The recent announcement by the Himachal Chief Minister, Mr Vibrhadra Singh, about the merger of the Dalhousie Municipal Council forests with the State Forest Department on the pattern of the Shimla Municipal Council forests has created panic among the encroachers who include private individuals and the Central Government authorities.The Chief Minister has brought hope that the shrinking forest cover of the famous Dalhousie Hill will be preserved. This was the only solution to eliminate the environmental hazard in this hill town.