Gogoi's new land policy a non-starter

Dispur drags its feet as illegal migrants grab government land

By Our Staff Reporter

Guwahati, Sept 9: Immediately after assuming power for the third consecutive term in 2011, the Congress government in the State had faced vehement protests by organizations demanding land rights.

To quell the unrest, that also claimed the life of a minor in police firing at Dispur Last Gate, the government had announced that the British-era land policy in the State will be repealed and a new law ected.

A committee was formed under the chairmanship of senior Congress legislator Dr Bhumidhar Barman which submitted its report to the government more than two years ago.

Now, with less than six months to go before the State goes to polls, the new land policy is still a far cry.

Revenue department officials, however say, the new policy is in the “fil stages”. “We are awaiting the view of some departments,” they say.

However, there are no indications that the government may implement a new land policy before next year’s assembly elections.

The dilly-dallying by the Tarun Gogoi government is despite the fact that over 41.24 lakh bighas of government land in the State is under encroachment. In Sonitpur district alone, over 5 lakh bighas of government land in under encroachment, followed by Dhemaji (4.87 lakh bighas), Lakhimpur (4.63 lakh bighas), TInsukia (3.44 lakh bighas) and Udalguri (3.20 lakh bighas).

There are allegations that some of the encroached tracts are under the occupation of illegal migrants.

Land rights activists have been demanding pattas to landless indigenous settlers.

GOVT LAND UNDER
ENCROACHMENT
Sonitpur        5.07 lakh bigha
Dhemaji       4.87 lakh bigha
Lakhimpur       4.63 lakh bigha
Tinsukia     3.44 lakh bigha
Udalguri     3.20 lakh bigha
Kamrup     2.22 lakh bigha
gaon      2.02 lakh bigha
Kamrup(M)    35000 bigha