Cuttack, Sept. 20: The National Green Tribunal has set October 12 as the deadline for its ruling on a petition alleging inaction against “rampant encroachment” of forest lands across the state.

The petition, filed by the Wildlife Society of Odisha last year, alleged that there had been large-scale encroachment on forest lands in Odisha with squatters using the land for non-forest purposes such as cultivation, quarrying, mining, factories, dwelling units, temples and other activities.

It also expressed concern that inaction in evicting the squatters from the occupied forest lands and halting non-forest usages have affected the local ecology and wildlife.

When the petition came up before the tribunal’s east zone bench in Calcutta on September 12, the state forest and environment department filed an affidavit and said “appropriate action against the encroachers is in progress”.

The affidavit conceded that around 37,482 hectares of forest land in the state had been encroached upon.

“The bench, consisting of Justice S.P. Wangdi (judicial member) and P.C. Mishra (expert member) took on record the affidavit and posted the matter to October 12 for final order, along with further suggestions from the petitioner,” petitioner counsel Sankar Pani said today.

“We make it clear that since the encroachment of forest lands in Odisha has been identified and appropriate actions against the encroachments are in progress, the purpose of filing the petition appears to have been achieved.

However, before we dispose of the case, we grant further time for the petitioner to enable him to make further suggestions in order to assist in issuing appropriate directions,” the tribunal said in its September 12 order.

In his petition, wildlife society secretary Biswajit Mohanty has suggested steps to cut off power, road access and water connection to all houses, establishments, structures, stone crushers, quarries, mines, temples, and offices established illegally on forest lands.

Demarcation of all forest lands with boundary walls and pillar postings in a time-bound manner has also been suggested by the petitioner.