Forest minister Subodh Uniyal said that recently the entire Narendranagar city was displayed as Forest department land which is against the provisions of the Merger Act. The minister said that the Tehri state had merged with India in 1949 under the Merger Act. It is the priority of the government to ensure observance of the conditions of the merger. He directed officials to identify the revenue and forest land in the area within 40 days. The minister said this while chairing a review meeting with Forest department officials here on Saturday.

Uniyal told the officials that about 323 hectare land in Narendranagar was in the name of the king of Tehri and the local people. The Forest department had also agreed to the 1964 settlement. He said that according to the Merger Act, the 222 hectare private land of the erstwhile king of Tehri and 101 hectare land should be identified and demarcated so that the proper identification of the Forest department land can be ensured. A committee has been formed recently under the chief secretary for identification of revenue and forest lands. This committee will be able to take suitable decisions on such disputed lands in the State, he said.  The minister said, “As a citizen from Narendranagar it is also my responsibility to ensure redressal of the dispute regarding revenue land and forest land on a priority basis. For this purpose the officials have been directed to identify the land within 40 days,” he said.

The Tehri district magistrate Mayur Dixit, principal chief conservator of forests Anup Malik and other departmental officials were also present in the meeting.