Assam Govt surveying land bank for future institutions: Himanta Sarma
Guwahati, May 20
Assam Chief Minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma, on Wednesday said that the state government is carrying out a detailed assessment of government land in and around Guwahati with the aim of preserving it for future developmental projects, educational institutions and industrial infrastructure.
Speaking to reporters during his visit to the Jagiroad Assembly constituency, Sarma said the government has identified large tracts of land in the Dharamtul area and adjoining regions, which could be utilised for public purposes in the coming years.
"We are conducting a review of how much government land is available in areas like Jagiroad and Dharamtul. On these lands, we can establish various institutions, industrial estates, educational institutions and other government facilities," the Chief Minister said.
Sarma stressed that the government's immediate priority is to ensure that such land parcels remain protected from encroachment and unplanned use.
"Particularly in the areas surrounding Guwahati, we are taking steps to preserve government land. There is nearly 300 bighas of government land here. I came today to inspect the area personally and ensure that the land remains protected," he said.
The Chief Minister clarified that no specific project has yet been finalised for the identified land and said the focus at present is solely on conservation and strategic planning.
"As of now, there is no concrete scheme for the land. The main objective is to preserve it properly for future requirements," Sarma added.
Officials accompanying the Chief Minister said the government has recently intensified efforts to map and secure state-owned land across several districts, especially in rapidly urbanising areas near Guwahati, amid growing pressure from real estate expansion and encroachments.
The state government has in recent years announced multiple infrastructure and industrial initiatives aimed at boosting economic activity in central Assam and the Guwahati metropolitan region.
Jagiroad, in particular, has emerged as a focus area due to its strategic connectivity and proximity to the state capital.
Sarma also said that with the elections now over, he did not wish to engage in political discussions and would instead focus on governance and development-related work.
"The elections are over. I do not want to speak politics now," the Chief Minister told reporters.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Finally some forward-thinking! 🎉 The encroachment problem in Assam is real - I've seen it happen in my own locality. But I'm cautiously optimistic. Will they actually map all the land transparently? Or will some of it "disappear" like it always does? 🤔 Let's see the implementation.
As someone who works in urban planning, this is exactly what every growing city needs. But 300 bighas is roughly 40 hectares - that's not huge for a region like Guwahati. Hope they're looking at more land in other districts too, especially for industrial corridors. Smart move though.
Bhai, this is all talk until we see actual surveys published. 🙄 How many times have we heard "land preservation" and then seen so-called "public purpose" land sold to private builders? Show us the GIS maps, publish the land records online - that's real transparency. Still, hope is good.
Jagiroad is indeed strategically important! With better roads connecting it to Guwahati, this could become an educational hub. But let's not forget about the local communities - please include gram sabhas and local people in the planning. Development should benefit the original inhabitants too. 😊
"No concrete scheme yet" - that's both reassuring and worrying. Reassuring because they're not rushing, worrying because without a clear plan, these lands might just sit idle for years while encroachment continues. Need to see an actual timeline and priority list for institutions. 🏫
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