The mainstay of the economy of Assam is agriculture. In is necessary to increase the agricultural output. This can be done if only water along with other inputs are supplied to the agricultural fields just in time. But let alone other inputs, even water, which in abundantly available in the numerous rivers of the region, has not been supplied to the fields at the time of dry season. This lack of irrigation facilities has been adversely affecting the agriculture of the region. It has been found that in 2014-15 only 2.19 lakh hectares of agricultural land (out of total of 39.99 lakh ha of the State) were under irrigation.
During 2006-07 and subsequent years the State irriga- tion department undertake various irrigation scheme in the State under Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP) funded by the Government of India. At present there are four AIBP funded ongoing Major/Medium Irrigation Projects (Dhansiri, Champawati, Borolia and Buri-dehing) and all are in different stages of progress. But due to inadequate plan fund and land acquisition problem one project (Buridehing) is tar- geted to wind up during 2011-12. The remaining three Irrigation Projects have been expected to be completed soon which will create total irrigation potential for 5,39,73 hectares..
Under AIBP, total 778 Minor Irrigation Schemes were taken up since 2010-11 to achieve an irrigation potential of 3,69,567 hectares. Upto March 2015, 493 Minor Irrigation schemes have
| Gross Area Irrigated | (2015-16): | 2,29.289 hect |
| Net Area Irrigated (2015-16) | (2015-16): | 1,91,568 hect |
| Irrigation Potential Created (2015-16): | 2015-16 | 7,82,645 hect |
| Target and Achievement for creation of additional irrigation potential during | 2015-16 | |
| a) Target for | 2015-16 | : 1,40,513 hect |
| b) Achievement during | 2015-16 | 24,935 hect |
been completed creating a potential of 2,03,456 hectares including restoration/revival of lost potential.
It may sound paradoxical that the North-East which has nearly 40% of the country’s total hydal power potential is passing through years of power famine. Assam as also her sister States in the region, woefully lag behind the rest of the country in terms of power generation as well as per capita consumption.
The responsibility of co-ordinated development of gen- eration, transmission and distribution of POWER in the State rests with the Assam State Electricity Board (ASEB). Con- stituted in 1958, the Board was bifurcated in 1975, between the state of Assam and Meghalaya.
ASEB was reconstituted in 2004 into five companies a per Company Act’1956. The five companies are:
1. Assam Electricity Grid Corporation Limited (AEGCL)
2. Assam Power Generation Corporation Limited (APGCL)
3. Lower Assam Electricity Distribution Company ited (LAEDCL)
4. Central Assam Electricity Distribution Company Lim- ited (CAEDCL)
5. Upper Assam Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UAEDCL)
Then on 23.10.2009 the three Electricity Distribution Companies (UAEDL, CAEDCL, LAEDCL) was merged in one company namely Assam Power Distribution Company Limited (APDCL).
So, now ASEB has three successor Companies:
1. Assam Electricity Grid Corporation Limited (AEGCL): Responsible for power transmission in Assam.
2. Assam Power Generation Corporation Limited (APGCL): Responsible for power generation in Assam. 3. Assam Power Distribution Company Limited (APDCL): Responsible for power distribution in Assam.
Assam Power Generation Corporation Limited (APGCL), a successor Company of ASEB is responsible for generation, operation and maintenance of power station in the State of Assam with a total operational capacity of 339.5 MW. Presently APGCL is having two thermal power station namely Lakwa Thermal Power Station (120 MW) & Namrup Thermal Power Station (119.5 MW, derated) and one hydel power plant Karbi Langpi Hydro Electric Project (100 MW).
Ongoing Project
| SI no | Power Project | Installed Capacity (MW) | Expected Date of Commissioning |
| 1 | Lakwa Waste Heat Recovery Project | 37.2 | june2011 (completed) |
| 2 | Namrup Replacement Power Project (RPP) | 100.0 | 2014 |
| 3 | Lungnit Small Hydro Electric (SHE) Project | 6.0 | 2014 |
| 4 | Myntraiang SHE Project | 9.0 | 2014 |
| SI no | Power Project | Installed Capacity (MW) | Expected Date of Commissioning |
| 1 | Lakwa RPP* | 100.00 | During 12th Plan |
| 2 | Namrup RPP (PH-II)* | 100.00 | During 12th Plan |
| 3 | Amguri Gas Based | 100.00 | During 12th Plan |
| 4 | Revival of Chandrapur Thermal Power Station (CTPS) Project | 60.0 | During 12th Plan |
| 5 | Margherita Thermal Power Project (TPP) on Joint Venture with NTPC | 500.00 | During 12th Plan |
| 6 | Lower Kopili Hydro Electric Project (HEP) | 150.00 | During 12th Plan |
| 7 | Upper Stage Karbi Langpi HEP | 60.00 | During 12th Plan |
| 8 | Middle Stage Karbi Langpi HEP | 60.00 | During 12th Plan |
| 9 | Amring SHE Project | 20.00 | During 12th Plan |
Grand Total (A+B) = 1,302.2 MW
The peak demand of Electricity in Assam is around 1300 MW. Since own generation is only around340 MW, so the rest is arranged by mutual arrangement with other generat- ingagensies.
Rural Electritication: Like most of the states of the country, Assam is also lagging behind in respect of rural household’s elcetrification. In Assam,out of total 25,425 inhabited villages (as per 2011 census) 22,303 villages have been electrified till the end of March, 2015.