More forestland freed from grabbers
Forest department yesterday recovered eight acres of forestlands from illegal occupiers and demolished fruit orchards under Dokhala forest area in Madhupur upazila.
The local foresters led by Jamal Hossain Talukder, assistant forest conservator (ACF North) in Tangail, conducted the drive.
With this recent recovery, the department has freed a total 51 acres of forestland under different forest in the upazila during special drives that started on March 8.
Abdul Ahad, range officer of Dokhala forest, said people from neighbouring areas had been cultivating banana occupying vast land inside the Sal forest for long.
ACF Jamal said they recovered 23 acres of forestlands in Gachhabari, Chawra Baid, Shukonpocha and Chitakhola area during drives from March 8 to 13 and 20 acres of forestland in Digorbaid area on March 18.
Trees like Jarul, Hijol and Rain Tree and different varieties of other trees will be planted on the recovered forestland, he said.
Tangail Divisional Forest Officer Dr Jahirul Haque said they will continues such drive to free the grabbed forestlands. He also sought supports from all concerned in this regard.
Mentionable, the traditional Sal forest in Madhupur is shrinking very fast due to nonstop tree felling and illegal encroachment.
Over 20,000 acres out of a total of 45,565 acres of forestland in the upazila are currently under illegal occupiers. Many locals and influential outsiders raised different fruits and vegetables orchards on the grabbed forestland, according to sources at the forest department.
Forest officials said their department has been struggling to recover the grabbed forestland due to shortage of manpower and interference of powerful quarter.
Comments