Guwahati: Despite a Assam Cabinet decision prohibiting polluting industries within a 15-kilometre radius of the upcoming Ratan Tata Electronic City at Jagiroad, quarrying and stone-crushing units continue to operate inside the restricted zone, with some reportedly located less than four kilometres from the semiconductor facility.
An official letter issued by the Industries, Commerce and Public Enterprise Department on May 2, 2026, directed authorities to ensure that no cement plants or other polluting industries are established within a 15-km radius of the Tata semiconductor project. The directive was issued following a Cabinet decision taken on March 10, 2026.
In the communication, Additional Chief Secretary J.B. Ekka instructed the Industries and Commerce Department to reject or keep in abeyance any industrial proposal falling within the restricted zone and to establish monitoring mechanisms to prevent violations.
The letter, a copy of which is available with Northeast Now, also called for coordination with the district administration and the Assam Pollution Control Board to ensure strict implementation of the Cabinet decision.
However, questions have emerged over the continued operation of quarrying and stone-crushing units within the restricted area.
Sources familiar with the matter said that several quarrying and stone-crushing units allegedly linked to businessman C.S. Gandhi are located within the 15-km exclusion zone notified by the state government. Some of these units are reportedly situated less than four kilometres from the Tata semiconductor project site.
The units are engaged in the extraction, crushing, and transportation of stone aggregates, activities that generate significant levels of dust, particulate matter, noise, and vibrations.
Official sources further said that another proposal for the auction of a 20-hectare stone quarry is presently under consideration. The quarry, if operationalised, is expected to function for a period of 30 years. The project is reportedly in the process of obtaining Forest Clearance (FC) from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC).
Industry experts note that semiconductor manufacturing facilities require highly controlled environments and stringent air-quality standards, making the presence of dust-generating industries in close proximity a matter of concern.
The continued operation of such units has raised questions about the implementation of the Cabinet decision and whether the restrictions are being applied uniformly across all categories of polluting industries. Critics argue that while the government has prohibited new cement plants and other polluting industries within the designated buffer zone, existing quarrying and stone-crushing operations remain active despite their potential environmental impact.
The issue has assumed greater significance amid reports that efforts are underway to secure extensions of Environmental Clearance (EC) and Consent to Operate (CTO) permissions for some of these units.
Environmental activists and local residents have called for greater transparency regarding the status of such approvals and sought clarification on whether the units will be allowed to continue operating within the protected zone surrounding the Tata semiconductor facility.
The development has gained significance as the state government seeks to position the Jagiroad semiconductor facility as a flagship industrial project of national importance.
Adding to the controversy, the communication was not marked to the Environment, Forest and Climate Change Department, headed by Special Chief Secretary M.K. Yadava. The omission has raised eyebrows in bureaucratic circles, particularly amid allegations that efforts are underway to extend the validity of Environmental Clearances and Consent to Operate permissions under the Air and Water Acts for quarrying and stone-crushing units operating within the restricted zone.
No official response was available from the Chief Secretary ‘s Office or the Environment and Forest Department regarding the allegations.
The Assam government has maintained that the 15-km buffer zone is necessary to protect the environmental integrity of the Tata semiconductor project and ensure that polluting industries do not adversely affect the facility’s operations.