Barduar Bagan Residents Oppose Proposed Township, Assert 'Our Land, Our Right'

In a significant act of resistance, indigenous residents of the Barduar Bagan area in Palasbari, under the Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council (RHAC), organized a large citizens’ convention at Jarapata field to protest the proposed Barduar Bagan Satellite Township project. This event, spearheaded by the Barduar Bagan Land Pattani Demand Committee, brought together displaced people, intellectuals, activists, and representatives from various indigenous communities across Assam. The gathering was part of a broader and ongoing movement that includes marches, sit-ins, and community meetings.

The central concern of the protesters is the fear that the township project will lead to the displacement of thousands of indigenous families, irreversibly damage the fragile ecological balance of the area, and erode the region’s socio-cultural identity. Protesters raised strong slogans such as “Protect our livelihood and environment from the monster of development”, “Stop handing over tribal land to Adani and Ambani”, and “Our land is our right – cancel the Barduar Bagan Satellite Township”.

Speakers at the convention demanded the immediate cancellation of the township project. They also called for permanent land pattas (legal land titles) to be issued to the indigenous residents, especially those from forest-dwelling and tribal communities. A key demand was the legal allocation of up to 29.5 bighas of land per family to landless citizens, as permitted under existing state laws.

Criticism was directed at the state government, with allegations that development is being used as a cover for a systematic displacement campaign. Protesters accused the administration of forcibly acquiring land from tribal and marginalized communities to hand it over to private corporate entities. Special concern was raised over the potential environmental consequences of the project, particularly its threat to Chandubi Lake—one of Assam’s key eco-tourism destinations. They warned that the township would disrupt the area’s biodiversity and natural ecosystem.

The convention also focused on the broader implications for the region’s social and demographic balance, warning that the identity and heritage of indigenous groups are at risk. Activist Ramen Singh Rabha publicly criticized Tankeswar Rabha, an executive member of RHAC, accusing him of siding with the government and failing to protect the interests of the local tribal population.

The event saw participation from diverse communities including Rabha, Boro, Adivasi, Garo, Brahmin, and Garia-Moria groups. A joint resolution was passed during the convention to intensify the protest and build a wider awareness campaign across Assam. The meeting was presided over by Gobinda Rabha, chief convener of the Land Pattani Demand Committee.

Speakers at the gathering included intellectual Moina Goswami and activists like Jayanta Rabha, Abdul Hussain, Subrata Talukdar, and Paresh Malakar. They collectively demanded the protection of local land rights, the preservation of the Chandubi biodiversity zone, and an immediate halt to large infrastructure projects such as the Ukium Hydropower Project and the proposed Logistics Park at Darabil wetland. The protest also denounced ongoing eviction drives in areas like Karbi Anglong, Dima Hasao, and BTR, calling them unconstitutional and inhumane.