GUWAHATI, Feb. 9 -- The Assam Cabinet's recent decision to denotify three Proposed Reserve Forests (PRFs) in Tinsukia has sparked legal and environmental concerns, as it was made without prior approval from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) or the Supreme Court of India.

The move has been criticized for its potential violation of existing forest protection laws and Supreme Court directives.

The decision, announced by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on January 31, aims to grant land rights to over 20,000 residents living in Talpathar (170 hectares), Mohongpathar (466 hectares), and First Addition to Duarmarah (113 hectares) by converting them into revenue villages. However, critics argue that the move set...