In the matter of encroachment on forest department land by resorts in Corbett national park, the High Court of Uttarakhand has directed the forest department to remove the encroachments within one month. The direction was issued by the division bench of acting Chief Justice Rajiv Sharma and justice Manoj Kumar Tiwari.
The division bench directed the Almora Divisional Forest Officer to remove encroachment on 56 nali forest department land by Ramganga Resort in Jhamaria village within one month. FIR should also be lodged against those guilty of encroaching, the court further directed.
About nine nali land has also been encroached upon by Solluna Resort at Marchula. The division bench directed that this encroachment too should be removed within one month.
The Ramnagar Divisional Forest Officer informed the court that notices had been issued to 12 other persons for removing their encroachments from Corbett land but they had filed an appeal in the office of the conservator of forests.
The division bench directed the conservator of forests to dispose of these appeals within a period of four weeks. The court also directed the Ramnagar Sub-Divisional Magistrate to ensure that the encroachments marked by the court appointed commissioner are also cleared within one month.