662 Families of Encroachers & 221 of Pattadars still in Kaziranga

The Forest Department had forwarded a proposal to the previous government to offer a shifting package to the patta holders. But, nothing has been done in this regard.

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The Kaziranga National Park (KNP) has been witness to encroachments for years. Sadly enough, the successive State governments have failed miserably to stem this tide of a man forcefully occupying territories meant exclusively for wild animals. The encroachments are still taking place at the Second, Third and Fifth additions to Kaziranga even after the BJP-led government carried out a massive eviction drive in the nearby areas of the park soon after it came to power in 2016.

Interestingly enough, there are 221 Patta holders besides the 662 encroachers in these areas.

Now with hardly one year and four months left for the present BJP-led coalition government to complete its term in the State, steps must be initiated to make the KNP free from all forms of encroachments. Notably, the BJP-led government had promised to do so in its poll promise.

The Forest Department had forwarded a proposal to the previous government to offer a shifting package to the patta holders. But, nothing has been done in this regard.

According to official data, of the 707 settlers in the Second Edition, 102 are Patta holder families; and 605 those of encroachers. The areas under encroachment are Hatikhuli; Number One Sildubi; Number Two Sildubi; and Kaziranga NC.

In the Third Edition, there are inhabitants in the Siljuri and Methoni areas. Of them, 66 are Patta-holder families and nine are those of encroachers.

Similarly in the Fifth Edition, settlers have been recorded at the Haldibari area. Altogether 53 families are Patta holders while 48 are those of encroachers.

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