I’m addictively committed to handing over encroached lands to our people: Assam CM

Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI: Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma said that the government would not put on hold its drive to make forest lands and wetlands free from encroachment until it handed over such lands to the indigenous people of the state.

The Chief Minister said, “I’m addictively committed to reclaiming the encroached forest lands and wetlands and returning them to our people. I’ll not compromise on this issue.”

The state government conducted a massive eviction drive in the Hasila Beel in the Goalpara district recently and freed over 1,500 bighas of land from encroachers recently. “Now the government is set to conduct an eviction drive in the Rakhyasini forest in the Goalpara district,” he said.

Meanwhile, the eviction drive in the Hasila Beel literally stirred up the hornet’s nest among the minority organisations and political parties like the Congress and the AIUDF that resorted to staging protests against the government’s move. The Chief Minister today said, “The drive against encroachment will continue. The encroached lands are rightfully ours. We won’t let anyone encroach upon our forest lands, wetlands, etc. If anyone stages a protest, let them do so. Our eviction drive will continue with more vigour. I’m next to former chief minister, late Bishnuram Medhi, to have freed vast areas of land from encroachers.”

According to information placed in the Assam Legislative Assembly in March 2023, around 40.39 lakh bighas of forest lands, wetlands, xatra lands, lands of PGRs and VGRs, lands in tribal belts and blocks, government lands, etc., have gone under encroachment. Of them, the government has already freed 32,652 bighas of land from encroachers.

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