The State Cabinet has decided to formulate a special rehabilitation and resettlement (R&R) package for over 86,362 families, who have encroached upon forest lands less than three acres across the State.
Families have totally encroached upon over 1.15 lakh acres of forest lands (less than three acres).
The Revenue Department has been directed to formulate an R&R package and identity land for providing alternative lands for families.
Briefing presspersons on the Cabinet decisions, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister T.B. Jayachandra said 1,10,626 families have encroached more than 2.04 lakh acres of forest land; 113 families have encroached 5,345 acres (between 10 and 30 acres); and 23,423 families have encroached 71,108 acres (between 3 and 10 acres).
The Supreme Court had directed the State to relocate families who have encroached forest lands. The encroachment is prohibited under the Forest (Conservation) Act 1980.
A decision was also taken to urge the Union Ministry of Forests to denotify forest lands which have been classified as non-forest lands by the State government.
