Taluka-level SITs formed to identify reserve forests handed to private parties

Panaji: Based on Supreme Court directives to all state chief secretaries, Goa govt on Thursday constituted taluka-level special investigation teams (SIT) to examine whether any reserved forest land in possession of the state revenue department has been allotted to private individuals or institutions for purposes other than forestry.

The Supreme Court had directed that appropriate steps should be taken to take back possession of any such lands and handover the same to the forest department. The order also stated that wherever taking back the possession was not found to be in the larger public interest, the state should recover the cost of such land and utilise it for development of forests.

As per the SC directives, states are to ensure completion of the exercise within a year. Accordingly, the state revenue department, as a preliminary measure, had issued instructions to both the collectors and the forest department to conduct field inspections to identify such cases.

Following this exercise, the constitution of the taluka-level SIT was notified on Thursday.

Each team will be led by the deputy collector, with an assistant conservator of forests as a member. Other members will include representatives of the directorate of settlement and land records, talathi of the respective village, besides any other member or members to be co-opted by the team leader (deputy collector), if required.

“The SITs shall examine whether any reserved forest land in possession of the revenue department has been allotted to any private individuals/institutions for any purpose other than the forestry purpose. It shall also identify and prepare a detailed inventory of such lands, including extent, location and present status. Recommend and initiate action for taking back possession of such lands and handing over the same to the forest department,” the notification states.

In cases where it is not possible to take possession of land in the larger public interest, the SITs are to assess and recommend recovery of the cost of such land from the concerned individual/institution, for utilisation towards development of forests.

“The SITs shall also identify reserve forest lands which are still reflecting in the revenue records in the name of revenue department and submit the detailed report in each such case to govt through the collector concerned. The progress of the SITs shall be jointly monitored by the collector of the respective district and the concerned deputy conservator of forests,” the notification states.