The Supreme Court of India has given its approval for Assam’s ongoing anti-encroachment operations in forest areas, paving the way for the state government to intensify efforts to reclaim nearly five lakh bighas of forest land.
Official sources said the state has constituted a joint committee comprising officials from the Forest and Revenue departments to supervise the eviction process. Authorities will issue 15-day notices to alleged encroachers, after which eviction drives will be carried out if the land is not vacated.
The apex court observed that the procedure adopted by the Assam government conforms to principles of fairness, strengthening the administration’s legal position to proceed with the drives. The ruling came after multiple parties approached the court challenging the eviction process.
Government data indicate that around 1.5 lakh bighas of encroached land have already been cleared across the state, including approximately 1.2 lakh bighas of forest land. Officials said the renewed push aims to significantly scale up the recovery of forest areas.
Sources acknowledged that the situation remains complex in some locations where occupants have obtained electricity and water connections and, in certain cases, land pattas. Despite these complications, the government has maintained that eviction of forest encroachments will continue as an ongoing exercise.
Meanwhile, afforestation work has begun in several reclaimed areas, including Lumding, Poha, Paikan and Uriamghat. Authorities plan to expand plantation activities during the upcoming monsoon season and estimate that full restoration of cleared land could take two to three years.
Officials described the recovery of five lakh bighas of forest land as a major environmental and administrative objective for the state.
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