GUWAHATI, Aug 8: A large-scale eviction operation was conducted on Friday in the Negheribil area of Merapani, located along the Assam-Nagaland border, as part of the ongoing efforts to reclaim encroached land under Doyang Reserve Forest in Upper Assam’s Golaghat district.
Official sources informed that the operation led to the clearance of 146 households comprising numerous illegal structures, spread across more than 50 hectares of protected forest land.
The eviction was executed in accordance with due legal procedures, following prior notices issued to the settlers.
Addressing mediapersons later, special chief secretary of Assam, M.K. Yadav, who supervised the eviction drive, informed that the operation led to the reclamation of over 50 hectares (approximately 400 bighas) of forest land.
Yadav announced that the remaining encroachments in Uriamghat and Negheribil would be cleared during operations from August 16 onwards. Furthermore, he revealed that a plantation drive would be launched in Uriamghat from Saturday, with similar initiatives to follow in other cleared areas within the reserve forest.
The special chief secretary also acknowledged the active support and cooperation provided by the Assam government and Nagaland police throughout the eviction process, which contributed significantly to the smooth execution of the operation.
Notably, the eviction drive was conducted under the close supervision of several senior forest, police, CRPF and district officials.