Massive Anti-Encroachment Drive Continues Along India-Pakistan Border; Illegal Water Network, Shops and Structures Demolished in Jaisalmer, Barmer and Bikaner
Authorities continued a massive anti-encroachment drive for the second consecutive day across Jaisalmer, Barmer and Bikaner along the India-Pakistan border. Illegal water storage facilities, shops, houses, commercial structures and forest land encroachments were demolished under Operation Clean amid heavy police deployment and heightened security arrangements.
The most significant action was carried out in the Sam border area of Jaisalmer, where authorities demolished a massive illegally constructed water reservoir spread across government land. According to official sources, encroachers had allegedly stolen water from the Indira Gandhi Canal, stored millions of litres in the reservoir, and sold the water illegally. Before the demolition, officials released the stored water back into the canal through a controlled channel to prevent wastage.
District administration teams conducted extensive enforcement under Operation Clean across the border regions of Sam, Shahgarh, Mohangarh and PTM. The campaign targeted illegal shops and other unauthorized structures constructed on government land. Officials stated that the operation was aimed at reclaiming public land from encroachers and ensuring strict compliance with government regulations in the strategically important border belt.
In Shahgarh, authorities demolished an unauthorized religious structure that had been established inside a mud hut at Rablau village under Harnau Gram Panchayat. The administration also used bulldozers to remove illegally constructed houses built on government land in Bachche Khan Ki Dhani as part of the continuing enforcement drive.
The anti-encroachment operation was jointly conducted by the Colonization Department, the district administration and the police. The enforcement team included the Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Tehsildar, Patwari and other revenue officials, who supervised the demolition and land clearance process.
Officials reiterated that illegal occupation of government land would not be tolerated under any circumstances and confirmed that similar operations would continue across the border districts. Given the close proximity to the India-Pakistan International Border, elaborate security arrangements were made, with personnel from multiple police stations and security agencies deployed to maintain law and order throughout the operation.
In Barmer district, the administration also launched anti-encroachment action in the Ramsar border region. Illegal constructions, including seven unauthorized shops being built on government land in Ladhe Ka Par village, were demolished under the supervision of Ramsar Sub-Divisional Magistrate Suresh Kumar Meghwal. The operation was jointly carried out by the Revenue Department, Panchayat Department and the police, with Station House Officer Vikram Singh Charan leading a large police contingent during the demolition.
Another phase of Operation Clean was simultaneously conducted in the Gadra Road region, where bulldozers cleared illegal encroachments from Sahdad Ka Par and Khalife Ki Bawdi villages. Around 17 unauthorized shops were demolished, including seven in Sahdad Ka Par and ten in Khalife Ki Bawdi. Officials stated that repeated notices had been served to the encroachers before the action. However, despite multiple warnings, the illegal occupations remained, compelling the administration to proceed with demolition.
The enforcement teams also removed temporary and permanent commercial structures, including shops, cabins and sheds that had been constructed illegally on government grazing land. Senior administrative officers and police officials remained present during the operation to ensure the process was completed peacefully and in accordance with official procedures.
Meanwhile, in the Khajuwala sector of Bikaner district, the Forest Department launched a major campaign to remove illegal encroachments from forest land located within 50 kilometres of the India-Pakistan International Border. The operation covered forest areas in Khajuwala, Pugal and Chhatargarh, where unauthorized occupations were removed in the presence of police personnel and district administration officials.
Authorities stated that the action was undertaken in compliance with government directives issued with national security considerations in view. The Forest Department also issued a stern warning that illegal occupation of forest land would no longer be tolerated and that strict enforcement would continue against all violators.
The second consecutive day of coordinated anti-encroachment operations across Jaisalmer, Barmer and Bikaner underscores the administration's determination to reclaim government land, dismantle illegal commercial activities, strengthen border security and enforce the rule of law in one of India's most strategically sensitive regions.

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