Assam: Around 6,000 Bighas of forest land cleared from encroachment by evicting around 1700 families in Nagaon district; houses, mosques, schools bulldozed

Eviction of illegal settlements on forest and government land continues in Assam. In the latest anti-encroachment drive, 5,962 bighas (around 2000 acres) of land have been cleared in Lutumari Forest Reserve in Nagaon district after two days of demolitions by bulldozers. The eviction drive was conducted in Chankhola, Kandapara, Juripar, Bederipar and Majgaon areas of Kachua Lutumari Wildlife Sanctuary under Kampur Forest Regional Office in Nagaon district. 

Reportedly, large number of valuable trees were cut down by smugglers in the forest areas, clearing large areas of land. Later, people from various places arrived and occupied the land. According to officials, around 1,700 Muslim families had encroached upon forest land over the years, gradually establishing clustered settlements and setting up beetle nut orchards and other agricultural farms. The occupiers had built brick houses, and administration provided electricity and set up schools.

However, after the Himanta Biswa Sarma launched the drive to clear encroachments from forest and grazing areas, Lutumari Forest was also selected. Forest Department and local administration had already issued eviction notices earlier, and many residents had already vacated after getting the notices.

But some still remained, and the bulldozers were brought in on Saturday and Sunday to demolish the houses after the deadline was over. District Commissioner Debashish Sarma stated that around 70% of the families had voluntarily vacated the premises before the deadline. Around 1200 houses were demolished on Saturday, and the remaining around 500 houses were demolished today. However, the administration assured that relief measures would be taken to rehabilitate the affected families.

There were around 2070 kacha houses, 192 pucca houses, 3 mosques, 2 government schools, and 3 Jal Jeevan scheme structures in the area, and all of them were bulldozed. Individuals who had paid land revenue were also evicted, as authorities emphasised that no exceptions would be made for anyone in the reserved forest area.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that the eviction drive will continue tomorrow to clear the last 13 houses & betel-nut orchards. Using a popular dialogue from the movie Gangs of Wasseypur, he posted on X, “Bamboo ka, Hollong ka, Simul ka, Sabka badla lega tera JCB!”

Officials said that the eviction is being carried out in compliance with Supreme Court and High Court directives. Removing encroachments from forest areas will help in reducing human–elephant conflict in the region. Forest Department Special Chief Secretary M.K. Yadava said that once the eviction of 6,000 bighas in Lutumari and 1,600 bighas in Borpani is completed, Nagaon district will get significant relief from human–elephant conflict.

To prevent any law-and-order situation, massive police forces were deployed during the evictions, and over 5,000 police personnel were deployed in four temporary camps. Around 50 excavators and backhoe loaders were used to demolish the vacated houses.

Written by OpIndia Staff
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