Srinagar, Feb 26 (KNS): The forest Department has suspended two of its employees for supporting encroachment of the forest land in Compartment 3 of Baramulla near Zand Faran village in the district.
Chief Conservator Forest, Kashmir, Nisar Ahmad told KNS that the department got demarcation of the disputed patch of forest land done in 2014 and demarcation exercise proved it to be forest land.
“I ordered an inquiry in the case and directed the inquiry officer to inquire into the role of two brothers, Ghulam Mohammad Mir and Manzoor Ahmed Mir, who are forest employees. The inquiry proved role of these two brothers in abetting encroachments,” he told KNS.
Divisional Forest Officer, Irfan Rasool J.V. Division charge sheeted both the employees and placed them under suspension in June 2015 and even recommended their case for termination from service to higher offices.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel
Since the case is subjudice, the Forest Department in compliance to the court direction (OWP No 1604/2011 dated 29/12/2011) ensured that no damage is caused to standing forest crop/forest land encroached upon. Also many eviction notices were served during the year 2015 by the Department to the encroachers and a final eviction Notice was issued on 06/02/2016 in compliance to the High Court order dated 22/07/2015, the forest official said.
In response the encroachers filed a contempt petition (No 59 of 2016) which is listed up for hearing on 11th March 2016.
DFO Baramulla, Irfan Rasool under the guidance of CCF Kashmir Nisar Ahmad has been successful in evicting huge chunks of encroached forest land in Baramulla district during 2015, the locals told KNS. (KNS)