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| Undeterred by criticism Forest Ministry to tight noose on land mafia | | | Early Times Report
JAMMU, June 13: Undeterred by the criticism from opposition parties who are trying to give a communal tinge to Forest Minister's action against the land mafia, the Forest Ministry will go ahead with its decision of restoring the thousands kanals of forest land encroached by land mafia having links with some politicians in the State.
Soon after assuming charge of his Ministry Bali Bhagat swooped on land mafia and issued instructions to his officers to act against the land grabbers and restore entire forest land under forcible occupation of the mafia groups.
The Minister however issued instructions to the officers not to be afraid of criticism and tighten its noose against the land mafia.
Mr Bali Bhagat according to sources has said that there should be no leniency against any person whether he may be a influential leader or a bureaucrat and any one who has occupied the forest land has to vacate it.
The Minister who has taken a serious exception to the criticism by some of his own party colleagues and ministers said that his intension is clear and he wanted to restore the forest land which is a State property. The Minister said the restoration of land to forests is his prime duty as cutting of green trees and increasing encroachment of forest land will lead to environmental degradation and threat to human prosperity.
He said those who give a communal tinge to the issue should know that Sheikh Noor Din Wali who was commonly known in Kashmir as Nund Rishi had over two hundred years back highlighted the significance of forests and trees.
``Hence dubbing my action purely based on protecting the interests of the people of the State as communal will be an injustice to a great cause'', sources added.
Sources said Mr Bhagat has sought cooperation of all in restoring the forest land and curbing the mafia from felling the green trees to protect the environment. He said in view of last year's floods creating havoc in the State last year, the opposition should understand the gravity of the situation and act positively in the larger interests of the people of the State.
The Minister according to sources has given instructions to officers to redouble their efforts in restoring the forest land and seek cooperation of common man in this regard. He has also ruled out that the action was not against any community but the people who are involved in land grabbing.
The Minister has also asked the officers not to be cowed down by the criticism from opposition as they have no point to criticize the Government and hence were trying to communalize the situation in the State for their vested interests.
With Minister taking a tough stance, the opposition's plans will boomerang as there are no takers for the same.
Moreover the common people have hailed the action of Minister. The people in hilly belt of Doda, Kishtwar , Poonch, Rajouri and Kashmir Valley have welcomed the Minister's action saying that they have lost the pastures for cattle and sheep due to the grabbing of land by mafia groups in the State. In case the same trend continues there will be no forest land left for grazing of cattle and also the area of forests will further squeeze in the State, said Mir Ghulam Rasool a political leader from Valley.
It is unfortunate that we criticize even the good work of Government and try to exploit the people for the same, said G A Tramboo advocate another senior political leader in Kashmir. He said forests are the green gold and their protection is must for the human prosperity. If the Minister has taken a step in this direction we should support him irrespective of our political affiliations.
Tramboo took serious exception to the statement of Congress chief who has accused the minister's action as of communal nature saying that the Minister has not singled out any community. |
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