GUWAHATI, Oct 30 � Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today said that 85,000 families in Guwahati who have been residing in government land for over a decade without valid land pattas, would be provided with patta land of one katha and five lessa each, but asserted that forestland would not be allowed to be encroached upon.
Speaking during the State Land Mass Convention organised by the Guwahati Mati Pattakaran Sangram Samiti (GMPSS) here, Gogoi said issues relating to land rights and pattas could be solved through discussion and without resorting to confrontation.
The State Cabinet had last month decided to provide one katha five lessa each of patta land to 85,000 families in Guwahati who had been residing for over 10 years in patta-less government land.
�I can say that this issue has been solved. We wanted to end the uncertain future faced by those thousands of families who had occupied the lands due to unavoidable circumstances,� he said.
The Chief Minister added, �We are committed to providing them pattas at the earliest. We lack manpower (in the Revenue Department) and so I have said that we have to recruit more manpower. If necessary, the Government will provide fund to complete this programme.�
Calling for planned growth and development, Gogoi said the State Government has already formed a committee to look into the issue of reforming the existing land policy.
He said that forests, water bodies and natural ecosystems have to be preserved while undertaking development and ensuring land rights for the common people.
Without naming anyone, Gogoi said some elements are interested in keeping the problems unresolved. �We have to be careful of such people. We are ready for discussion with everybody,� he said.
Speaking on the occasion, Revenue Minister Prithibi Majhi said, �A rumour is being circulated that land in the hills would not be covered under this scheme for giving patta to 85,000 families. The government has no objection to giving revenue land in the hills. However, let me make it clear that forests land at hills would not be given.�