Assam: Unidentified encroachment raises alarm on Brahmaputra sandbars near Kaziranga

Fresh concerns have emerged over large-scale encroachment by unidentified people on the ecologically sensitive sandbars of the Burha Luit (Brahmaputra) within the Sixth Addition area of Kaziranga, triggering anxiety among local residents and raising questions over land protection and enforcement.

According to local sources, alleged encroachment activities have been rapidly expanding north of the inhabited Bihdubi locality in the Shilghat area of Kaliabor. Vast stretches of sandbar land along the banks of the Brahmaputra have reportedly been cleared of natural vegetation, including forest growth and shrubs, and converted into cultivable fields.

Estimates suggest that nearly 1,000 bighas of land have already been cleared and prepared for plough-based agricultural use, indicating organised and sustained settlement activity. The encroachers, whose identities remain unknown, are alleged to have moved in steadily, altering the fragile riverine landscape.

The development has caused deep concern among local residents, who fear that unchecked encroachment in the vicinity of Kaziranga’s extended areas could lead to environmental degradation, administrative challenges, and potential law-and-order issues. Residents warn that the situation could spiral into serious unrest if timely intervention is not undertaken.

Calls are growing for immediate action by the district administration and forest authorities to verify land ownership, halt further encroachment, and safeguard the sensitive Brahmaputra sandbar ecosystem adjacent to the Kaziranga landscape.