Bajali (Assam), 22 June (HS): A large-scale eviction drive will soon be carried out on nearly 22,000 bighas of land under the Kawaimari Cow Reserve in Assam's Bajali district, local MLA Dharmeswar Roy announced on Monday.

According to the legislator, a substantial portion of the reserve land is under the occupation of suspected encroachers. He alleged that several families have illegally occupied hundreds of bighas within the reserve area, where ponds have been excavated and betel nut and betel leaf cultivation undertaken.

Roy said the state government plans to reclaim the encroached land and develop a project on the lines of the Gorukhuti model after the eviction process is completed. Preparatory work for the exercise has already begun at the administrative level.

He further stated that the reclaimed land would be utilized for public welfare and development-oriented activities related to agriculture and animal husbandry. The administration has been directed to take the necessary steps for the proposed eviction drive, he added.---------

Hindusthan Samachar / Sriprakash