HT Bureau
GUWAHATI, Feb 16: In a significant step to address long-standing land encroachment issues in Karbi Anglong, chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday chaired a high-level tripartite meeting at Lok Sewa Bhawan involving the State Government, the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC), and representatives of Karbi civil society organisations.
The meeting focused on eviction of illegal occupants from Village Grazing Reserve (VGR) and Professional Grazing Reserve (PGR) lands.
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Officials said eviction drives will be launched within seven days at 17 identified locations covering VGR areas and other government land under encroachment.
The chief minister clarified that while immediate action will be taken in VGR areas, some PGR lands remain under a High Court stay order.
Despite this, the KAAC has been directed to cancel all trading licences issued within PGR and VGR boundaries and relocate government offices operating from these reserved lands.
Litsong Rongphar, a leader associated with ongoing protests in Kheroni, said public dissatisfaction over earlier “partial” eviction drives was conveyed to the chief minister.
He added that the government agreed to conduct a fresh and more comprehensive eviction in the Volongkom Aji (Bakulia) area.
The chief minister also chaired a separate meeting with signatory organisations of the 2021 Karbi peace agreement to review implementation of the ₹1,000-crore special development package jointly funded by the Centre and the State.
Key decisions included convening a joint meeting to finalise development schemes, preparing a self-employment plan for former cadres through the Assam Police Special Branch, and providing assistance to families of martyrs and former members of the six signatory organisations.
The meeting was attended by KAAC Chief Executive Member Tuliram Ronghang, MP Amarsing Tisso, Karbi traditional king Longsing Ronghang, and leaders of various Karbi civil bodies. In a social media post after the meeting, Sarma said departments have been instructed to ensure expeditious follow-up to maintain governance and fulfil commitments made under the peace accord.
