Encroachment of grazing reserve and khas land rampant in State

BY OUR STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI, Dec 23: Maximum portions of professiol grazing reserve (PGR) land, village grazing reserve (VGR) land and government khas land in Assam are under encroachment.

Although the government has started eviction drive against encroachers in different parts of the State, most of the PGR, VGR and khas lands across Assam are still to be freed of encroachment.

The State government recently conducted eviction drives at a portion of Kaziranga tiol Park, Mayong and Sipajhar. On Thursday, eviction drive was also held at Mas tiol Park.

Maximum portion of government khas land in the State has been grabbed by encroachers, according to government records. Most of the government khas land across the State can be found along the banks of the Brahmaputra and its tributaries. Government records further stated that those who live in khas lands are mostly encroachers.

However, the State Revenue department has maged to come out with data on encroachment of PGR, VGR and khas lands concerning only 17 districts out of 33 districts in Assam.

According to government records, 14985.96 hectares of government khas land and 112.99 hectares of VGR land in Hailakandi district; 53587 hectares of government khas land, 163481 bighas of PGR and 1558 bighas of VGR in Dhemaji district; 412248 bighas of government khas land, 23135 bighas of PGR and 39780 bighas of VGR in Morigaon district; 304758 bighas of government khas land and 12652 bighas of VGR in Cachar district, 514036 bighas of government khas land and 27115 bighas of VGR in Goalpara district; 508369 bighas of government khas land, 42033 bighas of PGR and 28818 bighas of VGR in Barpeta district; 293630 bighas of government khas land, 22067 bighas of PGR and 22309 bighas of VGR in Darrang district; 338959 bighas of government khas land, 66540 bighas of PGR and 38792 bighas of VGR in Kamrup district; 617935 bighas of government khas land, 22489 bighas of PGR and 36885 bighas of VGR in Lakhimpur district and 454898 bighas of government khas land, 4104 bighas of PGR and 93549 bighas of VGR in gaon district are under encroachment.

The government records further stated that 57292 bighas of government khas land, 3655 bighas of PGR and 54033 bighas of VGR in Sivasagar district; 165625 bighas of government khas land, 1588 bighas of PGR and 31626 bighas of VGR in Bongaigaon district; 1645383 bighas of government khas land, 50496 bighas of PGR and 75628 bighas of VGR in Sonitpur district; 213598 bighas of government khas land,  1423 bighas of PGR and 10868 bighas of VGR in Kamrup (M) district; 637197 bighas of government khas land and 4159 bighas of VGR in Dhubri district; 5842 bighas of government khas land and 503 bighas of VGR in Baksa district and 176657 bighas of government khas land and 1762 bighas of VGR in Karimganj district are under encroachment.

Despite being well aware of encroachment of these lands, the previous Congress government took no steps to make these lands encroachment-free. The present BJP-led coalition government at Dispur should take concrete measures to make the above mentioned lands encroachment-free.