In Gujarat’s Dwarka, the district administratio n is undertaking a demolition drive against illegal encroachment. Recently, the officials razed the Hazrat Panj Peer Dargah, which was illegally constructed on the land owned by the Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB) in Okha.
In the last three days, thousands of square meters of government land have been made encroachment-free by demolishing about 200 illegally built houses in Bet Dwarka, Dwarka.
Other than this, the authorities also took bulldozer action against illegal encroachment spread over about 4,000 square feet on Pirotan Island. This step was taken to protect national security and the marine ecosystem of the area. Pirotan Island is located near five SPMs (Single Point Mooring), which supply 60 percent of the country’s crude oil. The island is also part of the Marine National Park and illegal encroachment was causing significant harm to marine life, especially coral reefs. Besides, an increased presence of illegal mazars hinted at the threat of demographic change in the area.
Taking to X, Gujarat’s Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi said, “Bet Dwarka is the land of faith for crores of people across the country. We will not allow any illegal encroachment on Krishna’s land. It is our responsibility to protect our faith and culture. The Bhupendra Bhai Patel government in Gujarat has shown zero tolerance for illegal encroachment.
As per the Gujarat government’s Department of Information, the increased unauthorised movement of people due to the occupation has raised serious concerns for national security. The place was at risk of becoming a landing point for NDPS (Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances) )-related activities. The occupation and related unauthorised activities posed a serious risk to vital industries and defence.
In an X post, Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi informed about the bulldozer action in Pirotan Island and said, “Pirotan Tapu (Island) in Jamnagar, Gujarat, is now free from all illegal encroachments! Pirotran Island, part of Marine National Park, is crucial for national security & marine life. Yesterday, 9 illegal religious structures spanning 4000 sq ft were removed from the island, restoring its natural state.”
According to reports, a total of 1,000 personnel, including senior officials and police officers, are involved in the entire operation. Before the action commenced, senior officials from the administration and police department devised a detailed plan and completed all necessary preparations. The district police chief, along with other officers and administrative officials, remained present on the ground to keep an eye on the process, even during the operation.
Drone cameras are being utilized to monitor the action. It is not yet determined how long this operation will last, nonetheless, given the extensive number of structures involved, it may take a considerable time to conclude.
This story was originally published in muslimmirror.com.
