E-Paper
Tibetan admn not to support any construction on forest land
Jostling around to save homes of 210-odd Tibetan families built over encroached forestland, the Tibetan administration-in-exile has maintained that it would not allow support any construction on forest land now onwards.
Jostling around to save homes of 210-odd Tibetan families built over encroached forestland, the Tibetan administration-in-exile has maintained that it would not allow support any construction on forest land now onwards.
“We have already demanded the state government to regularise 210 cases of encroachment so that the Tibetan families who are residing here are not rendered homeless, but we will not allow any construction on this land now onwards,” said Sonam Dorjee, Tibetan welfare officer.
He said the Tibetan administration would file an affidavit before the green tribunal regarding this during the hearing on encroachment cases, which is scheduled for November 23.
Dorjee said, “Tibetans harbour no intent whatsoever to claim the ownership of the area as they will vacate the area the day Tibet issue is resolved and all Tibetans return to Tibet.”
“The land was allotted to the Tibetan society for rehabilitation purposes in 1961 by the general assistant- 2, Punjab government, who was equivalent to the additional deputy commissioner,” Dorjee said, adding that it was a reserve pool land at that time.
He said a fresh mutation was done in 1992 and land was transferred in the name of the forest department. At that time a decision was also taken to exclude the Tibetan society from the revenue records.
“However, the settlement officer excluded the name of the Tibetan society from the revenue records on September 3, 2013, after two decades,” Dorjee said, adding that the Tibetan administration has now challenged the decision in the court of the divisional commissioner, Kangra.
Dorjee said Tibetans have been living on this land before the Forest Conservation Act, 1980, was enacted. We had met the chief minister seeking a resolution to the issue and had submitted electricity bills of 1968 and 1971 as proofs.
“We will be submitting the same before the green tribunal also,” said Dorjee.
