Forest Division flags large-scale encroachment across seven blocks
An investigation by the Jabalpur Forest Division has revealed that more than 3,000 acres of forest land in the district have been encroached upon, with an initial survey indicating roughly 500–600 hectares under occupation, officials said. The matter has been placed before a district-level task force for further examination and action, according to a report in Bhaskar English.
Encroachments have been recorded across seven administrative areas of the district — Jabalpur, Kundam, Panagar, Shahpura, Bargi, Majholi and Sihora — and include both settlements and agricultural use of erstwhile forest tracts. The Forest Department warned that such occupation is affecting local ecosystems, biodiversity and wildlife habitats.
"Some occupants may have been living on the land since before 2005 and could be eligible for land rights under the Forest Rights Act," DFO Puneet Sonkar said.
Task force to verify legal status and rights claims
District Forest Officer Puneet Sonkar said the initial probe found encroachment on around 500–600 hectares, but noted that cases will be examined individually. Some occupants may qualify for recognition under the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006, if their occupation predates 2005, while other claims may relate to records going back to 1980.
The DFO highlighted a procedural complication concerning parcels recorded in departmental maps but not formally notified as forest land — locally referred to as "orange land". Because such land lacks clear legal classification, the department said it cannot move straightaway to eviction or restoration; the task force will first determine the legal status before recommending further steps.
Scope, immediate steps and implications for communities
Forest officials said they will first separate cases where occupants appear eligible under statutory rights from those that are clearly illegal. Action against unlawful occupation will follow the rules once investigations and legal formalities are complete. The department did not give a timeline for restoration measures or eviction where warranted.
- Area affected: Reported occupation exceeds 3,000 acres (initial survey ~500–600 hectares).
- Locations: Jabalpur, Kundam, Panagar, Shahpura, Bargi, Majholi, Sihora.
- Issues: Settlements and farming on forest land, disputed legal status of some tracts ("orange land").
The district-level task force is expected to scrutinise records, verify dates of occupation and cross-check claims against the Forest Rights Act and earlier eligibility lists before formal action is taken. The process will involve coordination between the Forest Department, revenue authorities and other local agencies where property classification is unclear.
| Parameter | Reported figure |
|---|---|
| Total encroached area (approx.) | 3,000+ acres |
| Initial survey estimate | 500–600 hectares |
| Blocks affected | 7 (Jabalpur, Kundam, Panagar, Shahpura, Bargi, Majholi, Sihora) |
Conservationists and local stakeholders will be watching the task force’s work closely. Large-scale encroachment on forest land can fragment habitats and reduce the availability of non-timber forest produce on which rural and tribal communities often rely. At the same time, the government must balance ecological restoration with statutory rights of forest dwellers recognised under national law.
Forest officials said further decisions, including potential restoration or eviction drives, will be taken only after the task force completes its verification and establishes the legal status of each parcel.
Details of individual cases, and any timetable for action, were not released in the report. The investigation and the task force referral were disclosed by the Jabalpur Forest Division and reported by Bhaskar English.
