Collector Report Confirms Encroachment on 31.48 Hectares of Sehore Forest Land

An encroachment case involving forest land has come to light in the Budhni area of Sehore district in Madhya Pradesh. A Collector’s investigation report has confirmed encroachment on 31.48 hectares of forest land. The report, which has been submitted to the government, states that thousands of teak saplings were destroyed to occupy the land.

According to the report, the Forest Development Corporation had planted 3.37 lakh saplings in Sehore in 2021. Of these, around 78,700 teak saplings were cut down, after which the land was allegedly occupied. The case came to light during an examination of satellite images.

The satellite images showed that the forest land concerned was vacant until 2021. Signs of encroachment began appearing there from 2022, according to the investigation report. The images were used to track the changes in the area and examine when the encroachment began.

The encroachment was found in compartment 426 of the reserve forest located in Kosmi Beat of the Ladkui range. The Forest Development Corporation had carried out plantation work in this area in 2021. The report states that after the trees and plants were damaged, cultivation and other activities were started on the land.

The report also records the transfer of 186.960 hectares of forest land in 2020. This land was transferred from the General Forest Division to the Sehore Project Division of the Forest Development Corporation. After the transfer, the corporation planted 3 lakh 37 thousand 500 teak saplings over 135 hectares in 2021.

During the investigation, nine people were identified in connection with the encroachment. The report states that permanent houses, house numbers and voter IDs were recorded in villages in their names. These people were reported to be associated with Singhpur and Habibnagar villages in Sehore district.

The report also describes the action taken to remove the encroachment. All nine huts were removed during the operation. It further mentions that illegally dug wells were filled with soil. Drone videography of the action was also carried out, according to the report.

The action led to resentment among employees of the Forest Development Corporation. According to the report, a sit-in protest had been continuing for three days outside the corporation’s depot. The protest was linked to the action to remove the encroachment.

An administrative-level report has been prepared regarding the condition of the forest land and the encroachment removal operation. The Collector’s investigation report has already been sent to the government. Further action will now be based on the findings and details recorded in the report at the government level.