Report flags encroachment of 7,504 bighas of xatra land

Worst impact in Barpeta, Lakhimpur and Nagaon districts

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The interim report submitted on Friday by the Assam State Commission for Review and Assessment of Problems of Satra Lands has mentioned that around 7,504 bighas of land belonging to 303 xatras of the state are under encroachment.

According to the interim report submitted to Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, the highest quantum of encroachment of xatra land is highest in the Barpeta district. Around 74 percent of the total xatra land under encroachment is located in this district, followed by the Lakhimpur, Nagaon, Bongaigaon and Dhubri districts.

After receiving the interim report, the Chief Minister said that hitherto there were only written and verbal reports regarding encroachment of xatra land. Now, however, the reality of encroachment of xatra land has been established with facts and figures, he said.

The Chief Minister said that the findings of contained in the report will be sent to the Deputy Commissioners concerned for cross-verification. Once the Deputy Commissioners submit their reports regarding these findings, the government will resume discussion with the Xatra Commission and take a final decision regarding the action to be taken.

He said that the government will look into the aspect of whether some people got settlement of land belonging to xatras under some old laws, adding that such cases are found then the government will have to decide about the future course of action.

Sarma, however, asserted that the state government is committed to freeing xatra land from possession of encroachers and it will not allow fresh encroachment of such lands.

Meanwhile, the chairman of the Xatra Commission MLA, Pradip Hazarika said after submitting the interim report that the process of encroachment of xatra land started in various ways as far back as 1923. Some misguided steps of previous governments also contributed to encouraging encroachment of xatra land, Hazarika said.

The maximum quantum of encroachment of xatra land has been done by people of East Bengal origin, Hazarika observed, adding that the problem is "alarming" in the undivided Nagaon district where the majority of xatras is under heavy encroachment.

"The alarming situation was noticed by the Commission during its visit to the district… The Commission has now been able to assess the depth of the problem and set it motion its journey towards finding a lasting solution," Hazarika said.

He further said that some encroachers of East Bengal origin have also realized the problem and they are ready to vacate the xatra lands if they are given alternative land by the government.

Some of the recommendations of the interim report include immediate clearing of all the xatra lands from encroachment where the record of land rights are available with the xatras concerned. Moreover, the report suggested certain specific steps for xatras affected by the implementation of the Assam State Acquisition of Lands belonging to Religious or Charitable Institutions of Public Nature Act, 1959, which include (i) review of the correctness of the annuity at time of acquisition of the land xatra-wise, and also review the status of release of annuities to various xatras, and (ii) complete review of settlement records of land acquired from religious institutions in the light of provisions of the Act.

The report also recommended steps for promotion and preservation of Vaishnavite heritage by taking certain xatras on board, creation of a religious tourism circuit centering around Barpeta and Borduwa, and setting of three fully residential 'Satriya Cultural Education Centres' at Barpeta, Borduwa and Majuli.

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