Environment and Forest Minister Imran Hussain on Tuesday suspended two forest range officers for their alleged failure to protect forest land and initiate action against encroachers.
‘Under encroachment’
The action came in the wake of a surprise inspection of the forest ridge adjoining Chattarpur Enclave Part-2 by the Minister. During this, a large chunk of the ridge and forest land was found “under encroachment and illegal occupation of private persons”, read a government statement.
Mr. Hussain said similar inspections would be carried out in other forest areas to check conservation and protection of land in the coming days.
“Taking immediate cognizance of the seriousness of the situation, the Minister directed the Forest Department to remove the encroachment at once. Also, free the encroached land so that the Forest Department could take back its possession. On the directions of the Minister, a bulldozer was called and immediately pressed into service,” the statement said.
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal took to Twitter to commend the action taken by Mr. Hussain.
“The Delhi government is engaged in wiping out the mafia from every sphere. Delhi now has an honest government. All these mafia had functioned so far under through a conspiracy involving both the BJP and Congress governments [sic],” he tweeted.
The encroachment on ridge land was demolished by removing the illegal structures and large a chunk of land was brought back under the possession of the government during the inspection of the Minister, the government stated.
Mr. Hussain also directed the Principal Chief Conservator of Forest to seek an explanation from the officers concerned who “failed to detect and prevent” such “large scale encroachment of forest and ridge land” and initiate departmental action against the guilty.
“The Minister also directed Principal Chief Conservator of Forest to ensure that the land which was vacated from encroachment at the time of inspection is immediately fenced so that it is not usurped again by vested interests. The Minister also directed that all the encroached forest land be evicted expeditiously, in time bound manner and action may be taken against the trespassers,” the statement added.