Assam Fisheries cancels Doloni Beel lease over unpaid dues worth Rs 14 lakh

Assam Fisheries Development Corporation (AFDC) has cancelled the contract (pattan) for the Doloni Beel Meen Mahal at Jogighopa in Bongaigaon district after Gopal Sarkar, the assigned contractor, failed to pay over Rs 14 lakh in revenue. 

Sarkar, a resident of Chalantapara 1st Block village, had been in charge of the Meen Mahal since receiving the pattan on February 16, 2019. However, despite selling fish worth lakhs of rupees, he has not made the required revenue payments to the department.

The AFDC, after repeatedly notifying Sarkar about the overdue payments, took decisive action on January 4, 2025, by cancelling the pattan contract and forfeiting Sarkar’s deposit money as per Clause 32 of the contract. 

The Fisheries Department issued an official memo, directing that possession of the Meen Mahal be transferred to the corporation. The order emphasized that if the unpaid revenue is not cleared, further action would be pursued against Sarkar.

Despite these official measures, reports suggest that Sarkar continues to illegally collect revenue from the Dalni Meen Mahal. The Bongaigaon District Fisheries Development Department's failure to take control of the Meen Mahal has raised suspicions, as the department had been instructed to do so by the AFDC. 

Adding to the controversy, it is alleged that Sarkar has used Assam Police personnel to aid in his operations at the Meen Mahal, even after the cancellation of his contract.

The situation has led to concerns over the management of the state's fisheries resources, as the unlawful revenue collection continues amidst a backdrop of administrative negligence. 

With Magh Bihu Uruka approaching, it is feared that Sarkar might exploit the situation by illegally harvesting and selling fish from the Meen Mahal.

The AFDC has sent copies of its directive to various departments for further action, hoping to put an end to Sarkar’s unauthorized operations and recover the outstanding revenue.