Assam’s Kokrajhar district, locals have vehemently opposed the proposed Adani Group thermal power project, citing concerns over land rights and environmental impact. The controversy centres on the allotment of approximately 3,400 bighas of land in the Parbatjhora area for the project. Residents of the region, particularly from the indigenous Bodo community, have been staging protests, arguing that the land in question falls under the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution, which provides special protections to tribal areas.
They claim that the allotment was made without proper consultation with the local communities, thereby violating their constitutional rights. Daorao Dekrab Narzary, the executive president of the Boroland Jan-Jati Suraksha Manch, has been at the forefront of the protests. He condemned the decision to allocate land to a private entity, describing it as unconstitutional and detrimental to the local populace. Narzary expressed concerns over the potential environmental degradation, warning that the project could lead to the destruction of vast forest areas and the displacement of tribal communities.
The situation escalated when officials from the Adani Group, accompanied by district administration personnel, attempted to demarcate the land for the project. They were met with strong resistance from the locals, who refused to allow any such activity without their consent. The confrontation led to a standoff, with officials retreating in the face of the determined protesters. In response to the growing unrest, Assam Minister Jayanta Mallabaruah held a closed-door meeting with Bodoland People’s Front (BPF) chief Hagrama Mohilary to discuss the land issue in Parbatjhora. Both leaders emphasized that the meeting was personal and not political, focusing solely on resolving the concerns of the local communities.
The protests in Kokrajhar are part of a broader pattern of resistance against large-scale industrial projects in tribal regions of Assam. Similar objections have been raised in other districts, such as Karbi Anglong, where indigenous groups have opposed land acquisitions for projects by corporate entities, including those backed by the Adani Group. These communities argue that such projects threaten their traditional livelihoods and cultural heritage. As the situation in Kokrajhar remains tense, the state government faces increasing pressure to address the concerns of the indigenous populations. The outcome of this dispute could set a precedent for how land rights and environmental considerations are balanced against industrial development in Assam’s tribal areas.
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