Assam Agri Project: Drone Survey Initiated for Technical Mapping of Gorukhuti Area

The Assam government has launched a drone survey for technical mapping of the Gorukhuti area in Darrang district on Sunday in preparation for the implementation of different programs under a multipurpose agriculture project there. 

The drone survey was inaugurated by Parimal Suklabaidya, Minister for Environment and Forest, Fisheries and Excise, during a visit to Gorukhuti in Sipajhar, according to an official statement. 

He directed Forest Department staff to develop a comprehensive strategy to help the local people. 

Suklabaidya also asked the officials to find a suitable location for setting up a biodiversity park. 

 He stated that there is enormous potential for agroforestry and other forestry projects in the Gorukhuti area, and the department responsible will leave no stone unturned to develop Gorukhuti, the pet project of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, he said.  

In consultation with the district administration, the minister authorized Fisheries Department officials to begin projects such as hatcheries and ponds in lowland regions. 

He also visited the spot where Gir cows from Gujarat are being reared by the local people. 

According to the statement, Suklabaidya interacted with the farmers and assured them that the state government would do everything possible to improve their socioeconomic situation. 

The Assam government has allocated Rs.9.60 crore in the current budget for the Gorukhuti Multipurpose Agriculture Project, which would adopt contemporary farming techniques and scientific animal rearing procedures across 77,420 bighas (about 10,000 hectares) of land in the Sipajhar district. 

Two persons were killed and over 20 others injured in clashes between police and alleged encroachers during an eviction drive in some villages under the Sipajhar revenue circle in September. 

The eviction campaign was carried out in order to free the project's land from accused encroachers.