SIVASAGAR, Nov 7: The Sivasagar district administration on Saturday began an eviction drive to clear encroachments from the historic Jamuna canal following sustained protests and demands by the All Tai Ahom Students' Union (ATASU).<\/p>
ATASU said the Jamuna area comprised 120 bighas, 1 katha and 9 lochas, of which around 40 bighas had been encroached upon. The organisation said it would continue its agitation until the entire area was cleared.<\/p>
The eviction drive targeted houses, toilets, walls and commercial establishments built on canal land. Some families began demolishing their houses and toilet walls before the administration's operation, ATASU representatives said.<\/p>
The organisation demanded guard walls along both banks of the Jamuna canal to prevent fresh encroachments. It urged Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma to allocate funds for the work, saying eviction alone would not be enough.<\/p>
ATASU said it would take up demands for the protection of other Ahom-era heritage sites after the Jamuna canal was fully cleared. These included clearing encroachments from the Talatal Ghar canal, cancellation of pattas on 174 bighas of land, and removal of houses allegedly built within the premises of Rang Ghar, Ranganath Shivdol, Joymoti Memorial and Kareng Ghar.<\/p>
The Jamuna canal is linked to Ahom-era heritage in Sivasagar. Historical accounts state that it was excavated during the reign of Swargadeo Sivasinha alongside Shivdol, Devidol, Vishnudol and Bor Pukhuri.<\/p>
