BJSM expresses resentment over crop destruction by GAIL in protected tribal lands

KOKRAJHAR: Bodoland Janajati Suraksha Mancha (BJSM) on Thursday expressed resentment over the laying of gas pipeline in the protected tribal belts and blocks land where such activities are not permissible as per Assam Land and Revenue Regulation Act, 1886.

In a strong statement, the president of the BJSM, Janaklal Basumatary said, "Farmers face crop destruction during devastating floods and due to herds of elephants but we never came across destruction of well-grown flowering paddy plants with JCB. GAIL has started laying gas pipeline through the plain vast paddy field between Kagrabari and Chandra para village under Dotma Revenue circle of Kokrajhar district. The land is under Sidli tribal belt and block notified protected area. Section 162(2) lays down that no person shall acquire land in protected belts/blocks by way of transfer, exchange, lease, agreement, or settlement in contravention of the provision of the provision Chapter X of Assam Land and Land Revenue Regulations 1886 as amended in 1947."

Basumatary said that GAIL could not acquire land under any agreement in tribal belt and block, that too agricultural land with standing crops. He said that GAIL had started destroying the standing flowering paddy crops by digging seven-feet deep 20 width canal to lay the 1metre diameter pipes through the middle of the vast paddy fields between the two villages Kagrabari and Chandra para village using JCB. It is not permissible in protected land. Even in eviction cases, the destruction of standing crop is not permissible, he said, adding that the BTC authority was duty bound to protect the tribal belt and block land under provision of chapter X of Assam Land and Land Revenue Regulation 1886 as amended in 1947 and could not have accorded permission to destruct the agricultural land and the standing crops thereon in contravention with the provision of Chapter X of the Assam Land and Land Revenue Regulation, 1886.

BJSM lodged their objection to the Secretary of BTC, looking after the GAIL issue, and Deputy Commissioner of Kokrajhar, requesting them to stop the destruction of crops and agricultural land in protected tribal belt block notified land. The BTC Secretary assured to stop the destruction of crops.

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