STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: Forest Department on Friday retrieved four Kanals of department land from the clutches of an encroacher at Roop Nagar locality near Aap Shambu Temple.
According to report, a team from Forest Department led by Varinder Singh Range Officer Jammu and Kailash Choudhary Block Officer Paloura Block with assistance of Police contingent from Police Station Janipur successfully removed the RCC Plinth laid on forest land in Compartment 3/P Roop Nagar near Aap Shambu Temple by one Ranga, resident of Roop Nagar, and retrieved four Kanals of Forest Land worth lakhs of rupees.
The drive was conducted under the supervision of Dr. V.S Senthil Kumar, IFS, Divisional Forest Officer Jammu.
Forest officials have also initiated legal proceedings against the encroacher including lodging of an FIR.
Senthil Kumar told media persons that aforesaid chunk of forest land is situated in prime location and the department had planned to secure the area prone to encroachment by wall fencing. “Sensing the move of department, the aforesaid encroacher constructed the concrete wall, claiming the land and was not allowing the department to fence the area”, he informed and added that adequate time was given to the encroacher for proving his stake however he could not prove and subsequently the forest staff demolished the concrete wall and the retrieved area. “It will be fenced within days”, he added.
In another incident, some miscreants having vested interest over the forest land had damaged the newly erected fence post in Keran area during the intervening night of 31st March and Ist April 2016. They had damaged 85 Poles of Forest Department and caused loss to government exchequer and Range Officer Jammu had sent a application to Station House Officer Domana for registering FIR for damage to Public property and violation of Forest Act. The team headed by Dr. V.S Senthil Kumar had inspected the spot and gave instruction to field staff to investigate the incident and to submit factual report.
He further added that the Forest Department is taking measures to prevent encroachment on Forest Land and the encroachers will not be spared at any cost. The Forest Offence Report (FOR) for violation of Section 6 of J and K Forest Act has also been registered. The Chief Conservator of Forests Roshan Jaggi, IFS and Conservator of Forests B.M Sharma, IFS had appreciated forest staff of Jammu Forest Division for their efforts in removing encroachments.
