Guwahati, August 25 (PTI): An eviction drive was carried out in Amchang Wildlife Sanctuary in Guwahati today to free the illegally occupied forest area.
Altogether 300 houses were dismantled and families were asked to leave the illegally occupied forest area during the operation conducted by the Forest department with the support of Kamrup (Metro) District Administration, police, health department, Assam Power Distribution Company Ltd (APDCL), a government release said.
The eviction drive was carried out on the direction of Gauhati High Court. Two teams conducted eviction drive at Botaghuli and two other teams carried out the drive at Amchang Wildlife Sanctuary behind Veterinary College at Khanapara here.
Deputy Commissioner Kamrup (M) Dr M Angamuthu briefed the teams before the operation not to damage/destroy or burn any belongings of the encroachers and also directed the police to use minimum force for the eviction operation.
Guwahati Commissioner of Police Hiren Nath, Joint Commissioner of Police Diganta Baruah and Chief Conservator of Forest Hara Prasad were also present during the briefing.
The operation included more than 500 police and forest personnel, elephants, cranes, wage labourers with tool kits, to make Amchang Wildlife Sanctuary encroachment free, the release said.
