Sribhumi, February 8: The district administration of Sribhumi on Sunday launched a major eviction drive across reserved forest areas in the Patharkandi constituency, targeting nearly 12,000 hectares of forest land allegedly under illegal encroachment. The operation, one of the largest undertaken in the district in recent years, is aimed at reclaiming protected forest land and preventing further encroachments.
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| Heavy machinery demolishes illegal structures during the large-scale eviction drive in Sribhumi district, displacing over 2,000 families from reserved forest land. |
The eviction drive is currently underway in the Sribhumi Reserved Forest after authorities issued eviction notices to more than 2,000 families residing in the designated forest areas. Senior officials from the district administration and the Forest Department are supervising the operation, while a large contingent of police and paramilitary personnel has been deployed to ensure the process remains peaceful and to maintain law and order.
According to officials, a significant number of residents voluntarily dismantled their homes and vacated the land after receiving eviction notices. However, the administration has intensified efforts to remove the remaining illegal structures that continue to occupy the reserved forest areas.
As part of the clearance operation, houses, temporary shelters, shops and other structures built within the forest land are being demolished. Authorities are also removing vegetation that has grown around the encroached areas to facilitate the restoration of the forest landscape.
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To expedite the exercise, more than 50 heavy machines, including JCBs and excavators, have been deployed across multiple locations. The eviction is being conducted simultaneously in several forest blocks under the Patharkandi region to ensure swift completion of the land reclamation process.
The drive covers several reserved forests, including Madhurban Reserved Forest, Narayanpur Reserved Forest, Chagalmowa Reserved Forest, Madhabpur Reserved Forest, Badshahi Reserved Forest and Dohalia Reserved Forest.
District officials stated that the eviction campaign forms part of a broader initiative to safeguard protected forest land, restore ecological balance, and curb further encroachments. The administration maintained that reclaiming these areas is essential for preserving biodiversity, strengthening forest conservation efforts, and ensuring the long-term protection of the district’s natural resources.
