Eviction drives conducted as per law: CM
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Guwahati: CM
Himanta Biswa Sarma
on Friday said the ongoing eviction drives in the state are conducted in a well-thought-out, legally sound, and systematic manner — not based on emotions.
Sarma made this statement after visiting Uriamghat in Golaghat district for a ground assessment of the extent of encroachment of Rengma reserve forest.
Almost the entire area of the reserve forest has been under illegal occupation, primarily used for agricultural purposes like betel nut cultivation. The forest department has served eviction notices to the encroachers, asking them to vacate the land and 70% of the people have already left the place.
"We have a long list (of encroached areas). But, before carrying out any eviction drives, the situation in each location needs to be examined legally.
We cannot carry out eviction emotionally. Wherever we know that we are legally sound, we are taking actions to reclaim encroached forests lands, grazing grounds and land belonging to satras," Sarma said.
Evictions are carried out under the provisions of Assam Forest Regulation, 1891 and the amended law of 1995. These laws provide clear authority and procedures for identifying, penalising, and removing illegal encroachments.
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Before eviction, thorough surveys and verifications are conducted to ascertain the actual status of the land and occupants. Forest officials, legal experts, police, and district authorities collaborate to ensure decisions are based on sound evidence. The illegal occupants then receive formal eviction notices well ahead of any action.
The eviction drives are undertaken pursuant to directives from courts, which reinforce adherence to due process.
"When we went through the list of encroachers (at Uriamghat), we found that these people are not just from within the state like Cachar, Sribhumi, Dhubri, Hojai, Nagaon, Morigaon, but there are people even from Bihar," Sarma said.
"They said they are from Bihar, but they could be from across the border. So, we will take their names, addresses and other details and share it with the authorities of the place they claim to have come from for verification," Sarma added.
He disclosed that two individuals suspected of being key figures behind the encroachments have been arrested.
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