Over 750 Apple and Pear trees felled in Kotkhai as eviction drive gains momentum
Shimla, July 12 (UNI) In a major operation carried out under tight security, the Special Operation Procedure (SOP) team today cut down over 750 apple and pear trees in the Kotkhai region of Shimla district as part of the ongoing court-monitored drive to clear illegal encroachments from forest land.
The operation began with the felling of 93 apple trees illegally planted by Dinesh Tajta, followed by the removal of 664 apple and pear trees belonging to Pratap Chauhan, officials confirmed.
The Revenue Department has reported that Pratap Chauhan has allegedly encroached upon nearly 20 bighas of forest land in the area. The remaining trees on this encroached stretch are scheduled to be removed on Sunday.
The action is part of the enforcement of a July 2, 2025 Himachal Pradesh High Court order in which a division bench comprising Justices Vivek Singh Thakur and Bipin C. Negi directed the State Forest Department to remove all apple orchards from previously encroached forest land across the state.
The court had taken strong note of repeated attempts by evicted encroachers to reoccupy forest land and had ordered strict recovery of costs from violators, including stump removal and forest replantation, to be charged as arrears of land revenue.
Law and order in the Kotkhai area was maintained peacefully throughout the day, with the District Administration and police teams deployed to ensure smooth conduct of the operation. No resistance or disruption was reported during the felling process.
Earlier, the District Magistrate had imposed a ban on carrying firearms in Village Chaithla under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, amid apprehensions of unrest due to previous instances where locals attempted to obstruct eviction drives.
The ban remains in effect till July 18, and all licensed firearms in the area were ordered to be deposited with the local police.
With the Forest Department and enforcement agencies acting in close coordination, the High Court's directive appears to be gaining full force on the ground, especially in sensitive regions like Kotkhai that have witnessed persistent encroachment over the years.
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