Hundreds of Tibetan homes in Tipa road and Bhagsu road in Dharamshala face eviction.
Photo: Lobsang Wangyal/Tibetsun.com
The news of the eviction of the people living in 210 Tibetan homes in a case of alleged illegal encroachment of forestland created much tension in the small Tibetan hub in Dharamshala. Recently, local news agencies reported that the next hearing for the case has been set on March 27.
On August 3 last year, the Shimla High Court set March 31, 2013 as the deadline for the compliance of the order. This came after an Indian resident of Rewalsar, TsoPema, filed a Public Interest Litigation accusing Tibetan refugees of illegally occupying various lands in Himachal Pradesh. There are 1090 cases of encroachment of forestland in the Kangra district, including the 210 houses located in the residential areas in Tipa road and Bhagsu road in McLeod Ganj.
In the months that followed, Tibetan representatives have been urging for a reconsideration of the order. Representatives of the Central Tibetan Administration approached relevant Indian government offices. Home Kalon (minister) Gyari Dolma met Shri Virbhadra Singh, the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh in October last year. “Tibetans will have no place to live if their homes are demolished. Tibetans harbour no intent whatsoever to claim ownership of the area as they would vacate the area the day [the] Tibet issue is resolved and all Tibetans are able to return to Tibet,” Kalon Gyari Dolma said during their meeting.
Home Kalon Gyari Dolma met Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Shri Virbhadra Singh on October 1, 2013.
Photo: Tibet.net
Local Indian organisations McLeod Ganj Vyapar Mandal, Bhagsu Taxi Operators Union, Hotel and Restaurant Association, Autorickshaw Union, Trekking and Mountaineering Association, and Indo-Tibetan Friendship Association submitted petitions to the Chief Minister appealing to address the eviction issue for the Dharamshala Tibetans sympathetically.
In July 2013, the National Green Tribunal in Shimla directed the state government to set up a committee to probe the charges against the Tibetan families. After visiting McLoedGanj, the committee submitted a report to the tribunal. In the report, the committee said that the families have cut down trees and built houses on forestland illegally. It also said that the Tibetans have caused destruction to nature by carving boulders and rocks with religious mantras and tying Lungtas (Buddhist flags) on trees; a traditional and religious practice that Tibetans have been following for hundreds of years. Local authorities said such practices not only break the law but also harm the environment. All the colourful mani stones and boulders were removed and tying prayer flags on the trees is now forbidden.
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