Guwahati: 3,558.32 bighas of land forming part of the core area of Manas National Park and Tiger Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has remained under illegal occupation for years despite repeated communications from the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) to the Assam government and Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) seeking its transfer to the park authorities.

Documents seen by Northeast Now show that the land, part of the erstwhile Kokilabari Seed Farm in the Bhuyanpara Range of Manas, has been the subject of repeated correspondence between the NTCA, Assam Forest Department and Bodoland Territorial Council.

In its latest communication dated July 30, 2026, the NTCA sought the intervention of Assam Chief Secretary Ravi Kota for an early resolution of the matter, noting that the authority was not aware of the progress made despite its earlier communications.

NTCA seeks handover

In a letter dated June 11, 2026, addressed to the Assam Chief Secretary, the NTCA requested that the land under the erstwhile Kokilabari Seed Farm, measuring 3,558.32 bighas, be handed over to the tiger reserve.

The letter said the transfer had been pending for a considerable period and requested that the matter be taken up on priority.

The NTCA identified the land as part of the core area of Manas Tiger Reserve and sought its transfer to the reserve authorities.

The communication was issued by NTCA Assistant Inspector General of Forests Md. Sajid Sultan with the approval of the competent authority. Copies were marked to the Principal Secretary of the BTC, the Additional Chief Secretary of Assam’s Environment and Forest Department, the PCCF (Wildlife), the Field Director of Manas National Park and Tiger Reserve and the district commissioners of Baksa, Mushalpur and Chirang-Kajalgaon.

Assam Forest Department flagged issue in 2023

The Assam Forest Department had flagged the issue much earlier.

A communication dated October 25, 2023, from the office of the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) and Chief Wildlife Warden, Assam, described the Kokilabari Seed Farm as an encroached area measuring about 9.3 sq km and said it formed part of the core and critical tiger habitat of the protected area.

According to the communication, the area was originally part of the North Kamrup Reserve Forest and was given on a 30-year lease to the Government of India for establishing a Central Seed Farm. The lease expired in 2001.

The area was subsequently included in the Manas Wildlife Sanctuary and later the Manas National Park and Tiger Reserve.

The department said the land is being leased by the BTR government for agricultural purposes and called for its handover to the Forest Department.

It also referred to recommendations under the Management Effectiveness Evaluation of Tiger Reserves for reclaiming the seed farm and other encroached areas in Manas.

The department had urged the Assam government to take up the matter with the BTR government and facilitate the transfer of the 9.3 sq km area.

Conservationist sought intervention

Conservationist Rohit Choudhury also sought government intervention over the issue.

In a representation dated May 19, 2026, Choudhury drew the Assam Chief Secretary’s attention to the continued occupation of the land and referred to an earlier communication from the Deputy Director of the UNESCO World Heritage Site dated September 1, 2025, containing details of encroachment within the national park.

He specifically highlighted the 3,558.32-bigha Kokilabari Seed Farm area in the Bhuyanpara Range and urged the authorities to reclaim it.

NTCA sought action earlier

The NTCA had also sought action from Assam authorities in June 2026.

In a letter dated June 4, 2026, addressed to the Chief Wildlife Warden, Assam, the authority forwarded copies of news reports concerning encroachment and habitat degradation in the reserve and the pending transfer of land to the Forest Department.

The NTCA requested immediate necessary action and asked the Assam authorities to share the factual status of the matter.

The July 30 communication to the Assam Chief Secretary followed these earlier communications and reiterated the need for an early resolution.

The authority said the continued occupation of the land was affecting the ecological integrity and effective management of the protected area and sought the Chief Secretary’s intervention in facilitating its transfer.

Land leased out by BTR for agriculture

The Forest Department’s October 2023 communication stated that the land covered by the former seed farm was being leased out by the BTR government for agricultural purposes.

The department said representations had previously been made to the BTR government, including on May 26, 2023, and January 13, 2022, seeking the land’s transfer.

However, a decision had not been taken by the Council government.

The Forest Department warned that the delay could create scope for avoidable litigation and called for a concrete decision on the matter.