drilling have been started. As the result of this campaign, some areas have been discovered with prospect for oil. Of these areas, mention may be made of the foot hills of Himalayas, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Assam, Manipur, and Tripura, western desert of Rajasthan, Cutch, the Induganjetic alluvial plain extending from the Punjab to West Bengal. Assam Oil Company has taken up oil prospecting. Their efforts resulted in the discovery of oil de- posit in Naharkatia area of Assam. What is more, within to years time, it is estimated that 10% of India's requirement of oil could be available from this source alone. India's mineral oil requirements are estimated at 7 million tons by 1960-65. Hence it is quite clear that Assam for her mineral oil resources alone, will occupy an important position. Oil will play an important part in Power economy of the State.
Tea comes next to oil in importance. Total area of Assam excluding N.E.F.A is 50,043 sq. miles and total area under tea cultivation is 385500 acres. The Tea industry supports roughly 12% of the total population of the Province. So, the tea industry of Assam may well look after the estab- lishment of side and small scale industries in the state. Now, no such attempt is discernible.
Next I would like to bring before our readers the immense possibilities of our Forest resources. Average recorded production of Timber from the Reserve, unclassed state, and shaved forests is about 1,45,000 tons and unrecorded production is about 60,000 tons. Of this,
| Match Industry | Consume | 10,000 tons |
| Plywood | ⸺ | 24,000 " |
| Railway sleepers | ⸺ | 6,000 " |
| Furniture etc. | ⸺ | 2,500 " |
| Small industries and
other domestic requirements |
⸺ | 3,500 " |
Now, it is also worthy of note that the forest wealth if properly utilised is sure to bring a great divident to the state. Soft wood species which are found to be suitable for making pulp and newsprint are also available in the state. 60 lakhs of oft. of Pine wood per annum may be available from the forests in Jowai alone for pulp industry. Next we must not ignore the
