By Arun Pratap Singh
Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 2 Jun: Continuing its campaign against encroachments on government land, the Uttarakhand Government today demolished an illegal mazaar constructed on public land at Shishambada along the Shimla Bypass, around 20 kilometres from Dehradun city. The action was carried out by the district administration as part of the ongoing drive to reclaim government land from unauthorised occupation.
The officials claim that repeated complaints were being made by the local residents in respect of this illegal mazaar, which had been constructed on government land in Vikasnagar Pargana area. The local residents had submitted representations to the district administration seeking its removal.
It may be pointed out here that before initiating demolition proceedings, the Dehradun district administration had pasted a notice at the site around two weeks ago. The notice had directed the occupants to appear before the Sub-Divisional Magistrate’s (SDM’s) office in Vikasnagar and produce documents relating to land ownership and construction permissions. However, no valid records establishing legal ownership or authorisation for the structure were reportedly produced before the authorities by the occupants.
SDM Vinod Kumar said the action was taken following a review of the anti-encroachment campaign by District Magistrate Ashish Chauhan. During the review, it was decided that the unauthorised structure standing on government land would be removed. Subsequently, the administration carried out the demolition and freed the land from illegal occupation this morning. This action was initiated only after the requisite notices were issued and all necessary legal procedures were duly completed in accordance with established regulations. During the operation, the encroachment was removed peacefully in the presence of officials from the Revenue Department, the Police Department, and other authorities.
The District Administration has clarified that the campaign against those illegally encroaching upon government land within the district will continue unabated. Measures will be taken to ensure the protection of government properties and land designated for public use by rendering them free of encroachment. The administration is currently conducting surveys of identified encroachment sites across various Tehsils of the district, and enforcement actions are being executed in a phased manner.
The District Magistrate emphasised that government land constitutes public property, and any form of illegal encroachment upon it is unacceptable. With due regard for the public interest and the maintenance of law and order, the drive to remove encroachments will continue with full strictness. He has directed officials to ensure regular inspections and continuous vigilance to prevent any fresh encroachments on government land.
It may be recalled that the action forms part of the Dhami Government’s broader initiative to remove unauthorised religious and other structures from public land across the state. Officials stated that as many as 588 illegal mazaars built on government land have been removed in Uttarakhand so far under the ongoing campaign.
The drive against encroachments has gathered momentum in recent months, with district administrations across Uttarakhand undertaking similar actions. The Mussoorie‑Dehradun Development Authority (MDDA) had, yesterday, sealed a mosque and madrasa building at Kandogal Kudiyal (Thano) in Doiwala tehsil for unauthorised construction and activities without statutory approval. As per the officials, the mosque was being operated on the first and second floors without permission, while a madrasa was also functioning without registration. Earlier, the first floor had been sealed in December 2025, and despite repeated notices, hearings and opportunities, the required documents including a no‑objection certificate from the Waqf Board and recognition papers from the Madrasa Education Council were not submitted.
Yesterday, treating the continued use of the building as a serious violation, MDDA sealed the entire structure in the presence of police and administrative officials. Several other encroachments on forest land, government property and public utility spaces have also been removed in different districts, including Haridwar, Udham Singh Nagar and Nainital, as part of a statewide effort to safeguard public assets and ensure compliance with legal provisions.
Last week, CM Dhami had convened a meeting of all the District Magistrates (DMs) and had directed them to intensify the campaign against encroachments on government land. Following these instructions, anti-encroachment drives have been accelerated across the state, with district authorities identifying and removing unauthorised structures from public property.
Officials maintain that the campaign is aimed at protecting government land, maintaining law and order, ensuring adherence to legal procedures and preventing illegal occupation of public assets. The administration has reiterated that action will continue against all forms of encroachment, irrespective of the nature of the structure, wherever government land has been occupied without lawful authorisation.
