Warning bells: Villagers reject forest dept’s survey in Galiyat, threaten protest

Say conducted was based on demarcation of forest land by British in 1904

ABBOTTABAD: Villagers rejected the forest department’s survey in Galiyat and threatened to protest against PTI-led provincial government if any action was taken against them in the name of an anti-encroachment drive.

Speaking at a jirga held in Malach village on Saturday, Abbottabad tehsil council member Sardar Raheel said the survey carried out by the forest department was based on demarcation of forest land by the British in 1904.

He said a majority of residents of Malach village have valid documents from the revenue department that acknowledge them as owners.

“It is not acceptable to declare residential units of locals as encroached ones based on demarcation of 1904,” Raheel said.

Malach village council nazim Sardar Mubarak said the government must conduct a new survey with the assistance of the revenue department so the exact situation can be ascertained.

“This is injustice to the people of Malach who are being deprived of their houses,” he said.

According to Mubarak, if the government continued with the anti-encroachment drive, the people of Galiyat will take to the streets and challenge the forest department in court.

Participants urged Chief Minister Pervez Khattak take notice and resolve the issue with mutual consent of villagers and other stakeholders.

The backdrop

Official sources privy to the matter told The Express Tribune the provincial government asked three teams of 12 experts from Survey of Pakistan to demarcate forest land area following complaints of encroachment on reserved forest land. They were asked to erect cemented pillars on the boundaries.

According to Galiyat Forest Division DFO Sardar Muhammad Salim, between 2,000 to 2,500 acres of land has been encroached upon by owners of business centres, hotels, shops and houses.

In reply to a question, he said the environment secretary will issue orders for the removal of encroached properties after the submission of survey report after June 30.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 21^st, 2016.