Gauhati HC Dismisses 130 Pleas, Clears Way for Paikan Reserve Forest Eviction

Following the Gauhati High Court’s clearance, a massive eviction drive is set to commence on July 11 in Assam’s Goalpara district, targeting over 140 hectares of illegally occupied land within the Paikan Reserve Forest.

The High Court had earlier dismissed a petition filed by 130 individuals seeking a stay on the eviction, thereby allowing the operation to proceed as scheduled. While upholding the government's move to reclaim encroached forest land, the court also directed the authorities to ensure humanitarian support for those displaced, ordering arrangements for food and temporary shelter.

The High Court had earlier ordered the clearance of encroachments from reserved forest land and instructed the administration to ensure rehabilitation and assistance to displaced families. As part of the relief measures, evicted families have reportedly been provided with financial aid of ₹50,000 each.

In line with the court’s directive, the forest and district administrations launched the eviction drive a day after the July 10 deadline given to encroachers to vacate the land voluntarily. The operation marks a significant step in the state government's ongoing campaign to free protected forest areas from illegal encroachment. 

The eviction operation targeted two heavily encroached areas, Bidyapara and Betbari, under the Krishnai range of the Paikan Reserve Forest, where numerous families had reportedly been living unlawfully for years.

In the days leading up to the drive, joint teams of the Forest Department and Assam Police intensified patrolling in the area, issued public warnings via loudspeakers, and appealed to occupants to vacate the premises peacefully before the July 10 deadline. The countdown had officially begun.

“A total of 140 hectares of land will be cleared in this phase of the eviction. We’ve already issued notices and informed residents through public announcements to leave on their own by July 10. The eviction operation will begin immediately after that,” the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of Goalpara had said in an official statement.

The Paikan Reserve Forest spans a total area of 711 hectares, out of which 140 hectares had been encroached upon over the years. According to forest officials, this stretch of land formed part of a critical ecosystem, and unauthorized settlements had severely impacted its ecological integrity.

Sources confirmed that a large contingent of forest personnel, including the Forest Battalion, range officers, and field staff, was deployed for the operation. They were assisted by the district administration and police forces to ensure the eviction proceeded without resistance or violence.

Also Read: 495 Acres of Encroached Wetland Cleared in Goalpara, Says Assam CM