Assam Govt Earns Rs 1.51 cr from Agricultural Project in Gorukhuti Eviction Site

In response to a question from Congress MLA Abdur Rahim Ahmed, Agriculture Minister Atul Bora stated that Rs 6.5 crore has been set aside for the Gorukhuti Multipurpose Agriculture Project in 2022-23.

He added that of the sanctioned amount, Rs 5 crore was released and Rs 3 crore was spent during the current fiscal year. Previously, the Assam government allocated Rs 9.6 crore in the 2021-22 budget for the implementation of modern farming techniques and scientific animal rearing practises on 77,420 bighas of land in Gorukhuti, Sipajhar.

Bora stated that a total income of Rs 1.51 crore has been recorded since the start of the project, which began after the eviction drive in September 2021. "This figure excludes earnings from animal husbandry and milk production. In addition, corn in 1,140 bighas is still in the field, and all of the mustard has not yet been sold," he added.

Bora stated that the project produced various types of seasonal vegetables, strawberries, pulses, fruits, pigs, and other goods. The minister also informed the House that doctors declared 300 Gir cows brought in the third phase from Gujarat through the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) to be of “inferior quality," and all of them were returned at no cost to the exchequer.

He added that 299 Gir cattle, which were increased from 123 cows brought in the first and second phases, are still at Gorukhuti and produce 245 litres of milk daily. In response to criticism from the opposition over the extremely low yield, the project committee's chairman, BJP MLA Padma Hazarika, claimed that not a single penny was wasted in the ambitious project.

"If anyone can prove any irregularity, I will leave my political career. "It's a plot by some MLA from a specific community," he added. This elicited a strong reaction from all opposition members, resulting in a noisy scene for some time. Hazarika later claimed that minority groups have come forward and are proposing to assist the government in making the Gorukhuti project a success.

On September 20 and 23, 2021, approximately 1,200-1,400 houses, mostly belonging to Bengali-speaking Muslims, were razed to the ground in Dhalpur I, II, and III villages, displacing over 7,000 people. Bulldozers also destroyed village markets, mosques, kabarstans, madrassas, and maktubs.

On September 23, two people were killed in police shootings during the eviction drive, including a 12-year-old boy who had just received his first identity proof, an Aadhaar card, before being shot. During the massive eviction drive, over 20 people were injured, including police officers.