MP: 590 Hectares of Forest Land Reclaimed from Encroachment in Dhar; plans to plant teak saplings during monsoon to boost greenery
Dhar: In a major conservation initiative, the Dhar Forest Department has reclaimed 589.63 hectares of encroached forest land through a coordinated anti-encroachment drive conducted between January and May 2026. The campaign was carried out under the guidance of Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Vijayanatham T.R. and with the cooperation of the district administration, police, village forest committees, and local public representatives.
The reclaimed land spans seven forest ranges, including Bagh (202.82 hectares), Dhar (100.55 hectares), Tanda (93.76 hectares), Kukshi (56.00 hectares), Mandav (50.78 hectares), Sardarpur (50.62 hectares), and Dhamnod (35.10 hectares). According to the Forest Department, the operation was conducted peacefully and in accordance with legal procedures.
To restore greenery on the reclaimed land, the department will plant teak saplings (using the root-shoot method) during the 2026 monsoon season. Forest officials and frontline staff have already received specialized training in scientific plantation techniques, as well as plant protection and maintenance, to ensure high-quality plantation.
Urging citizens to protect forest resources, DFO Vijayanatham T.R. stated that forest land is a valuable public asset and encroachment will not be tolerated under any circumstances. He warned that strict legal action would be taken against violators, including the registration of cases under the Indian Forest Act, 1927, and the filing of FIRs for damage to government property.
The Dhar Forest Department has reiterated its commitment to increasing green cover through continuous forest protection, encroachment control, and large-scale tree plantation drives.