All DFOs to Submit Forest Land Status Report Within a Week: DC Shimla

Shimla, October 3 – A meeting was held under the chairmanship of Deputy Commissioner Anupam Kashyap with all SDMs and DFOs of Shimla district through video conferencing to review the demarcation of forest land.

The DC directed that all Divisional Forest Officers (DFOs) must submit the current status report of forest land within one week. The meeting also discussed the implementation of the Supreme Court’s orders in WP 1164/2023, which mandate states and union territories to identify forest land, take possession of it, and hand over non-forest land allocated for non-forest purposes under the Revenue Department to the Forest Department.

Challenges faced in implementing the orders on the ground, especially the shortage of staff, were highlighted. To overcome this, the DC instructed all SDMs to prepare area-specific plans to ensure timely compliance with the Supreme Court’s directions.

The meeting was attended by Additional District Magistrate (Law & Order) Pankaj Sharma, District Revenue Officer Sanjeet Sharma, along with all SDMs and DFOs of the district.