Guwahati, July 12 -- The Assam government on Saturday cleared illegal settlements from over 140 hectares of the Paikan Reserve Forest in the Goalpara district, aiming to restore degraded wildlife habitats and reduce human-elephant conflicts.

The district administration in Goalpara launched a large-scale eviction drive on Saturday to reclaim the Paikan Reserve Forest from illegal settlements.

The focus of the drive was primarily on the heavily settled areas of Bidyapara and Betbari, which have been home to hundreds of families residing without legal authorization for several years.

Joint teams from the Assam Forest Department and state police, supported by bulldozers, excavators, and a strong security presence, commenced the eviction ea...