GUWAHATI: In a recent development, the Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) has initiated an eviction drive in the Sankar Nagar area of Borbari, Guwahati, Assam, following a similar eviction drive at Silsako Beel. This move has given rise to a contentious issue involving allegations of land encroachment and concerns about compensation.
According to the sources, the eviction operation targeted six households located on a hill that had supposedly encroached upon government land for more than a decade. The primary motivation behind this eviction was GMDA's intention to implement an Urban Forest project on the hill. Unfortunately, many specifics about the project remain undisclosed, leaving residents in uncertainty.
A resident, speaking on behalf of the affected households, countered the claims of encroachment. She revealed that during the Congress regime, they were provided with various facilities and support, implying that they were not regarded as encroachers at the time. The residents had established their homes in the area since 2011 and were instructed to vacate their homes in August of the current year. However, the residents expressed their dissatisfaction with the lack of compensation or alternative housing options.
The resident further lamented the dire predicament they found themselves in. Securing rental accommodation was a challenge, particularly because her husband earned a livelihood as an auto-rickshaw driver, leaving them with limited financial resources to seek alternative housing.
Another resident questioned the rationale behind establishing an Urban Forest on the hill, highlighting that the hill already had a natural forest cover. She asserted that the land on which they resided had been acquired legally, indicating that they held rightful ownership.
The situation in Sankar Nagar has ignited a debate, with concerns over land rights, compensation, and the necessity of an Urban Forest project taking center stage. As the controversy unfolds, residents grapple with uncertainty about their future, and the GMDA faces questions about its urban development plans and the treatment of long-term residents.
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