Majestic views, pristine waterfalls and winding rivers — Dima Hasao is the one hill station in Assam and, blessed with ample pure magnificence, it has was a main vacationer vacation spot. And that, too, after a decade of militancy and violence as a result of demand for separate statehood.
Dima Hasao district continues to be a a part of Assam with its autonomous council working alongside the BJP-led state authorities for the upliftment of individuals. The council, led by chief government member Debolal Garlosa, is now specializing in making tourism as its mainstay.
“Dima Hasao is blessed with a lot of natural beauty. We have a lot to offer to our tourists. From massive waterfalls like Panimur to serene places like Umrangso golf course to mysterious spots like Jatinga, from hills in Maibong to the rivers flowing throughout, this place is also called Switzerland of the Northeast. Our council is fully focused on boosting tourism now,” tourism adviser to the council, Zed Nunisa solely advised CNN-Information18.
“Haflong town in Dima Hasao is now well connected by road, which has made it easier for tourists. Not just that, with our new tourism policy, the draft of which was recently released on World Tourism Day on September 27, we have focused on increasing homestays and hotels to accommodate tourists. We have also met with local social media influencers to promote Dima Hasao as a major tourist destination. We are also planning for more videos on and about tourist attractions in Dima Hasao. A website has also been launched to help tourists…” he stated.
What to search out in Dima Hasao?
With a dense inhabitants, Haflong city and, largely all components of Dima Hasao, are welcoming to vacationers and native residents are identified for his or her huge smiles and greetings — juthai (hiya) — in Dimasa. Haflong is properly linked by each highway and railway to Guwahati.
The Haflong railway station is taken into account essentially the most stunning railway station within the northeast. Giant inexperienced hills and clear blue skies will greet you with a juthai on the railway station. Travelling a distance of 323 km on curvey roads with dense tree cowl on either side, it takes 5 hours to achieve Haflong from Guwahati. The longest highway tunnel in Assam — BG Tunnel No 9 — has additionally diminished journey time for vacationers.
Haflong is a quaint city with picturesque homestays and small cafés by the aspect of the Haflong lake. Close by is the thriller of Jatinga, the place 1000’s of birds drop lifeless on some moonlit nights yearly throughout a specific season.
Zed Nunisa stated the district was now selling the Umrangso golf course as a vacation spot wedding ceremony spot. With horses grazing, the valley surrounded by water reminds one in all Switzerland. Close to Umrangso is a waterfall referred to as Panimur, which is among the largest in Assam.
From kayaking to trekking, the council is now attempting to herald extra journey sports activities. “We have seen that other hill stations in the country have a lot of adventure activities. We are also blessed with beautiful hill terrains where a lot of such activities can be offered. So, experts have trained our men and we are ready to offer a lot of more adventure sports,” Zed stated.
Dima Hasao was a witness to a lot of destruction through the Assam floods in 2022. Landslides not solely blocked the highway tunnel to Haflong, but in addition destroyed the newly constructed railway station. Roads and homes had been all affected however, after a yr, it’s getting again on its toes to welcome vacationers.
“Please come and visit us, we have a lot to offer. Dima Hasao will rise, must rise,” Zed added.
Dima Hasao’s violent previous
The serene hill districts of Assam — Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao — have a lengthy historical past of insurgency by Karbi and Dimasa teams, which was at its peak within the mid-1990s and was rooted within the core demand of separate statehood. In Dima Hasao, the demand started within the 1960s together with different tribal sections of undivided Assam.
While new states similar to Meghalaya had been carved out, Karbi Anglong and North Cachar remained with Assam on a promise of extra energy by the federal government, together with implementation of Article 244A that permits ‘autonomous state’ inside Assam in sure tribal areas. This was by no means applied.
When the demand for ‘Dimarji’ gathered steam
A requirement for a full-fledged state — ‘Dimaraji’ — gathered steam and led to the formation of the militant Dimasa National Security Force (DNSF) in 1991. It surrendered in 1995 however its commander-in-chief Jewel Gorlosa broke away and shaped the Dima Halam Daogah (DHD).
In 2003, the DHD started negotiations with the federal government however the commander-in-chief broke away and shaped the DHD-J (Jewel) with an armed group referred to as ‘Black Widow’. These teams had been violent and had well-liked assist, although they signed a ceasefire in 2012.
The got here the Dimasa National Liberation Army…
The Dimasa National Liberation Army (DNLA) was established in April 2019 to pursue the Dimasa individuals’s sovereignty by way of an armed marketing campaign. Recently, it signed a peace settlement with the state authorities and the Centre.
In September 2021, the DNLA declared a unilateral ceasefire for a interval of six months following an enchantment by the chief minister. The ceasefire has been prolonged since. The settlement made the DNLA give up arms and abide by the Constitution of India.
The phrases had been: disband armed organisation; vacate all camps occupied by cadres; be a part of the mainstream; 179 cadres to give up arms and ammunition with the promise that the central and state governments will present Rs 500 crore every for the event of the Dimasa tribal areas; Dimasa Welfare Council to be arrange by state authorities to guard, protect and promote a social, cultural and linguistic id to fulfill political, financial and academic aspirations; guarantee speedy and centered improvement of Dimasa individuals residing outdoors the jurisdiction of North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council (NCHAC).
The settlement additionally supplies for the appointment of a fee underneath Paragraph 14 of the sixth Schedule of the Constitution India — to look at the demand for the inclusion of further villages contiguous to the NCHAC with the council. Under Article 244, this supplies for the formation of autonomous administrative divisions — autonomous district councils (ADCs) — which have some legislative, judicial and administrative autonomy inside a state.
