OUR CORRESPONDENT
MANGALDAI: Finally putting an end to all the speculations and after a series of discussions with Dalgaon legislator of AIUDF Majibor Rahman and office bearers of All Assam Minority Students' Union (AAMSU) and Asom Sankhyalaghu Sangram Parishad, Darrang district administration has started the shifting and rehabilitation of the encroached families from Dhalpur area to Shyampur area in Darrang district from Tuesday. A total of 66 families have been shifted today. For this purpose to shift the evicted families smoothly the district administration has engaged a total of 100 tractors to carry the household belongings and the family members.
Additional Deputy Commissioner (Revenue) Vivek Shyam Pangyok, Officiating Superintendent of Police Rupam Phukan, Circle Officer of Sipajhar Revenue Circle Kamaljit Sarma and Officer in Charge of Sipajhar Police Station Inspector Niranjan Sarma accompanied by security personnel have supervised the shifting process at Dhalpur area while Revenue Circle Officer of Dalgaon Revenue Circle Samir Choudhury, DSP (HQ) Pranjal Bora and Officer in Charge of Shyampur Police Station Sub Inspector Muktar Rahman has made all arrangements to welcome the evicted families at their new place of rehabilitation. The district administration already has also made all arrangements to provide the drinking water facility and toilets for these families and also constructed road connectivity.
Mention may be made here that as per the decision of Assam government to initiate 'Project Dhalpur' at Dhalpur area immediately after the visit of the Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma at Dhalpur on June 7, 2021, the administration had conducted a massive eviction drive at Dhalpur area on September 20 and September 23, 2021 in which two encroachers got killed in police firing on September 23 while the organized gang of encroachers got agitated and attacked the police. Till date the district administration has cleared an area of 8,000 bighas of government land from the encroachers at Dhalpur area and 'Project Dhalpur' headed by its Chairman Padma Hazarika has already harvested the mustard oil seed, sesame and black lentil in these encroached free areas.
"As per the decision of the State government, we have decided to shift a total number of 2,051 families already evicted from Bheti Bazar and Niz Salmara and Dhalpur area under Sipajhar Revenue Circle and to rehabilitate these families in the government land at No. 2 Shyampur, No. 3 and 4 Arimari, Roumari and Badali Barali area of Shyampur area in Dalgaon Revenue Circle. To make the process of shifting and rehabilitation a smooth and transparent one, the district administration has already made discussion with Dalgaon legislator Majibar Rahman, office bearers of AAMSU and Asom Sankhyalaghu Sangram Parishad who also extended their support to the initiative of the government for rehabilitation of these evicted families. On humanitarian grounds, the district administration has provided them with drinking water facilities and toilets at the place of their rehabilitation besides constructing a new road," said Darrang Deputy Commissioner Pranab Kumar Sarma while talking to 'The Sentinel' on Tuesday afternoon.
Mention may be made here that out of these 2,051 families, 633 families would be shifted on priority basis in the first phase while 423 families evicted from Niz Salmara (Part) and No. 1 Dhalpur would be relocated initially and 210 families who already have left the area voluntarily and staying on the south bank of river Brahmaputra would be shifted in the second phase. The remaining families would be shifted in the subsequent manner.
Meanwhile, expressing his satisfaction over the government's initiative to rehabilitate the 2,051 evicted families at Shyampur area, Adviser of AAMSU Ainuddin Ahmed reiterated their demand to sanction an amount of Rs 25000 each to the encroached families and to provide them dwelling houses under PMAY. On the other hand, talking to 'The Sentinel' Dalgaon legislator said that on humanitarian ground he has extended support to the district administration for the rehabilitation process.
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