Cabinet nod to amend rules to free satra land from encroachment

GUWAHATI: In a bid to free Satra lands from illegal encroachers, the state cabinet on Monday decided to amend the Assam Land and Revenue Regulation, 1886. Sources said that once amended, the new regulation would empower the deputy commissioners of the respective districts to free the satra lands from encroachment.
As per official sources, the existing Assam Land and Revenue Regulation, 1886 allows deputy commissioners to free government lands from encroachment. The proposed amendment would now extend similar power to the deputy commissioners over satras lands and other historical monuments.
"The state government was conducting the eviction drives as per the Gauhati high court directives. From now and onwards, such drives will be conducted after the amendments are brought into action," said the Chief Ministers' Office (CMO).
After receiving the cabinet nod, the revenue department would prepare a bill which will be finally placed in the Assam assembly.
"Around 231 bighas and 4 kathas of satra lands are under illegal occupation across Assam. As per official records, the maximum area of over 121 bighas of Shyamrai Bigrah Satra in Barpeta district is under illegal occupation. Besides, several other satras in Dhemaji, Bongaigaon, Kamrup (Metro), Jorhat, Nagaon and Dhubri districts are also under encroachment," sources added.
Besides, the state cabinet has also decided to reduce the minimum age limit for becoming a gaonburha (village headman) from 35 to 25 years. Earlier, the state government had brought into effect a two-child policy for state government employees after passing its State Population Policy.
The CMO added, "The cabinet has also agreed to enact a new Assam Private Placement Agency for Recruitment Regulation Act to provide legal safety to the youths who works in private companies outside Assam. Moreover, state government will pay a compensation of Rs 20 lakh to the kin of security personnel who die while working outside Assam."