GOALPARA, March 10 � Although full details of the extent of encroachment of wetlands, forest land, natural flood drains and government reserve land are not known, but whatever records are available with the Revenue Department bespeaks of large-scale encroachment of various categories of govt reserve land under five revenue circles namely Balijana, Matia, Lakhipur, Dudhnoi and Rongjuli in the district.
It is believed that despite the existence of several land laws to deal with this problem firmly, measures taken during some anti-encroachment drives selectively, at various times, seem to have been an eye wash only, as the issue has been dodged by authorities who are at the helm of affairs. They simply became mute onlookers to the entire issue as encroachers continued to grab government land with impunity. These encroachers allegedly enjoy the patronage, either of the politicians or of the revenue officials at various places in the district.
According to official information (i) under Balijana revenue circle, encroachment has taken place in the entire 962 bigha, 1 katha, 16 lessa reserved under Village Grazing Reserve (VGR) along with the entire area of 80 bigha, 2 katha, 10 lessa reserved for government or community purposes.
(ii) under Matia revenue circle, encroachment has taken place in a total area of 1,747 bigha, 2 katha, 71 lessa out of 10,261 bigha, 3 katha, 13 lessa reserved under Village Grazing Reserve (VGR), encroachment of 149 bigha,1 katha, 7 lessa out of a total area of 777 bigha, 3 katha, 1 lessa reserved under road side land, 31 bigha, 2 katha, 19 lessa has been encroached out 102 bigha, 2 katha, 15 lessa under riverside land.
(iii) under Lakhipur revenue circle, a total areas of 27 bigha, 3 katha, 0 lessa out of 11,956 bigha, 2 katha, 19 lessa reserved under Village Grazing Reserve (VGR), encroachment of 7 bigha,1 katha, 15 lessa out of total area of 60 bigha, 2 katha,10 lessa reserved under road side land.
(iv) under Dudhnoi revenue circle, encroachment has taken place in a total areas of 751 bigha, 1 katha, 2 lessa out of 1,130 bigha, 3 katha, 5 lessa reserved under Village Grazing Reserve (VGR), encroachment of 149 bigha,1 katha, 7 lessa out of total area of 777 bigha, 3 katha,1 lessa reserved under road side land, 31 bigha, 2 katha, 19 lessa has been encroached out of 102 bigha, 2 katha, 15 lessa under riverside land.
(v) under Rongjuli revenue circle, encroachment has taken place in a total area of 246 bigha, 0 katha, 0 lessa out of 2,804 bigha, 2 katha, 5 lessa reserved under Village Grazing Reserve (VGR)
While there is an urgent need for the government to reclaim the reserved land, especially the VGRs, for initiating animal husbandry as a business occupation for the local unemployed youths, on the other hand the poor and needy also need to be relocated in a planned manner in some designated settlement areas so that they can get on with their lives without being affected.
