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Time of India
29-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Govt plans to evict 1k families for aerocity project: Saikia
1 2 Guwahati: Opposition leader and senior Congressman Debabrata Saikia claimed on Tuesday that the state govt plans to seize land from hundreds of indigenous families near Guwahati airport to hand it over to the Adani group for an aerocity project. The move has sparked unrest in the villages of Garal, Mirzapur, and Azara, as residents received land acquisition notices from the Kamrup (Metro) administration in recent days. "The Assam govt is planning to evict more than 1000 families and acquire a large amount of land for the proposed Adani group's aerocity at Guwahati airport. The govt intends to acquire the land in the name of Assam Industrial Development Corporation (AIDC) to transfer it to the Adani Group for the aerocity," Saikia alleged. Congress and several other opposition parties earlier opposed the Centre's decision to transfer the management of Guwahati airport to the Adani group. Saikia said previously, in 2021, the state govt evicted 54 families for airport expansion. "Now, they plan to acquire approximately 410 bighas of land in Kamrup Metropolitan district's Ramcharani Mouza, including 70 bighas in Garal village, 257 bighas in Mirzapur village, and 83 bighas in Azara," he said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Global Indices Are on the Move — Time to Trade! IC Markets Learn More Undo While eviction notices have been issued to about 1,116 families living near the airport, Saikia added that some of the families have land deeds for more than a century. "This acquisition of ancestral land demonstrates the govt's ruthlessness. Despite claiming to prioritise Assamese interests, the chief minister's actions reveal a bias towards capitalists. Additionally, local businesses, including homes, flats, and small enterprises, will be negatively impacted," Saikia cautioned. He rued that the state govt is using the 'outdated' Assam Land (Requisition and Acquisition) Act, 1964, for this acquisition instead of The Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 (RFCTLARR Act). "RFCTLARR Act, 2013 ensures fair compensation and consent from affected families," he said. While the affected villagers have formed a committee to protest the move, many local businesses fear significant losses from the aerocity project. "They said guest houses, hotels, and restaurants around the airport in Borjhar, Azara, Mirza, and Dharapur will struggle to compete with Adani's Aerocity, reducing their sales and demand," Saikia said. He further added, "Environmentally, the aerocity could negatively impact the nearby Ramsar site, Deepor Beel, and surrounding agricultural and grazing lands."
Time of India
28-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Aerotropolis ‘land grab' irks villagers
Guwahati: A new wave of tension is emerging in villages near Guwahati airport, where indigenous communities reside, following land acquisition notices from Kamrup (Metro) district administration. This is happening even as the govt continues to serve eviction notives to migrant Muslim families living on encroached land. The administration issued notices to 105 pattadars of Garal village in Ramchrani Mouza/Pargana of the urban district near Guwahati Airport, local villagers said on Monday. According to a govt order, the land acquisition is intended for aerotropolis development covering the Garal village, as requested by the managing director of Assam Industrial Development Corporation. While some pattadars are Muslims, residents said the majority are Assamese-Hindu families who have lived in the area for generations. The govt's plan for the aerotropolis project perhaps extends beyond Garal, which lies north of the Adani Group-managed LGBI Airport. Residents of Azara and Mirzapur, to the east of the airport, are also expressing strong opposition to the land acquisition proceedings. "We won't vacate our land at any cost," said Akan Chandra Das, president, Mirzapur Anchalik Bhumi Suraksha Samiti, on Monday. The committee represents residents from Mirzapur, Azara, and Garal villages whose lands are targeted for acquisition. "Already nine to ten times, our families gave land to the govt post-Independence. for development of the airport, adjacent roads, and defence establishments near the Guwahati airport. If the remaining land is also taken away for development projects, where will we go?How will our children survive without agriculture if they don't get jobs in other sectors?" he asked. Basudev Mali, a retired teacher from Mirzapur, said, "We are original inhabitants of this land. We are not ready to accept the compensation the govt is going to give." The committee, recently formed under Das's leadership to protect villagers' interests, claims that 257 bighas in Mirzapur, 83 bighas in Garal, and 84 bighas in Azara are slated for acquisition. "We lost our valuable farmlands for the airport and other govt establishments. If the govt continues to take over our lands for airport expansion or for aerotropolis development now, who will ensure the survival of our children? The remaining farmlands were our only hope, but the govt wants to take away that also," said Mali, who owns 10 bighas of land near the airport.
The Hindu
06-05-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Assam villagers oppose transfer of wetland grazing field for logistics park
Livestock farmers of 21 villages near Guwahati have opposed the Assam government's move to transform a large chunk of grazing land adjoining an ecologically fragile wetland into a logistics park. On April 7, the Kamrup District Commissioner's office issued a notification proposing the acquisition of 150 bighas, or 49.59 acres, of the Dorabeel grazing field located in Palashbari revenue circle. The Assam Industrial Development Corporation (AIDC) Limited intends to hand over the land to a Kolkata-based company for the establishment of a logistics park. 'This village grazing land is the only one of its kind in this part of the State and serves as a critical lifeline for the livelihoods of the residents of 21 surrounding villages. Various social organisations and indigenous communities strongly oppose this move, which threatens their existence,' said Ashwini Mazumdar of the Dorabeel Village Grazing Field Protection Convening Committee, representing the villagers to be affected by the logistics park. According Kanak Chandra Das who is a member of the committee, more than 3,000 families dependent on this grazing land for livestock rearing would be severely affected by the move. 'During the monsoon, the grazing land merges with the Dorabeel (wetland), supporting fish production that sustains some 2,000 families from 10 villages. This project will disrupt their livelihoods,' he said. Another panel member, Abinash Kalita, said some 500 families from 12 villages rely on the superior soil of this land for pottery. 'The construction of the park will destroy their means of sustenance while some 1,000 families engaged in farming on the surrounding fertile land will lose their source of earning,' he said. The committee members said the existing industries close to Dorabeel have already polluted the soil, water, and air. Further construction will exacerbate environmental degradation and adversely impact public health. 'For centuries, this grazing land has been a cornerstone of religious heritage and cultural traditions. It hosts the Suwari festival of seven villages, Magh Bihu bonfires, and contributes to sustaining folk culture. Its acquisition endangers our identity and existence,' said Deepak Kumar Das, another committee member. 'The traditional knowledge systems of the surrounding communities, rooted in their culture, will be disrupted by this acquisition,' he added. Threatening biodiversity Dipankar Thakuria, a panel member, said the logistics park project threatens the biodiversity of Dorabeel, particularly endangering the Gangetic dolphin (the national aquatic animal) and its breeding grounds in Kulsi river nearby. 'During the monsoon, the grazing land absorbs floodwater from Dorabeel. Reducing its area by 150 bighas will cause flooding in nearby villages, leading to potential disasters,' he said. Mr. Thakuria further said the grazing land and Dorabeel are home to more than 200 species of resident and migratory birds. 'Damage to this area will disrupt ecological balance, negatively impacting agriculture, tourism, and socio-economic aspects,' he said. A study by the committee also showed that Dorabeel supports 74 fish species, 26 ornamental plants, seven edible or medicinal plants, six plants used as fertiliser, and three plants used for household goods. Communities relying on these resources will be directly harmed, it said in its report. 'The wetland is a habitat for 10 mammal species, including the river dolphin, 23 reptile species, 68 butterfly species, and various insects, amphibians, and molluscs. Damage to this area will disrupt ecological balance and increase human-wildlife conflict,' it said. 'We, therefore, are against the construction of the logistics park and urge the administration to address our concerns. If necessary, we will launch a robust public movement to protect our rights,' the committee said.
Time of India
05-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
Dereserving grazing land for logistic park worries villagers
Guwahati: Villagers of Rampur Village I and II in Assam's Kamrup district have expressed shock and disappointment over the state govt's decision to de-reserve a village grazing reserve spanning over an area of 150 bighas for setting up a logistic park. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Additional deputy commissioner Pranjit Kumar Deb said, "The land will be handed over to Assam Industrial Development Corporation once the ongoing panchayat election process is over." The two villages, which approximately have a population of over 30,000, includes fishermen, livestock rearers, farmers and potters. They depend on the grazing land and the nearby wetland Dorabeel for their survival. Locals fear this move will displace them from their primary source of income and severely impact the environment. The Dorabeel Grazing Field Protection Convening Committee told the media here on Monday that the grazing field has been supporting generations of villagers, with many families depending on just one or two bighas of land for their cattle and livelihood. Spokesperson of the committee, Dipankar Thakuria, who is also a resident of the village, said for centuries the grazing land had been a cornerstone of religious heritage and cultural traditions, as they host the Suwari festival and Magh bihu. He added that the existing industries nearby have already polluted the soil, water and air and the further construction would exacerbate environmental degradation, leading to flooding during the monsoon. "The grazing land currently absorbs overflow from the adjacent Dorabeel and its loss would reduce groundwater recharge causing water scarcity," he said. The Dorabeel wetland , near the grazing reserve, supports over 200 species of birds, 74 species of fish, and a variety of mammals, reptiles, and plants, including several with medicinal properties. Villagers fear the wetland, which is connected to the Kulshi River, serves as a breeding ground for the Gangetic river dolphin, the national aquatic animal and could be severely impacted by it.
