19,496 Hectares of Forest Land Under Encroachment in Jammu Kashmir | Kashmir Life

SRINAGAR: The Government of Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday informed the Legislative Assembly that 19,496.73 hectares of forest land in the Union Territory are under encroachment as on December 31, 2025.

Replying to an Assembly Question tabled by MLA Rajiv Jasrotia, Minister in-charge, Forest, Ecology and Environment Department, said the department has initiated multiple measures to retrieve the illegally occupied forest land and prevent fresh encroachments.

The Minister said detailed surveys and demarcation of forest boundaries are being undertaken to identify encroachments. Notices are issued under Section 79-A of the Indian Forest Act, 1927 directing encroachers to vacate forest land, followed by eviction drives conducted by the Forest Department. Retrieved land is subsequently fenced, planted with indigenous species and restored to its original forest status to prevent re-encroachment.

He said increased vigil is being maintained jointly by the territorial forest staff and Forest Protection Force, and technology such as remote sensing, GPS and drones is being deployed for protection of forest land.

On the issue of district-wise details of forest land encroached by Ministers, ex-Ministers, MLAs, ex-MLAs, bureaucrats and business houses, the Minister said the list has been enclosed as Annexure-B to the reply laid on the table of the House.

Detailing procurement policy, the Minister said works relating to barbed wire, poles, plants and associated components are not purchased separately. Instead, composite works such as fencing, plantation and soil and moisture conservation are tendered through composite Notices Inviting Tenders (NITs) in accordance with the General Financial Rules (GFR) and government procurement guidelines in force.

“All works are carried out through the prescribed tendering process with due approval of competent authority and award to the lowest bidder (L1), who is responsible for supplying required materials as per approved specifications,” the reply stated.

The House was also informed that several Union Territory and Centrally Sponsored Schemes are operative in JK for conservation and preservation of forests, ecology, environment and wildlife. These include Capex Budget, Green India Mission, Forest Fire Prevention and Management Scheme, Nagar Van Yojana, Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) and National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Ecosystems, among others.

On the policy governing felling of Khair trees, the Minister said the process is regulated under the Jammu and Kashmir Non-Forest Land Khair Trees ‘Acacia catechu’ (Management Plan) Rules, 2016, framed following recommendations of the Central Empowered Committee to the Supreme Court and in compliance with its judgement dated September 26, 2013.

He clarified that as per Rule 8(5) of the 2016 Rules, issued vide SRO-111 of 2016, farmers are permitted to sell khair wood outside the Union Territory of JK.

The Minister reiterated that procurement and execution of works in the Forest Department are being undertaken strictly in compliance with applicable financial and procurement norms.