Delhi govt suspends 2 forest officers for failing to stop encroachment near Chattarpur

Delhi Environment Minister Imran Hussain Tuesday ordered suspension of two forest officers for their alleged failure to protect forest land from encroachment after he made a surprise inspection of the forest ridge near Chattarpur Enclave.

Later in a tweet, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said the government is committed to eliminating 'mafias', who he alleged, were functioning in collusion with the BJP and the Congress governments.

Hussain conducted a surprise inspection of the forest ridge adjoining Chattarpur Enclave Part-2.

During inspection, large chunk of ridge and forest land was found under encroachment and illegal occupation of private persons, the Delhi government said in a statement.

Some of the recently-built structures on the ridge land were also noticed by the minister.

The minister directed Forest Department to remove the encroachment at once and free the encroached land, the statement said, adding a bulldozer was called and immediately pressed into service.

The ...