All encroachers evicted from Chandardinga Hills

From a Correspondent

DHUBRI, May 10: All the encroachers were evicted from Sildanga and Chandardinga hills under the Chapor Revenue Circle of Dhubri district in the second phase eviction drive on Tuesday. As many as 29 houses belonging to 19 families who had encroached upon the forest land and were staying illegally, were dashed to the ground and uprooted by JCB.

Earlier on December 28 last year, 117 houses of 56 families were dismantled, but eviction had to be called off by the department as unruly mob of encroachers attacked the eviction party and in the incident at least 12 forest staff were injured. Security forces had to resort to blank firing to disperse the encroachers, who resisted the move by hurling stones at the eviction forest party led by Dhubri Divisiol Forest Officer AS Talukdar. Forest minister Pramila Rani Brahma, during her visit to Chandardinga Hills area in December last year, had instructed forest officials to clear the encroachment from the forest area.

Talking to The Sentinel, Dhubri Divisiol Forest Officer AS Talukdar informed that with eviction that was conducted on Tuesday, Chandardinga and its surrounding forest area had become totally free from any encroachment.

“We have also started massive drive against illegal trade of timber and sawing mills. In the meantime, most of illegal timber sawing mills have been dismantled and timber and logs seized. Drive against illegal timber trade and smuggling will be intensified in the days to come,” Talukdar added.