Concerns Mount Over Encroachment in Manas National Park

The Assam government is facing criticism for its slow response to the significant encroachment issues in Manas National Park. Despite warnings from conservation authorities, illegal occupation of protected land continues to threaten the park's biodiversity and conservation goals. Official reports indicate that vast areas of the park are under illegal occupation, raising concerns about habitat degradation and the long-term viability of this UNESCO World Heritage Site. The situation calls for immediate action from the government to restore the land to the Forest Department and protect this critical habitat.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jun 4, 2026, 09:20 IST

Ongoing Encroachment Issues in Manas National Park

The IUCN World Heritage Outlook 4 (2025) report had placed Manas National Park under “significant concern” due to persistent threats (Photo - Sivasish Thakur)

Guwahati, June 4: Despite ongoing warnings from the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the Assam government has been slow to address the extensive encroachment occurring within Manas National Park and Tiger Reserve.

Manas, recognized as a vital protected area and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has shown considerable recovery after a period of ethnic and social unrest in the 1990s. However, the IUCN cautions that habitat degradation caused by encroachment poses a serious threat to the park's long-term conservation efforts.

The authorities managing the Manas Tiger Reserve have consistently raised concerns about encroachment with the district administrations of Baska and Chirang, yet little progress has been made.

According to official statistics, encroachment is extensive, affecting approximately 36.79 square kilometers of protected forest land. This includes 8,417.4 bighas in the Agrang area (Bhuyanara Range), which contains 610 structures and 2,988 encroachers, as well as 6,128.22 bighas in the Panbari Range, with 912 structures and 4,532 encroachers. Additionally, the Kokilabari Seed Farm in the Bhuyapara Range, covering 9.3 square kilometers, is part of the critical tiger habitat and also serves as a vital habitat for the Bengal florican.

This farm was supposed to be returned to the Manas Tiger Reserve authorities after a lease agreement ended in 2001, but this has not occurred. Currently, the area is leased out by the BTR government for agricultural use through the Agriculture Department.

The IUCN World Heritage Outlook 4 (2025) report has expressed serious concerns regarding the encroachment, categorizing Manas National Park as being under “significant concern” due to ongoing threats such as habitat encroachment, illegal farming, and infrastructure development. Although the park has improved from a “danger” status, it still faces challenges from land degradation, invasive species, and disruptions caused by hydropower projects.

Key issues highlighted by the IUCN regarding land and habitat in Manas National Park include illegal cultivation and settlement in the Bhuyanpara and Panbari ranges, which have led to habitat degradation. Previous assessments have reported encroached areas.

Documents reveal that the State government has been neglecting a critical issue that could have long-term implications for Manas.

“Representations have been made to the BTR government to transfer the land back to the Forest Department as recently as May 26, 2023, and January 13, 2022, but no decision has been reached by the Council government, leading to unnecessary litigation,” stated an official communication from the Forest Department.

“A decisive action to return the land to the Forest Department and Manas Park authorities is essential, as it would set a precedent for recovering other encroached areas in Betbari and Panbari, demonstrating the government's commitment to wildlife conservation,” it concluded.