Guwahati: “Not an inch of forest land will be allowed to be encroached upon by neighboring States and also by local people and all will be evicted in due course of time,” said Minister for Environment and Forest, Fisheries and Excise, Parimal Suklabaidya here on Sunday.
He said this while reviewing the status and activities of Environment and Forest, Fisheries and Excise departments at Deputy Commissioner’s conference hall.
Reviewing the activities of Environment and Forest department, Suklabaidya said barring the people who have land rights under the Forest Regulation Act, all others will be evicted from forest land. The forest officials apprised the Minister that 2,436 hectare has been encroached upon by Arunachal Pradesh and 4,440 hectare by local people. 23 hectare encroached forest land has been evicted.
He asked the officials to carry out eviction from Pobha reserve forest with the help of the civil and police administration. The total area under five reserve forest is 31,096.55 hectare.
The officials also informed the Minister that of the 3,390 applications received for settlement in forest land under FRA, 2,743 have been rejected while 647 are under review. Suklabaidya told the officials to expedite the process of applications under review.
The Minister asked the officials to undertake massive plantations under CAMPA during the Van Mahotsav Week. 1 lakh saplings are available in nurseries. 25 hectare has been brought under CAMPA and 1.5 lakh saplings planted at Padumoni.