Himachal Pradesh Reports 0.11% Forest Land Encroachment, Shimla Most Affected
0.11% of HP forest land encroached upon, Shimla worst affected, Govt tells NGT
The Indian Express
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The Himachal Pradesh government revealed that 0.11% of its forest land, totaling 3,816.83 hectares, is illegally encroached upon, with Shimla district being the worst affected. The state has managed to remove encroachments from 2,573.58 hectares, but significant areas remain occupied. The situation raises concerns about environmental degradation and enforcement of eviction orders.
- 01Himachal Pradesh has lost 0.11% of its forest land to illegal encroachments.
- 02Shimla district accounts for nearly 50% of the total encroached forest land in the state.
- 03Encroachments have been removed from 2,573.58 hectares, but many areas remain occupied.
- 04Kullu and Mandi districts also report significant encroachments on forest land.
- 05Eviction orders have been issued, but many cases are still pending in courts.
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In a recent submission to the National Green Tribunal (NGT), the Himachal Pradesh government disclosed that approximately 0.11% of the state's forest land has been lost to illegal encroachments, amounting to 3,816.83 hectares out of a total forest cover of 34,06,534.87 hectares. The highest encroachment was reported in Shimla district, where 1,839.73 hectares of forest land is illegally occupied, representing 0.55% of its total forest cover. Kullu district follows with 815.06 hectares encroached, while Mandi and Kangra districts report 263.29 hectares and 318.94 hectares of encroached land, respectively. The state has successfully evicted encroachments from 2,573.58 hectares, but significant areas remain under illegal occupation. Eviction orders have been issued for numerous cases, but some are still pending in the High Court of Himachal Pradesh. This situation raises concerns about the enforcement of forest protection laws and the impact on the environment.
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The encroachment of forest land threatens local ecosystems and biodiversity, impacting communities that rely on these resources.
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