In written reply to a question by PDP MLA Shah Mohammad Tantry in Assembly today, Minister for Forests Bali Bhagat said: "533.40 hectares of forest land is under encroachment in Poonch Haveli, followed by 685 hectares in Mendhar tehsil and 574.25 hectares in Surankote tehsil of the district."
The minister said that notices for vacating the encroached land have been issued to 90 people in Poonch district.
Around nine acres of forest land have been retrieved from 19 people since 2010 and 35 such cases are pending before the court of law, he said.