Kokrajhar, Oct. 31: The forest department in Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) carried out an eviction drive in the Lumsung area under Gaurang range in Haltugaon division of Ripu-Chirang forest in Kokrajhar district.

Nearly 2,000 illegal huts spread across 4,000 hectares of land occupied by encroachers inside the reserve forest were demolished by the forest department since yesterday.

The eviction came after the BTC forest department served notices and distributed leaflets on the dos and don’ts inside the forest area as a measure to create awareness among the people.

The area will be now handed over to the Eco Task Force for reforestation.

The task force has taken up the re-plantation in the reserve forest on August 14, 2008, and till date around 9 lakh saplings have been planted on the land, which was being occupied by the encroachers. Around 275 retired army personnel from the Northeast are part of the force on a mission to save the land and the forest cover.

BTC deputy chief Kampha Borgoyary, who is in-charge of the forest and tourism department, said the council was tough on the issue of preservation of forest and wildlife and the encroachers would be evicted. “We are tough on encroachers. They will not be allowed to encroach upon and destroy the forest wealth. The area will be handed over to the Eco Task Force which is currently engaged in reforestation in the region,” Borgoyary said.

Despite the notice, massive encroachment is going on deep inside Saralpara and Ultapani area along the Indo-Bhutan border, in the Lumsung, Laothi, Laopani and Khungring areas under Haltugaon forest division of Ripu-Chirang forest, which is home to the many wildlife species, including golden langur, elephants, leopards, wild boars, deer, sambar and hornbills.

Largescale felling and encroachment over the past three-four years have shaken the very existence of the reserve forest. According to the official record, over 30 per cent of the forest was under encroachment.

Sources said the encroachment could be much higher because it was taking place deep inside the reserve, where the department officials hardly visit.

“The forest wealth of the BTC has been thoroughly over exploited. Widespread encroachment of land and indiscriminate felling have severely degraded the forests. Villagers are also continuing to clear the forestland and occupy it with the mistaken hope that they will get allotment of the occupied land in the near future,” a senior forest official said.