15 out of 17 religious, structures demolished by forest department built illegally in Dehradun forests on govt land !
The Uttarakhand government has started demolishing illegal shrines ( Mazaars) being constructed on government land, in forests near Dehradun.
The Uttarakhand courts had earlier, on number of occasions, directed the government authorities to take legal action against such Mazaars appearing in Uttarakhand forest lands.
According to the latest news about 15 shrines illegally built on forest land out of total 17 have been demolished and the forest department is looking for more such structures to take action against them.
The Uttarakhand’s previous government led by Pushkar Singh Dhami CM had said that the government authorities have received several complaints about such illegal Mazaars inside secluded jungle areas built on government land and had assured of necessary action.
Some videos had also gone viral in social media during the last elections about such illegal structures coming up in forest land even near the forest posts.
Most of the demolished illegal shrines have reportedly constructed in forest areas ( jungles) near the state capital Dehradun.
Some say that these structures in the name of religion are built with ulterior motive to capture government land and in some cases it was reported that these structures were just constructed without burying anyone thus giving an unambiguous impression that there is an ulterior motive behind the construction of such structures to encroach government land under the guise of building Mazaars.
According to a TV9 report there had been several such illegal structures coming up in the name of a particular religion in Udham Singh Nagar, Almora, Dehradun, Haridwar and Nainital districts of Uttarakhand. Even in distant Uttarkashi, Almora and Pauri districts these structures are coming up in forest areas. There had been no protest in this, regard so far say news reports.
In fact, the govt is not serious about encroachment in forest areas in Uttarakhand. A number of political people are using their contacts to encroach on forest land and sell it to outsiders. These people are having such a good connection with the powerful lobby that even complaints and huge de-forestation activities are not making them act against this. Some action on religious structure around Dun is not just part of vote bank politics. Had govt been so serious then why these commercial structures are coming up in the govt. forest land and how these unregistered properties are getting water and electricity connections !!!! None is serious about the loss of forest and flora and fauna being destroyed here. One live example of Munoli Van Panchayat in Almora is before us. Every day rarely available trees are being destroyed openly and leopards and other wild animals are finding it tough to survive with reduced forest and thus venturing into villages and killing innocent kids and seniors !! The diversity of forest ecology is being perished in open thus making a mockery of the present-day govt ! In fact these land mafias are flaunting their political connections .
Thank u for your invaluable comments
Thank u for your invaluable comments
Sunil Negi
In fact, the govt is not serious about encroachment in forest areas in Uttarakhand. A number of political people are using their contacts to encroach on forest land and sell it to outsiders. These people are having such a good connection with the powerful lobby that even complaints and huge de-forestation activities are not making them act against this. Some action on religious structure around Dun is not just part of vote bank politics. Had govt been so serious then why these commercial structures are coming up in the govt. forest land and how these unregistered properties are getting water and electricity connections !!!! None is serious about the loss of forest and flora and fauna being destroyed here. One live example of Munoli Van Panchayat in Almora is before us. Every day rarely available trees are being destroyed openly and leopards and other wild animals are finding it tough to survive with reduced forest and thus venturing into villages and killing innocent kids and seniors !! The diversity of forest ecology is being perished in open thus making a mockery of the present-day govt ! In fact these land mafias are flaunting their political connections.