There is a possibility of fresh eviction operation in Dabka area of Nagaon district. The eviction followed a recent High Court order at the Jamuna Maudong Sanctuary. There is extreme tension and fear in the area.
The forest area was cleared in January this year. During this time, the administration cleared about 700 hectares of land and a total of 1,980 families were evicted from the reserve. However, a few families were still living in parts of the forest.
152 families remaining in the forest area approached the High Court seeking exemption from eviction. In view of their application, the court granted them temporary relief. However, as the High Court has now issued a new order in this regard, panic and uncertainty has been created among these families. According to the new court order, the families have been asked to vacate the forest land within the next 30 days.
According to government sources, about 70 hectares of forest land is still in the hands of encroachers. Some families are already preparing to vacate the premises following strict court orders. Other families have asked for a reconsideration to give them more time or alternative arrangements. There is a heated debate in the area over the eviction drive and the administration is preparing for next steps.