Such cases to be verified, processed accordingly: Warden
Irfan Tramboo
Srinagar, Dec 14: The Wild Life Department has started the demarcation process of the forest in the Brien area of Srinagar due to which the residents of several areas are facing the heat as their lands now fall in the designated forest area.
The residents are aggrieved and are alleging that the land with proper ownership documents, too, has been taken into the designated forest area and that the concerned department did not do the required land identification before going ahead with the demarcation.
“The residents of areas which include Manzgam, Pohloo and Danpora in Brien got the land under Land to Tiller reforms, and then many got the proprietary rights while others only kept the possession; the land is a source of income to several families and now with the demarcation, it has all gone,” Muhammad Ayoub, one of the residents of the area said.
He said that without any preparation, the Forest Department carried out the demarcation and as a result, people who even have got documents also lost their land.
“The land was given to us by the Government, we have not encroached upon it; the belt is known for the Cherry cultivation and has got its identity, apart from that, the land helps in the sustenance of many families who are largely dependent on farming,” he said.
The residents said that they have apprised the concerned officials about their grievances, however, they have so far received a cold response while their fate hangs in balance. “The move has caused agony to people who are solely dependent on the land which they were using for the last several decades,” the residents said.
The concerned officials told Excelsior that the demarcation process was started on the directions of the Supreme Court which has directed for the designation of the forest area and that the same will continue, because, they said, if the land belongs to the Government, the people cannot have it.
“I am aware of the grievances of the people in the area; once the demarcation is carried out, a committee, in this regard, will verify the documents of those who claim to have the proprietary rights of the land; if the documents are authentic, then we will proceed according to that and those who are just occupying it have to vacate,” Altaf Ahmad, the concerned Wild Life Warden told Excelsior.
Concerning those having the lands under Section 5-which is Land to Tiller reforms-the officials said those cases will be looked into as per the rules and regulations in vogue presently.
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