XATTRA LAND-REVENUE EXEMPTION: Assam Government seeks DC's report

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The State government has asked the Barpeta Deputy Commissioner (DC) to submit a fresh detailed report on the annual land revenue that is paid by the management of Barpeta Xattra as well as the land owned by it even as the government is actively considering exempting land revenue to all xattras (neo-Vaishnavite religious centres) across the State. Mentionably, the Xattra had submitted its detailed report on these aspects to the Revenue & Disaster Management Department.

Dispur's latest move has been taken following the direction of Chief Minister's Office after a plea was made by the Burha Xattriya of Barpeta Xattra, Basistha Deva Sarma, to the CM seeking exemption of the Barpeta Xattra from paying the annual land revenue to the government.

After that, the CM's Office collected the data on land revenue that is paid by all the xattras across the State. It was then found from the respective DCs' reports that these religious institutions of Assam pay approximately Rs 9 lakh annually. There are about 99,000 bighas of land under the xattras across the State.

Department sources stated that a final decision in this regard will be taken after the COVID situation normalizes. 

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