GOALPARA,March 21 - The Goalpara district administration from Monday launched an eviction drive against road side encroachments from Bhalukdubi bazar by demolishing illegal structures, mostly shops built by the encroachers on both sides of the Agia- Pancharatna Road and the eviction drive which will be continue till March 25 will continue up to the BOC point of the town.
Besides this, the eviction drive will include the riverside land encroachments from Gandhi Maidan via Boro Bazar to Bakurpara touching the riverside of Natun Basti and Shantina revenue village under Baladmari goan panchayat. However, according to reliable sources around 900 to 1000 families have been residing on the riverside land as illegal encroachers till date.
The eviction is being carried out in the presence of a large contingent of police and under the supervision of the circle office, Balijana Addl DC Dhiman Kr Choudhury and on the instruction of the Deputy Commissioner JVN Subramanyam.
Conscious people have welcomed such an initiative from the district administration but they are also apprehensive as to how the administration will deal with the eviction of the riverside land now, as previous records on the issue of selective anti-encroachment drives seemed to be an eye wash only.
But even though official figures narrate a different side of the story on the sensitive issue of encroachment as the previous Governments had failed to take action against the encroachment of the entire 962 bigha, 1 katha, 16 lessa reserved under Village Grazing Reserve (VGR) along with the entire area of 80 bigha, 2 katha, 10 lessa reserved for government or community purposes under the Balijana circle.
Also, under the Matia Revenue Circle, encroachment has taken place in 1,747 bigha, 2 katha, 71 lessa reserved under Village Grazing Reserve (VGR), 149 bigha,1 katha, 7 lessa under roadside land, 31 bigha, 2 katha, 19 lessa under riverside land.
Under Dudhnoi Revenue Circle. a total of 27 bigha, 3 katha, 0 lessa encroached under Village Grazing Reserve (VGR) , 7 bigha, 1 katha, 15 lessa under road side land. Under Lakhipur revenue circle, a total area of 27 bigha, 3 katha, 0 lessa under Village Grazing Reserve (VGR),7 bigha,1 katha, 15 lessa reserved under roadside land and under Rongjuli Revenue Circle, encroachment has taken place in a total area of 246 bigha, 0 katha reserved under Village Grazing Reserve (VGR). A total of 27 bigha, 3 katha, 0 lessa encroached under Village Grazing Reserve (VGR), 7 bigha,1 katha, 15 lessa under road side land. Under Lakhipur Revenue Circle, a total area of 27 bigha, 3 katha, 0 lessa under Village Grazing Reserve (VGR), 7 bigha,1 katha, 15 lessa reserved under roadside land and under Rongjuli Revenue Circle, encroachment has taken place in a total area of 246 bigha, 0 katha reserved under Village Grazing Reserve (VGR).
