Guwahati: A massive eviction drive commenced this morning in the Paikan Reserve Forest area of Krishnai, Goalpara district, Assam, as the Forest Department moved to reclaim approximately 1,038 bighas of encroached forest land. The large-scale operation, involving nearly 50 excavators, is targeting areas like Bidyapara and Betbari, which fall squarely within the protected forest’s boundaries.
Officials confirmed that over 1,080 families are being evicted as part of this extensive exercise. Encouragingly, almost 70% of the residents have reportedly vacated the area voluntarily, dismantling their structures after receiving prior notices from the authorities.
To ensure the smooth execution of the drive and maintain peace, over a thousand security personnel have been deployed alongside Forest Department staff at the site. The operation has, for the most part, remained peaceful, with no significant resistance reported from the local populace.
While cooperating with the authorities, many evicted residents have voiced an urgent plea for rehabilitation. “We are not opposing the eviction,” stated one resident who witnessed their home being demolished. “But to see our homes being razed without any alternative shelter is truly unbearable. The government must provide us with resettlement options.”
The Forest Department has underscored that this eviction is a critical component of a wider strategy to safeguard the reserve forest from illegal encroachments and to restore the ecological equilibrium of the region.
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