Guwahati, March 3: The eviction drive against the people of Silsako Beel, after having a series of meeting with Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and GMDA officials, has been halted for ten days.

On Friday, separate meetings were held following which the Assam government directed the Kamrup (M) district administration and GMDA to halt the eviction drive for ten days.

On the other hand, Assam Chief Minister Sarma has sought a survey report from the District Administration in connection with the eviction and the area under alleged encroachment.

Recently, many people living in the vicinity of Silsako Beel were evicted from the place. Many houses were demolished by the district administration.

Meanwhile, the Guwahati police apprehended a man identified as Paresh Das from the Satgaon area in Guwahati who allegedly sold land to the people without any authorisation.

The people who settled after 2008 may not be entitled to any aid or even land elsewhere.

On the other hand, the evicted people staged protest against the government for demolishing their houses. “We want rehabilitation because our houses were demolished by the government. We are homeless and don’t know what to do now. We urge the district administration to provide shelter for us,” said a woman.