The Nainital High Court has directed the District Magistrate (DM) of Pauri to appear on February 11 regarding the removal of encroachments in the Kalagarh Dam area. The court expressed displeasure over the DM’s absence during the January 10 hearing.
Case Background
The Kalagarh Vikas Evam Utthan Samiti filed a petition claiming that in 1961, 22,000 acres of forest land were conditionally leased to the Irrigation Department for dam construction. The condition mandated that unused land be returned to the Forest Department, but a township was constructed instead.
In 1999, the Allahabad High Court and, in 2013, the Supreme Court directed the removal of encroachments. In 2017, the case went to the National Green Tribunal (NGT), where authorities assured the clearance of encroachments within a year.
Controversy over Demolition Notices
On December 18, the DM issued notices for encroachment removal, and structures were demolished under police protection on January 4. Petitioners challenged this action in the High Court, alleging that no rehabilitation arrangements were made. On January 7, the High Court stayed the DM’s orders and summoned them for clarification.
