There are many concerns about encroachment of large areas of Manas National Park and Tiger Project, one of Assam’s most protected forest areas and a World Heritage Site. Despite repeated warnings from the National Tiger Conservation Authority and the International Union for Conservation of Nature, the state government has not taken any effective measures to clear the 36.79 sq km encroached forest land. The park, which has slowly recovered from damage caused by communal clashes in the 1990s, is destroying wildlife habitat and threatening long-term conservation goals.
According to official data, large protected areas of national parks are under illegal occupation. A total of 2,988 people occupy 8,417.4 bighas of land in Agra area of Bhuanara forest area. 4 thousand 532 people are living illegally in Panbari forest area by constructing 912 houses on 6 thousand 128 decimal 22 bigha land. The Manas Tiger Project Authority has repeatedly informed the Baxa and Chirang district administrations and the state government about the encroachment but to no avail.
The Kokilabari seed farm covers an area of 9.3 square kilometers of encroached Bhuiyapara forest and is the prime habitat of the Manas tiger project and an important habitat for the endangered Bengal florican. The land was supposed to be handed over to the Manas authority after the expiry of the lease in 2001, but this did not materialise. Instead BTR government is still leasing land for agriculture through agriculture department.
The IUCN World Heritage Outlook 4 (2025) report also expressed deep concern over this encroachment. The report lists Manas National Park as a ‘grave concern’ due to ongoing threats, particularly from forest encroachment, illegal agriculture and infrastructure construction. The agency said illegal agriculture and settlements in the Bhuiyanpara and Panbari forests have caused severe degradation of wildlife habitat, and the park is also threatened by hydroelectric projects and invasive plant species.
According to an official statement from the forest department, applications were made to the BTR government on January 13, 2022 and May 26, 2023 for transfer of land to the forest department. However, since the council government has not taken any decision so far, legal complications have arisen. The department also clarified that the BTR government has to take a firm decision to hand over Kokilabari land to the forest department. Authorities hope it will set a precedent for restoring encroached areas like Betbari and Panbari and prove the government’s commitment to wildlife conservation.