By Arun Pratap Singh
Garhwal Post Bureau
Nainital, 12 Dec: Serious questions have arisen in respect of alleged major encroachment on more than 43 naalis of forest land in Bhowali area. What probably began as a small structure on a legally leased plot of 2 naali land, allegedly went on to encroach as much as 43 naalis of land without any legal process or documents. Questions not only arise regarding the encroachers who have built a mosque and later encroached on this large piece of land but also regarding the forest and revenue officials, who through all these years just chose to look the other way as the encroachment was happening.
Reports of such encroachments are now emerging from across the state and even in Dehradun, particularly in Pachhwa Doon. Connivance of the revenue officials like the tehsildars, patwaris and SDMs as well as of rangers and DFOs concerned can’t be ruled out at all in most cases. It is only after Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami took very serious note of this development, what he has described as land jihad, that many such encroachments in the form of madrasas, mazaars and even mosques are surfacing.
A major controversy has erupted in the Bhowali area of Nainital after a mosque situated on Bhumiadhar Road was found to have allegedly encroached upon nearly 43 naalis of government land and constructed a boundary wall around the expanded premises. Questions are now being raised over the role of the Forest Department and the district administration regarding how such structures were allowed to come up and expand within reserved forest areas without timely intervention. The matter came to public attention after a video circulating widely on social media claimed that the mosque had been originally built on forest land and that its management had gradually also occupied the adjoining forest area over the years.
Taking cognisance of the viral posts on social media, the Nainital District Administration sent a joint team comprising officials of the Revenue and Forest Departments to inspect the site. The team found that the mosque complex was enclosed by a boundary wall covering close to 45 naalis of land. According to the Forest Department, archival records showed that in 1924, 5,016 square feet of land, equivalent to two naalis and five mutthis, had been leased out for the mosque. Notably, the lease period for this land had expired several years ago, yet the current extent of the complex is in occupation of reportedly over 45 naalis, indicating unauthorised encroachment on about 43 naalis of government land. Examination of Revenue Department documents further revealed that 45 naalis of land were recorded under the municipal records. The situation has given rise to a central and troubling question: how did the mosque area expand from two to 45 naalis?
District Magistrate Lalit Mohan Rayal now claims that a detailed investigation is underway to determine the precise extent of the land, the timeline of construction and the manner in which the complex expanded. He added that the DFO of the Forest Department has been directed to submit a comprehensive report along with all related land documents.
Meanwhile, administrative scrutiny of illegal religious structures on government land has intensified across Nainital district. Principal Secretary RK Sudhanshu is also learnt to have reviewed the issue with the district authorities following instructions from Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami.
It may be reminded here that CM Dhami has reiterated that illegal religious structures raised on government land are being removed. He asserted that the government will not allow the ‘divine cultural character’ of this Devbhoomi to be altered under any circumstances. Dhami is today on a tour to Nainital District and he confirmed that the mosque case in the Bhumiadhar forest is presently under legal investigation.
