GUWAHATI:
The Assam Government on April 22 directed the district administrations of Hojai and Nagaon to speed up the clearing of encroachments from forest reserve lands.
In the meeting with the Deputy Commissioners of Hojai and Nagaon, DFOs, MLAs, officials and representatives of political parties, Assam’s Environment and Forest minister Parimal Suklabaidya took stock of the status of the evictions carried out by the police and forest personnel and the total area under encroachments in the respective districts.
He directed officials to first convince the people to leave the forest lands on their own accord after serving them notice, and if they fail to do so, to carry out evictions after a stipulated deadline.
The minister also instructed the administrations to carry out intensive operations against illegal sawmills operating in the districts, and asked the DFOs to dismantle the illegal band sawmills forthwith following their seizure and to dispose of the machinery through auction so that those operating such illegal activities do not get the chance to lay their hands on the accessories to assemble them.
Suklabaidya also reviewed the status of the excise and fisheries departments during his meetings in Hojai and Nagaon, and he urged the officials of the excise department to step up the drive against illicit liquor and to generate more revenue through IMFL and heritage drinks. He further asked the officials of the fisheries department to ensure benefits from different schemes percolate down to the fishermen and also to step up efforts to make the state self-sufficient on the fish production front.
Apart from that, the environment and forest minister also reviewed the status of ongoing projects under the Jal Jeevan Mission.