STATE TIMES NEWS
Jammu: A delegation of the Tawi Andolan on Monday called on the state Minister for Forest and Environment and demanded a probe into the alleged disappearance of official records of the Shivalika forests in Jammu.
“The Minister of Forest and Environment Bali Bhagat assured the deputation that strict action would be taken against persons who have encroached upon forest land and are responsible for the disappearance of the official records,” Convener of Tawi Andolan, advocate Chander Mohan Sharma, who led the delegation said.
He said the minister assured them that action would be taken against people who have encroached upon land in Tawi forest at Mahamaya, Bahu fort and Ram Nagar, Manda areas and directions to the effect have already been issued.
“He said staff members responsible for dereliction of duty shall be taken to task by the state government,” he said.
Sharma said the deputation brought to the notice of the minister that encroachment was rapidly taking place at Mahamaya around the temple.
“It was also brought to the minister’s notice that despite the High Court’s directions to ban all sorts of constructions there, the encroachments in connivance with the staff of forest department were going on unabated,” he said.
The minister assured him that a high-level committee would enquire into the disappearance of records of Shivalika Forest Land in the State.
