Guwahati: A proposed aerocity and satellite township near the Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport has triggered fears of large-scale displacement among indigenous communities in Kamrup district, with local organisations claiming that more than one lakh people across 16 villages could lose their homes and land if the project goes ahead.
The concerns surfaced after the Assam Cabinet approved the creation of aerocities and satellite townships in and around Guwahati.
The Cabinet, on June 13, approved the formation of the Guwahati Satellite Cities Development Authority (GSCDA) to plan, finance, and develop satellite townships within the jurisdiction of the Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA).
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said after the Cabinet meeting that the proposed satellite city would be developed in areas behind the airport, covering parts of Palashbari, Sualkuchi, and adjoining areas near the bridge.
The project has raised concerns in villages inhabited largely by Bodos, Rabhas, and Koch Rajbongshis, especially after the GMDA proposed the acquisition of 2,662 bighas of land in six villages under the Azara Revenue Circle.
According to an official communication sent by the GMDA Chief Executive Officer to the Special Chief Secretary of the Housing and Urban Affairs Department, the proposed acquisition covers 553 bighas in Pachaniara, 238 bighas in Matikotuni, 203 bighas in Jobe, 676 bighas in Deorali, 280 bighas in Jonglipara, and 712 bighas in Kamargaon.
BJP MLA from Palashbari, Himangshu Shekhar Baishya, however, maintained that only one village would be affected by the project and assured that no step would be taken against indigenous communities.
The assurance has done little to ease concerns on the ground. Residents have formed the Ucched Virodhi Bhumi Adhikar Sangram Samity (UVBASS) to oppose the proposed acquisition and have submitted memorandums to the Chief Minister, the local MLA, and other senior officials.
Two farmers’ organisations have also demanded that the government immediately withdraw the proposed land acquisition process in the Azara and Palashbari revenue circles, alleging that fertile agricultural land is being earmarked for aerocity, satellite township, airport expansion, and other urban development projects.
UVBASS president Dharmeswar Boro alleged that the government was “rolling out the red carpet for corporates” by planning projects across more than 16 villages in the area.
He claimed that besides the 2,662 bighas under the Azara Revenue Circle, another 2,211 bighas covering Maliata, Okorpa, and Lochana villages under Palashbari and 1,096 bighas in Khela Allibari, Sajjalapara, Rajapani, Andherijuli, Banglapara, and Kachari Allibari villages had also been marked for acquisition.
“If they go ahead with the proposal, more than one lakh people across 16 villages will be displaced,” Boro said.
He further claimed that the affected area falls under the Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council and is part of a protected tribal belt. According to him, around 500 families have already been evicted from 735 bighas of land covering Pachaniapara, Deorali, Jonglipara, and Kamargaon villages.
Sangrami Krishak Shramik Sangha, Asom chief secretary Dinesh Das alleged that the government was sacrificing the interests of farmers for large commercial projects.
“The government has stopped issuing treasury tax receipts and has deprived people of land rights. Instead of securing the future of farmers, it is preparing to hand over fertile agricultural land to companies for projects like aerocity and satellite township,” Das said.
The organisations claimed that around 500 families had already been evicted without proper compensation or rehabilitation and warned that nearly 1.5 lakh families in the wider Azara-Palashbari region could eventually be affected if the acquisition process continues.
“We have approached every concerned authority, but the notices have not been withdrawn. If our demands are ignored, we will intensify our democratic protest. We are not against development, but development cannot come at the cost of farmers’ lives and livelihoods,” Das said.
They further alleged that many families who have been living on and cultivating land in the area for generations are yet to receive land pattas despite the implementation of the Basundhara Scheme.
The issue gained further attention after Adani Airport City Limited (AACL), a subsidiary of Adani Airport Holdings Limited, announced on June 25 plans to invest more than Rs 20,000 crore in the first phase of an airport city development programme spread across 655 acres around six airports in five states, including Guwahati.
The company said around 22 million square feet of infrastructure, including hotels, workplaces, restaurants, retail spaces, and convention facilities integrated with airport and city transport networks, would be developed across Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Jaipur, and Guwahati.