Encroachment to be settled by February, 2007

Bhopal, Nov 2 (UNI) Revenue Minister Kamal Patel today assured in the Madhya Pradesh Assembly the encroachers on revenue and forest land would not be evicted and the dispute would be settled by February next year.

He said a proposal to grant ownership rights to tribal encroachers on forest land was pending with the Centre. Committees at the district-level were looking into the encroachment issue, he said during question hour.

Former Chief Minister Digvijay Singh suggested better coordination between Revenue and Forest departments for demarcation of the land. A notification was issued earlier for transferring 96 lakh hectare forest land to revenue department, but it did not materialise due to the disinterest of the Revenue department, he pointed out.

Mr Singh suggested that NGOs would also be involved in the demarcation work.

UNI SP LS BST1653