Vast tracts of government land continue to be encroached upon

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Huge tracts of government land in various parts of the State are being illegally encroached upon. Unfortunately, the authorities concerned are paying scant attention to this. Sheer negligence on the part of the authorities concerned to protect government land has only led to more encroachment.

After the creation of the state of Meghalaya, Assam's new capital was shifted to Dispur on a temporary basis. Around 188 bighas of land in Digarumukh under Chandrapur Revenue Circle were allotted for setting up the permanent capital complex of Assam. In fact, in November 1984, the foundation stone for the capital complex in Digarumukh was laid. But the capital of Assam remained in Dispur permanently and the 188-bigha land at Digarumukh was left abandoned. Slowly, encroachers started encroaching upon that land.

During the rule of the Tarun Gogoi government, this land was handed over to the Assam Tourism Development Corporation (ATDC) for taking up some tourism projects. The then Tourism Minister Chandan Brahma inspected the land and finally, ATDC decided to set up a golf course on that land. It was also planned to connect the land to Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary to take up further tourism development initiatives. Around Rs 50 lakh was spent for constructing the boundary wall around this land.

However, beyond this, nothing much happened on this land. Eventually, the land mafia and land dalals set their eyes upon this land and according to sources, they are selling plots of this land at Rs 10 lakh per bigha. The district authorities seem to be oblivious of this development and hence no action has been taken in this regard.

The same seems to be happening in another place near Dispur. There are 50 bighas of land on the Narakasur Hilltop behind Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) which the Hiteswar Saikia government had kept for a tourism project. The then Tourism Minister Mukut Sarma had inspected the land and taken initiative to construct the boundary wall. After that, the Tarun Gogoi government also decided to take up a tourism project on that land. But till today, nothing substantial has been done on this land. As a result, encroachers have encroached upon that land.

These are just two examples of valuable government land near the State capital. There are huge tracts of government land across the State which are being illegally encroached upon due to the apathy of the authorities concerned and because timely steps have not been taken to put the government land to productive use.

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