Jaipur: Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh Monday began a joint survey to demarcate 871 hectares of disputed reserved forest land in Jhalawar, a key step towards resolving a boundary dispute that has already triggered objections over alleged encroachment and non-forestry activity. A senior forest official said the survey was expected to be completed in a day, after which the report would be submitted to the Jhalawar district collector and placed before the state govt. “The survey began Monday and is expected to be completed in a day. The report will be submitted to the district collector, after which he will bring it to the notice of the state govt,” said the official. The dispute escalated after Rajasthan alleged that Madhya Pradesh allowed non-forestry activity on land recorded as reserved forest despite repeated objections. Rajasthan had decided that no non-forestry activity should be allowed on the disputed land until the matter was resolved. “The govt had decided that no non-forestry activity would be allowed on the disputed forest land until the matter was resolved. The survey of the land is ongoing,” said a senior official. Of the 871 hectares under dispute, nearly 130 hectares were reportedly leased to a private company for a 100 MW grid-connected captive solar project. Madhya Pradesh Jal Nigam Maryadit had awarded the project to infrastructure firm Dilip Buildcon, and land levelling and installation work had begun. Rajasthan forest officials alleged that construction continued despite a stop-work notice. The divisional forest officer, Jhalawar, also registered an FIR against the alleged encroachers, while the head of forest force conveyed the state’s objections to his Madhya Pradesh counterpart. Madhya Pradesh has rejected Rajasthan’s claim, maintaining that the land falls in Mandsaur district and is linked to a drinking water scheme. Rajasthan, however, has maintained that revenue records identify it as reserved forest notified in 1961. The state had sought legal opinion on its options, including moving the Supreme Court, but opted first for discussions and a joint survey. “The old records and survey show it is reserved forest land. Rajasthan will claim this land,” said a source.
