Encroachment Threatens Manas National Park's Critical Habitat

Manas National Park, a vital habitat for the endangered Bengal florican, has been facing encroachment for over 25 years. Despite repeated appeals from the Forest Department to the Bodoland Territorial Council for the restoration of 9.3 square kilometers of land, no action has been taken. This negligence poses a significant threat to wildlife conservation efforts in the region. Conservationists are calling for urgent measures to reclaim the encroached areas and highlight the government's commitment to protecting this critical habitat. The situation raises serious concerns about the future of the park and its inhabitants.

By Narendra Chaudhary Mar 8, 2026, 09:31 IST

Ongoing Encroachment in Manas National Park

Guwahati, March 8: For over 25 years, a vital section of Manas National Park and Tiger Reserve, which serves as a crucial habitat for the critically endangered Bengal florican (Houbaropsis bengalensis), has been facing encroachment. This situation persists despite the State's claims of successfully reclaiming encroached forest areas.

The Forest Department has repeatedly urged the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC), which governs the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR), to restore 9.3 square kilometers of land to the tiger reserve, but these requests have gone unanswered. The imminent threat to a key florican habitat has not prompted the State government to take the issue seriously.

Documents obtained reveal that both BTC officials and the State government are neglecting significant legal violations, including breaches of forest laws and the recommendations set forth by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA).

The Kokilabari seed farm, covering 9.3 square kilometers, is part of the core habitat of the Manas Tiger Reserve. This area was leased to the Government of India for a Central Seed Farm from November 17, 1971, until April 16, 2001, after being carved out from the North Kamrup Reserve Forest.

Initially included in the Manas Wildlife Sanctuary in 1928, the North Kamrup Reserve Forest was later designated as part of Manas National Park in 1990 and classified as critical tiger habitat in 2007.

According to forest sources, the land was supposed to revert to the Manas Tiger Reserve authorities after the lease expired in 2001, but this has not occurred. Instead, the BTR Government is currently leasing the land for agricultural use through its Agriculture department.

The Management Effectiveness Evaluation of Tiger Reserves (MEE-TR), conducted by the NTCA, has consistently urged the reclamation of the Kokilabari seed farm area as a priority since 2006, along with the eviction of encroachments in Betbari and Panbari.

Despite representations made to the BTC regarding the land transfer to the Forest Department as recently as May 26, 2023, and January 13, 2022, no decision has been reached, leading to unnecessary legal complications. The Assam government's lack of pressure on the BTC has contributed to this ongoing stalemate.

Conservationists argue that a decisive action by the BTC to return the land to the Forest Department would not only aid in recovering other encroached areas in Manas but also demonstrate the government's commitment to wildlife conservation.

Currently, the Agriculture Department of BTR is leasing the land for paddy cultivation, which violates the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, and the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980. The NTCA's recommendations are legally binding under section 38 (O) (2) of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

In a surprising move, instead of restoring the forestland to the Manas Tiger Reserve, the Assam government and BTC have proposed establishing a College of Agroforestry & Biodiversity and a Bengal Florican Conservation, Research & Ecotourism Site at Kokilabari. However, no developments have occurred at the site, prompting renewed calls from conservationists and foresters for the restoration of the encroached forestland.