DELAY IN JOINT LAND SURVEY
STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI: The Asom Sattra Mahasabha (ASM) has expressed its dissatisfaction over the failure of the State government to initiate the joint survey of Xattra lands. This umbrella organisation of the Xattras (Neo-Vaishnavite centres) in the State further apprehends that this important work to assess the actual xattra lands under encroachment may not be taken up during the remaining four months of the present BJP-led coalition government in Assam.
Talking to The Sentinel, ASM general secretary Xattradhikar Kusum Kumar Mahanta said, "We are pained at the attitude of the present government for not addressing a prime concern of the Xattras in Assam. This is despite the repeated assurances of at least two Ministers.
During the early part of the present government, the then State Revenue & Disaster Management Minister Pallab Lochan Das had assured the ASM in a meeting that a joint survey will be carried out. Higher officials of the department were also present on that occasion.
"Archaeology Minister Keshab Mahanta also agreed, in a subsequent meeting, to go ahead with the proposal. We even requested the Chief Minister several times.
"However till date, it has not been done. We doubt whether the government will do so in the remaining period of the present tenure. This is despite the fact that one of the 2016-poll promises of the BJP was that if it is voted to power, the Xattra lands will be freed from encroachments."
Xattradhikar Mahanta added, "Of course, the BJP-led coalition in Dispur took steps to free a few xattras from encroachment after it took over the reins of power. But the fact remains that without survey of all the Xattra lands, vital aspects of this land-related issue will not be ascertained. Only a joint survey comprising department personnel and ASM representatives will bring out the data at the ground level.
"Such surveys will be able to find data on three important issues. These are: the number of Xattras, the actual land owned by the Xattras, and, of course, the Xattra lands now under encroachment."
When asked about the total areas of xattra land under encroachment, he said, "According to a rough survey of ASM undertaken across a few districts a few years back, around 7,000 bighas were under illegal occupation then.
"There are 1,242 xatras in Assam. Proper joint surveys will definitely show that more than 10,000 bighas of lands are under illegal occupation now."