On May 13, 2022, amidst heavy rain, Kamrup District Administration conducted a demolition drive in the Chachal area of Silsaku Beel, in Assam. During the drive 93 families were evicted, with nearly all the temporary and permanent structures in the area being razed by the administration. The affected families alleged the eviction was conducted without advance notice from the administration. Silsaku Beel is a lake-like urban wetland with static water in the Chachal area of Guwahati which falls under the administration of Kamrup (Metro) District and also comes under the purview of the National Green Tribunal.
The eviction drive was undertaken for the protection and restoration of wetlands, and as a flood-control measure. Another purpose for the eviction was the creation of two roads that would help in waste collection from wetlands. According to the Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA), encroachment of Silsako Beel in Guwahati is a criminal offence under the provisions of the Assam Land Revenue Regulation Act and Guwahati Water-bodies Preservation and Conservation Act 2008. According to media reports, the Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) issued an eviction notice in 2014 against alleged “illegal encroachment’ in Silsako Lake, calling for the removal of unauthorised structures in the area.
On May 17, 2022, the affected residents staged protests in front of the circle office demanding their rehabilitation. Facing homelessness, 31 families decided to remain in the area sheltered under the same tarpaulin sheet till alternate resettlement is arranged by the authorities. “Let the government run its bulldozer over our bodies”, said one of the affected residents.
Narayan Deka, the Chairman of the Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) explained that Silsako wetland is spread over 1800 bighas (hectares), out of which 1200 bighas (hectares) have reportedly been encroached by illegal settlers. The residents, however, counter these accusations saying that they had been residing in the area for over 20 years, with their respective house numbers and electricity connections being approved by the Guwahati Municipal Corporation. Responding to such claims, the GMDA chairman told the media that electricity or house holding numbers are used to collect taxes from the people and cannot be taken as evidence of land ownership.
Organisations like the Krishak Murti Sangram Samiti have criticised the eviction on humanitarian grounds. They also pointed out that the properties of the influential segments of the society have remained unhurt by such evictions, despite similar violations.

On February 27, 2023, the Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) carried out an eviction operation. Resulting in the eviction of approximately 300 families and the destruction of two temples in Guwahati. A total of [132](https://www.indiatodayne.in/assam/story/assam-affected-people-of-eviction-drive-at-silsako-beel-raise-voice-against-governments-action-555999-2023-05-10#:~:text=Several people gathered for a,out eviction without proper notification.) acres of land were cleared with the assistance of around [1000](https://www.indiatodayne.in/assam/story/assam-affected-people-of-eviction-drive-at-silsako-beel-raise-voice-against-governments-action-555999-2023-05-10#:~:text=Several people gathered for a,out eviction without proper notification.) police officers deployed to Guwahati Silsako Beel.

In a recent development on the Silsako Beel eviction, several protesters on September 1, 2023, agitated against the eviction drive in Guwahati as the authorities proceeded to remove houses from the wetland area. 

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Sarma said, “We have been in talks with the people of the locality for the last three days and came to an agreement regarding the extent of eviction. The amount paid in compensation were also decided, and necessary announcements were made regarding the same through the DC. We are also planning to provide flats in the city to those evicted from the locality. The people who are currently protesting belong to a particular organisation and protest over anything and everything, so I have ordered the police to take the strictest action against these people.”

However, people came out to protest when administrative authorities and police forces reached the area to carry out the eviction. During the protest, slogans were raised and two women protesters removed their clothes in protest against the eviction drive. 

Opposition party Assam Jatiya Parishad chief Lurinjyoti Gogoi said, "We are shocked and distressed at such a protest. For the first time, women had to strip and protest in our state." 

President of the youth wing of state Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Rudrangkur Hazarika, said, ”The government has not been able to solve any problem of the people. The women were left with no option to get the government's attention." 

Speaking about the incident Assam Trinamool Congress spokesperson Dilip Sarma stated, "The BJP had talked about protecting the land of the indigenous people. And now, Assamese women are being forced to disrobe and protest against the government."