The Assam government has decided to rehabilitate the forest villagers of Dibru Saikhowa National Park in Tinsukia and Lakhimpur districts.
The villagers of Laika would be rehabilitated in groups in the degraded reserve forest areas of Paharpur, Saleki and Namphai of Digboi forest division in Tinsukia district.
The villagers of Dadhia will be settled in groups in Adakhana area of Pabha reserve forest in Lakhimpur district, said an official statement.
The villagers of Laika and Dodhia in Tinsukia district have been protesting since December seeking rehabilitation of around 1,480 families.
They have been residing in Laika and Dhodhia villages under the Dibru-Saikhowa National Park of Upper Assam’s Tinsukia district for the past 70 years.
The State government has constituted a committee headed by forest ninister Parimal Suklabaidya to monitor and support the process of relocation and rehabilitation.
Around 135 hectares of land in Pabha RF would be diverted to settle the inhabitants of Dadhia while 166 hectares in Paharpur RF and 72 hectares in Namphai RF would be diverted to settle people of Laika, according to a proposal prepared by the forest department.