JAMMU/SRINAGAR: Dismissing the reports that any particular community is being targeted by the government during its drive for freeing the forest land from encroachments, Forest Minister Bali Bhagat on Saturday said exploitation card is being played to divert the attention from the real issue.
Talking to a Srinagar based news agency, Bhagat said that a large portion of forest land has been occupied and the previous governments were non- serious to take any action in this regard. “Now when we are trying our best to save forests. Protests are being staged and that too under a well planned conspiracy. We will spare none. Whosoever is found involved in violating the law, action will be taken,” the minister said.
He maintained that within month and half, the forest department has freed four thousands kanals of land and the target till next march is to free five thousand hectares. “We will achieve our objective and the law shall be same for all,” Bhagat claimed.
He maintained that there are officials of the revenue departments and some politicians who are involved in paving ways for the encroachment of the forest land in Jammu and Kashmir.
The forest minister said that those who are involved in throwing rules to wind are organising and staging protest demonstrations and are using the cards of exploitations. “We have pledged to free the forest land from illegal encroachments. Come what may, we will do it,” Bhagat said.