JAMMU: The Department of Wildlife Protection, Wildlife Division Jammu today retrieved 3 kanal encroached land here at Janipur. The eviction proceedings were carried out by a joint operation team headed by Amit Sharma, Wildlife Warden Jammu, Fazal Din, Magistrate, Ghulam Qadir, Range Officer, Nand Lal Sharma, AD- Forest Protection Force J-2 & Vimal Sharma SHO Janipur.
As per a spokesperson, the Department of Wildlife Protection dismantled illegal structures & seized various articles despite encroachers tried to obstruct the eviction proceedings. He said the encroachers have been given alternative grazing sites in Kalidhar Range by the Forest Grazing Committee but these families forcefully entered into the Ramnagar Wildlife Sanctuary area, in violation of J&K Wildlife (Protection) Act 1978 amended.
“The department is trying to relocate the families to other forest areas where the demand for fodder for livestock can be met. The families living on fringes of Protected Area have been advised to contact concerned forest officials for allotment of grazing area for their livestock” he informed.