Assam Govt Defends Land Allotment to Cement Firm in Dima Hasao

08 Sep 2025 CW Team

The Assam government has informed the Gauhati High Court that the allotment of 3,000 bighas of land in Dima Hasao district to Mahabal Cement for setting up a cement factory was carried out in accordance with the “due process of law.”

Appearing before the court, Advocate General Devajit Saikia submitted a report prepared by a three-member committee, which examined the land allotment, its suitability and potential implications.

Saikia clarified that the cement company, part of the Trivikram Consortium, had sought 6,000 bighas, of which 3,000 bighas were allotted by the autonomous council in two phases. The land has been leased for a 30-year term at an annual revenue rate of Rs 250 per bigha, along with a one-time premium of Rs 2 lakh per bigha.

He added that construction activities would commence only after obtaining mandatory clearances from the Union Environment and Forest Ministry and the state pollution control board. As per environmental norms, 34 per cent of the land must be retained as a green belt.

Of the total land, 1,782 bighas will be usable for plant operations, including roads, railway sidings, environmental facilities, a solar plant, truck parking, residential areas and open space. Around 554 bighas will remain vacant.

Saikia further stated that the Ceiling Act does not apply to Sixth Schedule districts and the autonomous council has full authority to allot land. “The final decision will rest with the central authorities. An elaborate review will be conducted before clearances are issued. Until then, no construction activity will take place,” he told the court.

The High Court has asked the petitioners to file their response to the affidavit submitted by the state government.

News source: The Assam Tribune

Infrastructure Transport

06 Aug 2026

Surya Roshni delivers customised lighting for NCRTC RRTS stations

Surya Roshni has supplied customised indoor lighting solutions for 18 elevated stations on the National Capital Region Transport Corporation's (NCRTC) Rapid Rail Transit System (RRTS), strengthening its presence in India's infrastructure lighting segment.The project involved the design and deployment of lighting systems for platforms, concourses, foot overbridges (FOBs) and back-of-house (BOH) areas. According to the company, the luminaires were developed specifically to meet NCRTC's design, operational and performance requirements rather than using standard products.Surya introduced two custo..

Hilton debuts Tapestry Collection brand in Vietnam

Hilton has opened NHAAN Resort & Spa Hoi An, Tapestry Collection by Hilton, marking the debut of the Tapestry Collection brand in Vietnam and expanding its lifestyle hospitality portfolio in Southeast Asia.Located along the Co Co River in Cam Thanh village, the 174-key resort provides access to Hoi An Ancient Town, Cua Dai Beach and the Cam Thanh Nipa Forest. The property has been designed by Vietnamese architect Vo Trong Nghia, incorporating biophilic architecture, locally sourced materials and riverfront landscapes.The resort offers a mix of guest rooms and suites, including family-frien..

Electrent expands lithium energy storage system portfolio

Electrent Energy has expanded its lithium-based energy storage portfolio with the launch of the ESS 850 and ESS 1050, targeting compact and maintenance-free power backup solutions for Indian homes.The new systems integrate a Home UPS and a LiFePO4 lithium battery into a single unit, extending the company's product range following the launch of its ESS 1350 and ESS 2500 models.Designed for apartments and smaller homes, the ESS 850 provides up to 1 hour 15 minutes of backup, while the ESS 1050 offers up to 1 hour 45 minutes on a typical 400 W household load. The systems can power essential appli..