Assam: 63,163 bighas of wetlands encroached upon in state

Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI: Vast areas of wetlands in Assam have gone under encroachment, let alone forest lands and government lands.

According to a report on lands under encroachment prepared by the Assam government in 2023, around 63,163 bighas of wetlands in 20 districts in the state have gone under encroachment.

Wetlands play an important role in maintaining the biodiversity of any place by absorbing most of the runaway water, thereby preventing flash floods. Apart from this, wetlands are the habitats of various species of aquatic fauna and flora, besides being the homes for migratory birds. The encroachment of wetlands has led to waterlogging in various areas in the state, including Guwahati.

According to the report, the Darrang district has the biggest area of approximately 15,234 bighas of wetlands under encroachment. Following the Darrang district are the Dhubri district with 13,927 bighas and the Sonitpur district with 9,523 bighas.

The encroachments of wetlands in other districts in the state are 828 bighas in Barpeta; 77 bighas in Majuli; 700 bighas in South Salmara-Mankachar; 2,763 bighas in Bongaigaon; 30 bighas in Cachar; 100 bighas in Charaideo; 81 bighas in Golaghat; 99 bighas in Hailakandi; 1,074 bighas in Jorhat; 389 bighas in Kamrup; 3 bighas in Karimganj; 5,594 bighas in Morigaon; 310 bighas in Sivasagar; 8,560 bighas in Nagaon; 1,665 bighas in Biswanath; 1,129 bighas in Dibrugarh; and 1,098 bighas in Kamrup (Metro).

The report also pointed out that around 62,436 bighas of railway lands are also under encroachment in the state, and the Dhubri district tops the list with the encroachment of 61,494 bighas. In the Kamrup (Metro) district 200 bighas of railway lands are under encroachment; the Kamrup district has 127 bighas of railway land under the occupation of encroachers.

Vast areas of various categories of land remaining under encroachers have been an age-old phenomenon due to overlooking by the successive governments in the state and the district authorities.

 Also read: Letters to the Editor: Wetlands: Our productive ecosystem

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