The Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) has formally approached the state government seeking land settlement for families displaced during the recent eviction drive in the Damcherra Reserve Forest area of South Hailakandi.
AGP Central Secretary Kamrul Islam Choudhury submitted a memorandum to Revenue Minister and AGP Working President Keshab Mahanta, urging the allotment of land pattas to the affected households. Choudhury later confirmed to the media on Tuesday that the Minister has taken cognizance of the issue and directed the Hailakandi District Commissioner to investigate the matter and take appropriate steps in accordance with government policy.
Addressing the press, Choudhury highlighted the humanitarian crisis facing the 516 evicted families. He noted that despite a week passing since the eviction drive, no rehabilitation measures had been implemented for the displaced individuals. Emphasizing that the evicted families are Indian citizens, Choudhury appealed to the government to provide them with land under the state’s existing land allotment policy for the landless.
In response to the representation, Minister Mahanta assured Choudhury that the government would address the issue based on policy guidelines and has instructed the district administration to proceed with an inquiry and necessary action.
Nature Reclaiming Damcherra: CM
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday hailed the ecological restoration of the cleared area. Commenting on the successful removal of encroachments from approximately 2,800 bighas of land in the Damcherra Reserve Forest, the Chief Minister observed that “nature is reclaiming its own life.”
He noted that wildlife and various bird species have already begun returning to the forest, signaling that the area is slowly regaining its natural rhythm. The Chief Minister described this restoration of ecological balance as a “positive message” for the state’s conservation efforts.