Guwahati, July 20 -- The Assam government will shortly begin a large-scale operation to remove illegal occupation of forest land in Goalpara district, Finance and Forest Minister Jayanta Malla Baruah said on Monday.

He said the exercise is intended to reclaim forest areas, protect indigenous communities and improve wildlife habitats to help curb human-animal conflict.

Baruah, the Guardian Minister of Goalpara, reviewed the situation during a day-long visit to the district.

He inspected the proposed Nalbari Reserved Forest under the Lakhipur Forest Range before visiting several forest stretches affected by encroachment.

After assessing the sites, the minister said eviction operations would cover all four forest ranges in Goalpara, with...