The Assam government has shelved the survey of a proposed satellite township near an upcoming semiconductor plant in Morigaon district following protests from two ethnic groups.
The Tata Group is setting up the ₹27,000-crore semiconductor plant, expected to produce up to 48 million semiconductor chips per day.
While locals welcomed the plant coming up in the space once occupied by a Hindustan Paper Corporation mill at Jagiroad, Tiwa and Bodo tribal organisations objected to the satellite township plan.
On Monday (May 18, 2026), Morigaon District Commissioner Anamika Tewari issued an order, stating that the ongoing survey work linked to “rehabilitation and resettlement (R&R)” has been cancelled with immediate effect after several organisations opposed the proposed satellite township.
The district authorities have been conducting surveys in Sindhisar and Naladhara near Jagiroad to prepare an R&R proposal for the planned township. Residents of these villages in the Gobha Tribal Belt, fearing eviction, protested the survey.
Several groups, including the All Tiwa Students’ Union, organised protest rallies a few days ago, demanding the cancellation of the township project.
Earlier, Raijor Dal president and Sivasagar MLA Akhil Gogoi criticised the State government for pushing the satellite township project linked to the semiconductor plant, saying it would displace the indigenous Tiwa and other local communities.
In a statement on May 17, he appealed to Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma not to commit a “grave historical mistake” by targeting the lands of indigenous communities when much of the area under the erstwhile paper mill remains unused.
Published - May 19, 2026 01:51 pm IST
Source: The Hindu - India News
