While authorities acknowledge the problem, enforcement remains weak, and illegal settlements continue to expand
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Illegal encroachment on forest land in Guwahati has become a ticking environmental time bomb. With reserved forests vanishing under unchecked settlements, forest conservationists and officials find themselves caught in a complex battle—one where land encroachers grow stronger, and authorities struggle to enforce the law.
In 2024, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) took suo motu cognisance of media reports highlighting large-scale encroachments across 16 reserved forests in Kamrup Metropolitan district. The tribunal directed Assam’s Principal Chief Conservator of Forests to submit a comprehensive report, acknowledging the severe environmental impact of unauthorised settlements in ecologically sensitive zones.
Over 3.35 lakh hectares of reserved forest land in Assam is under encroachment, including by neighbouring states, Forest Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary said in the assembly on Thursday. Replying to a question in the Assembly on March 6, Patowary said of these, 2,50,350.0666 hectares have been encroached by people of the state, 83,811.3978 hectares by neighbouring states and 1,161.136 hectares by tea gardens. The figures reflect a grim reality—forests are shrinking at an alarming rate, and with them, the region’s ecological balance.
But how did it come to this? Why have encroachers been able to take over thousands of hectares of forest land while officials struggle to intervene?
A history of neglect and unchecked growth
Guwahati’s hills and forests—once dense green cover that protected the city from floods, landslides, and rising pollution—are now dotted with illegal settlements. Areas like Hengrabari, Garbhanga, Fatasil, South Kalapahar, Jalukbari, Gotanagar, and Sarania have witnessed widespread encroachment, with thousands of families setting up homes without legal ownership.
Environmentalists blame years of poor planning and lack of strong conservation policies for the crisis.
"The authorities have lacked vision when it comes to maintaining a healthy environment in Guwahati," said Pramod Kalita, a city-based environmentalist, speaking to G Plus. "There is no structured plan to conserve the city’s natural resources. The encroachment of forest land isn’t something that happened overnight—it has been going on for decades because of weak enforcement and unregulated urban expansion."
GPlus visited Kanchan Nagar, a settlement inside the Hengrabari Reserved Forest, and found that encroachment has become a deeply rooted issue. Many residents claimed they have been living there for years, and some even possess Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) holding numbers. These holding numbers, which are meant for legal properties, have enabled them to access electricity and other civic services, raising questions about how forest land is being occupied and regularised despite its protected status.
Talking to GPlus, a resident in Guwahati questioning the expansion of these settlements, "More and more houses are coming up in the Hengrabari forest area near Kanchan Nagar. How many of these have illegally cleared forest land? And how are they getting electricity connections when they are technically living on forest land?"
When asked about this, an official from the Assam Forest Department admitted that enforcement had become extremely difficult.
"For years, people have been buying plots in forest areas without any legal documents. Some settlements date back to 1990 or even earlier. Now, these people have built permanent homes and formed strong local committees that resist eviction drives. Even when our forest teams attempt to take action, they are met with hostility, sometimes even physical attacks," the official revealed.
The situation in Hengrabari is particularly alarming.
"In Hengrabari alone, there are 628 hectares of designated forest land, but shockingly, around 440 hectares have already been encroached upon. The situation has gone beyond control, and with settlements expanding every year, recovering this land is becoming increasingly difficult," a forest department official told GPlus.
Another major issue is the provision of basic utilities like electricity, which makes these settlements appear legitimate.
An official from the Assam Power Distribution Company Limited (APDCL) told G Plus, "We usually do not provide electricity lines without clearance from the Forest Department. However, once residents present GMC holding numbers, we have to comply. The problem is that many holding numbers are obtained illegally, which complicates things further."
But how do these settlements get GMC holding numbers in the first place?
An official from the Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) explained the loophole:
"Holding numbers are now applied for online, which may have led to many unauthorised approvals. Just because someone has a holding number doesn’t mean they own the land legally. Many of these numbers were obtained without proper verification. We are now planning to cross-check and re-examine these cases."
However, an official from Circle Office, Dispur acknowledged the challenge, stating, "We do not give permissions for settlements on forest land. But if government policies allow it or if higher authorities approve it, there is little we can do to stop it."
The forest department itself feels powerless in the face of this bureaucratic entanglement.
"We do not approve any settlements, but many encroach illegally. By the time we try to evict them, they secure permissions from various departments or political sources. This makes it nearly impossible for us to interfere," a forest official admitted.
The problem does not stop with illegal housing. Roads are also being constructed in these encroached areas, further erasing forest land and paving the way for more settlements.
Threat to city’s environment
The consequences of unchecked encroachment are already visible. Hill-cutting, deforestation, and land degradation have made Guwahati vulnerable to natural disasters. Flash floods have become more frequent due to reduced forest cover, while landslides in encroached hill areas pose a constant threat to residents.
Environmental experts warn that if strict measures are not taken soon, Guwahati could face severe ecological consequences.
"The more we lose our reserved forests, the more we expose the city to disasters. The trees that once absorbed rainwater and prevented erosion are now gone. Without immediate intervention, the city’s environmental stability will be in serious jeopardy," Kalita warned.
Encroachment is not just an environmental problem—it is also a social and political issue. Many of those living in these illegal settlements are from economically weaker sections, and eviction drives often lead to public outcry and political intervention.
"Many of these settlers have been living here for decades. Where will they go? Even if eviction orders are issued, they need an alternative settlement plan. Without that, forced evictions will only lead to protests and legal battles," said a resident of Kanchan Nagar.
The forest official admitted that without better coordination among departments, enforcement would remain a challenge.
"We need support from other government bodies, including the police and revenue department. Only a combined effort can put a stop to illegal forest land grabbing," he said.
While authorities acknowledge the problem, enforcement remains weak, and illegal settlements continue to expand. With forests disappearing and hills being cut down, the city is becoming more vulnerable to floods, landslides, and rising pollution. The question remains—who is responsible for allowing this to happen? Will strict action be taken to reclaim the lost forest land, or will the encroachments continue unchecked? And most importantly, will Guwahati’s green cover survive, or is it destined to vanish in the name of urban expansion?
