Describing the retrieval of forest land from land grabbers and encroachers as the government’s priority, the prime minister has rightly asked the authorities concerned to take urgent steps with a view to multiplying the country’s forest cover through forestation on the encroached land. That land grab is a swift acquisition of property by fraud or force is a major problem in the country.

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, land grabbing is a serious issue that adversely affects the environment, economy and human rights.

The government is therefore required to frame a law aimed at drastically reducing the incidence of the land grab menace. The opposition parties must lend a helping hand to the government in the passage of a bill in this regard. The fact, however, is that land mafia is a nexus comprising politicians, criminals, property dealers and corrupt government officials. Therefore, a question that needs an answer is: who’s going to bell the cat?

Aslam Dareshak, Rojhan, Punjab

Copyright Business Recorder, 2021