Affidavit by the Principal Chief Conservator of Forest and Head of Forest Force, Assam regarding forest areas in Kamrup (M) under encroachment, Assam, 06/03/2025
Affidavit by the Principal Chief Conservator of Forest and Head of Forest Force, Assam in the matter of a news item titled "Large portion of forest areas in Kamrup (M) under encroachment" which appeared in the Assam Tribune, November 6, 2024.
The report called the newsitem published in Assam Tribune as "factually incorrect".
The Kamrup (M) district has 12 reserved forests covering an area of 28,380.09 hectares, out of which about 4,240.40 hectares of forest land is under encroachment, mainly in South Kalapahar reserved forest, Fatasil reserved forest, Hengrabari reserved forest, Gotanagar reserved forest, Garbhanga reserved forest, Marakdola reserved forest, West Apricola reserved forest and Matapahar reserved forest.
The government of Assam has always taken initiatives to control the encroachment on forest land and eviction drives are conducted from time to time to free the forest area from encroachment. During the year 2022-2023, ten eviction drives were conducted wherein 35 kuchha houses were removed clearing an area of 1.51637 hectares of forest land. Eviction drives are being conducted on a regular basis.
The report said that in and around Guwahati city the threat of encroachment of forest land generally exists, and the forest department remains vigilant and conducts eviction drives to restrain the people from illegally occupying or encroaching the forest lands. In addition the claims received under the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 are processed as per the provisions.