What Led to the Clearance of Over 7 Lakh Sq Ft of Illegal Encroachments in Jamnagar?

Jamnagar, June 17 (NationPress) - In a determined anti-encroachment initiative, authorities from the Jamnagar district administration and local police successfully removed nearly 7.74 lakh square feet of unlawfully occupied government land, valued at approximately Rs 193.57 crore, along the Rangmati riverfront.

This demolition is a crucial step in a phased effort aimed at reducing flood risks and facilitating the development of the city’s riverfront.

According to Jamnagar Superintendent of Police Premsukh Delu, the area was home to over 600 illegal structures, which included residential, commercial, and religious encroachments.

“On June 14, we demolished 294 structures, and nearly 400 in total to date,” SP Delu added, emphasizing that the operation will continue in subsequent phases.

He noted that the recently demolished dargah was one of the most fortified structures found, comparing its layout to a maze.

During this latest phase, officials discovered a dargah in the Bacchunagar area, occupying 11,000 square feet. This structure, valued at around Rs 2.75 crore, featured marble flooring, multiple rooms, and a designated bathing area.

Officials expressed concerns about the elaborate construction and restricted entry signage inside, which raised questions regarding the facility's nature and purpose. This structure was also among those demolished.

The Jamnagar Municipal Corporation, in collaboration with the district administration, has reinforced that all actions align with long-term plans to develop flood-resilient infrastructure and reclaim public land.

Authorities have called on residents to assist with the ongoing clearance operations and have established monitoring units to deter re-encroachment in cleared areas.

In a similar vein, the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC), backed by police forces, has ramped up demolition efforts across the city’s lakefronts and designated plots.

In its latest operation on June 11, the AMC’s estate TDO department in the North-West Zone demolished 14 unauthorized structures on a plot in Sola and another on a reserved garden plot in Chharodi. These demolitions are part of a larger campaign to reclaim encroached reservation lands and preserve green spaces.

In the ongoing multi-phase drive near Chandola Lake, authorities have already cleared 1.5 lakh sq mt of encroached land by demolishing approximately 4,000 shanties, with Phase 2 now in progress to reclaim an additional 2.5 lakh sq mt.

The operation involves over 3,000 police personnel, 60 JCBs, 40 cranes, and two shifts of 25 SRP companies, all aimed at ensuring both security and efficiency.

Earlier, the AMC successfully reclaimed 1,450 sq mt near Malek Saban Lake in Bapunagar, demolishing 450 illegal homes with a team of 800 North Zone staff and police support.

The civic body has also urged authorities to clear several lake beds currently occupied by police posts and public offices, highlighting that government structures themselves have encroached on more than 10 lakes citywide, obstructing restoration efforts.