KMSS president Akhil Gogoi in Guwahati on Thursday. Picture by UB Photos

Guwahati, July 3: The Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) today opposed Dispur’s recent decision of transferring agricultural land for non-agricultural purposes, saying it would severely affect the peasants.

Dispur had, on June 17, authorised the deputy commissioners of the state to issue no-objection certificates to transfer agricultural land not cultivated for a minimum period of 10 years or not fit for agriculture to be used for non-agricultural purposes. A copy of the notification issued by additional chief secretary S.C. Das has been forwarded to the departments concerned.

KMSS president Akhil Gogoi told the media that the decision was Dispur’s “biggest conspiracy ever” against peasants. “By the decision Dispur is facilitating outside businessmen, companies and capitalists to acquire agricultural land. The KMSS will fight against the decision,” he said.

According to the notification, the state has a large number of plots of land which are recorded as agricultural land but in actual practice are not fit for agriculture or have not been cultivated for 10 years or more.

“To ensure optimum utilisation of such land and to promote non-agricultural activities like setting up of industries, educational institutions, health institutions and housing, the state government has decided to allow deputy commissioners to give NOC for transfer of such land after reclassifying them as ‘barren and unculturable’ or ‘culturable waste’ as per actual status of the land in the field,” the notification said. The deputy commissioners have been authorised to take suo motto action to reclassify such land.

“The decision was taken despite the Assam Land and Revenue Regulation, 1886 and a notification of the state revenue department issued on August 12, 2013, prohibiting use of agricultural land for non-agricultural purposes,” Akhil said.

He said the flood-affected peasants would be the worst hit. “Because of floods, thousands of bighas of land in the state have been covered by sand. They have been lying uncultivated for years and have become unfit for agriculture. Instead of taking measures to make the land fit for agriculture, the state government has decided to facilitate businessmen from outside the state to acquire it,” Akhil said.

The KMSS demanded that chief minister Tarun Gogoi should cancel the directive and formulate a “progressive land” law.

“Gogoi had admitted a few days ago that land along the national highways in the state had been taken possession of by businessman from outside the state. This shows how local people have lost land over the years. But the same chief minister has decided to convert agricultural land for non-agricultural purposes,” Akhil said.

In August last year, the state government had taken a “serious view” of the matter. The additional chief secretary had then issued notifications to deputy commissioners and sub-divisional officers of all districts to issue showcause notice and take action against to all those who used agricultural land for non-agricultural purpose.