Assam: Garo Community Protests Destruction of Areca Nut Plantations by Forest Department in Nogodonga Village

A Correspondent

Boko: The forest department cleared and destroyed areca nut plantations built on leased land. The incident came to light after a protest meeting held in Nogodonga village under Chaygaon revenue circle on Wednesday. More than five hundred people from different Garo communities lived in villages like Kinangaon, Larubama, Hangkumari, Santipur, 1 No. Nogodonga, 2 No. Nogodonga, Rajapara, Upper Rajapara, Jongakhuli, Nadiapara, Ukium, and many more. The meeting was organised jointly by the Garo National Council (GNC), Garo Women Council (GWC), and Garo Youth Council (GYC).

Enindra Marak, president of GNC presided over the meet and said that on November 28, a team of forest department came to the Nogodonga village and reached a garden of orange and areca nut plantations. Marak alleged that the staff of the forest department immediately cut off all the areca nut immature trees which was around one thousand trees. Marak also highlighted how all of the trees were chopped down without any prior notification or public discussion. According to the Enindra Marak the land is under the Chaygaon Revenue Circle and the leased numbers of the land 23, 29 and 30.

The forest department's actions have angered the villagers. According to Majhata village's Ronindra A. Sangma, the Forest Department has solely been upsetting the Garo community's occupied regions under the pretext of encroaching forest reserve areas. But they never go to the Rabha, Boro and other communities inhabited villages who also live in the forest areas from the ancient time. During the meeting, people of the area also alleged that this is not the first time, when the forest department did such kind of cruel activities on the Garo people. Forest department destroyed households at Hakumari village, cut off areca nut plantations in Larubama village under the West kamrup Forest Division.

While the matter was asked to the Bamunigaon Range Officer Aminul Islam, he replied the land falls under the Bogai Reserve Forest area and West Kamrup Forest Divisional Officer ordered him to cut off the plantations that fall under the forest reserve areas.  The victims broke down in tears in the meeting and said that to start the plantation, they borrowed money from others and now everything is finished. However, during the meeting, villagers decided that they will ask for the written copies. However, they also made the decision to sue the forest department in the Gauhati High Court for their actions. They also cautioned the state forest department that they should have a copy of the order with the local police and revenue circle officer if the forest department were to repeat the same actions in the future. Without these, Garo people will not allow them to do anything in the Garo inhabited villages.

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