GUWAHATI, June 25 � The Asom Sattra Mahasabha (ASM) today pleaded with Governor JB Patnaik for urgent steps to free about 7,000 bighas of land belonging to various sattra institutions of the State from the grip of the encroachers. It alleged that 85 per cent of this sattra land is under the encroachment of the illegal migrants.
A two-member Mahasabha delegation, led by its former president and present advisor Bhadra Krishna Goswami, met the Governor at the Raj Bhawan here this morning. The Governor listened to them for over an hour on the issues concerning the encroachment on sattra land and development of these Vaishnavite monasteries.
Goswami told this newspaper that the Governor asked the Mahasabha to submit a detailed report on the encroachment on the sattra land and assured actions to free the sattra land from encroachers.
The Governor also assured steps to re-constitute and re-activate the now defunct Sattra Development Committee of the State Government for expediting development of these monasteries.
The delegation, comprising Goswami and ASM vice president Ripu Mahanta, also pleaded for steps to release the Central grant amount of Rs 96.59 crore for the development of the 135 sattra institutions selected in the first phase of the Chief Minister�s sattra development programme.
The delegation told the Governor that the financial condition of most of the sattra institutions of the State is weak. They need official support for their maintenance and development. Therefore, the fund released by the Central Government and deposited in the State Government�s coffer should be released immediately, the delegation said.
The sattras posses many artefacts and monuments, which should be preserved and these institutions should be developed as tourist destinations, the delegation said. It also reiterated the Mahasabha demand for creation of a separate directorate for the sattras to ensure their proper management.
Moreover, it requested the Governor to use his good office in ensuring power supply and water supply to the sattra institutions and to improve their road connectivity.
It also pleaded for steps to introduce a railway passenger train in the name of Srimanta Sankaradeva between Dibrugarh and Dwaraka, via New Cooch Behar.
The Governor gave a patient hearing to the delegation and assured steps to redress the grievances of the Mahasabha as far as possible, Goswami said.
When asked to elaborate the point on the encroachment of sattra land, Goswami told this newspaper that 39 sattras are affected by the encroachers. Worst affected among these institutions are � Ram Rai Kuti Satrasal Sattra in Dhubri district, Rampur Sattra in Nagaon district, Adi Alengi Sattra at Bihapuria, Barpeta Sattra, Kobaikata and Ali Pukhuri Sattras in Morigaon district.
Ram Rai Kuti has 1,000 bighas of its land under encroachment, and of it, around 500 bighas located in the No Man�s land along the Indo-Bangla border, is under the direct encroachment of the Bangla nationals. Around 200 bighas of the sattra�s encroached land is occupied by the Hindu refugees.
The Rampur Sattra, a branch of the Narowa Balisattra in Nagaon district, has around 600 bighas of its land under encroachment, while Bardowa Sattra in the same district has around 200 bighas of its land under encroachment.
The Adi Alengi Sattra has around 450 bighas of its land under encroachment. Barpeta Sattra has around 460 bighas of its land under encroachment, while Kobaikata has around 120 bighas of its land and the Alipukhuri Sattra has around 186 bighas of its land under encroachment, Goswami said.
