Encroachments on forest land in Naddi demolished
The Forest Department, with the assistance of the local police, carried out a demolition operation in Naddi, Dharamsala, removing illegal encroachments on forest land. The operation, which began in the afternoon and lasted until evening, targeted nine locations where unauthorised shops had been constructed. According to Dinesh Sharma, the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of Dharamsala, the demolition was conducted following orders from the Himachal Pradesh High Court.
The shops, mostly temporary tin structures, had been set up by locals. The illegal constructions drew complaints from area hoteliers, prompting the Forest Department to take action. Encroachments on forest land are a growing issue in Upper Dharamsala, with notable cases reported in Mcleodganj, Dharamkot, Bhagsunag, and Triund.
The problem extends beyond Naddi, as many encroachments have also been reported in the Triund trekking area. Despite it being a reserved forest, several rest houses have been illegally constructed in the region.
Additionally, there are currently 202 cases of encroachments registered against Tibetans residing along the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts (TIPA) road. In some instances, these encroachments have resulted in illegal structures being erected, leading to forest officials filing FIRs. However, the demolition of Tibetan encroachments has been paused following the intervention of the Union Ministry of External Affairs. The ministry expressed concern that many Tibetans would face homelessness if evictions proceeded.
Local residents have also reported incidents of illegal tree felling on private land, particularly in the Dal Lake area, where large deodar trees have been dried up. Environmental activist Gazalla has been actively filing complaints with the forest department and the municipal corporation regarding these violations in Mcleodganj.
The DFO stated that the Forest Department is addressing cases of illegal encroachments as they are reported, although large-scale actions remain subject to intervention by higher authorities.
