90% families vacate Chapar govt land proposed for power plant

Time of India

06-07-2025

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Guwahati: With the govt proposing to set up a thermal power plant at Chapar in lower Assam's Dhubri district to meet the state's energy requirement, Sunday turned out to be the last day there for 90% of the 800 odd families, who had been allegedly occupying 3,500 bighas of govt land.
Chapar circle officer Shashee Bhusan Raj Konwar said over 90% of families had vacated the land at Chirakuta Charuwa Bakra village till Sunday evening without any objection. "The families have been provided a one-time financial assistance of Rs 50,000 each. Moreover, the families have been given alternate land at Boyjer Alga village at the Athani revenue circle in the district," he added.
The officer said the first eviction notices were served about three months ago, while people were alerted to vacate the land voluntarily.
"Only a few families are there, who are also preparing to vacate the land. It seems that eviction will not be required now," he said, adding that the land has been given to the Assam Power Distribution Company Limited (APDCL) for a thermal power plant.
The circle officer said that neither any protest nor any objection has been raised by the people. "Rather they cooperated with the administration," Konwar added.
CM Himanta Biswa Sarma, while speaking to reporters on the sidelines of an event, said, "An eviction drive was scheduled at Chapar in Dhubri from Tuesday for clearing the govt land for setting up a thermal power plant.
However, most of the families have already vacated the land voluntarily. Compensation has also been given to the families, who had either myadi patta land or govt allotted land. On the other hand, an eviction drive will be carried out at Paikan in Goalpara.
People have still not vacated the land there."
The CM, on June 25, had visited the Chirakuta Charuwa Bakra at Bilasipara, a proposed site for a new thermal power plant aimed at boosting the state's energy self-sufficiency.
He said that once operational, the plant is expected to create 20,000 direct and thousands of indirect employment opportunities. He also assured that eligible residents on the site would receive compensation and rehabilitation as per govt policy.
According to govt data, Assam's energy demand is projected to reach 5,000 MW by 2030 and 7,000 MW by 2035. The state cabinet approved the Assam Thermal Power Generation Project Promotion Policy 2025 on May 5, aimed at attracting large-scale investments to the sector.