Pune Forest Department Faces Challenges In Reclaiming Reserve Forest Land
Pune Forest Department Faces Challenges In Reclaiming Reserve Forest Land
The Pune Forest Department is working to recover 14,000 hectares of reserve forest land currently under the Revenue Department. Earlier policies led to significant transfers of forest land to the Revenue Department for administrative and agricultural use. However, due to inadequate documentation and neglect, much of this land has been encroached upon.
In 1978, the Indian government ordered the Forest Department to transfer some forest land to the Revenue Department for various uses. This process was poorly documented, leading to subsequent encroachments. By the early 2000s, the central government directed the Forest Department to identify and reclaim reserve forest land. Since 2008, the department has successfully reclaimed 20,000 hectares out of the 30,000 hectares identified. Currently, 14,000 hectares remain with the Revenue Department.
Deepak Pawar, Assistant Conservator of Forests in Pune, highlighted the difficulties to a news agency in reclaiming this land. Ongoing litigation, encroachment, and lease proposals complicate the process.
Court cases regarding land ownership are unresolved, allowing further encroachments. In some areas, permanent structures like buildings and slums have been established, making relocation and land reclamation challenging. Additionally, lands initially allocated for agriculture are now used for commercial or residential purposes. Some lands are under long-term leases, adding to the complexity of the reclamation efforts.
The Forest Department continues to face hurdles in its mission to restore and protect reserve forest lands.
