JCCPA urges KAAC to adopt land policy for tribal land protection

DIPHU — The Joint Coordination Committee for Protection of Autonomy (JCCPA) said that the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) has no land policy set to protect the land of tribal people and claimed the tribal land under the jurisdiction of KAAC has been made a commercial commodity and given to anyone at its will.

This statement was made by the leaders of JCCPA during a press conference held at the District Press Club of Karbi Anglong in Diphu on Wednesday.

JCCPA Convener, Khorsing Teron said that the KAAC authority must adopt a land policy for the protection of tribal land in the twin hill districts of Karbi Anglong and West Karbi Anglong. As of now, it is seen that the land of tribal people is being used as a commercial commodity given to anyone whom the KAAC authority is pleased with, he claimed.

The JCCPA’s press statement said that the KAAC has finalised on giving 2000 bighas of land for setting up of 1000 megawatt solar power plant to APDCL. To this, Teron said that there is no disclosure about the benefit to tribal people on setting up the solar power plant or how it will impact the environment.

Stating that it is the responsibility of the KAAC to protect the land of tribal people, the JCCPA urged upon the authority to adopt a firm policy for the protection of tribal land. 

Teron also mentioned the KAAC authority giving 62 bighas of government-allotted land at Havarpi tourist lodge, 5th km Lumding Road to Art of Living – a non–profit, educational and humanitarian organisation founded by Sri Sri Ravi Sankar.

The JCCPA statement also mentioned recent incidents at Muthade under Zirikindeng police station and at Am-i under Hamren Police Station, where Khasis people from Meghalaya entered West Karbi Anglong and damaged the signboard and entry tax gate. Teron said that, despite villagers from Meghalaya damaging the signboard of entry tax gate, the Assam police personnel posted there were witnessing the incident as silent spectators.

Teron clarified that the 1951 demarcated boundary of Karbi Anglong now West Karbi Anglong is well-defined and the claim by Meghalaya cannot be accepted. It is aggression into the territory of Assam land and the government of Assam should take it seriously. Though the inter-state boundary issues are of state subject, the KAAC has the responsibility to tackle the matter by pressuring the state government in finding a permanent solution to it, he said.