Assam Halts Satellite Township Survey Near Tata Semiconductor Project Following Tribal Protests

Guwahati: The Assam government officially halted an ongoing land survey for a proposed satellite township in the Morigaon district on May 18. This decision follows significant protests led by the Tiwa and Bodo community groups, who voiced strong opposition to the project. An official order issued by Morigaon District Commissioner Anamika Tewari confirmed that the survey, which was being conducted in the villages of Sindhisar, Naldhara, and Bihita, has been canceled with immediate effect.

The administrative survey was intended to facilitate the development of a satellite township and a relocation and rehabilitation plan near the upcoming Tata Electronics Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Test (OSAT) facility. Tribal residents expressed deep concerns regarding potential displacement from their homes within the protected Gobha tribal belt. In response to these fears, the All Tiwa Students' Union and other regional organizations organized protest rallies over three days, explicitly demanding that the entire project be canceled rather than simply paused.