GUJAR KHAN: The district administration of Jhelum has launched an operation in the historic fort of Rohtas and removed illegally constructed houses and other structures from the premises.

According to Deputy Commissioner Ramla Ali, the centuries-old fort was also protected by Unesco. She said encroachment on free patches of land and plots in the fort had continued for decades. In order to preserve the heritage site, the assistant commissioner Dina had been directed to launch the operation.

Sadia Hussain Dogar, the assistant commissioner Dina, said about 20 kanals along with part of a graveyard had been encroached. She said the district and tehsil administrations had taken serious notice of the issue. The assistant commissioner said so far only three kanals had been freed from encroachers by demolishing the structures and the operation will continue till its complete clearance.

She hinted that the forest land encroached in the area would also be freed through an operation.

About 20 kanals along with part of a graveyard under illegal occupation, says official

Forest land

While the government is launching the much-publicised plantation drive to combat impacts of climate change, forest department land remains encroached by mafia in Gujar Khan.

Sources in the revenue department said a large part of forest department land was encroached and over some patches, litigation had been ongoing for decades.

Waqas Shah, the range officer in Gujar Khan, when contacted, said the demarcation of about 1,500 kanals of forest department in Dehra Muslim village was still awaited.

On the other hand, about 180 kanals was notified to the forest department but the revenue department record was ambiguous about it and a civil suit was under adjudication in civil courts.

District Forest Officer Rawalpindi Junaid said the 1,500 kanals forest land was located at uneven ground and its demarcation was sought with the help of Survey of Pakistan. He said other land in the district owned by the forest department also needed demarcation and the fee for this purpose was deposited with the Survey of Pakistan. He hoped that with the assistance of Survey of Pakistan’s maps demarcation will be completed by the revenue authorities.

The local people have urged the chief minister Punjab to take notice of the issue and direct for the rehabilitation of forest department’s land besides those owned by Pakistan Railways, highways, health and education departments.

Published in Dawn, August 25th, 2024