Large-scale encroachment of the reserve forests in Lakhimpur district, particularly by the people of Arunachal Pradesh in support of the Government of the neighbouring state, has threatened to destroy the ecological balance in the norder districts of Assam. Deforestation in the hills of the neighbouring state has aleady resulted in siltation by the rivers, which destroyed the paddy fields in Dhemaji district and if bold steps are not taken by the State Government to prevent the encroachment of the reserve forests, the similar will be the fate of the fields in Lakhimpur district within a short time.