Stone Quarry Activities Near Assam Semiconductor Facility Raise Alarm Over Potential Operational Hazards

In Brief

1. Stone quarries near Assam's Tata semiconductor plant raise environmental concerns.
2. Flash floods and dust pollution threaten the plant's delicate operations.
3. The Indian Semiconductor Mission stresses protection from microscopic dust.
4. Activists and local groups petition the government to address quarry impacts.

Activists and local organisations in Assam have petitioned state authorities regarding stone quarries and crushers operating within a 5 km radius of the Tata semiconductor assembly and test facility in Jagiroad. They cited concerns over flash flooding, air pollution, and environmental degradation that could threaten the cleanroom conditions required by the Indian Semiconductor Mission for chip manufacturing.

The Indian Semiconductor Mission has emphasised the plant’s need for strict protection against microscopic dust particles, which can critically affect sensitive manufacturing processes. The presence of nearby quarry operations poses a direct threat to maintaining these stringent environmental controls.

Activists assert that prompt government intervention is essential to mitigate these risks and ensure the plant’s smooth operation, given its strategic importance to India’s semiconductor ecosystem.