OUR CORRESPONDENT
KOKRAJHAR: The CEM of BTC, Pramod Boro, on Monday chaired a joint meeting between the officials of BTC, District Commissioner, district police administration, Circle Officer, and the representatives of the BJP and the ABSU at the conference hall of BTC Secretariat to find out ways of resolving the Bashbari land row. President Dipen Boro and general secretary Khanindra Basumatary led the ABSU representatives.
The meeting discussed at length the imbroglio of Bashbari where the BTR Government has decided to allot 3,400 bighas of land to APDCL for setting up of a thermal power plant by the Adani Group of companies at Bashbari, an inhabitant area of Boro, Garo, and Rabha tribes. The local people have been vehemently opposing the allotment of land to Adani through APDCL, fearing that they would be forcefully evicted. The situation in the area is worsening as public outrage continues. Recently, there had been a scuffle between the local villagers and police when the police team went to demarcate the boundary of the proposed site. The situation became more complicated after different wings of the Opposition parties started campaigning against the land allotment.
Now, the land issue of Bashbari has become a battleground between the ruling UPPL, Opposition BPF, and Congress. Most of the local villagers are in a confused state of mind while some BPF senior leaders are also in favour of setting up big industries for job opportunities for local people. BPF MLA and Vice-President of the party Rabiram Narzary has been a vocal supporter of setting up of the thermal power plant for job engagement to local people while all wings of the BPF are against the power plant.
Pramod Boro, while talking to mediapersons after the end of the joint meeting, said, “No agricultural land, revenue land, or private properties of Bashbari would be taken for the power industry and they would not be evicted. He said that once the thermal power plant worth Rs 18,000 crore becomes operational, at least 8,000 to 10,000 youths of the locality would be benefited directly or indirectly.” He said that no one will lose their lands and no violence will take place as the Government of BTR will ensure a peaceful solution. He also made it clear that no private land would be encroached on or taken forcefully as they have no intention to harass the indigenous people.
Boro said that he would discuss with the local land protection groups to remove their fears and will not allow this land issue to become a political agenda for any political party. He appealed to all not to politicize the issue. “We are ready to talk for a peaceful solution. Our mission is reconstruction from destruction. We are always against destructive politics as BPF played earlier,” he said.
Meanwhile, ABSU President Dipen said, “Today, there was a meeting between the BTC leaders, DC, SP, Circle Officer, and representatives of APDCL and ABSU that was held at BTC Secretariat Conference Hall for over one and half hour to discuss the present crisis in Bashbari. The public grievances, emotions, and sentiments of people of Bashbari were discussed elaborately.” He said that the satellite map of the proposed site had been surveyed four times and also that no paddy field or private properties would be affected in the proposed industry.
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