Summary:
The non-action on the part of the state encourages unscrupulous people, to encroach upon government land, including indulging in illicit felling of trees, even changing the course of a river,” remarked the court. In 1992, during consolidation of the gram sabha land (chakbandhi), the land on which the trees were planted was given to a local builder in exchange of his land on the banks of the Ratmau river. The petition stated that in 1989 under an afforestation drive by the state forest department, around 20,000 mango, guava and other trees were planted. The report pointed out that large scale encroachment has also been done.“Till date, the state Government has not taken any action on the report. In 1990, the land was handed over to the gram sabha..