Guwahati: An eviction drive was carried out in the Birubari area of Guwahati on Saturday, leading to the demolition of several houses and the displacement of numerous families. A total of 63 families were evicted during the drive.District administration conducted the operation with support from police personnel and other departments concerned.The eviction drive took place in Subala Bordoloi Nagar, along the RK Mission Road. District administration officials said the eviction was carried out for the expansion and upgradation of the Pragjyotishpur Medical College and Hospital (PMCH), as the institution is recognised by the National Medical Commission (NMC). They added that failure to undertake these improvements could put the medical college’s recognition at risk and affect the validity of its academic programmes.“These people were residing on encroached govt land that originally belonged to the Lokopriya Gopinath Bordoloi TB Hospital, now functioning as part of PMCH. The land remained under the institution’s ownership for nearly 50 years,” said Guwahati revenue circle officer Manoj Dutta.According to officials, the encroached land measured 8 bighas, 3 kathas and 10 lessas, and around 63 families were evicted from the area. The officer said prior eviction notices were served on the occupants, but they failed to comply and subsequently challenged the order in the Gauhati high court. During a hearing held last year, the ruling was in favour of the district administration.“To be eligible for land settlement in Assam, an applicant’s family must prove continuous and undisputed residency and possession of the land for at least three generations, which is legally defined as 75 years. According to the Assam Land Policy, 2019, families seeking settlement of land in urban areas must have occupied the land on or before June 28, 2001. However, upon verification, it was found that most of the occupants possessed documents dated only from 2007 onwards, making them ineligible for land settlement,” Dutta added.There was chaos across the locality, as the evicted people alleged that, despite living in the area for a long time, they were evicted. “We have been staying here for over 20 years, and we were also paying tax to the Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC). Even then, they broke our houses. Where will we stay now?” asked Ravi Basfor, one of the occupants.Meanwhile, other occupants claimed that the eviction drive would impact their children, as they do not have a roof over their heads. Keeping their distress in mind, district administration officials said a rehabilitation grant of Rs 5 lakh would be provided to the evicted families on humanitarian grounds.
A total of 8 bighas, 3 kathas and 10 lessas of land was reclaimed during the drive
