The Uttar Pradesh government has intensified its efforts to clear illegal encroachments along the India-Nepal border, acting against more than 250 unauthorised constructions across multiple districts, according to an official statement.
The drive, which targeted illegal constructions — including unauthorised religious institutions — focused on areas within a 10–15 km radius of the international boundary.
Key actions included:
- Bahraich: Action taken against 89 illegal encroachments.
- Shravasti: 119 unauthorised structures removed.
- Siddharthnagar: 11 illegal structures cleared.
- Maharajganj: 19 encroachments addressed.
- Balrampur: Seven encroachments identified on government land; two removed voluntarily, action ongoing against five others.
As part of the campaign, authorities also identified and took action against 17 unauthorised madrasas operating in the targeted zones.
The move follows recent statements by Danish Azad Ansari, Uttar Pradesh’s Minister of State for Minority Welfare, Muslim Waqf and Haj, who emphasized the urgent need to curb alleged land encroachments, citing the importance of the Waqf Amendment Bill.
This border drive builds on the state’s broader anti-encroachment efforts:
- In January, the Uttar Pradesh Police launched a drive to clear illegal settlements on Army land in the Vijaynagar area of Ghaziabad.
DCP City Rajesh Kumar Singh stated that the operation would continue until full clearance is achieved. - In March, the administration demolished an illegal structure in Fatehpur’s Hathgaon police station area, belonging to a criminal with over 12 cases registered against him.
Fatehpur Superintendent of Police Dhawal Jaiswal noted that the structure was illegally built on government land, reflecting the state’s no-tolerance policy toward encroachments and criminal elements.
Officials indicated that these operations aim to enhance law and order, secure border areas, and preserve government land for public use and development projects.
Further drives are expected to continue across vulnerable and strategically important regions.