BISWANATH CHARIALI, Feb 10? The future of the wild animals in Behali Reserve Forest hangs in balance due to massive encroachment of forest land by Arunachali people. Although eviction drives were carried out by the Forest Department in the recent past, the number of encroachers has increased three-fold.
According to reports available here, the northern side of the Behali Reserve Forest has largely been encroached by Arunachalis and by now 14 villages have been set up in the area. What is worse, the Government of Arunachal Pradesh has encouraged the encroachers by setting up dairy farms, residential schools and cooperative shops in the disputed area as also by providing electrification to the villages.
Meanwhile, due to timely intervention by the DFO, Sonitpur East Forest Division and the SDPO, Biswanath, a recent move to construct a girls? hostel by the Arunachal Government was averted. The local people and the nature lovers have urged the authorities to check illegal encroachment in the reserve forest in order to avoid any conflict between the two communities along the border. It may be recalled that a clash took place in this border area way back in 1990 where two persons were killed.