The Assam forest department has for the first time detected encroachment using drones.
The drones, which were put into use in Cachar forest division, had detected encroachment across five hectares of forestland at Kalakhal under Monierkhal range, which has now been cleared.
“The forest area in the division is under encroachment from tea gardens, habitation and jhum cultivation. We have been trying hard to identify any new encroachment and stop it. The use of drones in detection of encroachment has led to good results. Far-flung areas of reserve forests, which used to be prone to encroachment, has gone down due to fear among encroachers of being detected immediately.
