Punjab purchases land from market to expand forest cover

Chandigarh, September 3, 2013: The Punjab Government has declared 30.36 hectares of land in district Pathankot as Protected forest. This land was purchased by the Punjab government from open market for expanding the Forest Cover in the state.
Disclosing this here today the spokesman of the Punjab government said that notification has been issued and this land declared to be protected under section 29 of the Indian Forest Act, 1927. He said that the land that has been declared as protected forest reserve is from village including village Raipur (0.77 hectare), village Kathlaur (7.88 hectare), village Gajju Khalsa (14.51) and village Rajibeli (7.20) hectare.
He further said that all trees standing in or upon these forest lands stand declared reserved from the date of publication of this notification whereas order has also been issued to prohibit the quarrying of stones, the burning of lime, charcoal, the collection or subjection to any manufacturing process, removal of any forest produce in such forest and breaking up or clearing of land for cultivation, building, herding of cattle or any other purpose in any land in such forest.
The spokesman further said that no person would be allowed cut, fell or lop any purpose or remove any forest produce without the previous permission of the divisional forest officer, Pathankot forest division. He said that no person could cut or remove grass, kahi, kana, clear or breakup land for cultivation. No person could set fire to grass, trees, timber or kindle a fire on the land without taking reasonable precaution to prevent its spreading to any tree or plant on the area.