Forest Department undertakes ‘Bulldozer Action’ in Mussoorie

By Sunil Sonker
Mussoorie, 1 Jun: Taking major action against alleged illegal construction and land plotting occurring in environmentally sensitive zones within Mussoorie, the Forest Department deployed JCBs in the Jharipani area and demolished several structures today. This operation by the Forest Department created a stir throughout the region. A heavy contingent of forest personnel and police forces remained deployed at the site throughout the operation.According to the Forest Department, certain individuals were engaging in unauthorised activities—including land plotting, the construction of retaining walls, road building, and fencing off land using iron angles—within a notified forest area situated along a shortcut route connecting Jharipani to Kolukhet. Following the receipt of complaints and their subsequent verification through an investigation, the department arrived at the site and proceeded to demolish the unauthorised structures.Mahendra Singh, the Ranger of the Mussoorie Forest Range, stated that this action was executed under the directives of Mussoorie Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Amit Kumar. He explained that, according to departmental records, the entire area falls under the category of a ‘Notified Forest Area’, where any form of construction is strictly prohibited. He further noted that no approved plan or layout exists for the area in question; therefore, permission for construction cannot be granted to any individual. Should anyone wish to undertake construction, they must first obtain the necessary approval from the Government of India, after which the process for issuing a No Objection Certificate (NOC) at the Forest Department level may be considered.The Ranger clarified that, under the provisions of the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, strict action will be taken against any construction carried out on forest land without prior permission. He also revealed that certain NOCs issued in recent years are currently under scrutiny at the departmental level. If any irregularities are detected in a specific case, appropriate measures—including the cancellation of the concerned NOC—will be initiated.
According to Forest Department officials, land in several locations was being levelled through illegal hill-cutting and mining, after which it was being sold off as residential plots. The department asserts that such activities not only constitute a violation of the law but are also extremely hazardous from an environmental standpoint and in terms of landslide risks.Following this crackdown by the Forest Department, the functioning of the Mussoorie Municipal Council has also come under scrutiny. Local discussions suggest that claims are being made—at the municipal level—that plinth-related certificates or other formal documents are being issued to certain individuals in the very same areas that the Forest Department has designated as ‘notified’ zones where construction is prohibited.The most pressing question is: if, according to the Forest Department, the land falls within a notified zone, then on what grounds were the documents required to advance construction-related processes actually issued? Is there a lack of coordination between the departments, or are construction activities being indirectly encouraged through a deliberate disregard for the rules? Following reports that the Forest Department is scrutinising the issued No Objection Certificates (NOCs), discussions regarding the role of the Municipal Council and other relevant departments have intensified. Sources suggest that further revelations regarding this matter may emerge in the coming days.Local residents affected by the operation have voiced their opposition to the Forest Department’s action. They maintain that the land in question is their private property and has been their ancestral holding for generations. They have alleged that the Forest Department raised no objections while they were engaged in the construction of retaining walls and land-plotting activities for several months. They argue that action has been taken abruptly, only after they had already invested lakhs of rupees. The locals assert that the area in question does not constitute ‘notified forest land’ and that they possess valid documents establishing their ownership rights. They have stated that if the department fails to heed their grievances, they will seek legal recourse in the courts.This operation by the Forest Department has sparked a fresh debate in Mussoorie regarding illegal construction, land-plotting activities, and inter-departmental coordination. In the days to come, the findings of the investigation and the ensuing judicial proceedings are expected to provide a clearer picture of this entire episode.