LARKANA, May 18: The committee, holding inquiry into the eradication of forests in Larkana district, has recommended in its findings that the illegal allotments of forest land and forged and fake entries, cancelled by the Board of Revenue, commissioner and deputy commissioner, should be entered in revenue record without any delay.

Sources told this scribe on Saturday that despite orders from the Board of Revenue, the 111 cancellation orders of Shaliani Forest lands were not entered in the revenue record as the matter was pending with the EDO, revenue, Larkana, for the last six months.

The divisional forest officer, afforestation, Larkana, briefed the inquiry committee, headed by the EDO, finance and planning, Noor Ali Khan, that even declared forest land under government notification was not entered in revenue record though time and again the matter was raised with the revenue officials.

The conservator of forests, Larkana, informed the probe body that large forest areas had been encroached upon and from 1995 to 2001, 57 FIRs were lodged against the encroachers but no action was taken against them.

The forest staff, the committee observed, should seek help from the district police officer and Nazim in vacating the occupied forests land.

It was revealed that irrigation authorities in violation of laws and rules were leasing out land reserved for forests in the district and in this context reference was made to the leases lately granted by the assistant engineer, irrigation, Dokri sub-division.

The committee asked the executive engineer, Northern Dadu Canal, to immediately cancel such illegal leases after having a consultation with the concerned departments.

It was also found that a petrol pump in Karani village was constructed on some portion of forest land.

The inquiry officer has submitted the report to the district Nazim and DCO for necessary action.

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