HP mulling policy to protect interests of poor encroachers

In a bid to provide relief to encroachers on forest and state-owned lands, facing eviction following orders passed by the High Court, the Himachal Pradesh government today said it is contemplating to submit an interim policy before the court to safeguard interests of poor and marginal farmers.
The matter is under serious consideration of the government. It will also be examined in the light of the provisions of the Forest Rights Act so that bona-fide forest dwellers can be identified and their rights determined, State Revenue Minister Kaul Singh Thakur said.
The government was not in favour of encroachments, however, it intends to give relief to those small and marginal farmers and poor people, who constructed houses on government land or occupied it due to some compulsion, he said.

The state Assembly had passed a resolution to consider regularisation of their encroachments on humanitarian grounds, the Minister said after chairing a meeting of the High Powered Committee on the encroachments.
However, as the HC had passed various orders to remove all encroachments and illegal possessions on government land, a policy would soon be submitted before the court within the parameters of the law, to provide relief to small and marginal farmers, Thakur said.
He directed officials to submit a draft policy and appropriate scheme for the committee's consideration in its meeting on February 7.
Thakur, however, reiterated the government is commited to uphold the law, and deal with big and influential encroachers strictly.