Only 3 Xattras Freed of Encroachments in 3 years

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Prior to the Assembly polls in 2016, one of the main poll planks of the BJP was to make the encroachment of the xattra land free. However even after three years of the BJP-led coalition government assuming the reins of power in the State, only three xattras have been freed of encroachments. The hard fact is that lands of many other xattras are still under encroachment.

Talking to The Sentinel, the general secretary of Asom Xattra Mahasabha Kusum Kumar Mahanta said, “Encroachment on xattra lands has been a long-pending issue. Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal also assured us that steps would be taken to free such areas from encroachers. He did issue a directive to the Revenue department officials to take steps in this regard. But, it is unfortunate that the officials have not followed his orders.”

The president of the apex body of State’s Vaishnavite xattras (monasteries) added, “So far, anti-encroachment drives have been undertaken only in the Bordowa Than in Nagaon district, the Patekibari Xattra in Morigaon district, and the Dakhinpat Xattra in Kamrup (Metro) district. But, there are encroachments in many other xattras. However, we have not seen willingness on the part of the Revenue department officials to carry out such drives in the other areas. The Chief Minister should monitor the status of the drive.”

Alleging that “many xattra lands have been encroached upon by people of suspected nationalities and also by some local people”, Mahanta stressed, “The authorities concerned must identify these encroachers. The illegal migrants must be totally evicted and legal action initiated. The evicted local people must be issued pattas in government land.”

When asked about the total areas of xattra land under encroachment, Mahanta said, “According to our data, there are 1,242 total xattras in Assam. I personally carried out a rough survey on this issue, and found that 6,550 bighas are under illegal occupation. If it is done professionally, it will be more than 10,000 bighas of land.”

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