INDIAN STATE : ASSAM

Forest based industries

The state of Assam has a rich forest cover encompassing nearly a quarter of its land area. Roughly half of the forests are reserved. Blessed with plentiful rainfall, the forests are a reserve of such commercially useful produce like timber, bamboo, stone, cane, etc. These products in turn fuel a variety of units producing plywood, matchwood, cement, etc. bamboo and cane have also been to put to good use.

The state is also known for its rich fauna comprising rare and endangered species as well. Two national parks viz. Kaziranga and Manas, besides ten wildlife sanctuaries and one game reserve are located in Assam. These are home to the famous one-horned rhino besides elephants, tigers and others. The potential of these parks as tourist attractions is yet to be realized to their fullest.

Animal husbandry

The weather is well suited to livestock rearing in Assam. The government has undertaken a massive programme to improve the quality of cattle and other livestock through improved feed and a host of biotechnological measures. Most of the livestock are used for meat production, draught for farming purposes, milk production and egg production.

The government is encouraging the populace to undertake this activity on an industrial scale with an aim to speed up development of this sector.

Mineral based industry

The state is endowed with plenty of natural resources with crude oil (reserve-158 million tonnes) being the chief among them. The state accounts for about 15 per cent of India's crude output. The wells at Digboi, Duliajan, Sivasagar etc. also produce natural gas (reserve-156 billion cu. mtrs.) accounting for about 50 per cent of India's total onshore production, which may be used as feedstock for production of fertilizers, electricity and petrochemicals, and also as fuel in the tea industries.

Limestone with reserves of about 500 million tonnes is another important resource and is available in various grades. The China clay available in the Karbi- Anglong district is a vital input for the ceramics industry has already spawned a few small plants. Deposits of decorative stones like granite, estimated to be more than a billion cubic meters are available in various shades and colours, which have a huge market potential locally and abroad.

Coal reserves account for more than 250 tonnes. The coal found in upper Assam and the central Assam highlands have high sulphur content and high volatile matter content, which can be used in:

• Thermal power plants based on modern technology, which will take care of the high sulphur content.
  
• Fertilizer production based on gasification of coal.
  
• Coal slurry to replace furnace oil
  
• Electro-metallurgical grade coke, etc.

Tourism

To nature lovers all over the world, wildlife enthusiasts, sightseers, ornithologists and photographers, Assam is a dream destination. Its natural landscape, lush green forests, wild life sanctuaries, pilgrimage spots and tea gardens offer a wide choice to cater to the tastes of a variety of tourists from the casual sightseer to the adventure tourist. With the withdrawal of the Restricted Area Permit (RAP), tourism is poised for a major boom. A few tourist destination in the state are given below:

Policy Framework

Assam Industrial Policy 2003

The policy has been made effective from 1st October 2003 and will be valid for a period of five years i.e. up to 30th September 2008 unless modified /terminated earlier.

Aims and objectives

The Industrial Policy of Assam, 2003 is formulated to achieve the following aims and objectives:

• Increase the share of the industrial sector to the State Domestic Product (SDP) from the present level of 13.29% to a level of at least 18% at the end of the terminal year of the Policy.
• Generate more employment opportunities in the State.
• Ensure development of adequate and appropriate infrastructures for industrial growth.
• Make Assam one of the preferred destinations for investment for outside investors.
• Encourage private investment in Industrial infrastructure projects.
  
• Ensure industrial development in hitherto industrially backward regions of the state.
  
• Create avenues for sustained growth and development of the Small Scale and tiny sectors.
  
• Catalyze administrative and legal reforms with a view to simplify the procedure and to ensure time bound disposal of matters.
• Take steps to promote rural handicrafts so as to conserve and enrich cultural heritage, traditions and customs of the state.
• Promote establishment of medium and large-scale mother industries to create an industrial base, offering large-scale employment opportunities through backward and forward linkages.
  
• Promote Information Technology, high-tech, knowledge based and biotech industries.
  
• Promote export oriented industrial units.
• Take steps to revive the potentially viable sick Public Sector Undertakings and to make the Public Sector Undertakings economically viable.
• Provide Single Window Clearance system for fast track clearance of industrial proposals.

Full text of the policy