Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh government has intensified its crackdown on land encroachments, ensuring that government land remains free from illegal occupation, official sources said here on Saturday.
Sources said that as a part of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s zero-tolerance policy against land mafias, more than 68,000 hectares of encroached land have been reclaimed across UP. “To prevent re-encroachment, an innovative initiative has been launched in Shravasti, where the district administration is installing plaques on government land with complete ownership details,” they said.
Sources said that the step, aligned with CM Yogi’s vision, will ensure transparency and protection of public land. “The Shravasti model is set to become a benchmark for similar efforts across the state,” they said.
District Magistrate of Shravasti Ajay Kumar Dwivedi said that under the guidance of the CM continuous action is being taken to free government land from illegal encroachments. “As part of this effort, plaques are now being installed on vacant government land, clearly marking them as government-owned. Strict action will be taken against anyone attempting illegal occupation,” he said.
He said that in 397 Gram Panchayats, several such government lands exist only in official records, making them vulnerable to encroachment. “The plaques will include details such as land type, category, area, Gram Sabha and Gata number, eliminating any chances of false ownership claims,” he said.
The DM said that the total number of government ghats in the three tehsils of Shravasti, Ikouna, Jamunha and Bhinga is 1,49,239. “The total area of these ghats is 26,650.8177 hectares. Before 2017, due to the negligence of the previous government, illegal land encroachments had become a major challenge,” he said.
In many cases, influential individuals and land mafias had occupied government land, causing revenue losses and obstructing development projects. Recognising this issue, the Yogi government took decisive steps to reclaim government land from encroachments, ensuring better governance and land security.
Dwivedi said that any attempt to remove the plaques, tamper with government land or illegally occupy it will lead to strict action under the Public Property Damage Prevention Act. “Offenders will face legal action and fines,” he said.
He said that the installation of these plaques will help in identifying and securing government land, while also raising public awareness that such land belongs to the government and encroachment is illegal. “This move is expected to deter land mafias and illegal occupants,” he said.
The CM said that the plaques will display detailed land information, making it easier for citizens to distinguish between government and privately owned land, thereby reducing disputes over land ownership.
The Yogi government is considering expanding this initiative across UP, ensuring better protection of government land and stricter action against encroachments. By improving land identification and transparency, this initiative will significantly reduce illegal occupations in the future. It marks a major step towards making Uttar Pradesh a law-abiding and well-governed state.
