Assam plans major project to reclaim land lost to Brahmaputra's changing course

Guwahati: The Assam Government is considering a major project to reclaim land made available due to changes in the course of the Brahmaputra River.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma visited Kayantol in Hajo, Kamrup district, and Sonka in Mayong, Morigaon district to assess the feasibility of the proposed project on the ground.

Sarma first arrived at Kayantol and discussed various aspects of the proposed project for the area with departmental ministers and senior officials. Following this, he held a similar discussion in Sonka, Mayong.


Speaking on his thoughts about the project, the Chief Minister said that over the years, vast chunks of land in Assam were lost to erosion by the Brahmaputra, resulting in reduction of arable land in the state.

On the other hand, as the river changed its course over time, substantial land emerged from the riverbed. Pointing out that a significant amount of land has been freed in this manner in Dhemaji district, he stated that the State Government is considering a scientific study-based project to reclaim land across various locations that was lost to erosion earlier and has now emerged as high-lying ground from the riverbed.

Land thus reclaimed can be made suitable for agriculture, setting up industries, or human settlement. Regarding the proposed project in Kamrup district’s Kayantol, the Chief Minister stated that the State Government is considering reclaiming over 2,000 bighas of land near Hajo's Laheshwari Temple up to Srihati, which was once submerged in the Brahmaputra.

Meanwhile, a plan has been drawn to reclaim approximately 1,000 bighas of land from Kachashila to Narasingha Hill in the Sonka area. Moreover, another project proposal aims to reclaim about 1,500 bighas of land from Narasingha Hill to Ganesh Hill. A third project of a similar nature is also being planned in the area. Through these projects, around 4,000 to 5,000 bighas of land can be reclaimed, the Chief Minister informed.

He further shared that District Commissioners across various districts in the state have identified several such locations. Therefore, land reclamation will be possible only through the execution of a large-scale project. Stating that the State Government will make decisions regarding such projects only after comprehensive scientific studies, he added that implementing this initiative will also require substantial funding.

According to the state government around 8000 hectares of land is being washed away by river Brahmaputra every year in the State. Since 1954, land area of 4260 Sq km has been lost due to erosion.

According to the official estimate, from 1954 to 2003 the state has lost 4, 00,000 hectares of land. Out of which 1, 20, 786 were eroded from 1954 to 1969. The average rate of erosion is 8,015 hectares every year. The fury of erosion covers 7 percent of the plain districts of the state.