Government will protect indigenous people's interest: Assam CM Sonowal

Necessary amendments would be made in the Bill to allay the apprehensions of the indigenous people, he said

Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal today said that the government would protect the interest of indigenous people at all costs.

The state government would take all steps to ensure that indigenous people are not deprived of their land following the passage of State Capital Region Bill in the just concluded session of the Assam assembly, he said during a meeting with representatives of various organisations of Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council area.

Necessary amendments would be made in the Bill to allay the apprehensions of the indigenous people and safeguard their interests, he said.

The council chief executive member Tankeswar Rabha expressed concern that the state capital region would override the land rights of tribal people living in the fringes of Guwahati city which would be covered by it.

Land acquisition in tribal belt areas for expanding the capital would violate the rules of acquiring land in tribal belts and it would make the indigenous people lose the right of their land, Rabha said.

The CM assured that all steps would be taken to protect the land rights and asked the Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council organisations to submit their written complaints to the government.

The chief minister also urged the Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council to take advantage of its geographical location to usher in rapid development in the area.

The formation of State Capital Region would bring benefits to all sections of people living in the Council area and tribal belts would be developed keeping their cultural and social heritage intact, Sonowal said.