Is this a joke? Court raps Assam over 3,000-bigha land allocation to cement firm

The Gauhati High Court came down heavily on an Assam government decision to allot nearly 3,000 bighas of tribal land to a private cement company in Assam's Dima Hasao district for mining operations. The court questioned why the government gave such a massive land allocation to the firm and stressed that public interest matters.

During a recent hearing, Justice Sanjay Kumar Medhi expressed shock at the move, saying, "3,000 bighas! The entire district? What is going on? A private company (Mahabal Cements) being given 3,000 bighas? We know how barren the land is but 3,000 bighas? What kind of decision is this? Is this some kind of joke? Public interest, not private interest, is what matters."

The court's observation came after submissions defending the company, which claimed the allotted land was barren and essential for running its cement plant.

Meanwhile, opposition parties have been raising concerns over the move from the past. Earlier, a Congress delegation led by then Assam's party unit chief president Bhupen Kumar Borah, and current Leader of the Opposition Debabrata Saikia met the Governor to highlight the grievances of indigenous communities from Borolokhindong, Tharvelangso and nearby villages.

In a memorandum, the Congress alleged that the state government was working to hand over nearly 9,000 bighas in Dima Hasao to a corporate group with close ties to the ruling BJP, ignoring the sentiments and rights of the tribal population.

"This is not just a land issue. It's about survival and safeguarding the identity of Dima Hasao's indigenous people," the memorandum said.

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