Dispur’s Apathy on Land Reform Frustrating Residents: Brihattar Guwahati Unnayan Samiti Aikya Manch

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The Brihattar Guwahati Unnayan Samiti Aikya Manch (BGUSAM) on Saturday expressed that the BJP-led coalition government’s apathy on land policy reformation has been frustrating the hopes and aspiration of the city residents. “Government has no holistic plan to provide land rights to the indigenous people,” they alleged.

Talking to the reporters on Saturday, the BGUSAM said that even after the submission of the highly speculated Brahma Committee report, nothing significant has been adopted so far based on the reformative suggestion made by the report. “Except providing lands to the corporate giants from outside the State, we have not witnessed Dispur’s initiative to provide land pattas to the indigenous people,” BGUSAM said. Reminding of Dispur earlier decision to provide land pattas based on the Bhumidhar Barman Committee report following the incident of June 22, 2011, the BGUSAM said that aspirations of 85,000 residents who applied for kabulas has since then been scrapped.

The BGUSAM also said that the State government’s announcement to stop distribution of kerosene oil has traumatized the residents of Guwahati. They maintained that thousands of indigenous people residing in different corners of the city irrespective of hills and plains are yet to get an electricity connection. “This sizable population still largely depends on essential commodities like kerosene oil to lighten their houses. Under such a given situation, Dispur decision to stop distribution of kerosene oil is quite mysterious,” the BGUSAM said. The BGUSAM also cautioned Dispur not to remove the names of the residents of Amchang areas from the electoral rolls.

Taking a dig on the contradicting statements made by certain MLAs and Ministers in connection with the allotment of pattas to the indigenous people in Guwahati, the BGUSAM argued, “If Dispur can allot vast land masses to Patanjali and Davur, the indigenous people should also be granted land pattas in the similar procedure.” Meanwhile, the BGUSAM has demanded Dispur to bring out white paper on the indigenous peoples’ demand for land pattas and withdraw the decision to stop the distribution of kerosene oil.