Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced the launch of 'Mission Basundhara 4.0', aimed at reclaiming land in the riverine sandbar areas of the state. Sarma emphasized the urgency of the initiative, stressing the importance of preventing encroachment on char lands. He warned that failure to take action could lead to irreparable loss.

Chief Minister Sarma stated that "Mission Basundhara 4.0 aims to reclaim land in char areas, safeguarding these crucial ecological zones." He voiced apprehension regarding the uncontrolled acquisition of large tracts of land by encroachers, especially among those listed in the National Register of Citizens, resulting in landlessness for many individuals.

During an aerial survey of the area, Sarma noted significant land ownership concentration among a few individuals, leaving others without any land rights. Sarma remarked, "It is unacceptable that some individuals own hundreds of bighas of land while many genuine citizens are deprived of their rightful share."

The initiative focuses on char areas in districts such as Sonitpur, where the scarcity of government-owned land starkly contrasts with the prevalence of encroachments. To tackle this imbalance, Mission Basundhara 4.0 will enforce new regulations governing land allocation.

The government will reclaim excess landholdings in cases where extensive landholdings are identified, ensuring that such land is repurposed for public use. The primary focus will be on preserving the ecological balance of the Brahmaputra basin, emphasizing the importance of environmental conservation in land management decisions.

Sarma articulated that the mission's primary objective is to identify char areas that exhibit permanent characteristics and initiate measures to reclaim land, thereby safeguarding the ecological integrity of the Brahmaputra region.

Through the implementation of strategies aimed at curbing excessive land acquisition and promoting sustainable land management practices, Mission Basundhara 4.0 endeavours to maintain the delicate ecological balance while simultaneously addressing the prevalent issue of landlessness in Assam.

Sarma highlighted the significance of Mission Basundhara 2.0, which was primarily launched to address the needs of indigenous communities, bringing a renewed sense of optimism among them.

Sarma noted that Mission Basundhara 2.0 received over 13 lakh applications, with 84 percent of the beneficiaries receiving an 'Offer of Settlement' belonging to Scheduled Tribes (ST), Scheduled Castes (SC), Other Backward Classes (OBC), and Minority Other Backward Classes (MOBC). Under this initiative, more than 3 lakh bigha of land in the Brahmaputra Valley and over 1 thousand bigha in the Barak Valley were settled.

Image source: Economic Times