Photo Courtesy: nenow
Guwahati: Assam Forest Minister Jayanta Mallabaruah ordered an immediate cleanup and security overhaul of the Behali Reserve Forest on July 16. The directive follows an inspection of the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border, where satellite and drone data confirmed that 400 hectares of protected land suffered extensive damage over the last six months. Miscreants operating across the state line are blamed for the clearing.
Acting on orders from Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Mallabaruah toured the damage with Assam Police, civil administration, and forest officials. Poor roads slowed the state’s response, giving illegal actors time to operate. The minister now plans to upgrade existing camps and build a new access road for faster troop deployment. The Ecological Task Force will begin planting trees immediately to revive the site.
Police and the Forest Battalion must now maintain constant watch over vulnerable spots. They have orders to open new camps in active destruction zones. The minister expects these teams to work without fear of interference, noting that recent public comments had hurt the morale of the ground staff. Mallabaruah told his team: "Forest officials should carry out their responsibilities with confidence despite operational challenges."
Officials will pursue legal action against anyone caught trespassing on Assam territory. While the state handles border disputes through formal political channels, the minister dismissed the idea that these conflicts justify logging or clearing. He pointed to a Gauhati High Court ruling stating that environmental destruction cannot be defended by pointing to boundary disagreements.
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