Assam Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma announced a robust plan to reclaim the chars – sandbars or river islands – from encroachers as part of a mission to preserve the “ecological integrity” of the Brahmaputra Valley. Besides, he unveiled intentions to create heritage belts and blocks, safeguarding religious and historic sites from non-indigenous land acquisitions to ensure a secure future for Assam.
Launching Mission Basundhara 3.0, a flagship scheme aimed at securing land rights for landless indigenous people, the CM outlined the forthcoming Mission Basundhara 4.0, dedicated to char reclamation. He stressed upon conducting surveys to identify permanent chars, evict, limit land acquisition and promote sustainable land management practices in these areas. He stressed the importance of maintaining ecological balance while addressing landlessness issues.
Highlighting the focus on preserving the Brahmaputra basin’s ecological balance, the Assam CM mentioned the establishment of heritage belts and blocks are significant to protect areas like Majuli, Narayanpur, Barpeta and Batadrava. These areas are culturally important as major satras or Vaishnav monasteries were set up since the 15th and 16th century by saint-reformer Srimanta Sankaradeva and his disciples.
CM Himanta elucidated Mission Basundhara aimed to streamline land acquisition for indigenous people, with previous phases easing processes for securing land deeds. He acknowledged challenges faced by Adivasis and announced exemptions for specific communities from stringent documentation requirements under Mission Basundhara 2.0.
He continued the government will use the “extensive landholdings, excess land” for public “with a focus on preserving the ecological balance and integrity of the Brahmaputra basin” adding, We have to make Assam safe for the coming generations.”
There are over 3,500 chars on a network of rivers dominated by Assam’s Brahmaputra River. Bengali Muslims, known as “illegal immigrants” or “Bangladeshi” mostly live on these chars without proper regulation and cultivate it for their sustenance.
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