Violent protests erupted in Rishikesh on Sunday, with local residents blocking a key highway and allegedly pelting stones at officials. This unrest comes just days after the Supreme Court issued a strong directive to the Uttarakhand government to halt all construction on encroached forest land.
Highway Blocked as Demarcation Survey Sparks Clash
The flashpoint occurred when a joint team comprising police, district administration, and Forest Department officials began a survey to demarcate encroached forest land. According to Dehradun Senior Superintendent of Police Ajai Singh, the team was carrying out its duty when the protests suddenly broke out.
Despite repeated appeals by authorities, the protesters refused to disperse from the highway and a nearby railway line. The situation escalated, leading to allegations of stone-pelting aimed at the officials on the ground.
To restore order, police later conducted a flag march in the Rishikesh–Shyampur area. Additional police forces were mobilised from Dehradun district and neighbouring districts to control the volatile situation.
The Core of the Dispute: A 2,866-Acre Forest Land
The conflict centres on a massive 2,866 acres of notified forest land. The historical roots of the issue trace back to 1950 when this large tract was leased to the Pashulok Sewa Samiti, a local society, for allotment to landless families in the area.
In a significant turn, the Forest Department of the then Uttar Pradesh government withdrew the land allotment in 1984. During the society's liquidation process, it surrendered 594 acres back to the Forest Department. However, the plot thickened in 2001 when private individuals, including petitioner Anita Kandwal, are said to have taken possession of parts of this land. This led the Forest Department to file an application before the Sub-Divisional Magistrate in Rishikesh.
Supreme Court's Stern Rebuke and Directives
The protests follow a stern order from the Supreme Court of India. A Bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and comprising Justice Joymalya Bagchi expressed shock at the state's inaction.
"What seems shocking to us is that the State of Uttarakhand and its Authorities are sitting as silent spectators when the forest land is being systematically grabbed in front of their eyes," the Bench observed.
The court has issued a notice to the state and decided to enlarge the scope of the proceedings suo motu. It has directed the Chief Secretary and the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests of Uttarakhand to form an enquiry committee. This committee must examine all facts and submit a detailed report to the court. A compliance report is due before January 5.
The ongoing tension in Rishikesh highlights the deep-seated conflict between development, land rights, and environmental conservation, now under the strict scrutiny of the nation's highest court.
