The Department of Forests (DoF) has directed local authorities to carry out demarcation of the forest areas in their districts and come up with a proper action plan to control forest encroachment. 

Concerned with the DoF’s failure to implement its directive issued last year to conduct demarcation of forestland and control encroachment, the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) had reminded the DoF last month to complete the assigned task without further delay. 

On April 8, 2015, the CIAA had issued a directive to the Ministry of Forests and Soil Conservation to come up with a detailed report on the existing status of forestland in all 75 districts. The ministry and its line agencies were also asked to come up with stringent measures to recover the encroached forestland, and prepare a work plan to control encroachment within three months, along with a periodic report in every six months. 

However, the district forest offices and line agencies have yet to furnish the information. 

“We have already asked our district authorities to prepare the required report and submit it to the department at the earliest. The districts will conduct demarcation of forestland in their respective districts and submit a action plan to control encroachment” said Resham Dangi, director general at the DoF.