Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Guwahati: Assam Agriculture and Irrigation Minister Pijush Hazarika announced a Rs 70-crore canal project for Tamulpur this Wednesday. The project draws water from the Pagladia River. It will irrigate 1,800 hectares of farmland. Plans include a mini-reservoir, an aqueduct, and upgrades to an existing sluice gate. Hazarika toured the region alongside Cabinet Minister and local MLA Biswajit Daimary to review irrigation infrastructure.
The minister aims to expand local irrigation coverage to 8,000 hectares. This boost should allow farmers to adopt triple-cropping. Hazarika also visited sites at Hatiduba on the Darranga River, the Kalanadi River scheme, the Borolia River canal system, and the Bornodi River project at Bogamati. He ordered engineers to fix the Hatiduba infrastructure and suggested tapping high-altitude water sources from Bhutan to benefit the entire district.
Hazarika pivoted to commercial farming during a stop at Daimalu Basumatary’s farm in Sesapani. Basumatary grows dragon fruit and arecanut on 11 bighas of land. He nets Rs 5 lakh annually. Hazarika noted, "Basumatary has cultivated dragon fruit on five bighas and arecanut on six bighas, generating an annual income of around Rs 5 lakh, with the potential to increase his earnings to Rs 15 lakh within five years." The minister urged youth to pursue agriculture for independence. The state government will provide support for these ventures. Hazarika concluded his visit by offering condolences at the home of late BTC Assembly Deputy Speaker Bijit Gwra Narzary.
Updated at 3rd September 2026 at 2:00am
The tour took place on Wednesday, September 2. During the visit, Hazarika specifically identified Manas Chowki in Subankhata as the site for the new canal project, noting that the Pagladia River water supply originates from the Bhutan hills.
Hazarika framed the infrastructure push as a direct move to meet targets set by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. He also clarified that the government intends to utilize the Agriculture and Irrigation departments to provide the promised support for young farmers moving into high-value crops.
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