Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma defended the Assam Land and Revenue Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2026, in the state assembly, saying the proposed legislation is aimed at protecting the cultural and historical legacy of Assam’s centuries-old Vaishnavite satras through regulated land ownership in their surrounding areas. Taking part in the discussion on the bill, Sarma said the government has proposed creating a five-kilometre protective buffer zone around selected heritage institutions, including Barpeta Satra, Majuli and Batadrava. Under the proposed provisions, land transactions within these notified areas will be allowed only for local residents. The Chief Minister said the legislation has become necessary because of demographic changes around several heritage sites over the years. He said legal safeguards are needed to preserve Assam’s traditional religious and cultural institutions.
Referring to Barpeta Satra, Sarma said that if similar measures had been introduced nearly five decades ago, much of the surrounding land could have been preserved in its original character. He also said that several mosques have come up within a five-kilometre radius of the historic satra over time, which, according to him, has raised concerns among local residents about preserving its heritage.Maintaining that the proposed law is not aimed at any particular community, the Chief Minister said the government recognises demographic transformation as a reality but wants to ensure the survival of the state’s remaining heritage institutions. “We have nothing negative against anyone. We only want the remaining heritage institutions to survive,” Sarma said while appealing to opposition members to support the bill unanimously.
He also urged that the legislation should be passed as a collective resolution of the entire assembly to protect Assam’s cultural identity instead of relying only on the ruling alliance’s majority. Clarifying the scope of the proposal, Sarma said the restrictions would apply only to a limited number of historically significant institutions, including Barpeta Satra, Batadrava and Majuli, and would not be implemented across the state.According to the provisions of the bill, land purchases within the notified five-kilometre zones will be restricted to local inhabitants. The legislation also provides for the removal of illegal encroachments and requires prospective buyers to prove that their families have lived in the area for at least three generations.
