Forest – Assam Strengthens Protection Drive After Major Damage in Behali Reserve
Forest – Assam has stepped up efforts to safeguard the Behali Reserve Forest after officials confirmed extensive damage to a large stretch of woodland near the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border. The state government has announced immediate restoration work, tighter security measures, and stronger monitoring to prevent further destruction. The decision follows an on-site review led by Assam’s Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Jayanta Mallabaruah, who inspected the affected region with senior officials from the Forest Department, Assam Police, and the civil administration.
Inspection Confirms Widespread Forest Damage
The minister’s visit was carried out after reports indicated significant destruction inside the Behali Forest Range. According to official assessments based on satellite imagery and drone surveys conducted over the past six months, nearly 400 hectares of reserve forest have been encroached upon and severely damaged. During the inspection, officials reviewed the affected locations both on the ground and through aerial visuals while also assessing the challenges faced by forest staff responsible for protecting the reserve.
Restoration Work to Begin Immediately
Following the inspection, the minister directed authorities to begin ecological restoration without delay. The Ecological Task Force has been assigned to work alongside the Forest Department to carry out plantation activities and restore degraded areas. The objective is to regenerate the damaged landscape and help restore the ecological balance of the reserve forest through systematic rehabilitation measures.
Infrastructure Upgrades Planned for Better Protection
The state government has also approved several steps to strengthen forest protection infrastructure in vulnerable areas. Officials have been instructed to improve existing forest camps, repair and upgrade approach roads, and begin the process of constructing an additional access road. Authorities believe that poor road connectivity had delayed timely intervention in certain locations, allowing illegal activities to continue for extended periods. Improved infrastructure is expected to enable quicker deployment of personnel whenever required.
Security Surveillance to Be Intensified
To strengthen enforcement across the reserve forest, the minister directed Assam Police and the Forest Battalion to coordinate closely and maintain continuous surveillance in sensitive areas. Additional security camps will also be established in locations where forest destruction has been reported. These measures are intended to ensure a permanent security presence and discourage future illegal encroachment or damage to forest land.
Government Reaffirms Commitment to Forest Conservation
Speaking during the inspection, the minister reiterated the state’s determination to protect its forests, stating that every possible step would be taken to prevent further loss of forest cover. He assured frontline forest personnel of the government’s full support while carrying out their legal responsibilities and encouraged them to act confidently whenever unlawful activities are detected. He also acknowledged that operational challenges exist but stressed that officers should continue performing their duties within the framework of the law.
Legal Action Against Illegal Encroachment
Addressing concerns related to the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh boundary, the minister clarified that discussions on boundary matters are being handled through established political and administrative channels. However, he emphasized that such issues cannot be used to justify the destruction of forest land. Referring to observations made by the Gauhati High Court, he noted that environmental damage cannot be defended on the basis of any territorial dispute. Officials have been instructed to initiate appropriate legal action whenever illegal encroachment, trespassing, or destruction of forest land occurs within Assam’s jurisdiction.
Coordinated Effort to Protect Forest Resources
The government has announced that plantation activities in the affected areas will begin immediately, while infrastructure improvements and deployment of additional security personnel will be treated as priority tasks. Through coordinated action involving the Forest Department, police, and other agencies, Assam aims to restore damaged ecosystems, strengthen protection mechanisms, and preserve valuable forest resources for the future. Authorities believe that these combined measures will help prevent further environmental degradation while ensuring long-term conservation of the Behali Reserve Forest.