KARACHI: Influential landgrabbers prevail over officials: Rs1bn forest land
By Bhagwandas
KARACHI, May 26: More than 4,500 acres of land, worth over a billion rupees and reserved for forestation, is under the illegal occupation of various influential people in just one district — Naushehro Feroz —, it is learnt reliably.
According to the sources, since the land has been encroached upon by influential people, the local forest department officials just make reports and send these to their head office where these reports are kept in files without any action on them.
The sources said that majority of the landgrabbers appeared to be either political figures or their front men. Though they belong to different political groups, there seems to be an unwritten understanding among them which provides for no action against the culprits no matter which party was in power, according to the sources.
A report sent to the head office by the Conservator of Forests (Aforestation Circle), Ghulam Rasool Kerio, reveals that about 4,500 acres of land has already been encroached upon.
The report says that Abdul Hakeem Junejo, a manager of Syed Akber Ali Shah, has grabbed more than 1,000 acres in K-Dero IP compartment No 1, 2 and 10. The matter was reported to the Army Monitoring Team of Naushehro Feroz.
The team’s colonel incharge ordered revenue authorities for the demarcation of the forest and revenue lands but due to political pressure, the order could not be complied with.
The divisional forest officer has been trying to get the land vacated, but in vain despite issuance of governor’s orders in this regard.
The report says that Sardar Shah Nawaz Khushik has encroached upon more than 1,600 acres in Mohabatdero riverine forest on the basis of Ijazat Naama issued by the revenue authorities of Dokri Taluka.
The forest department has asked survey superintendent of Khairpur and revenue authorities many a times for the demarcation of forest and revenue lands, but the boundary between Dokri Taluka and Mohbatdero, in Kandiaro taluka, could not be determined.
Forest department issued notices to the encroachers under Sindh Public Property (Removal of Encroachments Act) 1975 but all in vain. The district Nazim and coordination official have been approached but land could not be vacated from the influential encroacher.
The report says that though 2,142 acres were awarded to the forest department in Kandiaro riverine forest by the deputy commissioner of Nawabshah, only 600 acres were physically handed over by the revenue authorities, whereas for the remaining 1,552 acres, the revenue authorities of Nawabshah, Naushehro Feroz and Khairpur have been approached and, so far, there is no response.
On the other hand, the revenue authorities have issued Ijazat Naamas to Abdul Fatah Samito and others on Darya Khurdi rights and the matter is pending for demarcation with revenue authorities. Sukkur Commissioner has also granted a status quo in favour of the encroachers, who are influential figures of Kandiaro, in Naushehro Feroz district.
According to the report, Fateh Ali Jatoi, Anwer Ali Samito, Mehrab Samito and Nazir Hussain have also encroached on 240 acres in Bhour riverine forest. The forest department has been seeking the district administration’s help in getting the lands vacated. The encroachers have also been issued notices under Sindh Public Property (Removal of Encroachment Act) 1975, but they have not even bothered to respond to the notices.
The forest department report reveals that Hussain Bux Hisbani and Mohammad Ali Hisbani have encroached on 40 acres in Mohabatdero riverine forest of Kandiaro Range on the plea that they have ownership rights of 120 acres issued by Mukhtiarkar of Kandiaro in the same area.
The encroachers have also cut down trees within the encroached lands despite resistance put up by the foresters. Furthermore, the encroachers have sunk a tubewell to irrigate the lands. Cases have been registered against them under the Forests Act 1927 and PPC/2. An FIR has been registered against them at Hassan Shaheed police station.
Responding to the Dawn queries on Monday, the provincial Forests Secretary, Shams-ul-Haq Memon, said: “All the encroachments, except those by Hisbanis in Mohabatdero forest, are old cases and require demarcation of boundaries. The department is making efforts to get the demarcation done through the agencies concerned, but the encroachers are influential people of the Naushehro Feroz district and they prevail upon the local officials and continue to occupy the encroached land on one plea or the other.”
He, however, said that department would continue to make efforts to get the state land worth at least Rs1 billion vacated.
