Assam govt reclaims 5,250 bighas from encroachers in Jamuna–Moudanga reserve forest, CM Himanta calls it ‘Mission Completed’

5,250 bighas of unlawful encroachment were cleared from Assam's reserve forest land.
The eviction drive is in full swing in Assam. (Source: @himantabiswa/X/The Indian Express)

Encroachments have been removed from 5,250 bighas or 1,700 acres of land in the Hojai district’s Jamuna-Maudanga Reserve Forest. The state government informed that over 1,500 families from the minority community had illegally occupied the area. The forest reserve comprises more than 8,000 bighas, as reported by the Times of India.

“Game over for illegal encroachment at Jamuna–Moudanga Reserve Forest. Mission completed as 5,250 bighas reclaimed through peaceful, lawful & decisive action. No cheat codes needed. Consider this your warning: Illegal encroachment will not be tolerated,” Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma wrote on social media on 3rd January.

According to Bidyut Bikash Bhagawati, the district commissioner, some encroachers claimed to have lived on the land for more than thirty years. Furthermore, others alleged that they were there for roughly twenty years. The district administration added that these people had settled on forest land mainly for cultivation. They also possessed land beyond the forest zone in multiple places of the Hojai district and other regions.

On 5th January, Sarma mentioned, “So far, 1.5 lakh bighas of land have been freed from encroachment. Due to the eviction drive in Uriyamghat, the names of at least 12,000 unidentified people have been removed from the voter list.”

The chief minister on New Year’s Day declared that the previous five years witnessed the dismantling of intrusion on 1.45 lakh bighas of forest and government land. He had previously stated on 3rd November that “illegal Miyas” would not live in peace under his government, as the eviction drives would continue in the state.

Written by OpIndia Staff
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