Babus let down forest dept, encroachers have field day

The forest department has failed to take stringent action against encroachers as bureaucratic red tape is holding up plan to declare a natural drain and a man-made bund a notified area. The orders for demarcation of Nathupur and Chakarpur have to be issued by the deputy commissioner of Gurgaon. Dhananjay Jha reports.

The forest department has failed to take stringent action against encroachers as bureaucratic red tape is holding up plan to declare a natural drain and a man-made bund a notified area. The orders for demarcation of Nathupur and Chakarpur have to be issued by the deputy commissioner of Gurgaon.

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On February 7, Gurgaon DC PC Meena told Hindustan Times that he had issued instructions to the forest department. However, forest officials claim they haven't received any communication regarding the matter.

In absence of the orders, forest officials have been unable to take action against persons who tend to encroach drains and bund. According to forest officials, they have been all successive DCs in the last seven years have been informed about the situation.

Amid a rising population and increasing constructions in the city, encroachment of forest areas has been a cause for concern.

"We feel helpless in the absence of accurate measurements of the area as it has still not been demarcated. Both government agencies and private bodies may indulge in grabbing of forest lands as clear guidelines have not been laid," said BS Rana, deputy divisional forest official, Gurgaon.

Referring to a letter written to the DC on December 5, 2011, Rana said that they have brought to notice all letters written on earlier occasions to previous DCs.

"In each letter, we have requested the DC to ask the revenue department to cooperate with us and complete demarcation work at the earliest," he added. According to officials, the demarcation would help improve the condition of forest land at several locations where the drains or bunds are fully encroached.

The DC, however, was not available for further comments even after repeated attempts were made to contact him.