Illegal revenue record entries of encroached forest land in favour of 1151 persons cancelled in Rajouri

SHYAM SOOD
RAJOURI OCTOBER 07:–Since January this year, the Rajouri District Administration has cancelled illegal revenue entries of 57,344 Kanals of forest land under Rajouri Forest Division after the Forest department has sought the cancellation of illegal entries of the encroached forest land on Court’s directions.
The process is still in progress and it is expected many more such illegal entries in the revenue records will be cancelled in Rajouri Forest Division in future.
After directions from the High Court, all the Divisional Forest Officers (DFOs) of Jammu region were instructed by the higher authorities of the Forest Department to approach the concerned Deputy Commissioners for the cancelation of illegal entries in the revenue record and further mutations in favour of Forest Department.
Dr Arshdeep Singh, DFO Rajouri Forest Division informed that the District Administration (Revenue Department) has informed about the cancellation of illegal revenue entries on 47,344 Kanals of forest land in Rajouri Forest Division till date.
“The administration is still in the process to cancel the illegal revenue entries of the forest land under Rajouri Division and more details would be available in the future” said DFO, Rajouri.
As per details available about 1151 persons, including influential, have encroached the 57344 Kanals of forest land illegally in Rajouri, Kalakot, and Kandi-Budhal tehsils.
Out of 57344 Kanals of encroached forest land, 189 persons had encroached 12414 Kanals in Kalakot, 798 persons had encroached 40671 Kanals in Rajouri and 164 persons had encroached 4258 Kanals of forest land illegally in Kandi.
Forest Department under the Chairmanship of Principal Chief Conservator of Forests with one member secretary and three members have constituted a committee for the protection of forest land against illegal encroachment.