Locals protest, stones pelted against administrative action in Rishikesh forest land case

PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE /Dehradun 

Tension prevailed in the Gumaniwala area near Rishikesh on Sunday after people protested and some even pelted stones against the Forest department’s action to demarcate forest land following a recent Supreme Court order. Many local residents are worried that their land and homes may be taken away. A large number of people also sat on the railway track while raising slogans against the authorities.

Departmental officials along with the police and administrative officials reached the site and tried to explain the Supreme Court directions to the protesters who continued protesting.

The situation turned tense when some elements among the crowd of protesters pelted stones. Mild force was used to disperse the protesters.

Later, teams of the Government Railway Police (GRP) and the Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) were also called to control the situation. Senior administrative and police officers also reached the area to handle the matter. Heavy security was deployed in the area with the authorities focusing on restoring normalcy through talks with the protesters.

It will be recalled that pulling up the State government for allowing encroachments on about 2,800 acres of forest land in the Rishikesh area, the SC had directed immediate administrative action. The apex court also directed the State’s chief secretary and additional chief secretary to urgently examine the matter, ascertain the status of possession of the land, and submit a detailed report to the court by the first week of January. The bench also directed that all vacant portions of the land be taken into possession forthwith by the Forest department while also ordering a status quo regarding the existing residential units on the land.