Drought and Failed Irrigation Hit Farmers Hard in Chirang & Tamarhat

The Nijla River Irrigation Project in Assam’s Chirang district, located along the Indo-Bhutan border, is now under scrutiny as it fails to serve the very farmers it was meant to benefit.

Originally designed to support over 4,000 farming families across 25 villages in the Santipur, Tukrajhar, and Bengtol areas, the project was envisioned to provide a consistent supply of water to farmlands. However, despite its presence, farmers report that water is not reaching their fields.

However, despite the project’s existence, water is not reaching the fields. The system appears to be in place, yet it serves little purpose, say local farmers.

The sluice gate, originally constructed in 1982 to regulate water flow, now lies in a dilapidated state. According to farmers, a departmental fund of ₹10 lakh was recently allocated for its repair. But shockingly, contractors allegedly used the funds only to apply a fresh coat of paint and did nothing to fix the actual infrastructure.

With insufficient rainfall this year, the situation has worsened. Despite having two irrigation projects drawing from the Nijla River, farmers say they are still deprived of water essential for their crops.

The burning question remains: Why are farmlands dry when two irrigation systems are in place on the Nijla River? Farmers are now demanding accountability from the irrigation department and action against those who allegedly misused public funds without delivering results.

Facing the brunt of a severe drought and prolonged lack of rainfall in Assam, farmers in the Tamarhat area of Dhubri district are now grappling with a deepening agricultural crisis. The Shali paddy crops, which were being cultivated across vast stretches of farmland, are now wilting due to the acute water shortage.

With irrigation systems lying defunct and no rainfall in sight, the once-thriving farmlands are turning barren. Farmers in the region, many of whom depend entirely on agriculture for their livelihood, say they are now staring at a bleak and uncertain future.

Speaking to a reporter, local farmers expressed their anguish. “There are many irrigation systems in the Tamarhat area, but none of them are operational. The officials responsible for managing the water supply are drawing salaries while sitting at home, and we, the farmers, are suffering because of their negligence,” said one of the affected cultivators.

Dhubri is known as a heavily agriculture-dependent region. But now, with the ongoing drought and no functional irrigation support, farmers say they feel abandoned and helpless. “If we cannot grow crops due to the drought, how will we feed our families? That is the only question we are left with,” said another farmer.

While the government has launched multiple schemes for the benefit of farmers, ground reports suggest that those meant to receive the benefits are still excluded. “We hear about new schemes every year, but we have never actually received any advantage from them,” lamented a group of farmers.

The farming community in Tamarhat is now urging the government to take urgent and effective steps to address the water crisis. They are demanding proper implementation of irrigation mechanisms and a review of the distribution and accountability of farmer-focused welfare schemes.

Also Read: Assam Drought: Govt Apathy and Climate Crisis Leave Farmers Helpless