Kota : Kota Due to government negligence and neglect, encroachers have taken over forest land and urban areas unabated. At some places fences have been erected and at other places permanent houses have been built. Despite the presence of forest department officials and forest conservators, the process of encroachment is not stopping.
Maximum encroachment in Ladpura range
There is information about encroachment on 678 hectares of Forest Department land in the district, out of which the maximum encroachment has taken place in Ladpura range. More than half a dozen settlements have been established here, in which thousands of people are living. These include Aanli, Rozdi, Crusher Basti, Lakhawa area, Barada Basti, Nanta area and Anantpura pond area.
Main roads and forest areas also occupied
In the rural areas surrounding the city, the forest department land around the main roads has also not escaped the eyes of the land mafia. Out of 309 hectares of land in Sakatpura forest block under Wildlife Branch, 65 hectares have been encroached upon.
Boundary wall has been constructed, action has been taken
Mandal Forest Conservator Apoorva Krishna Srivastava said that the department has taken steps to stop encroachment. In some areas the land has been protected by building boundary walls. In recent times, action has been taken against encroachers, and instructions have been given to stop new encroachments. He said that soon a special campaign will be launched to remove old encroachments. The land will be secured and plantation will be done there. However, years old and permanent encroachments can be removed only as per government procedure and rules.
