Assam government Sunday began an eviction drive to clear alleged encroachment on 1,140 bighas (over 376 acres) of forest land in Goalpara district, affecting nearly 600 families, officials said.

According to Goalpara District Commissioner Prodip Timung, the exercise is going “on peacefully” to clear the encroached area in Dahikata Reserve Forest.

“There were 580 families who had encroached on 1,140 bighas of land. The notices were issued to them more than 15 days ago to vacate the areas,” he told reporters.

Around 70 per cent of the “illegal settlers” of the area have already left the place after getting the notices, while the remaining are in the process of vacating their houses, Timung said.

“Though we had set two days for the eviction drive, the administration hopes to complete the

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