Guwahati, July 30: On the second day of the high-intensity eviction drive in Uriamghat’s Rengma Reserve Forest, authorities demolished 278 unauthorised houses and reclaimed approximately 250 hectares of protected forest land in Assam’s Golaghat district.
The operation—jointly executed by the Assam Forest Department, Golaghat district administration, and police—targeted encroachments in the Pithaghat and Sonaribeel areas. Officials reported that 180 houses were removed from Pithaghat and 98 from Sonaribeel, with no occupants inside the structures at the time of demolition. Prior notices had been served, and the eviction was carried out peacefully, following safety protocols.
In addition to residential structures, betel nut and coconut trees, vegetable patches, and makeshift farmhouses erected by encroachers were also bulldozed.
Special Chief Secretary M.K. Yadava confirmed that the operation remained incident-free and that the reclaimed land would be integrated into a long-term ecological restoration plan to revive forest cover.
Golaghat Deputy Commissioner Pulak Mahanta reiterated the administration’s zero-tolerance approach toward illegal occupation of forest land. He noted that only 75 families from Negheribeel—granted temporary relief by the Gauhati High Court until August 7—were exempt from the ongoing drive. All other encroachments would be addressed as planned.
Inspector General of Police Akhilesh Kr Singh highlighted the operational cooperation between Assam and Nagaland, calling it essential for the successful execution of the drive. The operation is under the direct supervision of senior officials, including PCCF Sandeep Kumar, senior forest and police personnel, and top civil administrators.
The eviction began July 29 at Bidyapur Market, where 120 shops and commercial establishments were dismantled, freeing up 4.2 hectares on Day 1. The full operation aims to clear over 11,000 bighas of encroached land across 12 villages, impacting an estimated 2,648 families, many of whom lack official land documents.
With a deployment of over 1,500 police and CRPF personnel, 500 forest staff, 500 labourers, and more than 100 bulldozers, the drive is among the largest eviction efforts in recent memory. It is currently scheduled to continue through August 2, but officials indicated it may be extended depending on ground realities.
