The Odisha
G a z e t t e
EXTRAORDINARY
PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY
No. 2179 CUTTACK, THURSDAY, JULY 17, 2025/ASADHA 26, 1947
FOREST, ENVIRONMENT & CLIMATE CHANGE DEPARTMENT
NOTIFICATION
The 30th June 2025
S.R.O. No. 532/2025—Whereas, Forest Block Bahalda Proposed Reserve Forest under
Section 4 of the Odisha Forest Act,1972, has been notified by Government of Odisha, Revenue &
Excise Department Notification No. F.S.111/83-50130/R, dated the 27th July 1984 indicating an area of
63.00 Ac. in Bahalda Forest Range of Rairangpur Forest Division as per Annexure-I;
And whereas, the Government of Odisha in the Forest & Environment Department have notified
a "Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for geo-referencing of Forest Block boundary through
DGPS Survey'' in the Odisha Gazette vide Notification No.22572400112016-10F(Cons.)-77/2016-
14097-F&E, dated the 4th July 2017, for preparation of such geo-referenced forest maps in pursuance
of the directives of Hon'ble Supreme Court in their order, dated the 6th July 2011 [in IA Nos. 1868,
2091, 2225–2227, 2380, 2568 and 2937 in Writ Petition (C) No. 202 of 1995-Lafarge matter];
And whereas, the Government of Odisha have appointed all Tehsildars in their respective
Tehsil jurisdiction in the respective Districts as Forest Settlement Officer (FSO) vide Notification
No. 7767–10F(TR)-38/2020-F&E, dated the 21st May 2020;
And whereas, the Forest Revenue Joint Verification Committee has jointly verified and confirmed
the boundary pillar positions as per report in Annexure-II;
And whereas, the Forest Settlement Officer has certified 'No Change' in the boundary extent
of Bahalda Proposed Reserve Forest post 25th October 1980. The DGPS survey boundary
co-ordinates have been verified by ORSAC and certified by the Forest Settlement Officer. The
computed area (UTM Zone 45N projection and WGS 84 datum) of the Bahalda PRF is 8.361 ha or
20.66 Ac. The change in area is due to method of Survey & Area Computation.
Therefore, it has been decided to supplement the existing notification of the Bahalda Proposed
Reserve Forest with the above-mentioned FSO certified DGPS surveyed Forest Block map as per
Annexure-III, and the statement of geo-co-ordinates of the Forest Block boundary pillar positions as per
