Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Tuesday said that the rights of the tribal people living within the Assam State Capital Region Authority (ASCRA) would be fully protected.

Chairing the inaugural meeting of Assam State Capital Region Development Authority (ASCRDA) in Guwahati. Sonowal directed the Guwahati Development Department to take steps to address the apprehensions raised by the Autonomous Councils regarding preservation of distinct identity of the tribal people and maintaining their rights over land.

The chief minister said the Capital Region Authority was created with a vision to make Guwahati as the hub of South East Asian countries. The SCR comprises of Assam's 5 districts and aspires to be the heart of SEAsia.

The government wanted faster development in the area by making the people major stakeholders of the development process, he said.

Keeping in view the apprehensions raised by the Chief Executive Members of Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council and Tiwa Autonomous Council, Sonowal agreed on the need for more clarity on certain provisions of the ASCRA Act concerning land rights of the tribal people.