Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 30: Forest Department conducted anti-encroachment drive and removed encroachment on 51 kanal of Forest land in Bathindi and Sunjwan area and demolished one structure.
The operation was conducted under the supervision of Divisional Forest Officer Jammu Alok Kumar Maurya. The Forest Department team headed by Range Officer Bahu, Nayeem Naik and I/C Block Officer Chowadi Dewakar Singh along with Forest field staff and police led by Bishan Dass rushed towards the site where construction of Pacca structure by one Haseena Malik wife of Tariq Malik in Compartment No.4 Bathindi was going on and successfully demolished the said illegal structure and forest land measuring 1 kanal was retrieved from the clutches of encroachers.
In another anti -encroachment drive on Sunjwan-Chatta Road, the Forest Department foiled attempt to encroach upon forest land in Compartment No. 8 Chaata and retrieved back 50 kanals of forest land. The Forest Department also lodged FIR against encroachers and the driver of the JCB for assaulting the on duty forest field staff. By this operation valuable forest land adjacent to Jammu city was retrieved from the clutches of encroachers. A police party headed by SDPO East Rajinder Singh Rahi provided assistance for the operation.
DFO Jammu Alok Kumar Mauraya said that Forest Offence Report (FOR) has also been registered against the culprits. He further added that the department is taking all the measures to prevent encroachment on forest land at any cost. Personnel of Forest Department are continuously on the Job to remove the old encroachments as well, he added.