More than 3.14 lakh hectares of forest land across Assam remain under encroachment, including areas within national parks, wildlife sanctuaries and reserve forests, Forest Minister Jayanta Mallabaruah told the state legislative assembly on Tuesday, July 7, 2026. Responding to a question from Asom Gana Parishad MLA Diptimayee Choudhury, he said a total of 314,139.435 hectares are currently occupied illegally across eight national parks and wildlife sanctuaries and 281 reserve forests.
Data placed before the House showed that 17,421.5 hectares inside the eight national parks and wildlife sanctuaries are encroached, while 296,717.935 hectares of reserve forest land remain under illegal occupation. The figures were presented as part of the assembly reply to the MLA’s query.
Mallabaruah highlighted progress made through the state’s anti-encroachment drives over the past five years. Between 2021–22 and 2025–26, the Assam government reclaimed 16,937.2466 hectares of encroached land-equivalent to 1,26,605.92 bighas-from national parks, wildlife sanctuaries and reserve forests.
Providing a year-by-year update, the minister said that in 2025–26 the government cleared 4,688.34 hectares of encroached land from reserve forest areas. Over the five-year period, a cumulative 5,918.14 hectares were reclaimed from the eight national parks and wildlife sanctuaries.
Mallabaruah also told the House that plantation work has been carried out in several reclaimed areas as part of ecological restoration efforts. He referred to the launch of the “Janmadin Seuj Shapat Udyan” (Birthday Green Pledge Garden) initiative by the Environment, Forest and Climate Change Department, a programme that encourages citizens to plant a sapling on their birthdays to promote conservation and boost public participation in afforestation.
