KPK Forest Dept retrieves over Rs30 mln encroached reserve land in Makhnial

ISLAMABAD, July 13: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Forest Department has recouped some 20 kanals of State owned Reserve Forest land worth more than Rs30 million from the land grabbers during its anti-encroachment operation. The anti-encroachment operation was carried out in Dana Ferozpur Reserve Forest of Makhnial Forest sub division under the supervision of Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) HaripurSardarFarhad Ali and sub-divisional SDFO MakhnialZohaib Hassan. SDFO Zohaib Hassan told a state run news agency, “Reserve Forests are the state owned forests where all kind of construction and sale, purchase activities are banned under section 26 of Forest Ordinance 2002”. He informed that the total area of 20 kanals was encroached in 2015 whereas in 2021 the Survey of Pakistan was consulted to do the reallocation of forest boundaries. After the Survey of Pakistan report in October 2021, the illegal occupants of the land were served with notices whereas consequently the land grabbers upon receiving notices approached the Session Court. After contesting for eight months the stays were vacated on July 5th and July 8th, he said, adding, “I along with my staff went to the site and vacated the encroachment”. SDFO Zohaib Hassan informed that from October 2021 onwards some 25 kanals and 14 marlas reserve forest state owned land was retrieved that worth Rs60 million. – NNI