Dharamshala, 18th September: The Tribuneindia reported on Sep 17 that eviction and demolition orders had already been issued against 202 Tibetan dwellings in McLeod Ganj, Dharamsala, for forest encroachment, citing Sanjeev Sharma, DFO (District/Divisional Forest Officer), Dharamsala. However, thanks to the participation of the Ministry of External Affairs of the Union, Sharma noted, the question of property demolition was held.

According to the report, the union ministry has paused action against Tibetans on the grounds that if the demolitions go forward, a substantial number of Tibetans will be displaced. The DFO has stated, however, that if the Tibetans build to their current structures, lawsuits will be filed against them. He went on to say that a complaint was recently filed against certain Tibetans for erecting additional structures on TIPA road forest land.

When asked about reports by local Indians on forest land, the DFO declared that action would be made when the matter was raised. The DFO stated that the Municipal Corporation must take action if trees are broken down on private property.

The Tibetan residences in Dharamsala that are said to have encroached on forest land have existed without complaint since the Tibetans first came to the hill town in the early 1960s. They make up the majority of Tibetan dwellings in the hill town, clustered along the TIPA road.

According to the report, local Indians are encroaching on forest land in McLeod Ganj and other Upper Dharamsala localities such as Dharamkot and Bhagsunag.

Article based on tibetanreview

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