In Delhi reserve forest, clearout on 100 houses
More than 100 houses built illegally on forestland in the Neb Sarai area have been surveyed by The South Delhi Municipal Corporation and out of them 10 were sealed.40 notices have been issued by the forests department ordering the occupants to vacate the premises.
After the National Green Tribunal (NGT) had ordered Delhi’s two top officials i.e. chief secretary and chief conservator of forests to emerge before it next Tuesday, then the authorities swung into action.
The NGT had noted, while issuing the summons, that we ordered to fix the boundary of forestland notified way back in 1996, but no action was taken. The order of sealing the encroached premises was also not followed. No other option is there apart from ordering the two officers to explain the reason for the delay of 18 years in demarcation of boundary.
The corporation hurriedly wrote to the deputy commissioner of police (south) by following the order and asked for his assistance for a joint sealing drive.
The head of Delhi forest department, GN Sinha, also wrote to the government counsel, mentioning that orders for encroachment removal had been issued and the order of
Government counsel has received a document from the head of Delhi forest department, GN Sinha which mentions that orders for encroachment removal had been sanctioned and a request to let off the two officers from personal appearance may be made to the tribunal.
The NGT had ordered, that the occupants will be asked by the officials to immediately vacate the premises and sealing of all unauthorised constructions, including houses will be done with the help of the police. It will be ensured by the police that the encroachers do not re-enter the sealed premises.
The government has received an order saying to demarcate forestland in Neb Sarai area in two weeks and then remove all unauthorised constructions by the NGT. Following Supreme Court orders in 1996 the government notified the area as part of Ridge. But still the boundary has not been fixed yet.
The police have received order from the NGT regarding insurance that the orders are followed by acting against that resisting encroachment removal and has also been asked to file a status report by Thursday, but it was not done.
The corporation had disclosed in an earlier hearing, that it had pasted a sealing notice on the properties, but the occupants had removed the seal, continued living and carried out more constructions.
According to forests department they have complained the police and even though an FIR was lodged still no action in the form of investigation was taken forward.
Source: Hindustan Times
Delhi forests department, Forestland, GN Sinha, Government counsel, National Green Tribunal, Neb Sarai area, police, South Delhi Municipal Corporation, Supreme Court, Tribunal
