Arunachal: Ering Urges Action on Illegal Encroachments in D. Ering Wildlife Sanctuary; Khandu to Discuss with Sarma Soon

The Chief Minister has instructed the East Siang Deputy Commissioner to submit a detailed report for further action.

Chief Minister Pema Khandu has assured that the issue of illegal encroachments inside D. Ering Wildlife Sanctuary by people from Assam will be raised with his Assam counterpart, Himanta Biswa Sarma, to resolve the growing concerns. This statement came in response to letters and petitions from Pasighat West MLA Ninong Ering, who highlighted rampant encroachments and cattle grazing degrading the sanctuary’s grasslands.

Speaking to reporters at the Adi-Apatani Summit 2025, Khandu confirmed he had received Ering’s letter earlier that morning. The Chief Minister has instructed the East Siang Deputy Commissioner to submit a detailed report for further action. “While we have resolved most boundary issues with Assam, a few sections, including this one, require further discussion. I recently had an informal meeting with the Assam CM, and we will soon address these remaining concerns jointly,” Khandu assured.

Ering’s letters to Khandu and Sarma raise urgent concerns about Assam residents allowing their cattle to graze deep inside the sanctuary, building cattle sheds, and encroaching on sanctuary land for cultivation. He emphasized that these activities violate the boundary agreements made between the two states in January 2023, which explicitly prohibited new settlements or structures within the sanctuary.

“I am bringing this matter to your attention as it threatens the sanctity of the D. Ering Wildlife Sanctuary. During the boundary agreement, both states agreed to protect the sanctuary. However, Assam officials have allowed encroachments and construction within the sanctuary. These activities have alarmed villagers of Oyan, Sika Tode, and Sika Bamin, as well as sanctuary staff,” Ering wrote.

He urged both CMs to deploy forest officials from both states to jointly curb illegal activities and protect the sanctuary for future generations. He also cited past examples, such as the Gali Reserve Forest in Assam, which was converted into villages, reducing its ecological value.

Ering’s concerns echo his father’s legacy, as the sanctuary is named after Dr. Daying Ering, a pioneering figure in Arunachal’s development. Ninong Ering has consistently advocated for the sanctuary’s protection. In March 2023, he wrote to Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav, seeking intervention against illegal settlements in the Siboguri area of the sanctuary. Following ministry instructions to the Chief Wildlife Wardens of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, illegal settlements in Siboguri were cleared after monsoon floods submerged the area.

D. Ering Wildlife Sanctuary, located on the river islands of the Siang and Brahmaputra rivers, stretches from Pasighat to the Arunachal-Assam boundary. It is an ecologically sensitive area, also serving as a wildlife corridor to Dibru Saikhowa National Park in Assam. Wildlife activists and conservation groups from both states are hopeful for a swift resolution, especially with Assam’s announcement to upgrade Poba Forest Range to a Wildlife Sanctuary by August 2024.

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