Himanta Sarma Says Assam Land Bill Aims To Protect Vaishnavite Satras

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday defended the Assam Land and Revenue Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2026, stating that the legislation aims to protect the cultural and historical identity of centuries-old Vaishnavite satras in the state. Speaking during the Assembly debate, Sarma said the proposed law is intended to regulate land transactions around important heritage institutions and preserve their traditional character.

Under the proposed legislation, the government plans to create a five-kilometre protected zone around selected heritage institutions, including Barpeta Satra, Majuli, and Batadrava. Within these notified areas, only local residents would be allowed to purchase land. The Chief Minister said the restrictions would apply only to specific identified heritage sites and would not cover the entire state.

Sarma argued that demographic changes over several decades had affected the character of some heritage areas, making legal intervention necessary to safeguard Assam’s cultural and religious institutions. Referring to Barpeta Satra, he said that if similar protective measures had been introduced earlier, much of the surrounding region could have been preserved. He also mentioned concerns raised by local residents regarding changes around the historic site.

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The Chief Minister said the Bill was not directed against any particular community and that the government’s objective was to protect the remaining heritage institutions of Assam. He urged Opposition legislators to support the legislation unanimously, stating that a collective decision by the Assembly would send a message about the importance of preserving the state’s cultural legacy.

The proposed Bill also includes provisions for removing illegal encroachments and requires land buyers in protected zones to prove that their families have been residing in the area for at least three generations. The restrictions would apply to religious institutions that are more than 250 years old, according to the provisions outlined by the government.

The legislation comes as part of the Assam government’s efforts to protect historic Vaishnavite institutions that hold cultural and religious significance in the state. While the government has maintained that the Bill focuses on heritage conservation, it has also become a subject of political debate over issues related to land ownership, identity, and demographic changes in Assam.

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