Photo Courtesy: nenow
Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma pushed the Assam Land and Revenue Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2026, through the state assembly on July 29. The law creates a five-kilometre protective buffer around heritage religious sites older than 250 years. Future land sales in these zones are now restricted to original inhabitants, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, indigenous ethnic communities, and designated disadvantaged groups.
Sarma framed the policy as a secular measure to save the state's history. "If any religious institution is more than 250 years old, then only people associated with that institution and local tribal communities within a five-kilometre radius will be able to buy and sell land," he stated. The legislation targets sites like the Maa Kamakhya Temple, Barpeta Satra, Majuli, and Batadrava.
The government defined original inhabitants as families living in the area for three generations up to January 1, 2006. One generation equals 25 years. Eligible indigenous groups include the Moran, Motok, Chutia, Koch-Rajbongshi, and Ahom communities. Tea Tribes and Adivasis fall under the disadvantaged group category.
The law does not affect existing landowners with valid documentation, regardless of their background. However, the District Commissioner now holds the power to evict unauthorized occupants from protected areas, excluding those from the protected categories. Sarma defended the shift as a necessary reaction to demographic changes near sacred sites. He noted that had these protections existed decades ago, the character of areas like the Barpeta Satra might have remained intact. "We have nothing negative against anyone. We only want the remaining heritage institutions to survive," he said.
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