Fire damages part of environmentalist Jadav Payeng’s Assam reforestation project

A fire has damaged a portion of renowned environmentalist Jadav Payeng’s reforestation project along the Brahmaputra river in Assam, destroying thousands of saplings and causing harm to local wildlife. The incident occurred on December 28 at Molai Kathoni 2.0, a riverine forest restoration initiative located on a sandbar near Majuli.
According to local sources, the fire broke out in the early hours and rapidly spread across parts of the plantation before being brought under control by Payeng’s family members and volunteers. Preliminary assessments suggest that over 5,000 saplings planted over the last few years were destroyed. The blaze also killed birds, insects and small animals that had made the regenerated forest their habitat.
Payeng, popularly known as the “Forest Man of India,” expressed deep anguish over the incident, stating that years of painstaking effort had been damaged within hours. He alleged that the fire was deliberately set, pointing towards possible involvement of miscreants. “This forest was protecting the river island and supporting biodiversity. Whoever did this has attacked nature itself,” he said.
Forest department officials visited the site following the incident and have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the fire. While no arrests have been made so far, authorities said all angles, including arson, are being examined. A detailed damage assessment is also underway.
The Molai Kathoni 2.0 project is an extension of Payeng’s decades-long effort to restore degraded sandbars of the Brahmaputra by planting indigenous, flood-resilient tree species. His work has transformed barren stretches into dense forests and has earned him national and international recognition.
Political leaders and environmental groups have strongly condemned the incident and demanded strict action against those responsible. Some organisations have also linked the fire to Payeng’s opposition to illegal sand mining activities in the area, calling for greater protection for environmental defenders.
Despite the setback, Payeng reaffirmed his commitment to rebuilding the damaged areas. “Forests can be burnt, but not the spirit to protect nature,” he said, adding that replantation efforts would resume soon.