GUWAHATI, May 24 ? State Forest Department has cleared about 2000 hectares of forest land in and around Guwahati in addition of large areas cleared of encroachers in the rest of the State in the on-going eviction drive launched on May 7 last. The Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (PCCF), KN Dev Goswami today told newsmen here that the department is committed and bound by Supreme Court directive to clear all forest areas in the State from the clutch of encroachers.
Conservator of Forest (Central and Western Assam), D Haraprasad informed that since May 7 till today 2000 hectares of land under reserve forest area of Khanapara, Hengrabari, Basistha area of Garbhanga Reserve Forest and half of Fatasil Reserve Forest were cleared after demolishing total 2431 houses of encroachers. He said the eviction drive which has received overwhelming response from public, political parties, administration, police department, would continue till areas under Sarania Hills Reserve Forest, Gotanagar Reserve Forest, South Kalapahar Reserve Forest, Jalukbari Reserve Forest and South Amchang Reserve Forest in and around Guwahati.
The PCCF informed that as per the directive of the Supreme Court issued on February 19 last in pursuance of its earlier order dated December 12, 1996, the State Forest Department was supposed to clear forest areas of encroachers by September 30 next. He hoped that with present level of logistical and financial help from the present political leadership and the administration besides the overwhelming public support for eviction, the Forest Department would be able to complete the task. The Chief Conservator of Forest (Wild Life), Sonadhar Doley informed that reserve forest; national parks and wildlife sanctuaries in the State covers total 20,271.59 square kilometre area which amount to 25.86 per cent of the total geographical area in the State. Out of this forest area about 6,000 square kilometre area is under encroachment which has resulted in reduction of forest cover to the level of only 18 per cent of the total geographical area of the State. However, as per national norms at least 33 per cent of total geographical area in a State should be under forest cover.
The Forest officials informed that there had been systematic encroachment of forest in Sonitpur district of Assam under the patronage of certain political force. They raised alarm that rampant encroachment and accompanying deforestation had created a desert like atmosphere in North Bank of Brahmaputra which must be prevented through eviction of encroachers and afforestation. The forest officials admitted that certain cases pending in High Court regarding encroachment in Kaziranga National Park (KNP) had prevented the Department from resorting to an all-out eviction drive in the Park. However, they added that the encroachment was not very alarming in the KNP.
When asked why the Forest Department took so long to react to rampant encroachment on forest land in the State which was going on for decades, the forest officials said they had been carrying out eviction all these years, but earlier their drive could not attain the sustained character due to frequent intervention from lower judiciary on behalf of encroachers. However, this time due to the Supreme Court directive the Courts in Assam are not in a position to interfere with eviction operation much to the relief of Forest Department.
When drawn to allegations that Forest Department was not even sparing people having land holding documents during the eviction operation, the Forest officials said that eviction was being carried out only in Reserve Forest areas and wildlife protection areas where there was no question of anyone acquiring land document. They informed that the Department had already drew attention of State Revenue Department, ASEB and Telecom authorities about issue of land document, holding number, electricity connection and telephone connection to encroachers on Forest areas. The Forest officials said they were sure that eviction drive was confined to only forest areas where land documents, holding numbers issued by Revenue Department had no relevance.