DC of Kamrup (M) directed to protect retainable land of Kamakhya shrine

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The Gauhati High Court has upheld the acquisition of land and resettlement of people by the State Government and district administration in the Kamakhya Hills and Nilachal Hills in the 1960s under the Assam State Acquisition of Lands Belonging to Religious and Charitable Institutions of Public Nature Act, 1959.

The court rejected a writ petition filed by the Board of Trustees of the Kamakhya Debutter, Kamakhya Hill and some others on behalf of Maa Kamakhya deity, seeking the impugned land-acquisition process be declared as null and void due to various alleged violations of the Assam State Acquisition of Lands Belonging to Religious and Charitable Institutions of Public Nature Act, 1959.

The court, however, directed the Deputy Commissioner of Kamrup (M) to verify within six months if any retainable land - other than the land duly acquired and resettled by the Government more than five decades ago – of the Kamakhya shrine, as represented by the Kamakhya Debutter, is under encroachment at present. The court further directed that in case any encroachment of retainable land is found, then the Deputy Commissioner of Kamrup (M) shall evict the encroachers from the retainable land and restore it the Kamakhya Debutter.

The court also stipulated that in case of the land beyond the retainable area that was duly acquired earlier by the government under the Assam State Acquisition of Lands Belonging to Religious and Charitable Institutions of Public Nature Act, 1959, there will be no bar with regard to grant of settlement, mutation etc.

Sarma said that in the last few years, the region witnessed several policy decisions of the Central Government to put the entire Northeast into a robust growth trajectory. He also said that the Prime Minister addresses the region as the new engine of growth and Astalaxmi, which transformed the region into a development hub. Moreover, the region has experienced an unprecedented growth with regard to rail, road, water and air connectivity.

The Chief Minister said that the proposed four-lane road connecting Kohima, Dimapur and Karbi Anglong once completed would usher in new momentum of growth and development. He also said that in the field of unconventional and renewable energy sources, the Prime Minister's target of green energy generation by 2035 would lead to reduction of environmental pollution to a great extent.

Chief Minister Sarma said that the conclave would give a new dimension for the growth of mines and minerals sector in the region. He also hoped that the Union Minister for Mines and Coal would take special steps for the implementation of the proposals charted in the conclave. He at the same time welcomed the decision of the ministry for holding the next conclave in Guwahati.

Chief Minister Nagaland Neiphiu Rio, Minister of Mines and Minerals Nandita Gorlosa, MLA Taranga Gogoi and other senior officers of State and Central governments were present at the conclave.

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