Assam Govt Develops Five-Year Irrigation Plan to Boost Farmland Coverage

Assam Irrigation Minister Ashok Singhal informed the Legislative Assembly that a five-year irrigation master plan has been developed, incorporating legislators’ inputs. Currently, nine Surface Minor Irrigation (SMI) schemes and around 3,900 irrigation projects are ongoing. Approximately 36,000 hectares of land have received irrigation through 10,000 tube wells. Efforts are underway to revive closed schemes, and from 2026, irrigation coverage will be expanded. Singhal highlighted the MSP scheme’s role in encouraging year-round cropping and introduced a new Rs 9 lakh mobile irrigation system. Additionally, the Irrigation Khetiyak Bondhu app will provide scheme-related information. Opposition members raised concerns over Assam’s low irrigation ranking and inadequate coverage.