Will resort to eviction if encroachment detected: DC
GUWAHATI: A joint team of the Kamrup district and police administration will carry out an inspection to ascertain whether families belonging to West Khasi Hills have settled in a village in Assam, around 40 km from the state’s border with Meghalaya.
Residents of Bokochora, an interior village in Kamrup district, have alleged that about 50 families from Nongstoin in West Khasi Hills have “illegally built houses and settled” in the hamlet over the past two years.
“We have taken up the matter with the police administration and have decided to form teams involving the district administration, police and even the forest department. A part of the hamlet under Chaygaon circle is believed to under the forest department. The other part falls under Boko revenue circle,” Kamrup deputy commissioner, Kamal Kumar Baishya told The Shillong Times on Wednesday.
“Upon inspection if we find encroachment involving these families from West Khasi Hills have taken place, we will certainly take measures to evict them,” Baishya said.
The “illegal settlers”, locals allege, have even constructed a structure being used as school in the village
A team from Chaygaon circle office recently visited Bokochora and is currently verifying the area under the forest department.
“The families from Nongstoin now outnumber local people here and the concern is that there would be more coming and occupying our land. We have about 22 Garo families in the village now,” Anindro Marak, president of the Garo National Council (GNC), Kamrup district, said.
A team from the Garo National Council, Garo Youth Council and Garo Women’s Council had recently visited the area and found several stumps of chopped segun trees across green spaces indicative of rampant deforestation activities in the area.
Besides, solar lights installed amid betel-nut plantations were also noticed by the delegation.