Assam: Villagers reject government's proposed plan to resettle Laika flood-affected families in reserved forest belt

Residents of Faneng Kenia and Balijan villages in Assam’s Tinsukia district, have strongly opposed against the government’s alleged proposed plan to rehabilitate nearly 300 flood-affected families from Laika in the Dibru Saikhowa region.

The proposed rehabilitation site reportedly falls within the Tirap Reserved Forest under the Lekhapani Range of the Digboi Forest Division, triggering concerns among local residents over environmental degradation, wildlife safety, and increasing human-animal conflict in the area.

A public meeting was held on May 1 at the Namghar premises in Faneng village, where more than 500 residents from the surrounding areas gathered to protest the proposed rehabilitation initiative. During the meeting, a 41-member body named the “Faneng Kenia–Balijan Village Land Protection Committee” was constituted to spearhead the opposition movement.

Shikhar Phukan was appointed President of the committee, while Indreshwar Konwar was named Working President. Prabhat Gogoi and Jayanta Gohain were selected as Joint Secretaries, and Bipul Gogoi was appointed Organisational Secretary.

The committee unanimously resolved not to permit the rehabilitation of Laika flood victims within the Tirap Reserved Forest area under any circumstances. Local residents alleged that the forest region contains valuable tree cover and serves as an important wildlife habitat. They further stated that the area has remained vulnerable to recurring human-elephant conflict incidents, including fatalities in the past.

According to the villagers, establishing new settlements inside the forest belt could intensify ecological pressure and increase the risk of wildlife-related incidents in nearby inhabited areas.

The committee also announced its decision to submit memorandums within a week to the Tinsukia District Commissioner, the Divisional Forest Officer of Digboi, the Margherita Sub-Divisional Officer, the Circle Officer, the Regional Forest Officer, and local police authorities demanding immediate withdrawal of the proposed rehabilitation plan.

Residents warned that if the government fails to reconsider the decision, thousands of people from the affected villages would launch a large-scale democratic agitation against the move.