Assam Govt’s 30-Year Stone Quarry Lease Sparks Corruption Allegations

For a long time, the tenure of stone extraction contracts has been for a minimum of one year to a maximum of seven years. However, violating this long-standing practice, the Environment and Forest Department of the Government of Assam, via Tender Notice No. FGTM/G/Stone Mahal Lease/2026/Part(A)/247, invited tenders for a unprecedented 30-year lease for the extraction of stone resources from the Sonai Kuchi Reserve Forest. This notice was issued by the Office of the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Research) on 19/01/2026.
Conscious citizens are raising suspicions regarding the real motive behind inviting tenders for such a lengthy 30-year period. Ever since the BJP-led government came to power in the state, corporate friendly non-Assamese business entities have been eyeing the rich stone and mineral resources of the Sonai Kuchi Reserve Forest in Nagaon District. Reliable sources state that the Forest Department has formulated a deeply flawed and irregular policy to hand over these stone resources to a particular capitalist company.
It is alleged that the local leadership of the ruling party, after failing to secure the tender through an initial round, has now orchestrated a scheme to pass the contract to an influential multi-state business entity. There are serious allegations that local brokers and agents have accepted bribes worth crores of rupees to facilitate the illegal extraction and supply of these stone resources.
Conscious citizens state that certain high-level officials within the Forest Department are acting under the influence of secret financial transactions, resulting in a severe reflection of corruption. In this regard, conscious quarters have expressed that the current Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of the Nagaon Forest Division is acting merely as a rubber stamp. The role of this particular forest official, who is allegedly turning a blind eye to the destruction of the Sonai Kuchi Reserve Forest by collaborating with illegal operators and suppliers, has come under heavy scrutiny.
To ensure the legality of stone extraction, it is mandatory to follow all standard rules, regulations, and guidelines. However, bypassing these protocols, the state government invited tenders in November 2025 to lease the stone resources of Sonai Kuchi for 30 years. In that advertisement, the government had fixed a minimum lease value for the 30-year period.
In response to this, local nature lovers, active social workers, and conscious organizations filed written complaints to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) and the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO). Furthermore, preparations were made to challenge the matter in the Supreme Court. Consequently, on January 28, the state government was compelled to cancel the irregular tender notice due to judicial pressure.
However, bypassing the law once again, the Forest Department issued a fresh notification via Letter No. FGTM/B/94(Part-1)/Jagiroad Stone Mining Lease Area No. F&F(A)/2026/3311 dated 28/04/2026, craftily modifying the clauses to re-invite tenders for the exact same stone quarry. Conscious quarters have expressed surprise at how the Forest Department has surreptitiously brought back the controversial matter, which was previously deemed illegal, just to favor the corporate mafia. Even though the initial tender to lease the Sonai Kuchi hills for 30 years was canceled, highly placed sources reveal that the Forest Department is still desperately trying to hand over the stone mining area to the corporate mafia on a long-term lease. Information has come to light that the forest mafia has been working for a long time to grab the resources of the Sonai Kuchi Reserve Forest by throwing all environmental rules and regulations to the wind. In this context, a massive public protest is being organized by conscious citizens, nature lovers, and regional forest protection groups against the biased role of the Nagaon Territorial Forest Division Office.