Stone Quarries and Dust Pollution Raise Concerns Around Assam Semiconductor Facility

Concerns have been raised regarding the environmental risks posed by stone quarries and crushers operating near the upcoming ₹27,000 crore Tata Semiconductor Assembly and Test (TSAT) facility in Jagiroad, Assam. Activists and local groups warn that heavy dust emissions and illegal excavation could compromise the cleanroom environments mandatory for advanced semiconductor manufacturing.

What Happened

The ₹27,000 crore TSAT facility, located in Morigaon district’s Jagiroad about 55 km east of Guwahati, is under development on the site of a former Hindustan Paper Corporation unit. With over 60 percent of construction completed, the plant forms a critical part of the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) aimed at building a domestic chip-making ecosystem.

However, ongoing stone mining, quarrying, and crushing operations within a 5-kilometre radius of the project have reportedly enveloped the surrounding area in dust. Golaghat-based environmental activist Rohit Choudhury submitted a letter to the Assam Chief Secretary on August 22, warning that dust from these units poses a direct threat to the semiconductor plant. He urged the government to strictly enforce industrial restrictions within a 15-kilometre radius of the site, designated as the Ratan Tata Electronic City.

According to an RTI reply obtained by Choudhury from the State’s Industries, Commerce, and Public Enterprise Department, the Assam Cabinet had decided on March 10 to bar cement factories and polluting industries within a 15-kilometre radius of the Electronic City. A subsequent order issued on May 2 marked this directive as mandatory. However, a later clarification revealed that this restriction would apply only prospectively, exempting pre-existing and pipeline projects. The government also directed officials to explore reducing the restricted zone from 15 kilometres to 5 kilometres.

Choudhury contested this exemption, arguing that emissions from existing units generate particulate matter (PM10, PM2.5, and TSP) that violates the stringent operational parameters required for chip assembly. He also cited an April 20 order by the Divisional Forest Officer of the Nagaon Division, which had cancelled operations in the Jagiroad Stone Mining Area within the Sonaikuchi Reserve Forest, pointing out that ongoing activities there were illegal.

Local groups have also raised alarms. On August 11, the Bir Lachit Sena submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, demanding an immediate halt to hill blasting and excavation in the Sonaikuchi hills, citing environmental damage and flash floods. On August 18, the Madhya Assam Koch-Rajbongshi Students’ Union petitioned Environment and Forest Minister Jayanta Mallabaruah, demanding action against illegal mining across Nagaon, Morigaon, Karbi Anglong, and West Karbi Anglong districts.

Key Highlights

• The ₹27,000 crore TSAT unit in Jagiroad is more than 60 percent complete and operates under the India Semiconductor Mission.
• Semiconductor guidelines require ISO Class 1 to 5 cleanrooms protected against microscopic dust, along with millions of gallons of ultra-pure water daily.
• Quarries and crushers within a 5-kilometre radius are releasing significant dust, raising technical and health concerns.
• On March 10, the State Cabinet approved a 15-kilometre non-polluting buffer zone, but later limited it to prospective industries and considered narrowing it to 5 kilometres.
• Local groups report that hill excavation in the Sonaikuchi Reserve Forest has triggered flash floods and disrupted public health.
• Forest department orders from April 20 had already cancelled operations in the Jagiroad Stone Mining Area.

Why This Matters

Semiconductor manufacturing and assembly demand near-sterile environments. Under India Semiconductor Mission specifications, facilities require ISO Class 1 to 5 vibration-damped cleanrooms to avoid microscopic particulate contamination, alongside access to millions of gallons of ultra-pure water daily for wafer rinsing, cooling, and chemical processing. High levels of particulate matter and gaseous emissions from nearby mining and stone crushing directly conflict with these sensitive manufacturing standards.

What to Watch Next

State officials have been instructed to review whether the mandatory restriction zone around the Ratan Tata Electronic City can be formally reduced from 15 kilometres to 5 kilometres via policy amendment. Observers are also watching for state enforcement actions regarding illegal mining operations previously cancelled by the forest department in the Sonaikuchi Reserve Forest.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is the semiconductor plant located?

The Tata Semiconductor Assembly and Test facility is being constructed at Jagiroad in Assam’s Morigaon district, roughly 55 kilometres east of Guwahati.

Why is dust a major risk for semiconductor manufacturing?

Chip facilities rely on vibration-damped ISO Class 1 to 5 cleanrooms. Microscopic dust particles can contaminate chip components and disrupt sensitive manufacturing processes.

What did the Assam Cabinet decide regarding polluting units?

The Cabinet decided on March 10 to restrict polluting industries within a 15-kilometre radius, but later clarified that the policy applies prospectively, excluding existing and pipeline units, while directing officials to examine reducing the radius to 5 kilometres.

Source: Based on reporting from The Hindu.