Govt resolves to free Kaziranga of illegal settlements - Times of India

Guwahati: The Assam government has set a six months' deadline to drive away illegal settlers from Kaziranga National Park. The state government informed the Gauhati high court on Tuesday that it had already instructed the authorities concerned to take up measures and evict the illegal dwellers.

The HC was hearing a PIL complaining about the illegal encroachment in and around the park area. The petitioner alleged that Bangladeshis, too, had taken refuge here and helping the poachers in killing rhinos.

"The government informed the court that encroachment exists in the 2nd, 3rd, 5th and 6th edition of the park. Maximum number of encroachers are settled in the sixth edition. Mostly, erosion and flood victims of the nearby areas are residing on the park's land. The government is mulling compensations worth Rs 10 lakh for each of the evicted families," said Rita Boro Bora, counsel of the petitioner.

Bora added that according to the government records over 1,200 families have settled illegally on the park land. "The court has asked the state to consider the proposal of shifting the families to a township or model village if necessary. The government has called for a meeting to discuss the matter on September 7," she added.

The petitioner has also pleaded with the court to take up the matter with those who have settled in the animal corridors beside the NH-37 nearby the park. The court has fixed September 24 as the next date for hearing.

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