Only 24% of farmland irrigated: Cong slams Assam Govt’s silence on drought, demands urgent action

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJuly 15, 2025

Leader of the Opposition in the Assam Legislative Assembly, Debabrata Saikia, has sharply criticized the state government for its silence and inaction amid growing concerns over a drought-like situation gripping large parts of Assam.

In a strongly worded statement on Tuesday, Saikia expressed alarm at the deficit rainfall across several districts and accused the government of turning a blind eye to the distress of farmers. “Farmers have already raised concerns, and the media is flooded with reports of drying fields. Yet, the government continues to remain silent,” he said.

Citing rainfall data, Saikia pointed out that Golaghat has received 15% less rainfall, Kamrup 61%, Kokrajhar 49%, Nalbari 73%, and Tamulpur 68% less than normal. “The pattern is similar across most districts, and the demand for water in agricultural fields is urgent and widespread,” he said.

Saikia questioned the effectiveness of the state’s Irrigation Department, pointing to government data from 2024 that revealed only 24.28% of Assam’s agricultural land is under irrigation. He reminded that the BJP’s Vision Document (2016–2025) promised irrigation coverage for all cultivable land — a promise that now seems far from reality with less than two years left.

“This government blames weather for everything, but the bigger question is — why, even with technological advancement and crores in budget allocation, do our farmers still depend entirely on rain?” he asked. “Is the irrigation department just announcing schemes and siphoning off funds?”

The Congress leader also raised serious allegations of corruption and mismanagement, stating that over ₹50,000 crore has been allocated in the last nine years under various schemes such as PMKSY, AIBP, SOPD, NABARD RIDF, and AreaSP, yet very little impact is seen on the ground. He cited CAG reports and other official data to support his claim of systemic negligence and misuse of funds.

Saikia claimed that irrigation department buildings are abandoned, equipment lies broken, and many installations are overgrown with vegetation — signs of administrative apathy and poor upkeep.

He demanded an immediate investigation into the department’s functioning and called on Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma to convene a special cabinet meeting to assess the emerging drought-like conditions and announce concrete relief measures.

“This government seems more interested in creating vote-bank beneficiaries than protecting Assam’s farmers. Are they paving the way for corporate takeover of agriculture by neglecting our own?” Saikia asked, warning of worsening rural distress unless urgent steps are taken.