Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced on Wednesday that nearly 1,000 bighas of encroached land have been cleared as part of the state’s recent eviction drives. He described this as a significant milestone in Assam’s ongoing mission to reclaim government and forest lands.
“In my view, we have cleared around 25,000 acres of land so far,” the Chief Minister stated, emphasizing that a detailed report with full data will be made public shortly.
Addressing the media, Mr. Sarma said, “So far, we have reclaimed 1,000 bighas of land. This is a substantial achievement, and more information will be released next week. Over the past four years, these eviction drives have had a positive impact on the state.”
He noted that the initiative has led to a noticeable increase in forest cover, particularly within the Lumding Reserve Forest. The Chief Minister also highlighted a remarkable ecological recovery, stating that rhinos have started returning to their natural habitats — not just in the iconic Kaziranga National Park, but also in the Pabha forest region of Lakhimpur district.
Referring to the legal backing of the operation, Sarma acknowledged the directives of the Gauhati High Court, which authorizes the government to conduct evictions, while also mandating proper amenities and rehabilitation for those displaced, as long as they are verified Indian citizens.
Citing a humane example from the Lumding area, he shared, “We carried out evictions there, but 30 families later approached us. After verifying their documents, we allotted them land. Our objective is not to trouble genuine citizens but to safeguard Assam’s forests and wildlife.”
The Assam government is expected to release a comprehensive report in the coming weeks detailing progress in land reclamation, the rehabilitation process, and efforts in forest conservation and wildlife protection.
