Guwahati, Feb 15 (NationPress) The Chief Minister of Assam, Himanta Biswa Sarma, accused the Congress party of facilitating extensive encroachment of forest land during their prolonged governance, stating that his administration has decisively halted this trend through ongoing eviction and reclamation efforts.

In a statement shared on the social media platform X, Sarma asserted that the Congress party allowed encroachments to thrive within Assam’s forest regions for decades, resulting in the unlawful occupation of over 2.87 lakh hectares of forest land.

He noted that this situation went largely unaddressed until the current BJP-led government launched a systematic initiative to identify, evict, and reclaim illegally occupied forest land.

“For years, the Congress party turned a blind eye to encroachments in Assam’s forests, permitting over 2.87 lakh hectares to be seized until our government took action to put a stop to it,” Sarma stated in his post.

The Chief Minister highlighted that since the commencement of eviction and reclamation operations, the state government has successfully recovered over 20,000 hectares of forest land, which he described as a significant stride towards environmental protection and upholding the law.

He reaffirmed the government’s dedication to reclaiming all encroached forest areas and preventing future illegal occupation within protected and reserved zones.

Sarma pointed out that forest encroachments have not only harmed Assam’s delicate ecological balance but also facilitated illegal activities in these wooded regions, threatening wildlife habitats and contributing to environmental degradation.

He emphasized that the government’s initiatives are focused on restoring forest land, safeguarding biodiversity, and ensuring sustainable environmental management within the state.

The Chief Minister has consistently defended the eviction drives executed in forest and protected regions, asserting that these operations are carried out strictly within legal frameworks and for the greater public benefit.

He has also assured that support is being provided to genuine landless indigenous communities through rehabilitation and resettlement programs, while illegal encroachments will face stringent consequences.

Sarma indicated that the ongoing efforts to reclaim forest land are part of the broader vision of the government to preserve Assam’s natural heritage and ensure ecological security for future generations.

“The mission to reclaim every inch of our land is ongoing,” he asserted.

The issue of forest land encroachment remains a politically charged topic in Assam, with opposition parties criticizing eviction drives due to humanitarian and livelihood concerns, while the ruling BJP defends these measures as essential for environmental conservation and lawful governance.