Balasore, Aug. 29: The revenue department's failure to update its records has been preventing the forest department from building boundary walls around the reserve forest in Chandipur despite availability of funds.

The state government had sanctioned Rs 20 lakh to the forest department in the current fiscal year for constructing the boundary wall but the fund is lying idle for quite some time. In 1986, 116 acres of forest land had been notified as reserve forest. However, the correction has not yet been incorporated into the revenue records.

The absence of boundary walls has led to encroachment on around 10 acres both by private parties and other government agencies. Pantha Nivas, near Chandipur beach, and five to six private parties have encroached on the land.

Divisional forest officer Harshabardhan Udgata said: "About 10 acres are under encroachment due to the lack of record correction by the revenue department."

"The private parties confront us when we go for evictions and Pantha Nivas has made several concrete constructions. I have written to the revenue department several times to make the correction," he said.

In December, the forest department, under a special drive by the district administration, demolished 22 shops that had come up on the reserved land.

Sadar tehsildar Rashmirekha Pradhan said: "The record correction has not been made although the land was notified in 1986. Recently, we received communication from the divisional forest officer for its correction and demarcation."

"We are working on it and will make the necessary correction at the earliest," she said.