Prolonged forest land encroachment in Assam’s protected areas
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) August 21, 2024 directed the Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) to submit an affidavit detailing its position on extensive encroachment of forest land in Sonai Rupai Wildlife Sanctuary, located in Sonitpur district of Assam, which has been ongoing for years.
The Principal Chief Conservator of Forest’s affidavit indicated that approximately 300,000 people have encroached upon the area, clearing lowland evergreen and semi-evergreen forests, constructing permanent houses and cultivating commercial crops such as betel nut trees, coconut, rubber and tea, along with agricultural crops.
It was also mentioned that around 23,028 claims have been filed under the Forest Rights Act, 2006 in Charduar Reserve Forest, Balipara Reserve Forest and Sonai Rupai Wildlife Sanctuary.
A chart included in the affidavit shows that about 50,241 hectares of forest land in the reserve forest / protected areas are under encroachment out of a total area of 73,524.86 hectares. (Areas of concern)
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