SVC orders probe against forest officer for land grabbing

The State Vigilance Commission today ordered a probe against a forest officer for allegedly grabbing forest land in Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir.
The commission in an order also directed the Principal Chief Conservator Forests to initiate departmental action against Forest Range Officer, Nowshera, District Rajouri, SVC officer said.
Earlier, the commission had proceeded on a complaint against Mohinder Lal, the then Block Officer, Jhangar, Range Nowshera, and presently Range Officer Nowshera, for allegedly grabbing forest land measuring 20 kanals, he said.
The officer had also allegedly made revenue entry in the records in his own name by fraudulent means, he added.

The commission then called for a report from SDM Nowshera which prima-facie established illegal grabbing of forest land by the forest officer, he said.
The encroached land was then retrieved by the SDM and the revenue entry was also corrected on October 23 by expunging the illegal entry, he said.
Taking serious note of the matter, the commission stated, "It is unfortunate that the employer who was supposed to protect forests and forest land had not only grabbed the same but had also allotted the same to himself and his co-shares.