Forest department conducts anti-encroachment drive at Bulbulay

KUNAL RAI

GANGTOK,: The Department of Forest and Environment recently carried out an anti-encroachment drive near the Plant Conservatory inside the Bulbulay Reserve Forest near Gangtok town. During the drive, the Forest department evicted 11 encroached shops while handing over 13 shops developed by the department to beneficiaries.

Addressing the media here on Tuesday, Forest CCF-cum-spokesperson Karma Legshey said that protection and conservation of forest land is among the core statutory responsibilities of the department under various laws, including the Sikkim Forests, Water Courses and Road Reserve (Preservation and Protection) Act, 1988.

He stated that the removal of encroachments from forest land remains an ongoing exercise undertaken across the State with active support from local communities, Joint Forest Management Committees (JFMCs) and public representatives. These efforts, he said, are essential for safeguarding Sikkim’s fragile ecology, biodiversity, watershed functions, slope stability and public assets.

Legshey informed that since 2019, following the change in regime, the Forest department has adopted a zero-tolerance policy towards encroachment of forest land under the direction of Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang and the minister concerned. At the same time, the government has also maintained that removal of encroachments should be carried out with a humanitarian approach and by facilitating alternatives for those affected.

“Respecting the government’s decision, the removal drives initiated by the department are taking more time as consultations and rehabilitation measures are also being considered. Otherwise, if the department were to act strictly as per rules, the action against encroachers would be swift and immediate,” he said.

The CCF further stated that the present-day Plant Conservatory at Bulbulay was not originally a conventional tourist destination or natural viewpoint. The site was scientifically identified and developed by the department as a conservation space for important floral species of the State, particularly endemic and threatened Himalayan flora.

The conservatory was inaugurated in April 2015, but became operational only during 2017-18. Over the years, the site has evolved into an important ecotourism and environmental education destination attracting substantial tourist footfall from within and outside the State. The area also forms part of the ecologically sensitive Bulbulay landscape adjoining important forest and wildlife habitats.

Legshey further informed that with the increase in tourist footfall at the site since 2018 onwards, multiple unauthorized temporary and semi-permanent structures began proliferating in front of the Plant Conservatory inside the Bulbulay Reserve Forest.

The proliferation of such structures, he said, gradually resulted in obstruction of public movement and traffic flow, unsafe and unhygienic roadside vending, pedestrian and parking congestion posing safety risks, sanitation and waste management concerns, degradation of the ecotourism landscape and unlawful occupation of valuable forest land.

The department further stated that the unauthorized structures constituted violations punishable by both fine and imprisonment under Sections 20 and 57 of the Sikkim Forests, Water Courses and Road Reserve (Preservation and Protection) Act, 1988.

The department also observed that under the guise of temporary vending activities, several unauthorized occupants, including non-locals, were misusing and occupying valuable forest land.

With the objective of balancing conservation with sustainable livelihood generation, the department developed eco-friendly vending infrastructure to be administered through the JFMC for bonafide local beneficiaries.

The initiative, according to the Forest department, was conceived to promote responsible ecotourism, ensure hygienic and regulated vending practices, involve local communities in conservation efforts and provide dignified livelihood opportunities in an environmentally sustainable manner.

The eco-friendly structures were completed in January 2023, following which extensive consultations were undertaken with local stakeholders, public representatives and the concerned JFMC regarding allotment to bonafide beneficiaries.

Before removing the encroachments from the site, the department carried out all necessary procedures and issued related notices. The first notice was served on January 24, 2025 calling for voluntary removal, while the second notice issued on February 27, 2025 granted an additional 15 days for compliance.

The department stated that multiple rounds of consultations and awareness programmes were subsequently conducted through the JFMC and local representatives, aimed at voluntary removal of the encroachments while highlighting the need for conservation and protection of forest land.

The Forest department also pointed out that improper waste disposal practices at the site were frequently observed. Garbage generated by unauthorized vendors was often disposed of inside the Reserve Forest itself, posing a serious threat to the rich floral and faunal biodiversity of the area.

In one instance, the department detected a large-scale violation linked to an unauthorized vending stall that had allegedly been sublet to a non-local individual. Following the detection, a forest offence case was registered and later compounded under relevant provisions of the Sikkim Forest Act, 1988, after a penalty amounting to Rs 40,000 was deposited into government revenue.

Lagshey informed that with sustained efforts by field functionaries of the department, the unauthorized stalls were removed on July 13, 2025. However, the same encroachments reportedly re-emerged from October 2025 onwards with an increased number of unauthorized structures.

The department added that existing forest laws contain more stringent provisions against unauthorized occupation of forest land. However, keeping humanitarian considerations in view, the department adopted a measured, consultative and rehabilitation-oriented approach centred on responsible ecotourism and community participation.

The Forest department further appealed to all citizens to support conservation of forest land and promote responsible ecotourism practices in ecologically sensitive areas of Sikkim.

“Protection of forest land is essential not only for biodiversity conservation, but also for ensuring environmental security, slope stability, water security, public safety and sustainable ecotourism for future generations,” the department stated.

The press conference was also attended by DFO (T) Gangtok Kshitij Saxena, JS (T) Dand Singh, ACF (T) Gangtok Karma Sonam Bhutia, RO (T) Gangtok Binod Chettri and Asish Gurung.