DIPHU, July 23 - Encroachment by Nagaland residents continues unabated in Karbi Anglong along the Assam-Nagaland border. A large number of people from Nagaland are reportedly encroaching many hectares of forest land in Assam. New houses are being constructed by cutting down jungles at the Doldoli Reserve Forest. To keep smooth connectivity with the Nagaland townships, a number of new roads have also been constructed.
Electricity connection has also been provided by the Nagaland Government for the convenience of the encroachers, reports said. The local people alleged that the matter was brought to the notice of of the KAAC authority and the district administration several times, but no constructive response was received from them. Several civil and student organisations are also visiting the aforesaid area to take note of the situation.
Meanwhile, after visiting the Lahorijan area under Doldoli Reserve Forest, a delegation of the Hill State Democratic Party (HSDC) and the Karbi Students� Association (KSA), admitted that illegal settlers from Dimapur have encroached a large area of reserve forest land of Karbi Anglong.
The delegation also mentioned that the matter has turned extremely serious, as even a camp of the Indian Reserve Battalion was set up by the Nagaland Government on Assam�s soil.
They further said that the IRBn camp was set up after removing the inter-State boundary pillars of Assam and Nagaland. After setting up of the camp, the number of villages of illegal settlers is also escalating day by day in Assam, the delegation revealed.
It may be mentioned here that though a few eviction drives had been carried out earlier by the Karbi Anglong administration, but a few days later the encroachments again began inside Assam along the Assam-Nagaland border. The civil organisations hence are pressurising the KAAC authority and the State Government to take definite steps to counter and stop this continuous illegal encroachment on Assam land.
It may be mentioned here that several incidents had occurred in recent times. On February 22 last, a large number of people from Nagaland entered Doldoli RF erecting a signboard �Government of Nagaland, Site for Horticulture� etc. This action was interpreted as the encroachment having patronage from the State Government of Nagaland.
At that time too, a memorandum was reportedly submitted to the then Chief Minister of Assam, Tarun Gogoi and Chief Executive Member (CEM) of Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC), Tuliram Ronghang to take up immediate measures, but these evoked no response, it said while describing the situation as volatile along border area of Doldoli RF.
It is apparent that if adequate measures are not taken by the Government in due time, then a volatile situation may erupt and the people of Assam will have to face a tough challenge.
