Image Courtesy:sentinelassam.com
The Sonitput district administration in Assam carried out an eviction drive and demolished 25 hutments in areas of Dighali Chapori, eastern part of Laletapu, Bharali Chapori, Bhoirabi and Batiamari. These hutments belonged to settlers who had allegedly encroached upon government land.
Assam has vast swathes of land that fall in a flood-prone riverine region. Sonitpur district itself is located along the Brahmaputra’s banks. It is common for river erosion to wash away entire villages, forcing people to relocate. Often these displaced people end up building temporary shelters and huts on government land and the administration then evicts them in drives carried out from time to time.
The administration had carried out eviction drives at Dighali Chapori, eastern part of Laletapu, Bharali Chapori, Bhoirabi and Batiamari three times last year, reported The Sentinel. As per The Sentinel, a team of civil administration under the lead of Naduar Revenue Circle Officer Akashdeep Kakaty along with Jamuguri police team and a troop of CRPF visited the site and carried out the eviction drive.
However, it is pertinent to note here that these evictions took place even as Covid cases rapidly increase in the state every day. Sontipur itself has seen more than 200 cases. Therefore, the decision to carry out such evictions and demolitions, neither indicates good administration, nor is it in line with Covid norms where people are being asked to stay home.
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