GUWAHATI, Nov 23 - A field visit by the members of a State forest department-appointed committee revealed that the encroachers inside and outside the Amchang Wildlife Sanctuary (WLS) are �not homeless people.� Most of them own vehicles, motorcycles, televisions, inverters, generators, etc, in their homes and they are holding the land under their possession �for economic benefits or in nexus with the land mafias,� said the three-member committee headed by the Chief Conservator of Forests, Central Assam Circle, in its report.
It claimed that as per the prevailing market rate of the city, the land under the possession of these encroachers will fetch a seller �not less than Rs 1 crore per bigha,� considering that these plots are located within 3-km radius of the State Capital. The committee suggested a police investigation to find out if there is any nexus between the antisocials and the encroachers.
If, after the enquiry, it is found that the encroachers are genuine homeless and Below Poverty Line (BPL) people, they may be rehabilitated under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) schemes in their districts of origin in the interest of the protection of elephants and other wildlife species at the Amchang WLS, the committee said.
It needs mention here that in November-end, 2017, the forest department had launched a drive to free the sanctuary from encroachment, following a Gauhati High Court order in a PIL (suo moto; N0.27/2013) �for complete removal of encroachment� from the WLS. This resulted in a fuss with some political parties and some organisations siding with the encroachers.
Warning that provocation to the herd of the elephants of the WLS would �create a serious law and order situation� and the man-animal conflict would be �beyond control of this city� (Guwahati), the committee said, �Under no circumstances the Revenue Department, Government of Assam should settle the encroached land with the encroachers as these areas are the habitat of the elephants and other wildlife species of the Amchang Wildlife Sanctuary.�
It suggested deployment of a special action taken team with officers not below the rank of DSP of the State Police, a magistrate, and a Forest Department officer not below the rank of Assistant Conservator of Forest, to examine the encroachers� citizenship by verifying their information with the NRC data. It also suggested a thorough scientific study for creating a corridor that connects the Amchang WLS with the Marakdola Reserve Forest. To create the corridor, retrofitting of NH-37 shall be required between Jorabat and Sonapur, it said.
Meanwhile, the State�s Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) and Chief Wildlife Warden requested the Survey of India to undertake a survey of the entire Amchang WLS area. The latter has agreed to comply with the request.
GUWAHATI, Nov 23 - A field visit by the members of a State forest department-appointed committee revealed that the encroachers inside and outside the Amchang Wildlife Sanctuary (WLS) are �not homeless people.� Most of them own vehicles, motorcycles, televisions, inverters, generators, etc, in their homes and they are holding the land under their possession �for economic benefits or in nexus with the land mafias,� said the three-member committee headed by the Chief Conservator of Forests, Central Assam Circle, in its report.
It claimed that as per the prevailing market rate of the city, the land under the possession of these encroachers will fetch a seller �not less than Rs 1 crore per bigha,� considering that these plots are located within 3-km radius of the State Capital. The committee suggested a police investigation to find out if there is any nexus between the antisocials and the encroachers.
If, after the enquiry, it is found that the encroachers are genuine homeless and Below Poverty Line (BPL) people, they may be rehabilitated under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) schemes in their districts of origin in the interest of the protection of elephants and other wildlife species at the Amchang WLS, the committee said.
It needs mention here that in November-end, 2017, the forest department had launched a drive to free the sanctuary from encroachment, following a Gauhati High Court order in a PIL (suo moto; N0.27/2013) �for complete removal of encroachment� from the WLS. This resulted in a fuss with some political parties and some organisations siding with the encroachers.
Warning that provocation to the herd of the elephants of the WLS would �create a serious law and order situation� and the man-animal conflict would be �beyond control of this city� (Guwahati), the committee said, �Under no circumstances the Revenue Department, Government of Assam should settle the encroached land with the encroachers as these areas are the habitat of the elephants and other wildlife species of the Amchang Wildlife Sanctuary.�
It suggested deployment of a special action taken team with officers not below the rank of DSP of the State Police, a magistrate, and a Forest Department officer not below the rank of Assistant Conservator of Forest, to examine the encroachers� citizenship by verifying their information with the NRC data. It also suggested a thorough scientific study for creating a corridor that connects the Amchang WLS with the Marakdola Reserve Forest. To create the corridor, retrofitting of NH-37 shall be required between Jorabat and Sonapur, it said.
Meanwhile, the State�s Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) and Chief Wildlife Warden requested the Survey of India to undertake a survey of the entire Amchang WLS area. The latter has agreed to comply with the request.
