Latest news with #SpecialOperationProcedure
United News of India
4 hours ago
- United News of India
Eviction drive Intensifies in Kotkhai: Over 1,220 apple and pear trees felled
Shimla, July 13 (UNI)The court-monitored forest land eviction drive in Kotkhai area of Shimla district in Himachal Pradesh gained further momentum today, with the Special Operation Procedure (SOP) team felling 472 fruit-bearing trees in Village Chaithla of Gram Panchayat Pandali The eviction drive was undertaken following the Himachal Pradesh High Court's strict directives to remove illegal apple orchards from encroached forest land. According to official information, the trees belonged to nine individuals who had allegedly encroached upon government forest land and planted commercial orchards. In today's operation, the SOP team cut down 418 apple trees, 53 pear tree and one peach tree Officials from the Revenue Department stated that the trees were between 10 to 35 years old, indicating long-term illegal occupation of forest land. The operation was halted around 4:10 PM due to rainfall. However, the district administration confirmed that law and order remained peaceful throughout the day, and further updates will be communicated as the situation develops. This action follows Saturday's drive in the same region where 93 apple trees belonging to Dinesh Tajta were removed. 664 apple and pear trees from the land encroached by Pratap Chauhan were cut Total trees axed in two days now stands at 1,229, comprising of 973 apple tree, 117 pear trees and one peach tree These evictions are part of the enforcement of the July 2, 2025, High Court order in CWPIL No. 17 of 2024 and CWPIL No. 9 of 2015. The Court had directed the Forest Department to immediately remove all apple orchards from previously encroached forest land across Himachal Pradesh and recover costs from the encroachers as arrears of land revenue. It had also issued bailable warrants against those obstructing the implementation. The Forest Department and district administration, working under enhanced police security, are pressing forward with the removal despite adverse weather, ensuring compliance with the High Court's order. UNI ML SSP
United News of India
a day ago
- Politics
- United News of India
Over 750 Apple and Pear trees felled in Kotkhai as eviction drive gains momentum
States » North 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. UNI ML ARN
