The Haridwar district administration demolished an illegal mazar constructed on two bighas of government land belonging to the Irrigation Department in the Suman Nagar area under Ranipur police station limits. The action came following direct orders from Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, who reiterated his government’s zero-tolerance policy against all forms of encroachment and illegal occupation of public land.
“No one can encroach on government land by simply spreading a sheet. Uttarakhand has zero tolerance for land jihad, love jihad, and spit jihad,”
— Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami
According to Haridwar Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Jitendra Kumar, the demolition followed multiple notices issued to the encroacher. Despite being warned to vacate the government property, the illegal occupants failed to comply, prompting a full-scale operation.
“The illegal mazar was built on two bighas of land belonging to the Irrigation Department. We had issued a notice asking them to remove it, but they did not comply. Today, we took action and demolished the structure in the presence of police personnel,”
— SDM Jitendra Kumar
The operation was carried out jointly by the Haridwar district administration, local police, and officials from the Uttar Pradesh Irrigation Department. Heavy police deployment ensured law and order as the structure was brought down using a bulldozer.
Officials confirmed that a wider anti-encroachment and land verification drive is currently underway across Haridwar district. “A survey is ongoing to identify all illegal structures. So far, around 10 illegal constructions have been removed,” Kumar added.
The controversy dates back to October 16, when the Irrigation Department issued a formal notice to those maintaining the mazar, located near the Pathri Roh bridge in the Ranipur area. The notice demanded proof of ownership or removal of the structure within 15 days. Upon non-compliance, the department declared the mazar as an illegal encroachment on state land, leading to demolition.
Officials revealed that the land in question had been under unauthorised occupation for several years, with the illegal religious structure gradually expanding in size. Following the state government’s directive for district-wise surveys, the site was identified and marked for immediate removal.
Chief Minister Dhami has repeatedly emphasised that illegal religious encroachments will not be tolerated in Uttarakhand, a state revered as Devbhoomi. His administration has directed all district officials to act firmly against unauthorised constructions particularly those raised on forest, irrigation, and temple trust lands.
“No one can misuse faith as a cover for illegal occupation. The law is the same for everyone and we will reclaim every inch of government land,” Dhami stated earlier this week during a review meeting. The Haridwar demolition is part of a larger state initiative to reclaim encroached public properties. District administrations have been instructed to identify, survey, and remove all illegal constructions religious or otherwise erected without due process.
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