3 months ago
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Political parties and societal organisations successful cardinal Assam’s Dima Hasao territory person accused the State authorities and the North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council (NCHAC) of systematically transferring tribal onshore to firm interests, informing of large-scale displacement successful usurpation of law safeguards.
In a memorandum submitted to Assam Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya aft a protestation rally astatine Umrangso connected Saturday (January 31, 2026), indigenous representatives led by Congress person Bapojith Langthasa urged him to invoke his peculiar powers nether the Sixth Schedule to halt what they described arsenic amerciable onshore alienation for mining, cement manufacturing, and hydropower projects.
Thousands of protesters gathered astatine Umrangso, opposing onshore allotments that they said undermine customary onshore rights and the autonomy guaranteed to tribal areas nether the Constitution.
According to the memorandum, much than 9,000 bighas of tribal onshore person been allotted for limestone mining successful Umrangso implicit the past 2 years, affecting astatine slightest 7 villages. Land has besides allegedly been allotted to large cement companies, including Ambuja Cements (now portion of the Adani Group), Dalmia Bharat, Star Cement, and JK Lakshmi Cement.
The groups claimed that respective of these allotments overlap with the Krungming Reserve Forest and a recognised Key Biodiversity Area, location to the endangered white-rumped vultures and a roosting expanse of migratory Amur falcons. The country besides has respective elephant corridors.
They alleged that mining and concern activities person already near galore tribal families homeless, portion compensation has been diverted to fictitious beneficiaries. At slightest 77 genuine tribal households, with assembly records and taxation receipts were reportedly excluded from compensation lists.
Concerns were besides raised implicit a projected 1,250 MW pumped-storage hydropower task by Assam Power Generation Corporation Limited successful concern with Adani Green. The task is expected to submerge ample tracts of jhum onshore (slash-and-burn cultivation connected elevation slopes) and displace 3 villages — Moti Lampu, Moti Hojai, and Riam Bathari — located successful a landslide- and earthquake-prone zone.
The memorandum alleged that onshore was allotted without Social Impact Assessments, nationalist hearings, oregon the anterior informed consent of colony authorities, successful usurpation of onshore acquisition laws. In Sixth Schedule areas, wherever onshore is held done customary systems alternatively than ceremonial titles, authorities are accused of declaring occupied tribal onshore arsenic “vacant” to bypass ineligible safeguards.
The tribal leaders besides warned of terrible biology harm successful Dima Hasao, which lies wrong the Indo-Burma Biodiversity Hotspot. They said the projects would pb to wood clearance, pollution, disruption of wildlife corridors, and the demolition of ineffable and culturally important sites.
Citing the nonaccomplishment of the Autonomous Council, State agencies, and biology regulators to support tribal rights, the memorandum urged the Governor to intervene immediately, informing that tribunal cases could instrumentality years portion irreversible harm continues connected the ground.
