Abdur Rahim Zibran, an AGP leader and Chairperson of the Social Justice Committee for Goalpara Zilla Parishad, has submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister of Assam, calling for an urgent review of the proposed boundary for the Rakhyasini reserve forest. The appeal highlights serious concerns regarding the inclusion of densely populated residential zones, legally held patta lands, established revenue villages, agricultural fields, and various government and private institutions within the forest's proposed perimeter.
The memorandum points out that the Assam Cabinet, on July 31, had decided to declare the Rakhyasini area in Goalpara district as a reserve forest. However, the subsequent proposed boundary map reportedly encompasses significant inhabited areas, including Ward No. 19 of the Goalpara Municipal Board, parts of Mariam Nagar, and other regions where residents possess valid periodic patta documents. These areas are not merely undeveloped land but are home to long-standing settlements and critical public services.
According to the submission, these communities have been established for several decades, with Ward No. 19, for instance, falling under Goalpara municipal jurisdiction for over 35 years. During this period, residents have consistently received municipal services, paid land revenue, participated in voter registration, and accessed essential utilities like electricity and drinking water. The AGP leader emphasized that the livelihoods of countless local people would be severely impacted if the current proposed boundary is implemented without thorough re-evaluation, urging the state government to safeguard the interests of its citizens.
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