Irrigation
The main source of the economy of Assam is agriculture. Thus in order to improve the economic condition of the State, it is necessary to increase the agricultural output. This can be done if only water along with other inputs is supplied to the agricultural fields just in time.
However, let alone other inputs, even water, which is abundantly available in the numerous river of the region, has not been supplied to the fields during the dry season. This lack of irrigation facilities has been adversely affecting the agriculture of the region. It was found that in 2014-15, only 2.19 lakh hectares of agricultural land out of 39..9 hectares of the State were under irrigation.
During 2006-07 and subsequent years, the State irrigation department undertook various irrigation schemes in the State under the Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP) founded by the Government of India. At present, there are four AIBP founded ongoing major/medium irrigation projects (Dhansiri, Champawati, Borolia and Buri-Dihing) and all are in different stages of progress.
Under AIBP, a total of 778 Minor Irrigation Schemes was taken up from 2010-11 to achieve an irrigation potential of 3.69.567 hectares. Up to March 2015, 493 minor irrigation schemes have been completed creating potential of 2,03,456 hectares including restoration/revival of lost potential.
Irrigation Statistics
|
Gross
Irrigated Area (2015-16) |
2,29,289 Ha |
|
Net
Irrigated Area (2015-16) |
1,91,568 Ha |
|
Irrigation
Potential Created (2015-16) |
7,82,645 Ha |
|
Target and
Achievement for creation of additional irrigation potential during 2015-16 |
|
|
·
Target for 2015-16 |
1,40,513 Ha |
|
·
Achievement During 2015-16 |
24,935 Ha |
Power
It is hard to believe that the North-East which has nearly 40 per cent of the country's total hydel power potential is passing through years of power famine. Assam, like her sister States in the region, woefully lag behind the rest of the country in terms of power generation as well as per capita consumption.
The responsibility of coordinated development of generation, transmission and distribution of power in the State rests with the Assam State Electricity Board (ASEB). Constituted in 1958, the board was bifurcated in 1975, between the State of Assam and Meghalaya.
ASEB was reconstituted in 2004 into five companies as per Company Act 1956. The five companies are:
- Assam Electricity Grid Corporation Limited (AEGCL)
- Assam Power Generation Corporation Limited (APGCL)
- Lower Assam Electricity Distribution Company Limited (LAEDCL)
- Central Assam Electricity Distribution Company Limited (CAEDCL)
- Upper Assam Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UAEDCL)
Then on 23rd March 2009, the three electricity distribution company - UAEDCL, CAEDCL and LAEDCL - were merged into one company. The company was named Assam Power Distribution Company Limited (APDCL). As of now, the ASEB has three successor companies - AEGCL, APGCL and APDCL.
Assam Power Generation Corporation Limited (APGCL), is responsible for the generation, operation and maintenance of power station in the State of Assam with a total operational capacity of 339. MW.
Presently, APGCL is having two thermal power station, namely, Lakwa Thermal Power Station (120 MW) and Namrup Thermal Power Station (119.5 MW) and one hydel power plant - Karbi Langpi Hydro Electric Project (100 MW).
The peak demand for Electricity in Assam is around 1300 MW. Since the own generation is only around 340 MW, so the rest is arranged by mutual agreement with other generating agencies.
Ongoing Power Projects
|
POWER
PROJECT |
INSTALLED
CAPACITY (MW) |
|
Lakwa
Waste Heat Recovery Project |
37.2 |
|
Namrup
Replacement Power Project |
100.0 |
|
Lungnit
Small Hydro Electric (SHE) Project |
6.0 |
|
Myntraiang
Small Hydro Electric (SHE) Project |
9.0 |
Rural Electrification
Like most of the states of the country, Assam is also lagging behind in respect of rural household electrification. In Assam, out of a total of 25,425 inhabited villages (as per the 2011 census), 22,303 villages have been electrified till the end of March 2015.
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