The Assam Chah Mazdoor Sangha (ACMS) has called for a high-level government inquiry into the alleged allocation of land in Inle Pathar and Hatikhuli, areas located on the fringe of Kaziranga National Park. The union claims that land cultivated and occupied by local families for generations was reclassified and allotted to a hospitality company without consulting the residents who depend on it for their livelihood.
ACMS leaders have expressed concern over the impact of the reported land allotment on both local communities and the ecologically sensitive Kaziranga landscape. Raju Sahu, former MLA and ACMS branch secretary of Panitola, questioned how such a reclassification could take place without a comprehensive assessment of its environmental and social consequences.
The union also sought clarification regarding reports that activist Geeta Gowala of Rangajan Tea Estate was to receive financial assistance from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund. ACMS appreciated Gowala for highlighting concerns related to the land issue.
According to the union, local residents have been protesting against the alleged land allotment for the past several years while continuing to pay land revenue. Many families reportedly possess legal land records, including raiyati documents and periodic pattas, and have vowed to resist any attempts at eviction.
Demanding immediate intervention, ACMS urged the government to conduct a transparent investigation into the allotment process and grant land pattas to Adivasi tea tribe families and other long-term occupants who have been residing on and cultivating the land for decades.
