By Arun Pratap Singh
Dehradun, 22 Sep: The Uttarakhand government is planning to intensify its campaign against illegal encroachments on government land, including unauthorised religious structures. In this regard, the government has directed the forest department to submit specific reports on cases where courts have already ordered removal of encroachments or where previous judicial stays have now lapsed or have been vacated. The move marks the latest phase of the state’s ongoing zero-tolerance policy against what it terms unlawful occupation of public land.
It may be recalled that the Pushkar Singh Dhami government has repeatedly asserted its firm stance on encroachment and illegal religious constructions, declaring that such practices, including those popularly referred to as “land jihad”, will not be tolerated. As part of this drive, largescale action has been carried out in forest areas across the state. Official data from the Forest Department reveal that about 335 religious encroachments have been removed so far, the majority of them being unauthorised mazaars. Nearly 300 mazaars erected on forest land were demolished, alongside several temples and other unauthorised religious structures found to be in violation.
In the last one and a half years alone, more than 1,450 hectares of land have been freed from encroachment. To streamline the campaign, the government has appointed a special nodal officer, IFS officer Parag Madhukar Dhakate, to oversee the operations. Dhakate has stated that immediate action was taken on encroachments where courts had already directed removal, and departmental efforts to identify and demolish illegal constructions have also been intensified.
The Forest Department has circulated a standard format to all Divisional Forest Officers (DFOs), ensuring systematic collection of details from every division and guaranteeing regular follow-up action. The government has reiterated that no form of illegal occupation on forest land will be tolerated and that accountability will rest with officers in case of negligence.
Recently, following the CM’s instructions, district administrations and police have been directed to extend full cooperation to the Forest Department in carrying out demolition drives. In several districts, particularly in Haridwar, Dehradun and Udham Singh Nagar, fresh rounds of anti-encroachment action have already been launched over the past fortnight, targeting roadside illegal structures and temporary settlements. The Chief Secretary has also issued orders emphasising strict compliance with court directions and underscoring that no political or religious pressure should obstruct legal enforcement.
The ongoing campaign has become a matter of wide debate across the state. Supporters hail it as an historic initiative for the protection of land and natural resources, while certain groups have criticised it as being linked to religious sensitivities. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, however, has clarified that the campaign is not directed against any particular community, but he insisted that the issue of changing demography caused by systematic illegal encroachments remains a matter of serious concern and requires firm action. He also made it clear that the law is paramount and that no occupation of forest land in any form shall be considered acceptable.
