Guwahati, Feb. 18 -- Assam has witnessed a surge in environmental challenges over the past decade, according to environmental lawyer Vikram Rajkhowa.

Speaking at a lecture organized by Save Our Land, an environmental collective, in Guwahati on Sunday, Rajkhowa, also an advocate at Gauhati High Court, highlighted two key observations.

First, he noted a significant increase in environmental cases over the last 10 years. This rise, he suggested, could be attributed to growing public awareness or an actual increase in environmental conflicts, or likely a combination of both.

Second, Rajkhowa pointed to a shift in those filing these cases. While previously, environmental cases were primarily initiated by NGOs, activists, or concerned indivi...