What is the Issue?

The Assam Legislative Assembly discussed granting land patta (legal land ownership) to long-settled residents of Guwahati, especially indigenous communities living on city hillocks since the 1960s–70s.

Despite large-scale patta grants in other districts, Guwahati’s land settlement process remains slow.

Key Points Raised

• Nearly 85,000 families in 28 hillock areas still lack land patta.
• Residents include Scheduled Tribe communities eligible under the Forest Rights Act, 2006.
• The land parcels fall under multiple categories:
  • Reserved forests
  • Revenue department land
  • Debottar land (religious institutional land)
• MLAs demanded a joint survey to clearly demarcate land categories and speed up title settlement.

Government’s Response

Revenue & Disaster Management Minister Keshab Mahanta highlighted efforts under:

• Mission Basundhara 1.0
• Mission Basundhara 2.0
• Mission Basundhara 3.0

These initiatives aim to digitise land records, settle land titles, and reduce disputes.

Mission Basundhara 3.0 includes relaxations for previously rejected applicants.

Legal Barriers

• Patta cannot be granted on:
  • Reserved forest areas
  • Unclassed forest land
• However, some indigenous families have received land rights under the Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006.

Risk Mapping

A joint Assam Engineering College (AEC) – ASDMA survey identified 366 landslide-prone and vulnerable hill locations in Guwahati, adding complexity to settlement decisions.

Exam Hook: Prelims Question (One-liner)

Which act governs the grant of land rights to Scheduled Tribe communities residing in forested hill areas?
✔ Forest Rights Act, 2006

MCQ Based Question

Consider the following statements regarding land patta issues in Guwahati:

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) Only 2
(b) Only 2 and 3
(c) Only 3
(d) All of the above

Correct Answer: (b)