Sanawar illegal house razed in forest land clearance drive

In a decisive step to clear forest land of illegal occupation, demolition work began today on an unauthorised two-storey house in the Moti Kona area of Sanawar. The structure, spread over 2.8 bighas, had been constructed several years ago by encroaching on forest land, violating existing norms.

The building, owned by local resident Chatter Singh, contained eight rooms and was situated on the valley side of the Sanawar-Dharampur road, accessible via a flight of steps from the road above. The demolition, overseen by Range Forest Officer Neelam, is expected to continue for several days due to the scale of the construction. An earth-moving machine has been deployed to dismantle the concrete structure.

The family occupying the house had been served notice earlier by the Forest Department following a court order to vacate the premises. Most belongings were removed before the operation began, with the remainder shifted amidst light rain this morning as the demolition team arrived.

To ensure law and order, a police posse was stationed at the site. Solan SP Gaurav Singh confirmed that police presence was arranged on the request of forest officials. The operation proceeded without incident — a marked contrast to a 2018 anti-encroachment drive in the area that turned violent, resulting in the deaths of a Town and Country Planning officer and a Public Works Department beldar.

The state High Court recently directed the government to remove all encroachments from forest land, prompting heightened action. In areas like Kasauli, resorts and other establishments have often encroached on adjoining government land, with limited intervention in the early stages. The latest drive signals a stricter enforcement approach, leaving many forest land encroachers concerned about impending action.