Nearly 600 ha of forest land cleared of encroachments in Dhar

Times News NetworkDhar: Dhar forest division has reclaimed 589.63 hectares of forest land, which had been encroached upon, between Jan and June this year.Dhar divisional forest officer Vijayanantham TR said that the drive was conducted under the forest land conservation and encroachment control campaign with support from district administration, police, village forest committees, and local public representatives across the seven forest ranges of the district.“We issued a stern warning that no encroachment on forest land will be tolerated. Any person found indulging in or attempting encroachment will face strict legal action, including the registration of FIRs under Indian Forest Act, 1927, and other relevant provisions,” he said.“The primary objective of the campaign is not only to remove encroachments but also to restore the natural forest wealth through large-scale reforestation. Officials have already initiated preparations for planting teak using the root-shoot technique on the reclaimed land. Field staff and officers have received specialized training in scientific methods of planting, sapling protection, and long-term maintenance to ensure high survival rates,” he said.