*Even demarcation of sensitive areas yet to be conducted
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Sept 9: Notwithstanding the tall claims about tightening noose around the encroachers of the forest land, the PDP-BJP Coalition Government is sleeping over the recommendations/report of an officers’ panel regarding demarcation and removal of encroachments in Sunjwan, Bathindi, Sidhra and Raika areas, which continued to remain hot-bed of those involved in plunder of green gold.
Official sources told EXCELSIOR that General Administration Department on the basis of a communiqué from the Forest Department dated March 17, 2015 constituted a committee headed by the Chief Conservator of Forests (S&D) to conduct the demarcation of the identified disputed locations in the context of the J&K Forest (Conservation), 1997.
Vide the Order No.496 dated April 1, 2015, the GAD made Divisional Forest Officer, Jammu, Regional Director, Survey and Land Records, Divisional Forest Officer, Demarcation, Jammu and Director, Land Management of Jammu Development Authority as members of the committee.
The committee was directed to ascertain the status of land and delineation of forest land from other land so as to avoid the encroachments on the forest land in Sunjwan, Bathindi, Raika and Sidhra areas of Jammu. It was specifically mentioned in the order that the committee should get the demarcation conducted on the identified locations and finalize its report and recommendations within a period of two months.
Though the committee made all out efforts to demarcate the land but it had to face stiff resistance from the encroachers backed by the mafia and musclemen, sources said, adding what to talk of other areas mentioned in the Government order, the committee even failed to make substantial progress vis-à-vis demarcation in the Raika area from where it had started its exercise.
Finally, the committee submitted its interim report to the Government within the stipulated time-frame of two months—by May 31, 2015 with the mention that the exercise could not be completed because of resistance and lack of police support, sources said.
In the interim report, the committee even stated explicitly that keeping in view the support being enjoyed by the encroachers from different quarters including land mafia and musclemen, it would not be possible to carry out demarcation and eviction drive and clear instructions must be given to the police for extending all assistance as and when required, sources revealed.
“Besides 10 places including Dwara near the Sidhra Golf Course, Raghura, Majheen, Sidhra, Chatha, Sunjwan and Bathindi, the committee suggested launch of demarcation and eviction drive in Roop Nagar-Janipur, Chowki Chowra and Akhnoor belts of Jammu district”, sources said, adding “these areas were identified keeping in view their vulnerability to the encroachments and it was categorically mentioned that encroachers were active in these additional areas and unless steps are initiated on priority basis encroachers would grab more forest area”.
However, during the past three months, the Government has not taken any note of the recommendations/interim report of the committee and no major activity could be carried out in the absence of any direction from the Government, sources said, adding what to talk of removal of encroachments from the forest land in the identified areas even demarcation exercise could not be conducted till date.
When contacted, one of the members of the committee confirmed to EXCELSIOR that no direction has been received from the Government about going ahead with the demarcation and removal of encroachments for which adequate police support was sought.
“Due to non-serious approach towards the recommendations/ interim report of the committee, Sunjwan, Bathindi, Raika, Sidhra, Roop Nagar, Chowki Chowra and Akhnoor besides several other areas of Jammu continued to remain hot-bed of the encroachers”, sources said, adding “it seems that Government is focusing only on those areas which can be easily handled while as in the areas where the officials of the Forest Department are facing stiff resistance no serious attention is being paid”.
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