A judicially supervised inquiry has been recommended by senior forest officials after it was revealed that 7,375 boundary pillars demarcating the Mussoorie Forest Division are missing. The officials, alarmed at the scale of disappearance, suggested that only a Special Investigation Team (SIT) or even a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe could uncover the extent of irregularities and possible collusion behind the lapse.
How the Discovery Was Made
The revelation came during a review of land records and field verification exercises in Mussoorie. Alongside Mussoorie’s tally, officials reported that several thousand markers were also untraceable in the Raipur range, confirming fears that the problem was widespread across multiple forest divisions.
Boundary pillars, which define the legal limits of forest land, are crucial for preventing illegal encroachment, unauthorized construction, and land grabbing. Their disappearance has heightened suspicions that vast tracts of land may have already been compromised.
Encroachment and Accountability Concerns
Environmental groups say the findings validate long-standing warnings about encroachments in ecologically fragile regions such as the Doon Valley and Mussoorie hills. Activists argue that without boundary markers, monitoring becomes nearly impossible, creating opportunities for land mafias and unscrupulous officials.
“Thousands of boundary markers don’t just vanish. This points to an organized effort aided by administrative neglect,” said a conservationist in Dehradun, urging immediate punitive action.
Judicial Oversight Seen as Crucial
The officials who flagged the disappearance have formally recommended that the state pursue a judicially monitored investigation. They insist that only oversight from the judiciary would ensure impartiality and credibility in fixing accountability.
This demand has already begun echoing in political debates, with opposition parties accusing the government of failing to prevent large-scale forest land encroachments while simultaneously touting its conservation agenda.
Environmental Stakes
The missing pillars are more than a governance crisis—they represent an environmental threat. The Mussoorie hills, prone to landslides and soil erosion, depend on intact forests to maintain slope stability and water balance. Experts warn that unchecked encroachment could destabilize these fragile systems, affecting springs, rivers, and biodiversity across the region.
Following the officials’ recommendation, the government is under pressure to:
Restore the missing pillars through immediate reconstruction.
Hold negligent officers accountable for failing to detect or prevent the disappearance.
Use GPS mapping, drones, and satellite surveys to digitally secure forest boundaries.
Provide the judiciary with a status report on compliance and investigation progress.
The disappearance of 7,375 boundary markers in Mussoorie has therefore escalated into a potentially landmark case of forest governance in Uttarakhand. Whether the government accepts the call for a judicially monitored SIT or CBI probe will now determine the credibility of its fight against encroachment and institutional apathy.
