The forest department top officials and Revnue Department is planning to sell off a number of forest compartments in Pahalgam range Lidder Forest Division.

Pahalgam August 07,2017: The forest department top officials and Revnue Department is planning to sell off a number of forest compartments in Pahalgam range Lidder Forest Division including compartment 34, 35ABC. Preaprations are on to sell dense forest land to private hands for private commercial use without any compensation etc. There will be a blind trading of land worth billions under a fraud 60c of 1944, though there is absolutely no law that allows the forest department to transfer ownership of forest land to private hands.

The civil society of Pahalgam, citizens, media and other organizations  should be prepared to teach these people a lesson if the situation arises and be prepared for a long political and legal battle ahead.

We cannot allow our forest land to be surrendered to private hands. The fraud that 60c of 1944 is needs to be exposed and we will do that no matter what the cost.

Mushtaq Pahalgami,
Himalayan Welfare Organization-HWO