Karbi Anglong Council To Cancel All Trade Licences; Carry Out Fencing On 8000 bigha of VGR–PGR Land: Assam CM
He told reporters, “We had a tripartite discussion among representatives of the Karbi people, the State Government and the KAAC over the recent disturbing development in Karbi Anglong. We have taken a number of important decisions in the meeting”
Guwahati: Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday said that a tripartite meeting with the representatives of the agitating Karbi community and the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) on Friday decided that the council will immediately start erection of fencing in the 8,000 bighas of vacant Village Grazing Reserve (VGR) and Professional Grazing Reserve (PGR) land in Kheroni area where violence broke over issue of encroachment.
He told reporters, “We had a tripartite discussion among representatives of the Karbi people, the State Government and the KAAC over the recent disturbing development in Karbi Anglong. We have taken a number of important decisions in the meeting.”
The chief minister also announced the cancellation of commercial licenses of all the establishments on VGR-PGR land in Karbi Anglong and pledged eviction drive by the government after the Gauhati High Court decision on the issue. The state will also provide compensation and a job to the next of kin of a deceased protestor, while fencing and afforestation will prevent future encroachments.
He clarified that the matter related to the VGR and PGR land has been under the consideration of the Gauhati High Court, and KAAC is yet to submit an affidavit before the court in this matter.
“Therefore, the matter is yet to be resolved. It was decided in a tripartite meeting that KAAC will file the affidavit before January 5. Representatives of the agitating Karbi people will also file an affidavit in this case,” he stated.
“The state government will also appeal to the court to give an order on its previous stay on the eviction in grazing lands as soon as possible so that we can take action accordingly,” the chief minister said.
Mr Sarma had said on December 25 that the demand by the Karbi people to evict the alleged encroachers from grazing lands cannot be accepted immediately, because of a stay by the high court.
The meeting also decided to shift all the government offices located in VGR and PGR land in Kheroni. Pointing out that all trade licences issued in the PGR and VGR land will be cancelled he said that the KAAC will also start an eviction drive to clear encroachment from the departmental land in Karbi Anglong.
He said, “The next discussion in this matter will be held on January 17. Hope by that time we will get a decision from the high court. Many rules proposed by the KAAC are under consideration of the state government and we will clear those soon.”
The chief minister also informed that Assam Police would grant general amnesty in all the cases registered during the recent violence, except the case registered in connection with the death of a person who was allegedly burnt to death.
