Will Eviction Drive Against Forest Encroachers Resume?

Special Correspondent

Silchar: The question is not only making rounds but has created a deep sense of tension and panic among the people who have encroached upon reserve forests’ lands and living there for years. It is no secret how all this has happened, endangering rich biodiversity and wild life. After the recent anti encroachment drive in Hawaithang reserve forest of Cachar, forest department is planning to carry out similar operation in other forests too. After all with the change of guards at Dispur, naturalists and environmentalists across the state have called for action to restore the pristine greenery of forests.

Depleting forest cover and indiscriminate axing of trees along with systematic human encroachment for years have raised alarm bell in concerned civil society of Barak Valley too. There was a time when the forests of the valley recorded 222 tree species from 152 genres and 66 families. The 12 reserve forests of lower Jiri, upper Jiri, Barak innerline, Sonai, Katakhal, Longai, Shingla, Patharia, Gharmoora, Dholai , Hawaithang and Borail were known for their virgin flora and fauna. Borail reserve forest is planned for a wild life sanctuary. Against 104 legal forest villages 30 years ago, today their number is unaccounted.

A forest official without being identified said, “Eviction drive will continue and a roadmap has been ready.” This is one of the top priorities of the BJP led government at Dispur. According to him, 1000 hectares of land of Hawaithang reserve forests are still under forcible occupation. Identifying the spots by name, the official said on them has come up concrete houses, agricultural activities, fishery, betel nut plantation and jhum cultivation. Dohalia forests, known as an elephant corridor, is a sad tale of its past pride. This has been mapped and the wait is for order from the state.

In the Innerline reserve forest, 1498 houses have been constructed on 802 hectares of land. Of course, 21 forest villages in the range are recognized. Under Sonai reserve forest, 278 hectares of land have been encroached upon and more than 300 houses constructed. In Gharmoora, Dholacherra, Bilaipur and Kukichera forest ranges where encroachments have been going on with loot of forest wealth, thousands of illegal settlers are now passing sleepless nights. As vote-bank of Congress, they have been blessed with education facility, connectivity, water and electricity.

J Kamei, ranger of Gharmoora, once a lush green forested area and now just a replica of it, said details of encroachment have been sent to Dispur. No directive has yet come. As soon as, order is received, it will be an all prong drive to free the encroachments. Along with the anti encroachment drive, quite naturally voices are also being raised for the rehabilitation of the evicted people by social and farmers’ bodies from humanitarian point of view.

Also Read: Eviction drive continues for third day