Evictions in the Times of Corona: Part 3

   “An exodus makes a ruler cruel and the people crueller”

 Amchang Forest Eviction Threat in Guwahati

Even as the government has been appealing to people to stay indoors due to the Covid-19 threat, the forest department in Assam has slapped eviction notices on many families for allegedly constructing their houses by “encroaching” upon the territory of the Amchang Wildlife Sanctuary.

Issue:

The issue of encroachment has been a bone of contention between the forest force and the local settlers here for some time now. The families, some of who claim to have settled here at Milanpur Borobasti at least 40 years ago, have been spending sleepless nights since May 8, when notices were served by the Divisional Forest Officer of Guwahati Wildlife Division on at least 30 families in the hilly areas of Amchang, asking them to vacate their houses within 15 days. Facing encroachment charges, the Amchang residents have threatened to launch an agitation, breaching the lockdown guidelines, if they are rendered homeless. Similar evictions were carried out in 2017 as well, but with court’s intervention in the matter it was delayed. In the previous evictions, gross human rights violations were reported.

Was the settlement illegal?

The information with YUVA narrates a different story. People have been living there for 40 years with all necessary documents.

Matter in court:

In 2017, the eviction carried out by the forest department at nearby Janasimalu evoked massive resistance from the locals. Though the forest department is yet to react on the matter, the counsel representing the evicted residents of Amchang, Santanu Barthakur, said that the eviction matter is sub judice at the Gauhati high court, as there was a PIL filed way back in 2013. “Since the boundary of Amchang wildlife sanctuary has not been demarcated yet, status quo must be maintained,” he said.

Current situation:

The stated reason of eviction has been stated as encroachment. Due to timely intervention of YUVA and media outcry the matter has gone into abeyance for now but the threat of eviction looms large.

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