Industrial development gains momentum in Sonitpur.CM inaugurates major projects at Jamugurihat.

Dalim Phukan.

Hills Live News,Guwahati, October 8: Assam Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday inaugurated a series of major projects aimed at accelerating rural economic development and industrialisation in Sonitpur district.
The Chief Minister inaugurated a dairy processing project at the Kanyaka Marketing Complex at Shantipur, Jamugurihat, constructed under the Chief Minister’s Samagra Gramya Unnayan Yojana. He also formally launched a tile manufacturing unit of Allembai Ceramics Private Limited at Dighali Chapori under Naduar constituency.
Addressing a public meeting on the occasion, Dr Sarma said the tile manufacturing project, described as Eastern India’s first glazed vitrified tile manufacturing project, has been established through a joint venture between the Lohiya Group and the Vermora Group. The project involves an investment of around Rs 250 crore on 100 bighas of land and uses China clay sourced from the Karbi Hills.
The Chief Minister said the industrial unit would provide direct employment to around 325 youths and indirect employment to more than 1,000 people. He expressed hope that with appropriate training for local youths and the establishment of additional tile manufacturing units, Dighali Chapori could develop into a major tile manufacturing hub.
Dr Sarma said Assam’s agricultural and mineral resources had traditionally been transported outside the State for industrial use, but the situation was now changing. He cited the establishment of the tile factory using Assam’s own China clay as an example of value addition within the State.
Speaking about the Kanyaka dairy project, he said the 20,000-litre milk chilling and processing facility, established with financial assistance from the State government and the efforts of Kanyaka, would be developed jointly with Bihar’s COMFED, popularly known as Sudha. The project, he said, would help increase the income of dairy farmers and contribute towards making Assam self-reliant in milk production.
On industrial land, the Chief Minister said the State government had reclaimed 1.5 lakh bighas of land from encroachment during the past five years. At Dighali Chapori, out of around 7,000 bighas of land, 2,315 bighas have already been transferred to the Industries Department, while the process of transferring another 3,000 bighas is underway. Several small, medium and large industries are proposed to be established there.
Dr Sarma also highlighted major connectivity projects, including four-laning of the Guwahati-Gohpur, Baihata Chariali-Mission Chariali and Dhalpur-Lakhimpur-Bogibeel corridors. He said work on the Gohpur-Numaligarh tunnel beneath the Brahmaputra would commence soon, which would strengthen connectivity and help transform Tezpur, Choukighat and Naduar into an important industrial hub.
On employment generation, the Chief Minister said the government had provided 1.60 lakh government jobs during its previous term and would provide another two lakh government jobs over the next five years. However, he stressed that unemployment could not be addressed through government employment alone and that agricultural and industrial development was equally necessary.
He said the government had introduced mechanisms for procurement of agricultural produce such as paddy and mustard. He also highlighted the Chief Minister’s Atmanirbhar Asom Abhiyan and the Mukhyamantri Mahila Udyamita Abhiyan as initiatives aimed at creating employment and promoting entrepreneurship.
Dr Sarma said Farm Box Bio Private Limited would establish a precision fermentation project at Dighali Chapori to manufacture chemicals required by Numaligarh Refinery and produce ethanol from bamboo. He said three major industries would gradually come up in the area and could eventually generate employment for 15,000 to 20,000 youths.
According to the Chief Minister, Assam has attracted investments of Rs 2.86 lakh crore in the hydrocarbon and petrochemical sector, Rs 1 lakh crore in power, Rs 55,000 crore in infrastructure, Rs 53,000 crore in mining and minerals, Rs 44,000 crore in electronics and IT, and Rs 26,799 crore in manufacturing during the past five years. Once completed, these projects are expected to create employment opportunities for around two lakh youths.
He said Rs 2 lakh each had already been provided to one lakh youths under the Chief Minister’s Atmanirbhar Asom Abhiyan, while another four lakh youths would receive similar assistance over the next five years.
The Chief Minister also distributed land pattas to 52 Self-Help Groups of Dighali Chapori. He said the 520 young members associated with these groups would receive Rs 2 lakh each in phases under the Atmanirbhar Asom Abhiyan.
Dr Sarma further announced plans to establish exclusive marketplaces for women entrepreneurs at central locations across Assam under the Mukhyamantri Mahila Udyamita Abhiyan. He said the government was also considering initiatives to establish dairy cooperatives and provide them with financial assistance.
Describing the industrial development at Dighali Chapori as an example of protecting Assam’s “jati, mati aru bheti” while ushering in a new industrial era, the Chief Minister thanked the people of the area, including MLA Padma Hazarika, for their efforts in reclaiming nearly 7,000 bighas of land. He assured that he would work with Padma Hazarika to take Naduar constituency towards a new phase of development.
Later, Dr Sarma attended another programme at the Kanyaka Multipurpose Project at Jamugurihat, where he distributed municipal vehicles and inaugurated a swimming pool and a marriage hall. The facilities are expected to provide recreational and sports opportunities for local youths, an affordable venue for social functions and improved sanitation services for residents.
The Chief Minister also inspected the cattle shed and buffalo shed at the Kanyaka Project site.
Minister for Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Nilima Devi, MP Ranjit Dutta, MLAs Padma Hazarika, Prithviraj Rabha, Pallab Lochan Das, Krishnakamal Tanti and Riturbaran Sarma, besides industrialist Kailash Lohia and several other dignitaries, were present at the programmes.
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