By Arun Pratap Singh
Garhwal Post Bureau
Rudrapur (Udham Singh Nagar), 8 Dec: Haripura Reservoir area in the district has reportedly witnessed encroachments on Irrigation Department land by groups stated to have arrived from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. These groups are alleged to have constructed three illegal mazaars and raised the structure of a masjid, gradually settling relatives in the vicinity and causing the destruction of government land. The land mafia is said to have become active in the region, receiving political backing, and plots were allegedly devised to alter the demography of the area.
Sources claim that when this matter came to the notice of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, he directed the District Magistrate to undertake a survey and a deep inquiry. Acting on these instructions, District Magistrate Nitin Bhadauria ordered a survey under the supervision of ADMs Kaustubh Mishra and Richa Singh. The survey conducted by these two ADMs confirmed the illegal occupation of government land and the unauthorised construction of religious structures.
Following the directives of the District Magistrate, the administration today issued notices to those encroaching upon Irrigation Department land at the Haripura Reservoir in Goolarbhoj. A total of 60 notices were served today, including those pertaining to the four illegal religious structures. ADM Pankaj Upadhyay confirmed that the encroachments would be removed after the stipulated 15-day notice period. Officials and teams from the Police Administration and the Irrigation Department were present during this action.
Upadhyay added that, in the first phase, encroachment had already been removed from 1.13 hectares near the Haripura Reservoir, while the second phase would involve clearing an additional 2.45 hectares. The ADM observed that it appears that people from outside the state had constructed illegal religious structures and using them as a pretext, systematically established a human settlement in the area.
Commenting on this development, CM Dhami remarked that instances of population imbalance have been noted in districts adjoining Uttar Pradesh in recent times and the State Government is taking stringent action in this regard. He affirmed that encroachments would be removed from government land at all costs.
