World · India Bureau
Bulldozers Clear 14 Hectares of Forest Land in Uttarakhand
Authorities in Nainital district demolished 86 structures on government forest land in Ramnagar as part of a major anti-encroachment operation. The action targeted an informal settlement that had been built on forestry department property near the Kosi river.
LSN India ·
A large-scale demolition drive was conducted Friday in the Puchadi settlement in Ramnagar, located in Nainital district of Uttarakhand, to reclaim 14 hectares of government forest land from encroachers. Administrative teams accompanied by heavy police deployment and bulldozers demolished 86 concrete structures and cleared the occupied land along the banks of the Kosi river.
The operation targeted what authorities described as unauthorized occupation of forestry department property. Officials claimed the settlement had been established through the sale of forest land by alleged land mafia operative Tahir Mulla, who allegedly facilitated the illegal subdivision and sale of government property to residents.
The anti-encroachment campaign reflects ongoing efforts by state authorities to reclaim government and forest lands from illegal occupation across Uttarakhand. Such operations have become increasingly common in the state as officials seek to address unauthorized settlements on protected forest areas and public property.