Jaipur: National Green Tribunal (NGT) has pulled up Rajasthan forest department for issuing notices to over 47 residents and establishments over alleged encroachments on forest land without first conducting a survey to establish whether the disputed land was actually forest land. It observed that the notices “created terror in the minds of residents.”The action pertains to land along the 200-ft road stretch between Apex Hospital and Jagatpura Railway Overbridge, where the forest department issued notices in June to establishments allegedly operating on diverted forest land.The department claimed 0.858 hectares of forest land in Jhalana-Amagarh Conservation Reserve area was diverted in 2009 for construction of the 200-ft road after obtaining forest clearance from union ministry of environment and forests.“The diverted land was approved exclusively for road construction and cannot be used for any purpose other than that for which forest clearance was granted,” a forest official said.However, Central Zone Bench, comprising Justice Sheo Kumar Singh and Expert Member Sudhir Kumar Chaturvedi, said notices were issued despite the department acknowledging that a survey by a joint committee was required to establish the status of the land.The bench took note of the forest department’s June 18 report stating that names of private individuals had been recorded in revenue records on certain land between 1989 and 2009 and asked how private names were entered if it was forest land. The bench also asked what steps were taken to protect it.Counsel for the respondents alleged that officials were interfering with their possession despite the survey remaining pending. The tribunal clarified that it had not authorised interference with the peaceful possession of any person.PWD and Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) also sought time to file their replies, which was allowed for three weeks.The matter will next be heard on Sept 30.
