Encroached tribal lands slipping into corporate hands

Highest encroachment in Tinsukia district, 66 industries already set up in Kamrup (metro) tribal blocks

By Our Staff Reporter

Guwahati, Oct 11: As large tracts of tribal belts and blocks in Assam continue to be under illegal occupation, there are now reports that some of these plots are being unlawfully allocated to corporate houses and businessmen for setting up industrial units.

Sources said that as many as 66 such industries have been set up in tribal blocks of Kamrup (metropolitan) district alone. According to official records, around 189 bighas of tribal block in the district are under encroachment.

There are a total of 17 tribal belts and 30 tribal blocks in the State, comprising an area of around 82,14,985 bighas.

The highest encroachment is in Tinsukia district, where 1,64,012 bighas are under illegal occupation.

In Kamrup district, 22,516 bighas are under encroachment, while in Lakhimpur and Dhemaji 13,336 and 11,577 bighas respectively have been usurped.

Around 7,260 bighas of tribal land is under encroachment in Sonitpur district and 1,966 bighas in gaon district.

There are reports of encroachment of tribal belts and blocks in other districts as well, but the administrations have not yet quantified it.

"We have been repeatedly asking the government to clear the tribal belts and blocks, but no action has been taken so far. We have submitted representations to everyone concerned, but to no avail. Now the encroached tracts are being unlawfully allotted to businessmen and corporate houses. A nexus between revenue officials, circle officers and land mafias is preventing the government from taking action," All Assam Tribal Sangha president Aditya Khaklari said.

He said while the State government is yet to implement Assam Land & Revenue Act in toto, the indigenous people are becoming landless in the State.