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KOKRAJHAR: The Adani Group land allotment row at Bashbari under Porbotjhora subdivision in Kokrajhar district has reached political fervour as the ruling UPPL is determined to make the thermal power project a reality, while opposition BPF has opposed the move and its different wings are in the field to campaign against the allotment of land to Adani Group. The Opposition is inspiring the local people to intensify the protest, while former Lok Sabha MP SK Bwiswmuthiary called for the cancellation of land allotment to private parties.
Talking to The Sentinel, former MP Bwiswmuthiary said that both the BPF and UPPL made the same blunder to allot tribal lands of the 6th schedule council to different private parties and demanded that all lands allotted to private parties from during the Hagrama Mohilary-led BTC Government to Pramod Boro-led BTR Government should be cancelled and taken back. He said that the allotment of 3,600 bighas of land to Adani Group through APDCL at Bashbari in Kokrajhar district was a matter of concern and a clear example of grabbing of tribal land by big industrialists via APDCL. He questioned how BTR chief Pramod Boro could take the decision to allot lands belonging to tribal people without prior consultation with the local villagers and civil bodies. He also said that both Pramod Boro and Hagrama Mohilary had no right to sell out tribal land and that the tribal civil societies had every right to raise their concern.
Bwiswmuthiary said that the thermal power project would have severe side effects on the local population of the Bashbari area, who would face various diseases once the project is up. He said that there was no necessity for big industries in Bodoland, but small, agro-based, handloom, sericulture industries would be suitable to sustain the rural economy. He also said that the big industries will bring skilled labourers from outside states, not from local. He said that all technical and mechanical sections would be filled up with people from outside.
The former MP questioned why some organizations were looking at the mistakes of only the ruling party and not the ones committed during the Hagrama regime. He said that Hagrama Mohilary gave away several hundreds of bighas of land to Baba Ramdev in Roumari near the Aie River in Chirang and near the Indo-Bhutan border in Baksa and to Sri Sri Ravi Shankar at Kashiabari under the Gossaigaon subdivision in the Kokrajhar district. He said that both Hagrama Mohilary and Pramod Boro made the same blunder, and therefore, all lands allotted by both leaders should be cancelled once and for all, and focus should be put on setting up eco-friendly industries suitable for tribal people.
Different organizations, mostly loyal to BPF, visited the Bashbari area and asked the local people to stand against the land allotment of 3,600 bighas to the proposed APDCL industry. Though the BPF President, Hagrama Mohilary, kept silent on the issue, BPF’s wings are campaigning against the project, while the Vice-President of the party and MLA, Rabiram Narzary, has supported it, saying that industrialization is the necessity for fast economic development in BTC. According to him, more investors should be encouraged and brought to the council. His contradicting opinion has indicated that there is no collective opinion in BPF over the issue.
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