Eviction notice to 29 encroachers settled in the forest

Gariaband. Preparations have been made for another major eviction action against encroachers in Udanti Sitanadi Sanctuary. Deputy Director Varun Jain said that the action of eviction of 29 encroachers in Tangran forest of Taurenga range falling in the buffer zone of the sanctuary is to be taken on January 3.

Of these, 25 are residents of Navrangpur district of Odisha. A notice was issued against them in June itself. The accused even went to the court, calling the action illegal. Following the instructions of the court, top officers of the department held the hearing.

After 4 months of hearing, the sanctuary administration declared the action justified. On December 13, instructions were given by the Deputy Secretary of the department to keep the action as it was. The accused challenged the action of the sanctuary administration and said that their capture was legitimate.