GUWAHATI: In an effort to reclaim the Nalbari Reserve Forest in the Goalpara district of Assam from illegal settlers, the Assam Forest Department is embarking on a significant anti-encroachment drive. Collaborating with the Goalpara civil and police administration, the operation aims to clear approximately 100 hectares of encroached land.
The drive involves the service of eviction notices to a total of 246 families that have settled on this forest land. A significant number of these families have already complied with the notice and vacated the area. In locations where permanent structures have been established, excavators are being deployed for demolition.
The Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of Goalpara, Tejas Mariswamy, expressed the ongoing efforts, stating that the 246 families have received eviction notices and that many have already left the area. "Three teams have been formed to conduct the drive, and if possible, we aim to conclude it by Tuesday, with Wednesday as a backup day," he added, highlighting the cooperation with the local civil and police administration in this eviction operation.
The forest officials assert that no relocation options are being offered to the individuals being evicted, categorizing them as "encroachers" on forest land. Mariswamy emphasized that in areas with permanent structures, excavators are being used for demolition, further dismissing the possibility of relocating the people since they were considered "encroachers" on forest land.
"We are hopeful that the Nalbari Reserve Forest will be completely encroachment-free by the end of this drive," Mariswamy said, underscoring the determination to restore the forest to its intended purpose.
The eviction operation will encompass the Hatimura, Hasdoba, and Angtihara areas on the first day, according to forest officials. This is not the first instance of such a drive in Assam; in July 2021, 15 families were evicted from the Nalbari Reserve Forest, and in February 2023, approximately 2,099 hectares of the Burachapori Wildlife Sanctuary in the Sonitpur district were cleared, affecting around 12,800 people.
This ongoing anti-encroachment drive underscores the Assam Forest Department's commitment to preserving and restoring vital forest reserves in the region, highlighting the challenges and complexities associated with addressing illegal settlements and encroachments on forest land.
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