Assam: Protests erupt over allotment of land to Patanjali Foods Ltd in Marangi

A CORRESPONDENT

NUMALIGARH: The Assam Government’s decision to allot 10 hectares of land at the Falangani Seed Farm to Patanjali Foods Limited has sparked widespread protests in Marangi. The decision, revealed by MLA Mrinal Saikia in the state assembly, has drawn strong reactions from the local people.

A public protest meeting was held on Sunday, at the Falangani Seed Farm premises, where local residents, various political parties, and organizations condemned the state’s agriculture department and the Minister Atul Bora. The farm, which has been lying abandoned for years, is a significant concern for the local people.

Recently, it was discovered that a significant portion of the farm’s 35 hectares of land had been transferred to Patanjali Foods Limited and another company. The agriculture minister’s decision to revive the farm by allotting land to these companies has been widely criticized. The local residents and organizations have demanded that the government revoke this decision and instead work towards reviving the farm.

The protest meeting was attended by various organizations, including the All Assam Students’ Union, Marangi Regional Committee, and the Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuva Chatra Parishad. A 51-member committee, the ‘Falangani Seed Farm Protection Committee,’ has been formed to spearhead the movement against the government’s decision. The committee has warned that if the government fails to revoke its decision within a month, they will launch a massive agitation program. The meeting also decided to submit a memorandum to the Chief Minister, the Agriculture Minister, and the local MLAs, demanding that the government’s decision be revoked. The meeting was presided over by retired teacher Bubul Saikia and attended by hundreds of local residents.

Patanjali Foods Limited has been expanding its palm oil plantation business in several states, including Assam. However, the company’s involvement in the Falangani Seed Farm has raised concerns among the local population. The Assam Government’s decision has also raised questions about the state’s land policies and the allocation of land to corporate entities. The Assam Land Policy of 2019 outlines the state’s guidelines for land allocation, but it remains to be seen how this policy will be applied in the case of the Falangani Seed Farm.

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