Ropar, February 26: A Ludhiana resident has allegedly been operating a resort in the forest area of Anandpur Sahib for the past two years, even as the Forest Department authorities claim that they came to know about it only last month.
The main building of the resort was built in 2014, it is learnt. Forest officials said they were initiating prosecution against the offender.On visiting the spot, it was found that a hill near Gurdwara Sri Ghorian Da Ghas, near Mohiwal village, has been dug up to construct stairs so that the visitors could reach the resort situated on the other side of the hill.
A motorable path connecting with the main road is also being laid by the resort management. The resort is locally known as “Ludhiane walian da ghar”.
Besides a big building, a few huts, a small bridge and nets for sports have been raised on more than one acre in the middle of the forest. While no one was present on the spot, the locals said groups of tourists were brought to the resort for trekking and other adventure activities.
A local said a resident of Ludhiana had bought the land in the area several years ago and constructed a small building. The building was converted into a resort during the past two years, he said.
Anandpur Sahib Forest Range Officer Randhir Singh Chakkal said he took charge in December last year. He said he came to know on January 1 about the resort and on scrutiny of records it was found that the construction was carried out without getting the demarcation done by the Revenue Department.
Under Sections 4 and 5 of the Punjab Land Preservation Act, cutting of trees, construction and commercial activities were banned in the area, the range officer said.
Chakkal said three notices were issued to the owner, identified as Gursewak Singh. He said the caretaker refused to share the postal address of Gursewak, so the notices were delivered at the resort only.
Ropar District Forest Officer Jagdev Singh said as the department had not got any reply from Gursewak, a case would be filed against him in the court.
Gursewak denied the allegations. Claiming that he had not committed any violation of rules, he said the construction was done in the delisted area only after due demarcation by Forest Department officials.
He said he could not submit reply to the notices as he had “misplaced” the demarcation report.Earlier, the Forest Department had sued the owners of the Kikar Lodge resort, spread over 1,800 acres, for similar violations. The case is pending in the Anandpur Sahib court.
Source Tribune India
