The Forest Department on Saturday warned all non-tribal illegal occupants on forest lands in the district to vacate the encroachments as soon as possible. A team of over 25 forest officials descended on Dhanora village in Kerameri mandal, intending to resume the forest lands under illegal occupation by non-tribals thereby clearly sending the message to all such encroachers.
The villagers of Dhanora pleaded with the forest officials for time to represent their case to higher authorities. They said they were tilling the lands since decades and would face problem if they have to forego the fields. Another plea which was made to the team was that the department can go ahead with plantation under ‘Haritha Haram’ in the lands being cultivated by the occupants. They however, asked the officials not to dispossess them of the lands.
