Will provide land rights to urban poor with low or no premium: CM Himanta

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that the State Government would streamline its 'age-old and anomalous land laws' to provide land rights to the indigenous urban poor and lower-middle-class families under Mission Basundhara-II.

Announcing BJP's commitments on the eve of the municipal board election, the Chief Minister said that thousands of urban poor and lower-middle-class families were deprived of the benefits of various government schemes as they lacked rights over the land under their occupation for years.

"Thousands of people have not got land settlement even after staying there for about 75 years in Mariani town. The reason is – they cannot pay the heavy premium. The existing land premiums in different circles in the state are too heavy to pay for the poor and lower-middle-class people. We have taken a move to provide land rights to the indigenous people living on the hillocks in Guwahati. If we give land settlement to a family living atop Nabagraha hill in Guwahati, the premium will be around Rs 1 crore. Even if the government gives land settlements to the family, how can they pay the heavy premium? Considering such problems, we want to provide land rights to the indigenous people living in urban areas for years through minimum premiums or without premiums under Mission Basundhara-II."

For smooth implementation of developmental works, the Chief Minister said, "We want to introduce an 'executive cadre', including a chief executive officer (CEO), an executive engineer, an accountant and others in all town committees for smooth implementation of developmental works. The government will pay the salary of such 'executive cadres'."

The Chief Minister further said, "Around 100 students of the state are in Ukraine. I have liaised with the Ministry of External Affairs on this issue. The Government of India will lift Indians from Ukraine, and our students will be among them."

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