Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has called on residents of Chirakuta Charuwa Bakra in Dhubri district to extend their support for a 3,400 MW thermal power project, which is expected to be launched in November 2025.
During his visit to the proposed site on Tuesday, Sarma held interactions with villagers, assuring them of fair compensation and proper rehabilitation for those with legal land claims. “All rehabilitation and compensation will be provided according to established government guidelines,” he told reporters.
Sarma highlighted the project’s potential to create thousands of job opportunities—both directly and indirectly—for the local population. He confirmed that the tendering process will begin soon, marking the next step toward project implementation.
The proposed power plant will occupy 3,300 bighas of land within the Bilasipara sub-division. The Chief Minister’s visit aimed to evaluate the site’s suitability and discuss the project’s long-term benefits with stakeholders.
This ambitious power project forms a key component of Assam’s broader energy development roadmap. With the state’s electricity demand expected to surge to 5,000 MW by 2030 and 7,000 MW by 2035, the plant will play a vital role in bridging the future energy gap.
Sarma also emphasized the government’s goal of making Assam a major thermal power generation hub in the Northeast. In May 2025, the Cabinet approved the Assam Thermal Power Generation Project Promotion Policy, a move aimed at attracting large-scale investments into the sector.
Initially, the project was proposed for Kokrajhar district. However, that plan was shelved following protests from locals, who raised concerns over land acquisition—particularly of tribal land. Responding to the opposition, Sarma stated, “We do not wish to proceed with the project under accusations that we are targeting tribal land.”
“Since the people of Kokrajhar are unwilling, we have decided to shift the project elsewhere,” he added. “The foundation stone will now be laid in a new location in November.”
With renewed focus on Chirakuta Charuwa Bakra as the project site, the government now seeks cooperation from local residents to make the venture a success and help power Assam’s future growth.
