On Wednesday, 24th July, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma highlighted the significant progress of the state's anti-encroachment initiatives, revealing that a substantial 167 square kilometers of land had been reclaimed from illegal occupants. This area, he noted, surpasses the size of Chandigarh city, showcasing the scale of their achievements.

"In the last 3 years, with consistent Govt efforts & cooperation from a large section of society, we have been able to free up 167 sq. Km of land from encroachers, an area larger than the size of Chandigarh city. We are committed to making every inch of land free from encroachers," Himanta Biswa Sarma posted on X.

Chief Minister Sarma has been vocal about the issue of illegal encroachments throughout his tenure. His administration has been actively working to reclaim state lands that have been occupied illegally over the past 40 years, which has posed threats to the local wildlife habitats and sanctuaries.

On July 20th, just days before his latest update, Sarma elaborated on the strides his government had taken in combating this issue. He detailed that over the last three years, efforts had led to the eviction of encroachers from both forest and revenue lands, totaling 16,776 hectares—comprising 9,646 hectares of forest land and 7,130 hectares of revenue land.

"Many people ask what we’ve done to secure Assam’s future. In the last 3 years, the government has evicted encroachers and cleared 16,776 hectares of land. Who were the encroachers? No answer is required," he stated, emphasizing the impact of these actions on preserving the state’s environmental and cultural integrity.

Rhinos returned to Bura Chapori and Laokhowa forest sanctuaries

Recently, in January 2024, Assam Chief Minister announced a significant ecological recovery: Rhinos, which had been absent from the sanctuaries, returned to the Bura Chapori (44.06 sq km) and Laokhowa forest sanctuaries in the Nagaon and Sonitpur districts. This comeback is credited to the state's concerted efforts to eradicate illegal encroachments from these areas.

"Happy to share that after 40 years, our iconic rhinos have returned to Laokhowa and Bura Chapori within one year of our successful anti-encroachment operation in the region. 51.7 square km of forest cover was retrieved from the evictions in 2023," Assam CM was quoted as saying.

The Bura Chapori and Laokhowa sanctuaries had faced significant encroachment issues that demanded immediate government intervention. The successful eviction operation, which started in 2023 and spanned four days, cleared approximately 1,892 hectares of land in Bura Chapori.

Reports indicate that over the past four decades, these sanctuaries, once abundant with elephants, deer, birds, tigers, and one-horned rhinos, had been gradually overtaken and transformed into a mini-township. Intriguingly, the bulldozers used in the anti-encroachment drive did not just dismantle illegal colonies but also demolished government infrastructure, including schools, Anganwadi centers, and health facilities that had been established by previous Congress governments.

As per the views expressed by the BJP, the situation concerning illegal settlements in the sanctuaries was exacerbated by the then forest minister, who allegedly allowed illegal settlers to occupy the sanctuary, citing their electoral significance. The encroachment is reported to have reached its peak in Assam during the Congress party’s governance from 2001 to 2016, a period during which, it is claimed, hundreds of illegal Bangladeshi families were settled to bolster the Congress vote bank.

Moreover, it is alleged that the Congress administration not only overlooked but also actively supported these intrusions by constructing roads, providing electricity, and setting up educational and healthcare facilities for the settlers. Records from the Assam Land and Revenue Department indicate a stark increase in the number of encroachers over the decades—from a handful of families in the 1980s to more than 2,500 households by 2020, culminating in a total population exceeding 12,000 people residing in these sanctuaries.

The encroachment drive began in the year 2023

The state Chief Minister, vocal against the issue of illegal settlers, ordered the removal of illegal encroachments beginning in January 2023. Reports indicated plans to clear 500 hectares of forest land in Assam’s Lakhimpur district, 2,560.25 hectares of Pava Reserve Forest, and about 10,500 hectares in Adhasona and Mohaghuli villages from illegal occupants.

In December 2022, the state successfully executed an anti-encroachment operation in Nagaon’s Batadrava, resulting in the displacement of around 5,000 illegal encroachers. Another significant eviction occurred in the Dhalpur area of Darrang district, which, in September 2021, led to alleged violence; two people were killed and over 20 were injured after encroachers clashed with security forces attempting to demolish illegal properties.

A subsequent major anti-encroachment operation was launched in February 2023, targeting the Burachapori Wildlife Sanctuary. Approximately 1,900 hectares were reclaimed from Bengali-speaking Muslim settlers. Remarkably, a year following this operation, rhinos were spotted in the sanctuary. Additionally, 29 hectares of illegally occupied land at Pava Reserve Forest had been successfully liberated.

Moreover, an eviction campaign was conducted by the district administration in Bhabanipur, Barpeta district, aimed at clearing around 300 hectares owned by Gopal Dev Aata Satra, a Vaishnavite monastery.

In November 2023, a significant eviction was carried out in the Nalbari Reserve Forest located in Assam’s Goalpara district, where 246 households were removed. All these households had been residing illegally on the forest land. During this operation, approximately 100 hectares of land were cleared.

Additionally, on 8th November, another major eviction drive took place in the Lumding reserve forest within the Hojai district of Assam. This operation involved the demolition of around 555 houses and other illegal structures. Reports indicate that this drive was conducted under the orders of the Guwahati High Court, which directed the removal of illegal occupants from the reserve forest lands. To ensure the operation proceeded without incident, the Assam government had deployed around 1000 security personnel, including members from the State Police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).

Most of the illegal occupants had vacated their homes voluntarily before the eviction began, according to the district administration in Hojai. The use of both elephants and bulldozers was reported in the demolition of the illegal structures. An official commented on the day’s efforts, saying, "Today, we have demolished around 555 houses, illegal structures. Most of the people who encroached on the forest lands have cooperated with us and they left the forest lands. Our drive will continue tomorrow also," Assam CM was quoted as confirming the ongoing nature of the enforcement actions.

Assam CM raises concern over changing demography

Recently, on July 17th, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma voiced significant concerns regarding the shifting demographic composition in the northeastern border state. He described the demographic change as not just a political issue but a critical, existential matter, stating, "this is a matter of life and death."

CM Sarma further elaborated on how the demographic landscape in Assam has transformed dramatically over several decades. He pointed out the increase in the Muslim population, noting a significant rise from earlier figures. "Changing demography is a big issue for me. In Assam, the Muslim population has reached 40 percent today. In 1951, it was 12 percent," he disclosed during a press conference in Jharkhand’s capital, Ranchi.

He also addressed the responsibilities of the state government regarding illegal immigrants, emphasizing the ongoing efforts to combat this issue. “I am fighting infiltrators every day,” he declared. On June 23rd, he raised an alarm over the increase in communal tensions, stating that the Bangladeshi-origin minority community is particularly prone to such issues.

Shortly after assuming office in June 2021, Sarma expressed his concerns about the population growth trends observed among minority Muslims in Assam. He attributed economic disparities and poverty within this community to what he termed a "population explosion."

Impact of Illegal Encroachment on Assam's Wildlife and Environment

Illegal encroachment in Assam has had a profound impact on both wildlife and the environment, often occurring under the guise of agricultural expansion, settlements, and other forms of human activity. These actions pose significant threats to the diverse ecosystems and wildlife habitats within the state.

The encroachment leads to the destruction of forests and grasslands, which are essential habitats for a wide range of wildlife species. As human activities encroach on natural habitats, the likelihood of human-animal interactions increases, often resulting in conflicts that can cause injuries to both humans and animals.

State Forest Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary highlighted the severity of this issue on March 16th last year, noting the annual toll it takes: "More than 70 people and 80 pachyderms on average die every year in human-elephant conflict in Assam." He explained that the growing human occupation of natural elephant habitats forces these animals to venture out in search of food, leading to frequent and sometimes deadly encounters.

Assam is also a sanctuary for several endangered species, including the one-horned rhinoceros, Bengal tiger, and various bird species. The ongoing illegal encroachment not only poses direct threats to these animals, pushing some towards extinction but also undermines conservation efforts in protected areas like national parks and wildlife sanctuaries. These areas, crucial for preserving wildlife and biodiversity, see their conservation efforts compromised by both legal and illegal encroachment, threatening their ecological integrity.

Under the leadership of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Assam is vigorously working to conserve its natural habitats and eliminate illegal encroachments, often attributed to Bengali-speaking Muslims. These efforts are not only aimed at preserving sanctuaries for wildlife but also at protecting the state’s ethnic culture, which is reportedly being disrupted by illegal infiltrators. These infiltrators are accused of luring local tribals, particularly women, resulting in significant demographic shifts.

Conservation organizations alongside government agencies are diligently collaborating to tackle this multifaceted issue. However, sustained efforts and broader support are imperative to safeguard Assam’s precious wildlife heritage and its cultural identity. Critics and opposition parties, who are allegedly sympathizing with the illegal encroachers, are urged to recognize the fundamental issues at hand and support the state's initiatives instead of opposing the BJP government's measures to clear the forests of illegal settlements.