Indore (Madhya Pradesh): Forest department Indore circle is running various campaigns to evict encroachment in forest areas that tend to take place during the monsoons. Local activists have objected to the drive.
Forest officials said they will remove encroachers because not only do they cut off full-grown trees and use the land for farming, but they also demand compensation for leaving the encroached land.
According to Section 66 of The Indian Forest Act, 1927, any forest officer not below the rank of divisional forest officer, if he has reasons to believe that the encroachment of government forest land has been done, may evict the encroachment and may use all the powers.
Explaining the situation, chief conservator of forest (CCF) HS Mohanta said, “A few activists are trying to hamper the encroachment eviction drive.” He explained that this increases during the monsoon as the encroachers take the plea that they would be made homeless and be forced to live in the open in the rains.
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