Tezpur: As part of the state government’s continued move against the alleged encroachment in government lands including forest areas Sonitpur District administration in association with the forest department of Sonitpur district a massive eviction drive was conducted in the encroached areas of Compensatory Afforestation of Burhachapori WLS under Sonitpur district on Monday. As informed by ADC (Revenue), Sonitpur, Kamal Baruah revealed an area of approximately 6200 Bighas of land that comes under Tezpur, Thelamara and Dhekiajuli revenue circles, already allocated for the Compensatory Afforestation of Burhachapori WLS which was few days back found to be under the possession of illegal encroachers in the form of dwelling houses and agricultural activities.
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Earlier, based on the joint verification carried out by Revenue Circle Offices and Forest Department officials, notices were served to those encroachers to vacate the said government land. “But after almost one month of notice period, except a few of them the encroachers have not vacated the compensatory afforestation land till a couple of days back. Hence as per the protocol, acts etc. an eviction drive has been conducted today to free the encroached area from the illegal occupants.” Kamal Baruah said adding around 710 households have been identified as encroachers. We have started the eviction drive since morning. Before this drive notices were served to the encroachers to vacate the area within a specific time period besides sufficient mice announcement. In this regard on December 17 last a team of government officials from Sonitpur, supported by Nagaon wildlife sanctuary, Sonitpur revenue department visited the encroached areas to take stock of the situation. Kamal Baruah also stated that around 20 numbers of JCBs, around 100 labourers, around 500 police forces, team of magistrates headed by Sonitpur DC, Ananda Kumar Das and SSP, Sonitpur, Barun Purakayastha have been busy in the operation. “Eviction is still on, and it has been going on peacefully.” He said.
