The mainstay of the economy of Assam is agriculture. In circler to improve the economic condition of the State, it is necessary to increase the agricultural output. This can be done 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) where under irrigation.
During 2006-07 and subsequently years the state irrigation department undertake various irrigation schemes in the state under Accelerate 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 Buridehing) and all are in different stages of progress. But due to inadequate plan and fund and land acquisition problem one project (Buridehing) is targeted 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 AlBP, 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 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 generation, transmission and distribution of POWER in the State rests with the Assam State Electricity Board (ASEB). Constituted in 1958, the Board was bifurcated in 1975, between the state of Assam and Meghalaya.
ASEB was reconstituted in 2004 into five companies as 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 Limited (LAEDCL) Irrigation & Power
4. Central Assam Electricity Distribution Company Limited (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, Berated) and one hydel power plant Karbi Langpi Hydro Electric Project (100 MW).
The peak demand of Electricity of Assam is around 1300 MW. Since own generation is only around 340 MW, so the rest is arranged by mutual arrangement with other generating agenises.
Rural Electrification:
Like most the states of the country, Assam is also lagging behind in respect of rural household’s electrification. 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.