Poonam Sharma
Guwahati: Assam government’s budget for 2025-26 has taken crucial steps towards enforcing the state to be sustainable and environmentally friendly in its development process. With its vision-oriented direction, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Finance Minister Ajanta Neog have sketched a map that harmoniously unites protecting the environment and economic development. The budget is a blueprint to a green economy that not just tackles immediate issues of the environment but also propels sustainable growth, eco-tourism, and green inventive industries.
Perhaps the most significant feature of this budget is the priority given to human-wildlife conflict reduction, especially in areas where elephants regularly come into conflict with people. That focus is exemplified in the development of the Gaja Mitra scheme, which will be rolled out in five human-elephant conflict-affected districts—Goalpara, Udalguri, Nagaon, Baksa, and Sonitpur. The deployment of AI-enabled camera traps to track elephant movement is a revolutionary move towards providing real-time alerts that will help minimize human-elephant conflict and guarantee the safety of both humans and elephants. The addition of designated teams to oversee such conflicts will make the human-elephant coexistence the blueprint for other states facing similar challenges.
The government has also proposed using Napier grass to supply elephants with an alternative source of food in strategic forest locations. This is a dual benefit—reducing human-animal conflict and enriching the local environment. The allocation of funds to place canopy bridges to safeguard primates such as Hollock Gibbons and Golden Langurs is also indicative of Assam’s interest in protecting its biodiversity. This conservation campaign will lower road and rail wildlife casualties, showing an integrated approach to environmental management.
Building further on the state’s green reputation, the budget discusses far-reaching plans for converting Karbi Anglong, West Karbi Anglong, and Dima Hasao into eco-tourism and clean energy destinations. This drive hopes to create sustainable employment opportunities and provide a model for good tourism. Prioritizing these areas, Assam seeks to use its natural resources sustainably and encourage local economic development. Not only would this create employment, but it would also make the state a major destination for eco-tourism, making Assam a leading choice for individuals who want to explore nature in its purest form.
A landmark in this green revolution is the plan to set up India’s first Bamboo Smart City The use of bamboo-based construction as an innovation will not only decrease the ecological impact of urban development but also highlight Assam’s biodiversity heritage. This visionary urban project is in line with international trends that seek to highlight the importance of sustainable, green construction materials. The concept of a Bamboo Smart City also fits Assam’s cultural and economic affinity for growing bamboo, an integral aspect of the state’s tradition and economy. This may be a revolutionary move towards developing a city that is not only contemporary but also eco-friendly.
Eco-tourism also plays a starring role in the state’s green economy strategy. In Kaziranga National Park, an old allocation of Rs 20 crore will be utilized to replace old and environmentally degrading Gypsy vehicles with electric vehicles for safari tours. The move is backed by eco-tourism as it lowers carbon footprints while giving tourists a chance to visit the park in a more environmentally friendly manner. The decision is also likely to improve the tourist experience as a whole while maintaining the integrity of Kaziranga’s special ecosystem.
Also, the doubled ex-gratia for human-wildlife conflict fatalities, from Rs 4 lakh to Rs 5 lakh , and the enhancement of crop damage compensation from Rs 7,500 to Rs 8,000 per bigha are an indication of the government’s sincerity towards the well-being of communities being encroached upon by wildlife. These measures are meant to bring both instant relief to families that suffer most in human-wildlife conflicts and a feeling of security to residents of susceptible areas.
The Green Packaging Industrial Hub and the Green Innovation Fund are also groundbreaking suggestions that will position Assam as a forerunner in green packaging solutions. The state is aggressively pursuing the concept of utilizing banana fiber-based packaging, a biodegradable substitute for conventional plastics, to propel environmentally friendly industrial development. This move positions Assam in line with international sustainability initiatives, making it a central figure in the future of green manufacturing.
Finally, establishing a carbon credit system will enable Assam to join the international carbon market, whereby the state can earn money while minimizing its carbon output. This step not only promotes sustainability but also opens doors for green industries to thrive.
Assam’s budget for 2025-26 is a bold and all-encompassing approach towards sustainable development. By incorporating eco-tourism, renewable energy, and wildlife preservation into its economic model, the state is well on its way to becoming a leader in the green economy. The well-considered proposals for managing human-wildlife conflict, conserving biodiversity, and supporting sustainable industries demonstrate strong awareness of the imperative for balance between development and conservation. Through these efforts, Assam is setting the stage for a better, greener, and sustainable future—that other states and countries might look up to.
The post Visioning Assam’s Green Economy in the 2025-26 Budget: Sustaining a Brighter Future appeared first on Global Governance News- Asia's First Bilingual News portal for Global News and Updates.
