Assam razes illegal settlements, shows the way to habitat restoration

For long, the environmental toll of unregulated cross-border settlements in India's north-eastern borderlands including Assam were not talked about. Only the political and religious dimensions dominated the public discourse. Wildlife suffered due to this neglect. Their habitats got destroyed. Elephants migrated. The encroachment on reserve forests and sanctuaries continued to degrade habitats. However, Assam firmly implemented the eviction drives between 2021 and 2026. These included the February 2026 Hailakandi drive too. Recently, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma tweeted a photo showing the return of elephants to Sonai Rupai after recovery of habitat from the encroachers. Against this backdrop, the Assam model needs to be examined to know whether enforcement can restore what encroachment destroyed.