Plight of Xatras in Assam

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The Xatra Commission has found that several xatras shifted from Majuli to Lakhimpur in the 1960s to evade the wrath of erosion. And now they are in the jaws of extinction due to massive encroachment in their new locations.

The Xatra Commission led by MLA Pradip Hazarika found massive encroachment of xatra lands in the Lakhimpur district by people belonging to a particular faith. The xatras have not been able to take possession of portions of the lands allotted to them by the government in the 1960s.

The Xatra Commission and the officials of the Revenue and Disaster Management (R&DM) Department visited the xatras in the Lakhimpur districts recently. The visiting team has found massive encroachment of xatra land. The xatras in the district have been languishing for their survival.

Adhi Elengi Xatra, Natun Kamalabari Xatra, Purana Kamalabari Xatra, Bengenaati Xatra, Sakupara Xatra etc., are some xatras that shifted to the Lakhimpur district from Majuli in 1960s. All these xatras are now under extinction threat due to massive encroachment of their lands.

According to sources, the then Chief Minister Bimala Prasad Chaliha allotted around 1,900 bighas of land in 1962 to the erosion-affected xatras that shifted to Lakhimpur from Majuli. The then Revenue Minister Siddhinath Sarma officially handed over the allotted lands to the xatras in 1964. However, most of the xatras have not been able to take possession of the allotted lands from encroachers fully. And the status quo continued as successive state governments looked the other way.

Talking to The Sentinel today, Xatra Commission Chairman Pradip Hazarika said, "The Xatra Commission has started visiting the xatras of the state. The encroachment of xatra land is massive in the Lakhimpur district where most of the xatras are under extinction threat."

The team of the Xatra Commission also visited the xatras in the Dhemaji district.

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