The Forest Division has further issued eviction notices to the “unauthorized occupants” of the forest land in various areas of Jammu Kashmir.
Speaking to The Kashmiriyat Sources said that notices have been issued to the members of the indigenous Gujjar and Bakerwal community in areas of Kathua and Ganderbal.
A notice issued to Haji Makhan son of Kalu Din, who is a resident of Chanda nal area in Fafal of Kathua district, which has been accessed by The Kashmiriyat stated that Haji Makhan was “occupying” 1.00 kanal land in Androte Fafal forest of Kathua.
The Divisional Forest Officer, Kathua, claimed in the notice that Hazi Makhan had constructed “Kacha and Pacca structures”.
“In pursuance of section 79-A of the Indian Forest Act, 1927, undersigned call upon you show cause to represent your case personally or through lawyer within ten days at DFO office Kathua,” the notice further read.
Meanwhile, notice has also been sent to various persons in Ganderbal including Haji Mohammed Yaqoob Pajran who is a resident of Halpati, Haknar in Tehsil Gund Ganderbal asking him to evict from the forest area.
The Forest Department has sent more eviction notices in areas of ganderbal and Kathua.
Such notices have evoked widespread condemnation from the Gujjar community and also evokes fear among the indigenous community which says it has been residing in the forests for several generations.
Seventeen families in Mamal Wudar of Pahalgam have also been notified to evict the forest lands.buy cialis super active online https://myhst.com/wp-content/themes/twentytwentytwo/inc/patterns/new/cialis-super-active.html no prescription
Shabir Ahmed one local resident told The Kashmiriyat, “We do not have an alternative location to go to. We have known the forest, on one end the Government speaks of preserving the indigenous communities and on the other, it is planing for our mass evacuation.”
President of Gujjar Bakarwal Youth Welfare Conference Jammu Kashmir, Zahid Parwaz Choudhary said that such measures after saying that the Administration wants to implement the Forest Rights Act 2006 only mean that the administration is trying to befool people.
“The Administration should not force us to take extreme measures, We are peace-loving people, if the admin wants to lock horns with us, It would be very disastrous,” Choudhary told The Kashmiriyat over the phone.
He said the admin should hasten in implementation of the Forest Rights Act and should direct other departments to stop the forcible and illegal eviction of the indigenous Gujjar and bakerwal Community.
Various Political parties including the People’s democratic party and National Confrence visited the community and expressed solidarity while extending full support to the community in Pahalgam.
In pahalgam, earlier this month, the administration during, what it called, ‘Anti Encroachment’ drive demolished varous structres belonging the nomad community, three structures were also demolished in the Lidroo area.
The Locals claimed that the admin also threatened them to not resist the demolition drive or else they will be put behind bars.