SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Forest Department has retrieved 60 kanals of encroached forest land in Bahu constituency and constituted a Special Task Force to complete the demarcation of forest boundaries in Bahu Range within three months, according to a government reply tabled in the Assembly.
The reply, submitted by the Forest, Ecology and Environment Department to a question by MLA Vikram Randhawa, details forest land encroachments, eviction proceedings, police cases and development expenditure under the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA).
The government said the Forest Department has been undertaking regular field inspections, identifying and verifying suspected encroachments, and coordinating with the Revenue and Police departments for demarcation and eviction wherever required. Such proceedings are carried out under the provisions of the Indian Forest Act, 1927, the department said in its reply to the Assembly.
The area-wise figures furnished by the department show that encroachments have been reported in Doongian, Bathindi, Sunjwan, Raika, Chatta, Dwara and Palpad. According to the reply, the department is still compiling and verifying the area-wise details in consultation with the concerned Revenue authorities.
In Doongian, one hectare of forest land was reported encroached during 2024–25, of which 0.30 hectares were retrieved. For 2025–26, the department reported 167.2125 hectares of encroached forest land in Bathindi, with 46.29 hectares retrieved, while Sunjwan had 111.72 hectares under encroachment, of which 81.03 hectares were retrieved. In Raika, 30.655 hectares were reported encroached, with 26.1475 hectares retrieved.
For 2026–27, the reply lists 15.855 hectares of encroached forest land in Chatta, of which 8.055 hectares was retrieved. In Dwara, 1.15 hectares was reported encroached and 0.95 hectares retrieved, while Palpad had 5.35 hectares under encroachment, of which 4.80 hectares was retrieved. In Doongian, a further 17.005 hectares of encroached forest land was listed for 2026–27, without a corresponding retrieval figure.
These figures were provided by the Forest, Ecology and Environment Department in response to the Assembly question raised by Randhawa.
The department’s reply further states that two FIRs were registered during 2024–25 in connection with forest land encroachment. FIR No. 56/2024 was lodged at Channi Himmat Police Station against Abdul Majeed alias Bittu Teli, son of Mir Ali, while FIR No. 0144/2024 was registered at the same police station against Yousaf Ali and Sadig.
The reply records that an attempt to encroach upon forest land in Doongian was foiled, a structure under construction was evicted and six marlas of forest land retrieved. Three eviction notices were listed for 2025–26.
A major eviction drive was also reported at Raika on May 19, 2026, when 260 tents and kutcha structures were removed and 60 kanals of forest land retrieved, according to the Forest Department’s response to Randhawa’s question.
The government said joint inspections, demarcation and eviction drives had been undertaken at various locations in Bahu in coordination with the Revenue and Police departments, wherever required and feasible. The department referred to the area-wise retrieval figures in its reply while providing details of the joint exercises.
The department also disclosed that Rs 417.258 lakh was sanctioned under CAMPA for works in Bahu constituency during the three financial years from 2024–25 to 2026–27, against which Rs 417.225 lakh was released. Of the funds released, Rs 74.59 lakh was utilised in 2024–25, Rs 181.67 lakh in 2025–26 and Rs 28.72 lakh in 2026–27.
According to the CAMPA expenditure details provided in the Assembly reply, the works undertaken included fencing, plantation, construction of check dams, DRSM and crate works, and upgradation of the Bahu Range Office and Sidhra Nursery.
Responding to whether the government intends to launch a special, time-bound drive to identify and retrieve encroached forest land, the Forest Department said protection and preservation of forest land remained a priority and that action against encroachments was a continuous process.
The government said it had constituted a Special Task Force through Forest Order No. 183 of 2026, dated September 3, comprising forest and revenue officials. The task force has been mandated to complete the demarcation of forest boundaries in Bahu Range of Jammu Forest Division, in close coordination with the Revenue Department, within three months.
The reply, submitted by the Minister in charge of the Forest, Ecology and Environment Department, did not specify a separate deadline for eviction of all encroachments in Bahu constituency. It maintained that the Forest Department conducts periodic inspections and takes action for eviction and retrieval of encroached forest land under the relevant laws, rules and government instructions.
