7Berkeh: Private gardens around the city have been the topic of furious debates in the past few years. People say these gardens are places for recreation in a city with few such places; somewhere to spend free-time with family and friends. But according to The Management of Agriculture-Jahad of Gerash, the law says enclosing and altering the usability of agricultural land with walls is forbidden. Building walls around these lands is a legal offense, and Agriculture-Jahad is allowed to demolish the walls.

And that is what has been happening in the last few months in Gerash: last winter, on March 12, 22 garden walls were demolished by The Management of Agriculture-Jahad. This summer, on August 9 and 10, more than 130 walls were brought down. And this is not the end: more than 300 cases are waiting for court judgement.

The demolition did cause a series of reactions from people, which was limited to angry protestations in social networks and a calm gathering in front of the Governor’s Office of Gerash. But these protests do not add up to anything serious. The Management of Agriculture-Jahad says that the land-owners have been notified repeatedly, and the demolition is absolutely legal. “This is a country-wide policy”, Says Jokar, the manager of Agriculture-Jahad of Gerash, “and is being carried out in every other city in the Fars province.”

But is there any way for compromise? Jokar answers: “We have to demolish the walls that are built illegally. But land-owners can request for a usability alteration case, and if the law allows it, they can use the land to build their gardens.”

خبر به زبان فارسی

BaghShahr EN

Some words and expressions in this news story:

Recreation: تفریح

The Management of Agriculture-Jahad of Gerash: مدیریت جهاد کشاورزی گراش

altering the usability: تغییر کاربری

to demolish: تخریب کردن

court judgement: حکم دادگاه

protestations: اعتراضات

Governor’s Office: فرمانداری

land-owners: مالکین زمین