JAISALMER: For the second consecutive day on Friday, authorities carried out a large-scale anti-encroachment drive on government land in the border districts of Jaisalmer, Barmer and Bikaner along the India-Pakistan International Border.The largest number of encroachments was removed from border areas of Jaisalmer, with similar operations also conducted in Barmer and Bikaner. Heavy police deployment and security agencies remained on site throughout the operation due to the sensitivity of the border region.The biggest action was taken in the Sam border area of Jaisalmer, where authorities demolished a massive illegally constructed water reservoir (diggi) spread over a large area on government land. According to official sources, encroachers had allegedly stolen water from the Indira Gandhi Canal, stored millions of litres of it in the reservoir, and were selling the water illegally. Before demolishing the structure, the stored water was released back into the canal through a controlled channel.Official sources said district administration teams carried out extensive action under “Operation Clean” in the border areas of Sam, Shahgarh, Mohangarh and PTM, demolishing illegal shops and other encroachments constructed on government land.In Shahgarh, an unauthorized religious structure built in a mud hut at Rablau village under Harnau Gram Panchayat was demolished. Illegal houses constructed on government land in Bachche Khan Ki Dhani were also removed using bulldozers.The anti-encroachment operation was jointly conducted by the Colonization Department, district administration and police. The team included the SDM, Tehsildar, Patwari and other revenue officials. Authorities stated that no illegal occupation of government land would be tolerated and such drives would continue.Given the proximity to the international border, elaborate security arrangements were made, with personnel from multiple police stations and security agencies deployed to maintain law and order.In Barmer district, the administration also carried out anti-encroachment operations in the border area of Ramsar. Illegal constructions, including seven unauthorized shops being built on government land in Ladhe Ka Par village, were demolished under the supervision of Ramsar SDM Suresh Kumar Meghwal. The operation was jointly conducted by the revenue, panchayat and police departments, with Station House Officer Vikram Singh Charan and a large police force present.Another phase of Operation Clean was conducted in Gadra Road areas, where bulldozers removed encroachments in Sahdad Ka Par and Khalife Ki Bawdi villages. Around 17 illegal shops were demolished—seven in Sahdad Ka Par and ten in Khalife Ki Bawdi. Officials said notices had been served to encroachers several times before the action. Despite repeated warnings, the encroachments remained, prompting demolition. Temporary and permanent commercial structures, including shops, cabins and sheds built on grazing land, were removed in the presence of senior administrative and police officials.Meanwhile, in Bikaner’s Khajuwala sector, the Forest Department launched a major drive to remove illegal encroachments from forest land within 50 kilometres of the India-Pakistan border. The campaign covered forest areas in Khajuwala, Pugal and Chhatargarh, where illegal occupations were cleared in the presence of police and district administration officials.Authorities said the action was undertaken following government directions keeping national security in view. The Forest Department also issued a stern warning that illegal occupation of forest land would no longer be tolerated and strict action would continue against violators.
