Eviction Drives to Continue, Says Himanta; 25,000 Acres Freed from Encroachment in 4 Years

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has reaffirmed the continuation of the state's eviction drives, citing the removal of encroachments from over 25,000 acres of land in the past four years. Speaking at a press conference in Guwahati after a cabinet meeting, Sarma announced an upcoming eviction drive scheduled in Goalpara on Saturday to reclaim forest land allegedly encroached upon.

He stated that the Assam government had already cleared thousands of bighas of land since 2021, when he assumed office. The upcoming drive in Goalpara aims to clear approximately 1,040 bighas in the Paikan Reserve Forest under the Krishnai Forest Range, impacting around 1,080 families. Sarma emphasized that the eviction was ordered by the Gauhati High Court, which also directed the government to ensure essential services like drinking water for those being evicted.

Sarma also clarified the government’s position on granting land rights to the displaced. He stated that only bonafide Indian citizens who are genuinely landless in their native locations — not necessarily at the eviction sites — would be considered eligible. However, he mentioned that very few individuals usually come forward to claim such rights post-eviction.

Addressing the earlier eviction drive in Lakhimpur district, Sarma alleged that people from Sribhumi, South Salmara-Mankachar, and other minority-dominated areas had settled there in an attempt to alter the demographic balance. He claimed that the eviction helped restore the original demography in such areas. Sarma further alleged demographic changes in Dhubri town, stating that around 10,000–12,000 people from Baghbor in Barpeta had migrated and altered the population composition. He highlighted that in Goalpara, where a 200–300-year-old temple exists, Hindus had become a minority, pointing to broader demographic concerns.

In a significant development in Chapar, around 3,500 bighas of land affecting nearly 1,100 families in the villages of Charuwa Bakra, Chirakuta, and Santoshpur were cleared during another eviction operation. This land is slated to be handed over to the Adani Group for the construction of a 3,400 MW thermal power plant. During the drive, resistance from alleged encroachers led to damage to excavators and attempted assaults on police personnel, which resulted in the use of baton charges by security forces to disperse the crowd.

Sarma noted that he had previously visited the site designated for the power plant and confirmed that a tender for the massive energy project would be floated soon. He indicated that he would hold another press conference next week to present detailed data on all eviction drives carried out since May 2021.

Overall, the Chief Minister framed the eviction initiatives as part of a broader effort to reclaim government and forest lands, restore demographic balance, and make way for development projects. The state remains firm on its position, balancing legal compliance, development, and policy considerations while facing growing scrutiny over displacement and human impact.