'When Forest Team Removes Encroachment, Why Do You Have A Problem?’ Minister Asks BJP MLA

Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): Minister of State for forest Dilip Ahirwar and BJP MLA from Sironj, Umakant Sharma had heated exchange of words over anti-encroachment drive in forest.

“When our forest department team takes action, why do you (Sharma) have a problem? If we are taking action against encroachment on forest land, then support it. When the forest team removed the encroachments, why did you have a problem,” asked the minister. BJP MLA went on to allege that "encroachers were friends of the minister."

The exchange took place during the Question Hour, when Sharma raised the issue of encroachments in compartments 358, 359, 360, and 361 of the general forest division in Vidisha.

As Sharma was posing his question, Congress MLA Sohanlal Valmik prompted him to speak louder, which did not go down well with the minister and he objected to his prompting.

Responding to the allegations, the minister said that following a complaint and investigation, four forest officials were found guilty of irregularities and the government has ordered a recovery of Rs 57.24 lakh from them.

The Minister further informed the House that encroachments have been removed from 65 hectare land. Earlier, the department had identified encroachments on 133 hectare and later 368 hectare land was encroached upon, he added.

The minister assured that forest team is clearing all encroachments sincerely. The minister also shared the information on plantation being carried out in all four forest compartments.