Guwahati High Court Slams Assam Govt Over 3000 Bigha Land Allotment to Cement Company

The Guwahati High Court has questioned the handing over of land in Assam's Dima Hasao area to a private cement company for mining. The court has expressed its objection to the allotment of about 3000 bighas of land to a company called Mahabal Cements. Slamming the government over the land allotment, the court has said that 3000 bighas i.e. the entire district was given to a private company. Is this a joke?

Justice Sanjay Kumar Medhi, while hearing the case, said, "3000 bighas! That is, the entire district? What is happening? 3000 bighas were allotted to a private company? We know how barren the land is... 3000 bighas? What kind of decision is this? Is this a joke or something else? Your need is not the issue... public interest is the issue."

Earlier, the lawyer of the cement company said in his argument that the allotted land was only barren land and it was needed for the operation of the company. However, the court did not pay heed to these arguments and sought records containing the policy of allotting such a large portion of 3000 bigha land to a factory.

The court further said that this district is the sixth scheduled district under the Constitution of India. In such a situation, the rights and interests of the tribal people living there should be given priority. Apart from this, the court said that the area concerned is Umrangso in Dima Hasao district, which is known as an environmental hotspot. There are hot springs and resting places for migratory birds, wildlife etc. here.