Guwahati, Feb. 3 -- The Assam government's recent decision to denotify three Proposed Reserve Forests, (PRFs) without prior approval from the Union Environment Ministry under Forest (Conservation) Act, has fueled a debate about the legality of the move and its potential environmental impact.

The decision, announced by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on January 31, 2025, aims to grant land rights to over 20,000 residents in eastern Assam's Tinsukia district.

The three PRFs-Talpathar (170 hectares), Mohongpathar (466 hectares), and the First Addition to Duarmarah (113 hectares)-are slated to be denotified to convert them into revenue villages.

Chief Minister Sarma stated that this decision was necessary because residents were unable t...