Guwahati: Convincing families to leave landslide-prone hill slopes remains a major challenge for Kamrup (Metro) district officials.Officials said notices were served on residents of vulnerable areas, advising them to vacate their homes and move to safer locations. However, several families have stayed in the high-risk zones or returned after being relocated.“For them, the decision is simply not about choosing between a safe and unsafe house. Their homes are often in proximity to their place of livelihood and schools. Rehabilitation sites are frequently located far from their original residences, making it difficult for the families to sustain their daily lives after relocation,” a source from the district disaster management authority said.Many residents are aware of the risks but continue to live in makeshift houses because they cannot afford to relocate or build safer homes on the hills, the source said.The issue is further complicated by land rights. Many residents in vulnerable areas hold miyadi land, limiting the action authorities can take. Officials can serve notices but cannot evict them without following due legal process.“People living on miyadi land have certain recognised land rights, so we cannot simply evict them. The maximum we can do is serve notices and take action as permitted under the law,” he added.Those living on eksonia land occupy it for a limited period, subject to annual renewal upon payment of the prescribed land revenue. Failure to pay can lead to cancellation of the settlement and eviction, subject to legal procedure. However, authorities said many residents were making the required payments, making eviction more difficult.The Assam Urban Areas (Other than Guwahati) Building Rules, 2014, generally prohibit habitation on land with a slope exceeding 10 degrees unless special safety measures are adopted. Officials said people nevertheless continue to live in steep, vulnerable areas despite the risks.
