Shimla, June 22
After reports of relentless greenfelling under Tikkar Panchayat of Rohru Subdivision and the alleged move for encroaching hundreds of bigha government land, the Himachal Pradesh High court passed an order to the state and forest department to submit report over the attempt of encroachment.
The matter of encroachment in forest land was listed for hearing in the High court on Tuesday.
A order issued by the Range Forest Officer Tikkar on Tuesday copy of which is with us said that demarcation of forest land in the Panchayat would be held on June 27, 2022 on the cognizance taken by the High court in the matter.
Letter addressed to President of Gram Panchayat Tikkar by the said RFO of Tikkar Forest Range stated that on the issue of an encroachment over Govt. Land, a demarcation exercise would be done as High Court of H.P has desired to know the postion of encroachment on the Govt. land in the village of Tikkar Panchyat .
The letter says date of demarcation of forest land near Deorighat in check Thana, Bag and Khangta has been fixed on 27-6-22, at 10 am by Tehsildar Tikkar. RFO also asked the President of Panchayat to convey message to all people of the above areas to attend the demarcation on spot on schedule date time and venue through concerned panchyat member.
It has been stated that a letter was sent to Himachal Pradesh High judge seeking to take up the matter of forest encroachment.
A complaint also filled before forest department by a local residents recently stating that thousands of Deodar trees were felled in three places in connivance with local forest officers.
The forest department reportedly siezed timber woods from number of people as hundreds of stumps are visible in the forest.
The forest encroached by the local residents are reported high quality dense Deodar jungle which was cleared with saw chains during Covid pandemic.
Video clippings are making rounds in social media challenging the state government, police and courts to conduct investigation and demarcation of forest land.
Pertinent to mention that dense Deodar forest was cleared by the biggest forest mafia in seventies and eighties of the last century. Erstwhile Chief Minister Ram Lal Thakur had to quit the post of Chief minister on this issue.
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