Arson Attack Devastates Molai Kathoni 2.0: Thousands of Saplings Destroyed in Jadav Payeng’s Man-Made Forest

Arson Attack Devastates Molai Kathoni 2.0: Thousands of Saplings Destroyed in Jadav Payeng‘s Man-Made Forest

TONOY CHAKRABORTY

Jorhat/Majuli, December 30, 2025 – Unidentified miscreants deliberately set fire to Molai Kathoni 2.0, an extension of the iconic man-made forest created by Padma Shri awardee Jadav “Molai” Payeng, on Sunday evening, destroying over 5,500 saplings and causing significant ecological damage along the Brahmaputra riverbank.

The blaze ravaged large sections of the young plantation near Baghmora eco-camp in the Jorhat-Majuli forest division. No human casualties were reported, but the fire claimed the lives of insects, rodents, birds, and small animals, with several nests destroyed. Preliminary investigations by forest officials confirm the fire was arson.

Munmuni Payeng, 21-year-old daughter of Jadav Payeng who oversees the project in association with Rituraj Phukan, Climate Activist and Climate Editor, Mahabahu, received news of the fire around 11:30 am on Sunday and rushed to the site with about 10-14 volunteers, including family members and local students. Travelling by mechanised boat, the group took nearly 40 minutes to reach the spot, where they battled the flames for hours using branches, shrubs, and machetes to create fire lines.

“We fought with our hands until around 2:15 pm when we finally controlled it,” Munmuni told reporters. She described the incident as a “sad day” for biodiversity, noting footprints of deer on the scorched ground but no larger wildlife carcasses.

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Jadav Payeng, widely known as the “Forest Man of India” for single-handedly transforming a 550-hectare (1,360-acre) barren sandbar into the thriving Molai forest since 1979, expressed profound grief. “I am deeply saddened by the loss of these young saplings and the biodiversity,” he said. The original Molai forest, home to Bengal tigers, Indian rhinoceroses, elephants (with herds of around 100 visiting annually), deer, vultures, and diverse tree species like bamboo, arjun, and bombax, stands as a global model of grassroots restoration.

Molai Kathoni 2.0, launched in 2022 on a new sandbar, aimed to expand this legacy, focusing on erosion-prone river islands vulnerable to Brahmaputra floods. A recent scientific study highlighted the original forest’s comparable plant diversity and carbon stocks to natural forests of similar age, underscoring its role in climate mitigation, flood protection, and biodiversity conservation.

The incident has triggered outrage, with opposition leaders alleging links to sand mining interests. Assam Congress president and Lok Sabha Deputy Leader Gaurav Gogoi called it an “extremely hateful and condemnable act,” suggesting involvement of a “sand mafia nexus.” He claimed that despite Payeng’s opposition, permissions were granted for mining in adjacent riverine areas, demanding cancellation of licenses, arrests, and a thorough probe.

Forest Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary contacted Munmuni during firefighting efforts to express concern, but critics noted a delay in on-site response from department officials. Majuli Police and the Forest Department have launched a joint investigation.

I would like to add here a line of HOPE as I heard a sentence near Jorhat : ‘If there were saplings, they will regenerate in 2 months time, and forest will be emerge again.’

Payeng, from the indigenous Mising tribe and honoured with the Padma Shri in 2015, has inspired documentaries, books, and global recognition for his decades-long efforts. Supporters, including intellectuals and student groups, have called for enhanced protection of such conservation sites amid growing threats from encroachment and illegal activities.

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