BTC Assembly Session: Stress laid on adopting clear-cut policy on land allotment

Our Correspondent

Kokrajhar: The one-day summer session of the BTC Legislative Assembly was held on Tuesday with government business on certain agenda. The opposition members raised questions on the water resources department, cultural affairs, forest and tourism, transport and land. The opposition members also inquired about the allotment of land to various private parties and agencies in the name of the establishment of educational institutions, farms, and industries and urged the ruling party to adopt a clear policy on land allotment, besides proper check and cross-examination.

The leader of the opposition, Rwngwna Narzary questioned how the cultural affairs department was trying to develop, preserve and promote cultural heritage such as folk dance, folk songs, and music of various ethnic communities. In his reply, the EM of Cultural Affairs, Bonjar Daimary said his department had been organizing workshops and seminars on folk dance, music, sounds and instruments from time to time. The department organizes the workshop on drama, art, and craft as well as puppet making as part of promotion and preservation of cultural heritage. On the maintenance of Bodofa Cultural Complex, Daimary said the department was facing financial crunch to beautify the cultural complex. He admitted that the functioning of art gallery, museum and open theatre in the complex were partly operational due to various reasons.

Replying to queries, Daimary said there were 74 registered film societies, including drama and theatrical groups, in four districts of BTC and they had been given grants-in-aid in a phased manner. He said due to the small allocation of fund, the department was finding it difficult to improve infrastructure for public cinema halls to inspire the producers and talented artists.

On the allocation of land to private parties, the opposition leader Rwngwna Narzary said the agencies or private parties who were looking for land for various purposes was increasing day-by-day. He said the council should stop allotment of land to private agencies or parties without adopting a clear policy and strategy and there must be cross check of the credibility and benefits to the people as land was very sensitive issue. He also said the allotment of land to Art of Living foundation in the name of establishment of Ved Vigyan Maha Vidyapith on a 365-acre area in Gossaigaon subdivision of Kokrajhar district would encourage similar parties to come forward for the same purpose. He further said the land should be allotted on lease but not on ownership basis. Questions were raised on projects undertaken by water resources and forest and tourism departments.