Our Correspondent
Diphu, July 31 (EMN): Forest staff along with Assam police personnel on Saturday managed to free the Daldoli State Reserve Forest (RF) land in Karbi Anglong from land encroachers, who were trying to occupy the forestland by clearing down the jungle.
AFC Prahalad Kro along with Forest staff and police personnel stopped more than 500 people, who were clearing the forestland inside Daldoli State Reserve Forest under Eastern Range, Rangapahar, West division on Saturday. The people were clearing the forestland between Hapjan river and Sibunsiba inside Daldoli State RF. For the past couple of weeks, the land encroachers have been clearing the forestland. Forest staff tried to stop them, but the encroachers paid no heed, it was informed.
The ACF Kro appealing to the encroachers stated, "Do not destroy forestland and stop the encroachment as it is not lawful. Such clearings have reduced vegetation and is inviting drought. We request you to leave the forestland before the government takes any stern decision against encroachers".
In this regard, Lower Hapjan and Upper Upjan had submitted a memorandum to the CEM of Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council and Forest Board Chairman and MAC, Richard Tokbi to stop the clearing of jungle by the land encroachers. One of the locals said, 'the forest reserve is our life which we fully depend on. We have been preserving the forest for years, but those land encroachers have started clearing the forestland, which is affecting our lives'.