STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: In comparison to Omar Abdullah led alliance government between 2009 and 2014, the present PDP-BJP dispensation, headed by Mehbooba Mufti has fared better when it comes to removing encroachments from the forest land across the Jammu Region.
According to Minister for Forests, “648.68 hectares of forest land was retrieved from the encroachers in Jammu province in 2015-16 and 1777.72 hectares in 2016-17”.
In comparison to this, only 530.86 hectares of forest land was retrieved from the encroachers between 2009 and 2014 during the tenure of Omar Abdullah led government in the State.
In addition, 2903.65 hectares of fresh encroachments have also been removed in Jammu province.
These details were shared by the Minister, in reply to the question of Shah Mohammed Tantray.
According to the written reply, an area of 562.80 hectares of forest land is under encroachment in Haveli constituency of Poonch Forest division out of which an area of 32.90 hectares (old encroachment) and 33.0 hectares (fresh) encroachment) has been retrieved from the encroachers. For rest of the encroached forest land, notices under relevant Sections of the J&K Forest Act have been issued to the persons who are in illegal possession of forest land.
