Guwahati, Jan 6: Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has asserted that the eviction drive to clear forest land from encroachment in western Assam’s Goalpara district would be carried out in accordance with a directive from the Gauhati High Court.
Speaking to mediapersons in Goalpara on Friday, Sarma said that in this regard, he has told the MLAs in the district that the drive would have to be carried out in the forest areas of Goalpara district in accordance with the court’s order.
“If residents have any complaints or grievances, then they must bring the issues before the Gauhati High Court, either through the legislators or through social organisations. Else, there is no reason for the state government not to abide by the court’s directive, and accordingly take up the eviction drive in the district,” the chief minister.
He however said the four MLAs of the district could take up measures to find ways to relocate the poor families from forest areas to non-forest areas, which would be appropriate.
“I have also directed the Goalpara deputy commissioner to relocate these families to non-forest areas from forest reserve areas,” the chief minister added.
Reiterating that the state government would be “with the law of the land”, he asserted that no rubber cultivation would be allowed to be carried out in the forest reserve areas.
‘Population explosion’
On the other hand, the chief minister expressed concern over the population explosion in lower Assam, particularly Goalpara district, saying that the “increase population in the district from 2001 till date is staggering.”
“There has been a 30 percent decadal growth of population in Goalpara district since the year 2001. So, given this population explosion in lower Assam, there are bound to be conflicts (land allocation). Today, an average family in the district has about eight to nine members. So, how will the government allot land,” Sarma said.
