GUWAHATI:
A coordination committee of tribal organisations has called for a blockade of the National Highway (NH) 37 in protest against the government’s move to set up Assam State Capital Region (ASCR) which will include tribal areas under five districts – Kamrup (M), Kamrup, Nalbari, Darrang and Morigaon on July 15.
The Students Co-ordination Committee comprising All Tiwa Students Union (ATSU), Morigaon District Students Union (MDSU), Morigaon District Committee of Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuva Chatra Parishad (AJYCP) and Morigaon District Committee of Lachit Sena called for the blockade in three stretches of the NH 37 at Sonapur, Jagiroad and Raha.
“If the state government does not withdraw this move, we will launch a vigorous movement from August 1,” All Tiwa Student Union (ATSU) president Dipak Amsong told The Meghalayan on July 10.
On July 7, while distributing relief packages to paper mill workers in Guwahati, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced that Guwahati city will be extended till Jagiroad in the east and it will reach up to Palashbari in the west.
The Chief Minister’s statement has triggered widespread protest from the tribal organisations as they feared that in the process of formation of the SCR the tribal belts in the area would be de-reserved which would pose a threat to the existence of the indigenous communities.
The Assam State Capital Region Authority Act 2017 was passed in the Assam Legislative Assembly on September 15, 2017, for the preparation of a plan for the development of the SCR.
“This Act will be most powerful. The traditional tribal belts and blocks would be de-reserved if the act is implemented. You see, several lakhs of bighas of land of South Kamrup Tribal belt was de-reserved to set up the state capital when Assam’s capital was shifted from Shillong to Guwahati. This land went to the government’s land bank and there is no chance to get back by the tribal people,” Amsong said.
“There is also a proposal of construction of the 8-lane express highway. The tribal people living on both sides of the highway will have to lose land right up to 3 km areas of the highway,” Amsong further added.
He said that in 1970, the government took over 2,000 bighas of land of Gobha Tribal Belt for setting up of the HPC paper mill at Jagiroad. At that time, they promised that one of each affected tribal family would get a job in the mill and adequate compensation would be paid to the families.
“But they did not keep their word. Now the mill is closed. And the government tactically takes over the land again. We demand that this piece of land be given back to the Gobha Tribal Block,” he said.
Stating that the organisation is not against development, the student leader said that they should not lose their land rights for the cause of the State Capital Region.
“We want Sixth Schedule status to Tiwa Autonomous Council (TAC). Most of our Tiwa brothers do not have land pattas. We want the government to issue land pattas to all Tiwa and other indigenous people living in this region,” he further added.
It was informed that 1.58 lakhs bighas of land under Dimaria, Mayong and Morigaon will be acquired by the state government for setting up of the State Capital Region.