Latest news with #SixthScheduleoftheConstitution
The Hindu
7 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Call to release judicial probe report on Dima Hasao mine tragedy
GUWAHATI An organisation in central Assam's Dima Hasao district has urged the State government to make public the findings of the judicial commission that probed the rat-hole coal mine tragedy of January 6 in the Umrangso area. Nine persons were trapped in a flooded mine that was allegedly being operated illegally. Their bodies were recovered following a 44-day search and rescue operation led by the Indian Navy, the National Disaster Response Force, and other agencies. Editorial | Burrow tragedy: On the coal mining tragedy in Assam's Dima Hasao The judicial inquiry, headed by retired Gauhati High Court judge Anima Hazarika, was constituted to investigate the incident. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had on January 16 stated that the commission would submit its report within three months. However, Daniel Langthasa, convenor of the Sixth Schedule Protection Committee, criticised the delay and the lack of updates on the report. 'The government has exceeded the three-month deadline to submit the report by another three months. It is disconcerting that the people involved in the illegal activities are yet to be punished,' he said. Debolal Gorlosa, Chief Executive Member of the North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council (NCHAC), which governs the district, faced criticism when his wife was accused of having a stake in the ill-fated mine. Following the tragedy, the police arrested several individuals for operating the mine in defiance of the National Green Tribunal's (NGT) blanket ban. Among those arrested was one Punish Nunisa. Mr. Langthasa, a former NCHAC member, pointed out that families of victims of several such coal mine incidents in the district have not received justice. 'How did rat-hole coal mining continue in the district when the NGT banned it in April 2014?' he asked. In the aftermath of the Umrangso incident, district authorities identified 220 illegal mines in the region. Subsequently, the Chief Minister had stated that the State Mines and Minerals Department would act to shut down such mines in consultation with central agencies. 'It would be naive to believe that the NCHAC had no knowledge of the existence of so many illegal mines within its jurisdiction,' Mr. Langthasa said. He also voiced concern over a series of unresolved deaths and kidnappings in the district, which has witnessed violence in the past involving extremist groups such as the Dima Halam Daogah. 'The families of several people killed or abducted in recent years are still awaiting justice,' he said, recalling the murder of his father, Nindu Langthasa, a former council member, and former Chief Executive Member Purnendu Langthasa in 2007. 'The district is facing an unprecedented social crisis. Youths are turning to drugs and crime over the last four to five years, indicating a deep disillusionment with those in power,' he added. Mr. Langthasa further alleged that land in the district, protected under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, was being handed over to private players. 'The council is empowered to safeguard customary and land laws. But land is now being allocated to private parties for coke and other industries without consulting village authorities,' he said.
Time of India
29-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Kulsi dam, Barduar township face uncertainty amid protests
1 2 3 Guwahati: Two major projects planned by the Assam govt — a 55-MW hydel project on the Kulsi river, and the proposed Barduar satellite township, both near Guwahati — face possible cancellation. The hydel project was planned in collaboration with Meghalaya govt. On Sunday, Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma told mediapersons, on the sidelines of a programme, that the proposed hydel project in the upper reaches of the Kulsi river, along the Assam-Meghalaya border, would not proceed if residents continue to oppose it. He also addressed concerns surrounding the Barduar township, planned in and around the British-era tea garden in Kamrup district, saying the project would be abandoned if it faces public resistance. Both initiatives have drawn strong opposition from local tribal communities and several political and apolitical groups, who are concerned about the possible "displacement of indigenous families" — particularly due to the proposed Kulsi power project. Sarma criticised the ongoing protests, saying, "There are some people who love protesting. We, the two chief ministers (Sarma and Meghalaya CM Conrad Sangma), want to build the dam for public benefit, to provide irrigation water. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 2025 Top Trending Local Enterprise Accounting Software [Click Here] Accounting ERP Click Here Undo If they don't want it, they can just say so. But instead, there are speeches, protests, and the emergence of new leaders — this has damaged Assam." Regarding the proposed Kulsi dam, earlier, Sarma said local opinions would be taken into account before finalising the project, which could displace around 10 villages if executed. On the Barduar township project on Guwahati's outskirts, Sarma said the govt would not proceed against public will. "The same is the case with the proposed Barduar township. We've informed the assembly that if the people there oppose it, the township won't be built. Yet protests continue. What should we do with such agitators? I can't stop them from agitating," he added. Previously, several organisations led by the All Rabha Students' Union wrote to the Kamrup district commissioner, urging issuance of land pattas (documents) to long-settled indigenous communities in the Barduar area. They fear eviction if the township is developed. They said the project would hamper the movement of Rabhas for achieving its prime goal of enlisting the Rabha-inhabited areas under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution for greater autonomy. They also argued that the proposed project would pose a negative impact on community's socio-economic well-being, language, culture, and traditional livelihoods.
Time of India
04-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Proposed Barduar satellite township sparks uproar, Rabha groups protest ‘land takeover'
Guwahati: The proposed 1500-acre Barduar satellite township development in Kamrup district's Palasbari revenue circle is facing opposition from Rabha organisations and indigenous community groups. The area, comprising tea gardens, paddy fields, wetlands and forests near the Meghalaya hills, has become a point of contention among its residents. Following the chief minister's office announcement about Himanta Biswa Sarma's review of urban infrastructure projects valued at USD 1 billion with GMDA and DoHUA officials, the All Rabha Students' Union (Arsu) raised objections. Despite heavy rainfall, hundreds of locals, along with Sangrami Krishak Sramik Sangha (SKSS), staged a protest march in Mirza on Wednesday, culminating at the Palasbari revenue circle office. Arsu's Kamrup district committee presented their grievances to the district commissioner through a memorandum, seeking land pattas for indigenous tribal families in Barduar tea estate's revenue villages 1, 2, and 3. Arsu Kamrup district secretary Ashok Nongbag said, "The message of establishing a satellite township in Barduar has sparked panic among the indigenous population in the Barduar area and surrounding villages. This project hampers the movement of the Rabhas for achieving its prime goal of enlisting the Rabha inhabited areas in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution for greater autonomy, besides posing a negative impact on the socio-economic, daily livelihood, language, culture, and traditions of the indigenous communities in the Barduar area." The memorandum highlighted that approximately 2,100 families could face displacement from the proposed township. SKSS leader Dinesh Das advocated for prioritising land rights for riots and landless peasant families. The groups demanded title certificates under the Forest Rights Act 2006 for indigenous tribal families residing in Barduar's forest areas. Records show that Barduar was a significant kingdom in 16th-century Kamrup district under Rabha rule. Arsu cited Mirza Nathan's Baharistan-I-Ghaibi, documenting Barduar's prominence until Batuwa kings' reign. Tea cultivation began in 1861 under British rule, without proper land settlements for indigenous inhabitants. The memorandum read, "In 1922, the British govt handed over a vast area in Barduar to Tea & Timber Company without giving land rights to the indigenous families living in the same area." The protesters vowed to continue their opposition, reminiscent of their past resistance to NDRF training camps and metropolitan expansion proposals in this tribal-protected region.
Time of India
03-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
In Ladakh, 85% job quota for locals
The Centre has introduced new reservation and domicile policies for Ladakh, reserving 85% of jobs for locals and one-third of seats in the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils for women. The Kargil Democratic Alliance and Apex Body Leh have welcomed these notifications as a positive step. Dialogue will continue regarding statehood and the implementation of the Sixth Schedule. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Srinagar: The Centre on Tuesday announced new reservation and domicile policies for Ladakh, reserving 85% jobs for locals and one-third of the total number of seats in the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils for Kargil Democratic Alliance (KBL) and Apex Body Leh (ABL), which are fighting for implementation of the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution in the Union Territory (UT), statehood, a separate public service commission and two Lok Sabha seats for Ladakh, welcomed the notifications as a welcome step in the right direction. They said dialogue for statehood and Sixth Schedule implementation will Centre's multiple notifications aimed at safeguarding the local interests of people in Ladakh spelt out changes in policies for reservation in jobs, autonomous councils, domicile and of the notifications on reservation specified that the total percentage of reservation for locals will not case exceed 85 per cent excluding economically weaker sections, for which it is 10 per cent. The new notifications also specified that those who have resided in Ladakh for a period of 15 years or studied for a period of seven years and appeared in class 10 or 12 examinations in an educational institution located in the UT shall be considered domicile of Ladakh for the purposes of appointment to any post under the UT or under a local or other authority other than cantonment another notification, the government said that in the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils Act, 1997, not less than one-third of the total number of seats in the councils will be reserved for women and such seats may be allotted by rotation to different territorial constituencies. Besides making English, Hindi, Urdu, Bhoti and Purgi the official languages of Ladakh, the government said English will continue to be used for all official purposes of the UT for which it was being used before the date of commencement of this regulation."This is a satisfactory decision by the government of India and they have done as was discussed in the meetings with us. Now one chapter is closed and we have been assured that dialogue on other demands will start within a month," said Chering Dorjay Lakruk of Democratic Alliance member Sajjad Kargili said, "Something is better than nothing. We now expect that a notification for jobs would be issued soon as well."The ABL and KDA held a meeting with the Centre in the last week of May in Delhi and now they have been assured that another meeting will be slotted in the last week of two bodies were formed in Leh and Kargil after 2019, when Ladakh was carved out as a separate Union territory from Jammu and Kashmir to strive for the rights of the people across the region. They joined hands and held a series of protest meetings in Ladakh, Jammu and December 2023, the Centre started talks with the two bodies which were stalled briefly and resumed after a series of protests the next year. Besides, in 2024, climate activist Sonam Wangchuk sat on a fast for several days demanding implementation of the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution in Ladakh to preserve its environment, culture and natural resources. His movement greatly helped the cause of ABL and KDA. In August 2024, the Centre created five new districts in Ladakh.
