Following my story on encroachment on forest land, forest ranger Mahesh Ahirwar was suspended for negligence and irresponsible behaviour. About 12 hectare area was taken over by farmers under the nose of the ranger.
The site was noticed and complaints raised by legal activist Abhijeet Pandey. A team from Bhopal had investigated the encroached spots on Mhow – Mandleshwar road after local team failed to investigate the matter.
Bhopal team headed by forest ranger Sunil Saxena investigated the various spots, where encroachment was reported.
The report was submitted to PCCF Rajesh Shrivastava. After which, the order for suspension was finally issued on Saturday by CK Ninima, chief conservator of forest Indore.
Sharing details about the encroachments, Pandey said, “There are 12 such marked spots of forest department, where land has already been cleared and prepared for cultivation.” The land might have even been cultivated for previous as well.
“Now, the farmers are preparing the land for next harvest and using the land for growing crops in monsoon,” Pandey said. He added that each of the 12 spots have at least 5 to 10 hectare area each.
“There are many areas, where an entire hill protected under forest area has been cut down and used by farmers for cultivation,” Pandey said. He explained that the 12 identified spots are already marked by forest and yet allowed to be encroached.
“There are over 100 such spots on Mhow – Mandleshwar road, which come under forest and are encroached, but since they don’t have forest marking points,” Pandey said.