Guwahati, July 30: Authorities have demolished 278 unauthorised houses and reclaimed approximately 250 hectares of protected forest land in Assam’s Golaghat district on the second day of the high-intensity eviction drive in Uriamghat’s Rengma Reserve Forest.
The joint operation by the Assam Forest Department, Golaghat district administration, and police targeted encroachments in Pithaghat and Sonaribeel. Officials confirmed that 180 houses were removed from Pithaghat and 98 from Sonaribeel, with no occupants inside during the demolition. Prior notices had been issued, and the eviction proceeded peacefully under strict safety protocols.
In addition to residential structures, betel nut and coconut trees, vegetable patches, and makeshift farmhouses erected by encroachers were bulldozed. Special Chief Secretary M.K. Yadava stated that the reclaimed land would be included in a long-term ecological restoration plan to revive forest cover.
Golaghat Deputy Commissioner Pulak Mahanta reiterated the administration’s zero-tolerance stance against illegal occupation of forest land. He added that only 75 families from Negheribeel—who received temporary relief from the Gauhati High Court until August 7—were exempt from the current phase of the drive.
Inspector General of Police Akhilesh Kr Singh praised the operational coordination between Assam and Nagaland, terming it crucial for the drive’s success. The eviction is being monitored by senior officials, including PCCF Sandeep Kumar, senior forest and police personnel, and top civil administrators.
The drive began on July 29 with the demolition of 120 shops and commercial establishments at Bidyapur Market, freeing 4.2 hectares on Day 1. In total, the operation aims to clear more than 11,000 bighas of encroached land across 12 villages, affecting an estimated 2,648 families, many without official land documents.
With over 1,500 police and CRPF personnel, 500 forest staff, 500 labourers, and more than 100 bulldozers deployed, the operation is one of the largest eviction efforts in recent years. Scheduled to continue through August 2, officials indicated the drive could be extended depending on ground realities.
