Forest land cleared of encroachments

Tribune News Service

Jammu, June 20

Cracking down on encroachers, the Forest Department today retrieved 15 kanals of forest land from illegal encroachment at the Roop Nagar locality in the city. A team of officials also dismantled two unauthorised structures.

According to Divisional Forest Officer (Jammu) AD Singh, a team led by Range Officer Khushal Singh along with the Block Officer (Paloura) dismantled two structures constructed by Mohammad Aslam in Compartment No.3/P of the Paloura block at Upper Roop Nagar.

“During the operation, the team faced stiff resistance from the encroachers but a police party from Janipur took prompt action allowing the Forest Department to evict the encroachers and retrieve the forest land,” said an official.

Fencing was also erected at the spot to protect the land from land-grabbers who are quite active in Jammu and target forest and government land.

“The anti-encroachment drive will continue in other areas. The field staff has been directed to ensure strict vigil in the area to prevent any further encroachment,” said AD Singh.

It is pertinent to mention that though special drives are being conducted by the Forest Department routinely, it has minimal effect as a majority of the people have strong political backing and defy the rules openly. The land-grabbers have also shown strong resistance during the operations and have attacked police and forest officials in the past, creating a huge law and order problem.