The Assam government is set to evict over 2,000 families who have encroached upon 10,000 bighas in the Rengma reserve forest area of Golaghat district. Officials have announced that the eviction process will begin shortly and will be conducted in a phased manner.
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Preparations Begin for Major Eviction Drive
The Golaghat district administration has already issued eviction notices to the occupants. According to officials, these notices give families time to vacate voluntarily. Security has been beefed up to ensure law and order during the eviction.
Deputy Commissioner (DC) Anubhav Gogoi confirmed that the administration has deployed forest officials, police personnel, and magistrates in sensitive areas. “We want to complete the process without any resistance or violence,” said Gogoi.
Rengma Reserve Forest: A Critical Green Zone
The Rengma reserve forest is an ecologically sensitive area. Officials say it has faced growing encroachment pressure over the past two decades. Families, most of whom claim to be landless or migrants from nearby districts, have settled illegally, clearing forest patches for agriculture and housing.
Forest officials stated that the biodiversity of the area has suffered due to deforestation, illegal logging, and loss of wildlife habitat. “If we do not act now, the reserve forest will lose its ecological value permanently,” warned a senior forest ranger.
Political and Social Reactions to the Eviction
While environmentalists and forest rights advocates have supported the move, several local organisations and opposition leaders have raised concerns about the humanitarian aspect. Critics argue that many of the families have lived in the area for years and may not have alternative housing options.
Congress MLA from the region, Rupjyoti Kurmi, urged the government to ensure that those evicted are properly rehabilitated. “Eviction without rehabilitation is unjust. These are not criminals; they are poor and marginalised people,” he said.
The government, however, has maintained that the land belongs to the forest department and that encroachment must be cleared for the sake of conservation.
Rehabilitation Measures Under Consideration
Although the eviction process will proceed, the state government is reportedly considering some rehabilitation measures. Sources in the Chief Minister’s Office indicated that discussions are ongoing about identifying land outside forest zones to resettle genuine landless families.
“Eviction doesn’t mean we want to create more homeless citizens,” said a senior official. “We are trying to balance ecological concerns with humanitarian responsibilities.”
However, the details of these plans are still unclear. A concrete rehabilitation package has not yet been announced.
Rengma Eviction Part of Statewide Crackdown
This is not the first such drive in Assam. Over the past few years, the Himanta Biswa Sarma-led government has launched several eviction operations across the state. These drives aim to clear illegal settlements in protected forests, wetlands, and government land.
In January this year, over 500 families were evicted from Burachapori Wildlife Sanctuary. Similarly, eviction drives were conducted in Orang National Park and Lumding reserve forest in the recent past.
According to the state forest department, nearly 1.2 lakh bighas of forest land have been freed from encroachment since 2021.
Legal Support and Environmental Policy
The government justifies these actions under the Indian Forest Act and the Assam Forest Regulation Act. Authorities argue that protecting forest reserves is essential not just for biodiversity but also for long-term water security and climate resilience.
Environmental experts also say that the eviction, if carried out fairly and humanely, could restore lost ecosystems. “Reclaiming forest land is crucial in the face of climate change. However, the state must pair enforcement with social welfare measures,” said ecologist Anjali Deka from Assam University.
Challenges Ahead for Local Administration
The upcoming eviction operation in Rengma poses logistical and emotional challenges. Many of the affected families have children studying in local schools, small farms, and livestock. Fear and uncertainty are already visible in the community.
A resident, who requested anonymity, said, “We have nowhere else to go. My children were born here. We built our lives from scratch.”
Local NGOs have urged the government to hold community-level dialogues and offer alternative land or housing. They also recommend deploying child welfare teams and health workers during the eviction to avoid trauma and disruption.
Balancing Ecology and Equity
The Assam government’s firm stance reflects its long-term commitment to forest conservation. However, the success of this eviction drive will depend on how well the state balances environmental protection with compassion for displaced families.
As the Rengma reserve forest eviction gets underway, all eyes will be on how the administration handles resistance, humanitarian concerns, and environmental recovery.
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