Land Policy 2019: Dispur moves to Protect Indigenous Agriculturists

* Prime agricultural land of districts will be digitally mapped and recorded distinctly in the land records.

* Deputy Commissioners will not be allowed to accord approval for transfer of such land without prior approval from the Government.

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The Assam government has decided to shield the indigenous agriculturalists across the State. The Land Policy 2019 defines an ‘Agriculturist’ as “a person who cultivates the land personally.”

The decision to this regard has been taken following observation of the Revenue and Disaster Management department that large tracts of potential and good yielding agricultural lands belonging to indigenous people were being bought by some people and used for non-agricultural purposes. It came to light while the department was preparing the draft for the new land policy 2019.

The department then forwarded its observation with the suggestion that steps should be taken to shield such prime agricultural land of the indigenous people to the Chief Minister, the Agriculture department and 10 other departments. Meanwhile, the State Council of Ministers has given its nod to the suggestion at its October 21 meeting, where the Land Policy 2019 was also approved.

Following notification, there will be strict restrictions on the sale of such lands.

With respect to the ‘Restriction on transfer of agricultural land’, the new ‘Land Policy-2019’ says, “In order to maintain the basic permanent cropland in the State, the Deputy Commissioners with the assistance of the Agricultural Department shall carry out survey to identify the prime agricultural land parcels of the districts depending upon the fertility of the land, irrigation facility, cropping intensity and annual yield records of such land. Such prime agricultural land of the districts shall be digitally mapped and recorded distinctly in the land records. Deputy Commissioners shall not accord approval for transfer of such land without prior approval from the Government.

“Further, the Deputy Commissioners shall not accord permission for transfer of land under periodic lease belonging to an agriculturist land holder to a person who is not an agriculturist in contravention of provisions of Executive lnstruction-6 under the Assam Land and Revenue Regulation, 1886 and other land laws. Endeavour shall be made to bring suitable amendments in existing laws, if necessary, to further strengthen the measures to check transfer of agricultural land belonging to the agriculturists to the non-agriculturists and also for protecting land belonging to indigenous communities of the State.”

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