The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Monday suspended the operation of an administrative letter issued by provincial authorities for leasing out 6,300 acres of forest land in Badin and Sujawal districts for farming till further orders.
A division bench headed by Justice Munib Akhtar gave this interim order on a petition filed by MNA Syed Ayaz Ali Shah Shirazi against illegal allotment of forest land. The court issued notice to secretary forest department, chief conservator, conservator of forests, divisional forest officer and SSP Badin district to file comments on a petition by July 23.
The counsel for petitioner submitted that the chief minister approved a summary on May 14 leasing out 6,300 acres of forest land to Badin Agro Development Farm under Agro Forestry Lease Policy of Sindh Forest Department for agricultural and fish farm purpose. Subsequently, the chief conservator issued a letter dated May 30 to this effect.
He said poor people living in the surrounding areas of the forest use them as grazing source for their cattle. These forests also produce timber which helps boost economy of the country.
Deforestation by allotting forest land to powerful influential persons including M/s Badin Agro Development Farm for agricultural and fish farm purpose would not only force poor local people to leave the places and livelihood but also cause the loss of precious forest land to the province.
He requested the court to declare the allotment of forest land illegal and suspend the operation of administrative letter leasing out land for farming.