Reclaim 444.12 acres of forest land from IAF, says Minister Khandre
The Hindu
Environment Minister directs officials to reclaim 444.12 acres of forest land from Indian Air Force in Peenya Plantation and Jarakabande Reserve.
Environment Minister Eshwar Khandre has directed officials to reclaim 444.12 acres of forest land in Peenya Plantation and Jarakabande Reserve, which is currently under the possession of the Indian Air Force (IAF).
Mr. Khandre on Wednesday directed officials to reclaim the forest land as per legal provisions.
The minister said that of the 570 acres of land allocated to the IAF in 1987, the government had de-notified 452 acres as forest land and canceled its approval in 2017. However, despite this, the IAF began illegal construction on March 1 without obtaining forest clearance, the minister said. Forest officials have halted the construction since.
“According to the government’s 2017 order, the land has been mutated and officially recorded as reserved forest. The forest department has also informed the IAF authorities and installed a signboard marking it as a reserved forest. Additionally, a letter has been sent to the Ministry of Defence to vacate the forest land,” Mr Khandre said.
At present the IAF is using about 15 acres of this land for training purposes with a shooting range in place.
While offices and other building structures have come up in some portions of the land. The remaining land retains its natural forest cover, rich with trees and vegetation.
Mr. Khandre has instructed officials to take legal steps to reclaim the forest land and to formally notify the IAF to apply for the required forest clearance through the Parivesh portal for the land it is currently using.
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