Goalpara Eviction Drive Clears Encroached Forest Land

After a seven-month delay, Goalpara district authorities began an eviction drive to clear 55 hectares of the Bandarmatha Reserve Forest from encroachers. Over 400 families had reportedly settled in the area. Bulldozers were used to remove illegal structures, with heavy security in place. The eviction follows multiple notices and a 2022 High Court order aimed at preserving elephant habitats. Officials plan to restore the forest by planting saplings and demarcating boundaries to reduce human-elephant conflicts.