Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Guwahati: Assam will nearly double its Gajamitra teams. Minister Jayanta Mallabaruah confirmed the force will grow from 81 to 150 groups. The expansion aims to curb human-elephant conflict and stop crop destruction. Teams start hitting the field within three days.
Mallabaruah finalized the plan during a three-hour meeting with top forest officials and DFOs. The minister pushed for better coexistence between humans and wildlife. Officials must coordinate responses in hotspots to prevent further casualties. He stated, "The additional teams would be constituted within the next two to three days."
The state is also tightening its grip on forest land. Authorities plan to use satellite-based monitoring to track encroachment in real time. This system will trigger alerts for illegal tree felling and land grabbing. Mallabaruah declared that illegal occupation will not be tolerated. Recent evictions in Nagaon, Hojai, and Dhubri set the tone for future operations.
Economic development remains a priority alongside conservation. The government is opening new mining sites to support infrastructure. Officials must tender mineral resources listed in District Survey Reports. The deadline for this process is November 10.
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