HC panel detects encroachments in Kaziranga

BY Our Staff Reporter

Guwahati, May 25: The high-powered committee of Central and State government officials, constituted by the Gauhati High Court, conducted a survey of the encroachments in Kaziranga tiol Park on Sunday and directed local authorities to clear them within one month.

The committee was led by Commissioner and Secretary (Revenue) PK Tiwari and it comprised a representative from the State Home department, IGP (border), MHA, NTCA and the Kaziranga Director.

During the day-long survey, the committee is understood to have detected several tracts in the additions that were under encroachment.

“The park authorities told us there are 380 cattle sheds (khutis) in the additions. We visited one of the sheds and found there could be up to 25-30 people in one such shed. There is a need to verify the credentials of these cattle rearers. The Assam Police border branch is expected to carry out a verification drive in the areas soon,” said advocate Rita Boro Borah, who also accompanied the team as the petitioner’s counsel.

Encroachments were also found in the animal corridors at Bandardubi and Deusar areas.

Though the park authorities have been claimingt there were patta holders in the park areas, the committee reported cases in which the settlers were not the origil patta holders.

The local authorities were directed to fast-track the process of identification of the encroachers and clear them.

The committee will review the progress of the work carried out by the local authorities and the border branch of Assam Police when it sits again in the last week of June.

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