PWD constructed parking courtyard on forestland
Our Correspondent
Hamirpur, March 26
The Public Works Department allegedly spent over Rs 2 lakh to make parking space and courtyard on the forestland in front of a restaurant in the town. Significantly, the PWD had constructed this spacious parking area on the forest land that was allegedly encroached upon by a restaurant owner earlier. The land was developed by the PWD on the pretext of constructing a footpath but later, the department constructed the courtyard for the restaurant along with the footpath. It was learnt that the department of forest had also turned a blind eye while the PWD constructed a cemented courtyard on the forest land. The encroached land was merely at a distance of less than 100 yards and part of the forest offices complex at the district headquarters. The matter was well in the notice of the DFO and the CCF of the department. The revenue department had also reported to the forest department about the encroachment vide its letter dated Sept. 19, 2019, that over 40.75 sq meter area was used as courtyard but the department failed to initiate any action against it.
Nishant Sharma, a social activist in the town, alleged that both the PWD and the Forest Department had not only encouraged encroachment on the government property but despite repeated demarcations of the forest land, the courtyard was constructed there.
LC Bandna, divisional forest officer, said she had allowed a passage to the restaurant through the forest land but not the construction of a courtyard on the identified land.
Vivek Sharma, Executive Engineer of the PWD division here, admitted that the PWD had done cementing in the forest area for people. He said if the Forest Department objects, the PWD would clear the area.
