A significant portion of government land in Agartala city is illegally occupied: Finance Minister

Agartala, Jan 13, 2025, By Our Correspondent

Agartala: Jan 13: The Finance Minister of Tripura, Pranjit Singh Roy, has reported that 31.47 acres of government land in Agartala city are currently under illegal occupation. The state government has no immediate plans to evict the occupants. This information was provided in a written reply to an unmarked question by Tipra Motha MLA Ranjit Debbarma on the second day of the 13th Assembly.

The Finance Department stated that strict action against illegal occupation of government land is taken according to Section 15 of the Tripura Land Revenue and Land Reforms Act, 1960. This section deems any person occupying government land without lawful authority as an unauthorized occupant, subject to eviction by the appropriate authority. If buildings or constructions on the land are not removed within the specified time, the government may confiscate or demolish them.

Additionally, unauthorized occupants may be fined up to six times the annual assessment of the land, recoverable as arrears of land revenue. Upon payment of the fine, occupants have the right to protect, collect, and remove any unharvested crops. The Tripura Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorized Occupants) Act, 1983, also provides a framework for evicting illegal occupants, with the power to recover government land delegated to the District Magistrates.