Shimla: The Himachal Pradesh government has commenced the process of reclaiming forest land that was illegally allotted to private individuals or entities, adhering to the Supreme Court’s stringent directives. On Friday, the Forest Department issued a gazette notification formalizing these steps, signaling a determined push towards safeguarding the state’s forest resources.
Supreme Court Orders Prompt State-Level Action
This move follows the Supreme Court’s orders in the landmark case TN Godavarman Thirumulpad vs Union of India (Writ Petition No. 202/1995), with fresh instructions given on May 15, 2025. The apex court mandated all states to identify and take back forest lands misused or alienated for non-forestry purposes, emphasizing the importance of forest conservation.
District-Wise SITs Formed for Investigation and Enforcement
In response, the Himachal government has constituted district-wise Special Investigation Teams (SITs) tasked with probing illegal or unauthorized allotments of forest land under the control of the Revenue Department. Each SIT will be headed by the Deputy Commissioner of the respective district, supported by the District Revenue Officer as Member Secretary and the Divisional Forest Officer as a team member.
These SITs will investigate all cases of forest land misuse and illegal allotments, with the authority to recommend actions including the reclamation of forest land and its transfer back to the Forest Department.
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Recovery and Forest Development Fund
Where reclaiming the land may not serve the larger public interest, the SITs are empowered to recommend financial recovery from occupants. The recovered amount is to be used exclusively for forest development initiatives, ensuring that the forest ecosystem benefits even if physical repossession is unfeasible.
Commitment to Forest Conservation Strengthened
This initiative underscores the Himachal government’s commitment to preserving its forest cover and complying fully with judicial directives. It aims to curb unauthorized encroachments that have threatened the ecological balance and ensure the sustainable use of forest resources for the benefit of future generations.
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