Sivasagar starts eviction to reclaim historic Jamuna waterbody

The Sivasagar district administration on Saturday, November 7, began an eviction drive to clear alleged encroachments from the historic Jamuna waterbody, a step towards restoring the Ahom-era site to its old boundaries.

The Times of India reported that the waterbody covers 120 bighas, 1 katha and 9 lechas, of which about 40 bighas had been encroached on. Residential extensions, boundary walls and other buildings had come up inside the historically marked area, the report said.

How the drive came about

The operation followed weeks of protests by the All Tai Ahom Students' Union (ATASU), led by its central president Basanta Gogoi. The union had itself carried out clearance work for three days from October 29, The Times of India reported, and had called a 12-hour Sivasagar district bandh on November 6. It later withdrew the bandh after the administration promised an official eviction on November 7.

That assurance came after a meeting at the Deputy Commissioner's office on November 4. The Times of India said those present included Sivasagar MLA Akhil Gogoi, Deputy Commissioner Mridul Yadav, senior officials, ATASU representatives and people alleged to have encroached on the site. Pratidin Time also reported the meeting, saying the local MLA, ATASU and some of the occupants took part, and that the administration decided to act against all those found to have encroached.

NEInsider had earlier reported ATASU's bandh call over the Jamuna canal.

Compensation proposal

Both The Times of India and Pratidin Time reported that the administration has sent the Assam government a proposal seeking approval for Rs 1.6 crore in compensation. The money is meant for people whose buildings stand on land that was officially allotted to them inside the Jamuna area.

The Times of India said several residents had started taking down parts of their own structures, including boundary walls and toilets, before and during Saturday's clearance.

Why Jamuna matters

Jamuna is nearly 300 years old and is treated as part of Sivasagar's historic core, close to the complex of Borpukhuri, Siva Dol, Devi Dol and Vishnu Dol, The Times of India reported. Gogoi has said ATASU will not compromise on protecting the waterbody and that the boundaries marked in 2004 must be kept.

The administration's action is also expected to help an ongoing restoration and cleaning project at Jamuna, for which a revised plan is being considered, the report said.

NEInsider will update this story if the state government decides on the compensation proposal or if the eviction is completed.