Land acquisition from tribal council area for Guwahati expansion project opposed
Tribal student organizations in Assam are opposing a government land acquisition project intended to expand Guwahati. The groups argue that the acquisition violates the Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council Act and threatens the land rights of indigenous communities.
Why it matters
The conflict highlights the ongoing tension between urban development projects and the protection of indigenous land rights in protected tribal areas.
Two tribal students’ organisations have opposed a proposal to acquire land from areas under the Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council (RHAC) for a project to expand Guwahati.
The RHAC is one of six statutory autonomous tribal councils. These do not enjoy the level of administrative, judicial, and financial powers granted to three others under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of India.
The RHAC covers large swathes of Goalpara and Kamrup districts. On June 3, the Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) issued a proposal to acquire land for the Housing and Urbanisation Department in villages under the RHAC and notified Tribal Belts and Blocks within the Azara and Palashbari revenue circles of Kamrup district.
The proposal for the Guwahati City Extension project followed discussions between Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and the GMDA’s chief executive officer on May 24.
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