GUWAHATI: The Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) has urged Assam Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya to intervene and request the central and the state government to take immediate steps to halt a proposed mining project in Dima Hasao district and protect the rights and land of the indigenous people in the hill district.
The APCC delegation submitted a memorandum to the Governor at Raj Bhavan on Tuesday evening expressing grave concern at possible adverse impact of the proposed project in villages such as Borolokhindong, Tharvelangso and other adjoining villages in the hill district.
The delegation claimed that a large geographical area (approximately 9000 bighas) was being proposed for handover to facilitate the mining project, reportedly by entities connected to the ruling BJP’s corporate sector.
“The state government is disregarding the concerns and sentiments of the indigenous communities in Dima Hasao. This issue is a matter of survival and safeguarding the land and rights of the district’s local people. The Assam Pradesh Congress, along with its MPs and MLAs, is fully committed to defending these rights and will strongly raise the issue in both Parliament and the Assembly,” the memorandum read.
The Congress delegation further mentioned that significant portions of land in Dima Hasao district have already been “sacrificed” in the name of various projects since 1976. These projects have already impacted numerous families and the environment, it claimed.
“Further, the proposed mining project will have an impact on jhum cultivation in the hill district and also affect the ecological integrity of caves and community reserve forests,” APCC stated in the memorandum.
“We appeal to you as the constitutional head of the state to intervene and urge the state and central governments to take immediate steps to halt the proposed mining project. If allowed to proceed, the project will result in the displacement of indigenous people from their ancestral lands,” the party cautioned.
“We also wish to bring to your attention that land in the villages has been auctioned for mining purposes without the consent of the local communities. They became aware of this only through a public advertisement by the Directorate of Geology and Mining, Assam,” it said.
“Our demands are as follows: Cancellation of allotment of huge land in Borolokhindong and Tharvelangso for the proposed mining project; cancellation of the auction of Juri Pahar in Umrangso, Langmiklu and Choto Larpheng village and cancellation of 70 hectares of land in New Umrangso,” the party stated in the memorandum.
Besides, it stated that the forest department and the North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council should not declare community forests as forest or council land.
The party further demanded protection of Sixth Schedule and tribal land in the hill district.
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