Charaideo Maidam in Sonari. File picture

Guwahati, Feb. 11: Assam revenue and disaster management minister Prithibi Majhi today told the Assembly that the government has lodged FIRs against 41 individuals and organisations for alleged transfer of agricultural land for non-agricultural purposes in Kamrup and Kamrup (metro) districts.

Majhi said this in reply to a question by BJP MLA Jadav Chandra Deka.

The minister added that lower Assam division commissioner Sabbir Hussain is conducting an inquiry into the allegations of large-scale transfer of agricultural land for other purposes and has been asked to submit his report within February 28.

Majhi said the state government will frame a land policy and a committee, under the chairmanship of Congress MLA Bhumidhar Barman, has been formed to work on it.

During a debate on motion of thanks on the governor’s address, the Opposition MLAs attacked the government saying the address is far from reality.

AIUDF legislator Abdur Rahim Khan said the governor’s speech does not reflect the ground situation in the state.

BJP MLA Manoranjan Das said instead of only highlighting the government’s achievements, it would have been better if he would have also highlighted the areas, which need improvement.Congress legislator Bhumidhar Barman said law and order has improved compared to what it was during AGP rule and cited the ongoing peace process with militant outfits to buttress his point.

Echoing Barman, Bhupen Bora of the Congress hit out at the Opposition MLAs and asked them to take a neutral view.

Dispur has also asked district authorities to take immediate steps to remove encroachment from historical sites in their respective areas.

In a written reply to an unstarred question by AGP legislator Keshab Mahanta, Majhi today placed a letter before the Assembly in which the deputy commissioners and sub-divisional officers (civil) of all districts were directed to clear encroachment.

The letter, signed by commissioner and secretary of revenue and disaster management H.N. Bora and issued last month, said heritage/historical/archaeological sites in the state like Charaideo Maidam, Chamdhara Garh, Misa Fort and other monuments and ancient ponds of Ahom and Kachari kingdoms, among others, have been encroached upon.

“It is needless to mention that preservation of the sites of historical and archaeological importance is the duty of the government,” the letter said. The deputy commissioners and sub-divisional officers were asked to take steps to remove encroachment. The district authorities were also asked to carry out monitoring through field-level revenue functionaries and gaonburahs (village headmen) to prevent encroachment.

Majhi said according to data received from 13 districts, one bigha, two katha and 10 lessa of land at Surya Pahar in Goalpara district has been encroached upon, while three katha and three lessa land of British Cemetery in Dibrugarh town and one bigha, one katha and 10 lessa land at Gar Ali at Naharkatia in Dibrugarh district is under encroachment.

He said historical and archaeological places in Dispur, Guwahati and Azara revenue circles in Kamrup (metro) district had also been encroached. The minister, however, could not furnish details of encroachment in Sivasagar district.

Outlying bench: Assam law minister Tanka Bahadur Rai today told the Assembly that the state government has initiated the process of setting up an outlying bench of Gauhati High Court in Barak Valley.

Replying to a question by Congress MLA Kamalakhya Dey Purkayastha, Rai said the file has been sent to the chief minister for approval, after which it will be sent to the chief justice of the high court and the President for consideration.

Dhubri eviction

Police today evicted 200 more roadside vendors who had allegedly encroached upon pavements in and around Dhubri town, after removing over 100 vendors yesterday, reports our correspondent from Dhubri.

Dhubri circle officer Sarfraz Haque, who led the drive, said it was carried out under instructions from the district administration.

Manik Kalita, officer-in-charge of Dhubri police station, said the illegal encroachment was causing huge traffic jams.

The vendors alleged they regularly paid taxes to the civic body for selling their goods but they were still being evicted.

The chairman of the Dhubri Municipal Board, Himabrata Majumdar, said the vendors had approached him to find out a solution.