Manager of tea garden in Cachar violates CM’s order, demolishes Pucca House sanctioned under ‘PMAY’; Three arrested

The tea garden Manager of Lakhipur has bull-dozed two newly constructed houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana (PMAY) in Ashralabuk village of Binnakandighat GP in Lakhipur. CM Himanta Biswa Sarma earlier declared that, for the construction of a house under PMAY, the beneficiaries in Tea Garden areas don’t have to get an NOC from the manager, but the manager forcefully demolished the newly constructed houses of the two tea garden workers.

When they didn’t ask for any NOC before construction, the manager, allegedly demanded a sum of fifty thousand rupees from them and gave them a deadline of eight days. But just two days later, the Manager and the Assistant Manager came with his men and bull-dozed off the two houses within hours. Both the PMAY beneficiaries begged the Manager and his men to give them some time and not break their dream homes, but like a master in his colonial hangover, they didn’t listen to the woes.

Saraswati Ree and Rabi Ree have been living in the residential area of the Lakhipur Tea Garden for years. Recently after getting money from PMAY, they were building a pucca house in place of their earlier thatched home. They knew that their CM had said they didn’t have to apply for any NOC and also they were not occupying any new land. Their house was in the final step of getting ready when the manager of the garden called them to his office and asked why they didn’t ask for a No Objection Certificate before construction. The manager asked them to deposit 50 thousand rupees in cash and a request for NOC if they want their houses to be in place. Both of them were tea garden workers and could not pay this much to the manager, but they were willing to pay Rs, 10,000 instead. Later he gave them eight days to deposit the money and sent them back.

Just two days later, on Saturday, Manager Namalendu Chakraborty and Assistant Manager Sampad Deb went to the place where Saraswati and her son Rabi were building their home. Both the managers ordered the JCBs to demolish their homes. Rabi and Saraswati were devastated to see this and they requested the managers and begged to give them some time to manage the money.

Upon hearing this news, the Inspector from the Labour Department, Sudip Nath, reached the ground to take stock of the situation. When he asked the managers why their home was demolished, they said it was instructed by the garden’s ownership. Along with Nath, other locals and educated people of the village also went there, they heard the entire chain of events from the mother and son and advised them to file a police complaint against the managers.

On Sunday, they filed a complaint against the managers for unlawful demolition of their house. Accordingly, Lakhipur police arrested manager Namalendu Chakraborty and assistant manager, Sampad Deb. The JCB driver, Rajen Bauri was also arrested yesterday. After the court’s order, the three arrested were sent to the Central Jail from Lakhipur Police Station. Lakhipur OC Rajesh Kumar Das said, there can be further arrests as well in this matter.