Forest area land yet to be freed from encroachment

* 3,51,292.53 hectares of reserve forest area still under encroachment

RESERVE FORESTS UNDER ENCROACHMENT (In hectares)

* Nambor (South): 25,056.35

* Doyang: 23,717.18

* Diphu: 18,050

* Gohpur: 13,310

* Gali: 10,000

* Kaki : 9,700

* Subansiri: 8,041

* Bengtol : 6,092

* Bagaikhas: 5,444.69

* Pantan: 5,454.75

* Longai: 3,964

* Singla: 3,476

* Afrikola (West): 2,500

* Garbhanga: 2,210

* Kuklung : 1,469

* Jiadhol: 1,450

* Langting Mupa: 1,433

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI, Oct 7: With more than 3 lakh hectares of reserve forest (RF) areas under encroachment across Assam, the momentum of eviction as assured by the State Government is yet to pick up pace. This is despite the initial move of the Forest department to do so in certain pockets of encroachment. Though owing to various factors such attempts at eviction of forest areas appear to fizzle out, the government is determined to make the forest areas free from encroachment. The total area under reserve forests in Assam is 13,54,567.62 hectares. Of this, the area under encroachment was 3,75,237.84 hectares where 1,97,524 families were in occupation while 23,945.31 hectares of forest land has been evicted. The area still to be evicted is 3,51,292.53 hectares.

Talking to The Sentinel, PWD Minister Parimal Suklabaidya said, “There is a fresh initiative to make the forest areas encroachment free. However, the fact lies that practical issues crop up when the actual drive is undertaken. That was precisely the reason why the encroachment-free move at Amchang Wildlife Sanctuary had to be left incomplete. Whatsoever it may be, the government is steadfast in carrying out more such drives to make the forest area free from encroachment.”

According to official data, the maximum forest area under encroachment is in Golaghat district. Mention may be made of Nambor (South) RF with 25,056.35 hectares followed by Doyang RF with 23,717.18 hectares and Diphu RF with 18,050 hectares – all in the same district.

Some other reserve forests where high incidences of encroachment have been reported are as follows: Gohpur RF in Biswanath district (13,310 hectares); Gali RF in Dhemaji district (10,000 hectares); Kaki RF in Nagaon district (9,700 hectares); Subansiri RF in Dhemaji district (8,041 hectares); Bengtol RF in Chirang district (6,092 hectares); Bagaikhas RF in Kamrup district (5,444.69 hectares); Pantan RF in Kamrup district (5,454.75 hectares); Longai RF in Karimganj district (3,964 hectares); Singla RF in Karimganj district (3,476 hectares); Afrikola RF-West in Kamrup-Metro district (2,500 hectares); Garbhanga RF in Kamrup-Metro district (2,210 hectares); Kuklung RF in Chirang district (1,469 hectares); Jiadhol RF in Dhemaji district (1,450 hectares); and Langting Mupa RF in Dima Hasao district (1,433 hectares).

Against this backdrop, it remains to be seen as to when and how the State Government goes about in freeing these areas from illegal occupation in the days to come.