Assam Ranks Second in Forest Encroachment; Govt Cites Ecological Emergency

Assam’s sweeping eviction drives across its forested regions have once again stirred a complex debate—one that rests at the fragile crossroads of ecological restoration, judicial mandate, public development, and human rights.

According to the Union Environment Ministry’s report to the National Green Tribunal (NGT), as of March 2024, Assam had 3,620.9 square kilometers (3,62,090 hectares) of forest land under encroachment, making it the second highest in India after Madhya Pradesh. This staggering figure has fueled an aggressive push by the Assam government to reclaim forest land—an effort intensified under the leadership of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.

Ecological Imperatives: The Human-Wildlife Conflict

The primary justification offered for the evictions lies in ecological necessity. Assam, home to vital biodiversity corridors—especially for the Asian elephant—has witnessed a surge in human-animal conflict. Districts like Goalpara, with rampant forest encroachment, report some of the highest incidences of human-elephant confrontations in the country. The loss of migratory corridors and habitat degradation has made elephants more likely to venture into human settlements, leading to tragic and often fatal outcomes on both sides.

Eviction, in this context, is presented not merely as a legal remedy but as an ecological necessity to protect endangered species and regenerate degraded forest land. The government argues that reclaiming these encroached spaces is vital for biodiversity conservation and long-term environmental sustainability.

Judicial Mandates and Political Will

The state's eviction efforts also carry a strong legal backing. The Gauhati High Court has repeatedly directed the Assam government to clear protected forest areas of encroachments, especially in ecologically sensitive zones like Kaziranga National Park. Public Interest Litigations (PILs) and NGT mandates have further compelled the administration to act swiftly.

Since the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came to power in Assam in 2016, such drives have seen a dramatic increase, often under the pretext of restoring ecological balance or enforcing land laws. In the last four years alone, over 25,000 hectares of forest land have reportedly been cleared of encroachments.

Data shared by Forest Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary indicates that over 2.5 lakh hectares of forest land are encroached upon by local populations, 83,000 hectares by neighbouring states, and over 1,000 hectares by tea estates. Interestingly, even as the government frames the issue around conservation and legality, some of the cleared lands have been allocated for public infrastructure projects such as power plants—revealing a dual agenda of conservation and development.

Controversies and Concerns: Who Bears the Brunt?

Yet, behind the numbers and environmental rationale lies a disturbing pattern. Critics argue that the eviction drives disproportionately target marginalized communities, particularly Muslims of Bangladesh-origin, many of whom have lived in these areas for decades, if not generations.

What exacerbates the situation is the absence of structured rehabilitation measures. Evictions often happen with little notice, no alternative housing, and inadequate legal recourse. For families uprooted from lands they cultivated for years, the consequences are dire—livelihoods lost overnight, children pulled out of schools, and entire communities rendered stateless in practice, if not by law.

Moreover, while illegal encroachment by tea gardens or bordering states is noted in official data, visible action against such encroachers remains limited. This selective implementation raises uncomfortable questions about political priorities and demographic targeting.

Conclusion: A Path Forward?

There is no denying that Assam's forest lands require protection. Encroachment, if left unchecked, poses a grave risk to wildlife, ecological balance, and even the long-term well-being of human populations living near these vulnerable zones. However, conservation cannot come at the cost of compassion, justice, or inclusive governance.

The need of the hour is a nuanced, rights-based approach—one that balances environmental restoration with humane resettlement policies, transparent legal procedures, and socio-political equity. Forests may need saving, but so do the people who live on their fringes.

Unless Assam’s eviction policies evolve beyond bulldozers and court orders to include rehabilitation and dialogue, the state risks trading one crisis for another—ecological imbalance for social unrest.

Also Read: Don’t Brand Evicted Citizens as Illegal Immigrants: AAP Slams Assam CM