 3.5 acres for a hospital project, Lineage Healthcare Ltd. will get 1 acre for a women’s and children’s healthcare facility, and RJ Corp Ltd. will be allotted 1.75 acres for a hotel project. Additional policy incentives under the state’s industrial framework will be extended to these projects.