Forest department seeks possession of encroached forest land around city

In its response affidavit submitted to the National Green Tribunal (NGT), the forest department has demanded that the revenue department take possession of the encroached reserve forest land and hand it over to the forest department.

- Gayatri Vajpeyee

PUNE:

The forest department has reasoned that this land was earlier in the revenue department's possession and was allocated for different purposes after which it was encroached upon due to negligence on the part of the authorities. The hearing in this case will be held on March 3 wherein officials are likely to demand compensatory land in the western ghats in Maharashtra that will help protect tiger corridors.