PASIGHAT, Aug 6: The District Administration, East Siang, held a meeting with several Bogong Banggo organizations on Wednesday, including Bogong Banggo Kebang (BBK), Bogong Banggo Yameng Kebang (BBYK), Bogong Banggo Land Action Committee (BBLAC) and All Bogong Students’ Union (ABSU), at the DC’s conference hall to deliberate on land-related issues and other matters concerning Pasighat township.
Chairing the meeting, East Siang Deputy Commissioner Sonalika Jiwani emphasized that all symbols of the State must be respected and that discussions should be conducted peacefully to achieve constructive outcomes.
She informed the house that the District Administration has been taking stringent action against encroachment on government land under the provisions of the Arunachal Pradesh Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Act, 2003. During the past one year, 780 notices have been issued to illegal encroachers and 72 eviction drives have been carried out within Pasighat township. She also invited constructive suggestions from the participating Orgs to address their concerns.
The meeting deliberated on five demands of the Orgs, including cross-verification of land allotment proposals for 2024-25, eviction of illegal encroachers, inclusion of BBK and BBLAC in the District Land Allotment Committee (DLAC), eviction of encroachers from educational institutions, and retention of three MAUP Smart City buildings under local control.
Discussing threadbare, the meeting resolved that all land allotment proposals for 2024-25 returned by the Directorate of Land Management, Itanagar, will be cross-verified by the respective administrative-cum-estate officers. Designated representatives of BBK and BBLAC will be allowed to submit information or complaints to the concerned estate officers and the Orgs will officially nominate their representatives for the purpose.
Regarding encroachments, the District Administration reiterated that eviction drives will continue strictly in accordance with the provisions of the Arunachal Pradesh Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Act, 2003, as adherence to due legal procedure is essential to withstand future litigation. The administration also assured that fresh encroachments would be removed immediately, while members of BBLAC were urged to promptly report any new encroachments to the concerned EOs.
On the demand for inclusion of BBK and BBLAC in the DLAC, the meeting was informed that the District Land Revenue and Settlement Officer had already written to the Director of Land Management in February 2024 seeking inclusion of non-official members such as Panchayat representatives and CBO heads in the committee. However, approval from the State government is still awaited.
The meeting further decided that eviction of illegal encroachers from the premises of educational institutions would be accorded top priority.
The Deputy Director of School Education (DDSE) and the concerned Block Education Officers (BEOs) were directed to ensure that eviction notices are issued to all encroachers within seven days of issuance of the meeting minutes.
On the issue of the three MAUP Smart City buildings at Pasighat Market, the DA clarified that overall control of the buildings will remain with the Administration. It also dispelled apprehensions regarding allotment of shops by any private party, stating that allotment would be made with special consideration for enterprising local youth of East Siang district, including members of the Bogong Banggo community.
East Siang Superintendent of Police Pankaj Lamba appealed to all stakeholders to resolve differences through dialogue and refrain from any form of violence. He assured that the police would work in close coordination with the District Administration to ensure that habitual encroachers are dealt with strictly in accordance with the law.
The meeting concluded with a collective resolve by all stakeholders to work together in maintaining peace, harmony and orderly development in Pasighat township. (DIPRO)