Eco-tourism complex on encroached land in Kasol soon

Dipender Manta

Tribune News Service

Kullu, April 8

The Forest Department, Kullu, will develop an eco-tourism complex at Kasol on the 1.6 bigha forestland in the region, which was occupied illegally for business purpose. The case was going on in the Supreme Court and a judgment has been delivered in favour of the Forest Department.

The officials of the Forest Department are struggling hard in Kullu district to take the possession of forestland from encroachers.

Talking to The Tribune here, BL Negi, Conservator, Forest Department, Kullu, said the department would take over the possession of the forestland measuring 1.6 bighas worth crores adjacent to the Range Forest Office, Forest Rest House and forest complex in Kasol within 15 days.

“Petitioners Chaman Lal and Jiwa Nand, natives of Suma Ropa village in Kullu district, who claimed to be the owner of the said land, filed a civil suit against the state government in 2010, which was dismissed by the Civil Judge (Sr Division), Kullu. Subsequently, a Regular Second Appeal (RSA) was filed by them before the High Court and the court found no merit in the appeal and the same was dismissed vide order on February 2015,” he said.

“Later, they filed a Special Leave Petition (SLP) before the Supreme Court. It was told in a nutshell that the Forest Department was in the possession of the land in question prior to 1942-43,” he said.

“The Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation was in the physical possession of the land and further leased it in favour of Winderbaum (An Israeli national) up to 2015, but the land was not vacated after the expiry of the lease period,” Negi said.

“It was a prolonged legal battle against encroachers to take back the possession of land. Finally on March 26, the Supreme Court disposed of the case in favour of the HP Forest Department,” he said.

Negi said the verdict of the Supreme Court in this matter was very important after the famous Angora Farm case in Kullu district, in which the land measuring 56.5 bighas was also occupied illegally and given back to the department.

He said the land in question should be taken in possession within 15 days and an eco-tourism complex should come up in Kasol, as the valley had tremendous tourism potential. Resources generated from eco-tourism should be earmarked for the protection, conservation and local livelihood development.