SRINAGAR: A review meeting on Forest Demarcation, Surveying and other allied issues of Five Forest Territorial Divisions and Districts falling under the jurisdiction of Srinagar Forest Circle was held under the chairmanship of Conservator of Forests, Srinagar Circle Irfan Ali Shah at Forest Headquarters, Sheikhbagh Srinagar. During the meeting various issues of Forest Demarcation including forest boundary line issues and disputes with the Revenue Department, lodging of FIRs against offenders involved in the obliteration of forest boundary pillars, chak areas and need for building up/updation of forest demarcation records etc were discussed threadbare.
During the meeting it was informed that during the last one year 702 boundary/demarcation Pillars have been installed in the field and especially in vulnerable areas. It was further informed that in Srinagar Circle, 7,353 boundary pillars need to be installed which has a financial implication of Rs. 367.65 lakhs Directions were passed to the Territorial DFOs of Srinagar Circle, DFO Demarcation Division and DFO Photo Interpretation and his Range officers and other Technical staff regarding surveying of forest Boundary lines. Re-installation/Repair and Renovation of Boundary pillars was stressed upon in the meeting.
Emphasis was laid on checking of forest encroachment on forest lands and need for concerted action involving civil administration and police for eviction of existing encroachments on forest land. The DFOs have been instructed to identify the forests which are vulnerable to encroachment and take up the issue of these vulnerable forests with DFO Demarcation and DFO Photo Interpretation for arranging reinstallation of demarcation pillars in such areas on priority after joint Nishandehi with the territorial staff.
It was further directed that in case of forest areas facing an immediate threat of encroachment, reinstallation of demarcation pillars may be done immediately. The DFOs were further directed to coordinate with Forest Protection Force and Police in forest demarcation/encroachment related offenses and to show/exhibit zero tolerance to such offenses. The meeting among others was attended by Territorial DFOs of Srinagar Circle, DFO Demarcation, DFO Photo-shoot Interpretation Division, Range officers, other Technical Staff etc.