UP: Campaign against encroachments on govt land on India-Nepal border continues

Indian Express

28-04-2025

The Uttar Pradesh government's campaign to remove alleged encroachments and unrecognised religious structures from government land in the districts bordering Nepal continued on Monday, officials said.
The drive was conducted in Shravasti, Bahraich, Sidharth Nagar, Lakhimpur Kheri and Maharajganj districts, they said.
Several madrasas and mosques, were among the structures that were either demolished or vacated. An 80-year-old Eidgah at a village in Lakhimpur Kheri was also vacated, the officials said.
Illegal constructions were removed in Shravasti and Bahraich. In Sidharth Nagar, 12 illegal structures were identified and notices issued.
According to the government, the actions is being taken to target long-time illegal occupations of the border land which is being reclaimed.
Bahraich District Magistrate Monica Rani said the action was carried out on Monday under the Revenue Code following Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath 's instructions. Of the 227 encroachments identified in the 10-km-radius of the India-Nepal border in Nanpara tehsil of the district, two structures were demolished on Monday. Earlier, 89 encroachments were removed over the past four days. In Mihipurwa tehsil, 157 encroachments were identified and four structures were demolished on Monday, said officials. Action was also taken against seven illegal madrasas, it is learnt.
Shravasti DM Ajay Kumar Dwivedi said against 12 unrecognised madrasas — six in Jamunha tehsil, four in Bhinga, and two in Ikouna — were sealed on Monday for not having valid documents. So far, action has been taken against 32 such madrasas, he said. At Bhartha Roshangarh village of Bhinga tehsil, a mosque partially built on government land was demolished as part of the drive, he added.
Maharajganj District Magistrate Anunay Jha said during the drive to identify illegal constructions near the Nepal border, authorities found religious activities being carried at Sonpipri Khurd village which is located in no man's land in front of the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) check post.
An illegal structure, allegedly intended to develop into a mazar, was removed in the presence of the village head, revenue officials, and the SSB team, Jha added. An illegal madrasa built on pond land was also demolished at Ramnagar village, it is learnt.
Lakhimpur Kheri DM Durga Shakti Nagpal said the identification of illegal constructions continued in Palia tehsil on Monday. A temporary mosque structure was removed in Krishnanagar Colony.
The Sidharth Nagar DM said 12 illegal constructions were identified, and notices were issued to the occupiers.