STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: Jammu Forest Division carried out an anti encroachment drive along the Jammu-Udhampur National Highway by removing 39 hoarding and sign boards worth Lakhs of rupees from forest land on Tuesday.
The drive was carried out by the two Forest team comprising field staff headed by Varinder Singh, Range Officer Jammu and Neeraj Baru, Range Officer Jindrah alongwith anti encroachment team of Jammu Forest Division under the direct supervision of Dr.V.S.Senthil Kumar, IFS, Divisional Forest Officer Jammu.
Dr.V.S.Senthil Kumar said the hoarding and signboards were erected illegally on forest land in gross violation of J&K Forest Act, J&K Forest Conservation Act and directions of the Supreme Court of India along Jammu-Udhampur National Highway have been removed which amounting to lakhs of rupees and the whole operation was video-graphed. He further added that a public notice were issued for the information of public in general and the advertising agencies in particular to remove the same. In this regard a deputation of owners also called up on DFO Jammu and requested for granting time for removal of the same. However after granting sufficient time another notice was published in the newspapers dated April 17th, 2015 for removal of these hoarding/sign boards within 48 Hours but the owners of the said hoardings and signboards failed to meet the deadline. In the operation a JCB of National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) was pressed into service. Till evening the operation is going on and will continue on Wednesday also he further added. The material seized from the spot has been brought to Gladni Forest Complex for initiating criminal proceedings/ confiscation proceeding against the owners.
