Assam Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Keshab Mahanta has informed the Assam Assembly that more than 3.12 lakh hectares of forest land in the state are currently under encroachment, while 1,503 villages have been partially or completely washed away by river erosion.
Replying to a question in the Assembly, the minister said that based on information received from Deputy Commissioners of 27 districts, Assam has a total land area of 3,35,16,927 bighas, 1 katha and 8 lechas. Of this, 3,33,681 bighas are Professional Grazing Reserve (PGR) land, 5,90,124 bighas, 1 katha and 14 lechas are Village Grazing Reserve (VGR) land, and 8,83,911 bighas and 2 lechas are classified as water bodies.
According to the Environment, Forest and Climate Change Department, Assam has a total of 18,01,953.536 hectares of forest land.
The minister also stated that, as per information from the Border Protection and Development Department, 16,144.01 hectares of Assam’s land are under the occupation of Arunachal Pradesh, 3,441.86 hectares by Meghalaya, 3,675.78 hectares by Mizoram and 59,490.21 hectares by Nagaland.
Mahanta informed the House that 3,12,982.175 hectares of forest land in Assam are presently under encroachment.
He further said that encroached government lands include 1,38,678 bighas, 1 katha and 19 lechas of PGR land, 2,98,708 bighas, 2 kathas and 10 lechas of VGR land, and 71,660 bighas and 15 lechas of water body land.
On river erosion, the minister said that 8,25,017 bighas, 2 kathas and 10 lechas of land in 27 districts have been lost to rivers so far.
He also revealed that 1,023 villages have been partially eroded, while 480 villages have been completely wiped out due to river erosion across the state.
Highlighting rehabilitation measures, Mahanta said the Assam Land Policy, 2019 provides for the resettlement of indigenous landless families affected by river erosion and other natural disasters through the allotment of government khas land or ceiling surplus land.
He added that under the Mission Basundhara initiative, eligible erosion-affected and displaced families are being provided land pattas in accordance with government rules.
The minister further said that affected families are also entitled to ex gratia assistance, rehabilitation grants and other emergency relief under the provisions of the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) and the Assam State Disaster Management Act, 2015.