In the Udanti Sitanadi Tiger Reserve, the forest department conducted a massive anti-encroachment exercise where 22 people were arrested on allegations of trying to illegally occupy the forest areas and destroy the habitats of the wildlife. The act occurred on Friday morning in the Ghurwad locality within the Sitanadi core range.
The authorities reported that the suspects were caught attempting to clear forest cover and disturb natural ecosystem, which is a grave danger to biodiversity and wildlife. Forest teams arrived on the scene promptly, and with their actions put the situation into check, and all those involved were arrested. There is evidence that the group was trying to make illegal settlements or transmute forest land to personal use.
Governments have also expressed concern about the rising cases of encroachment of the forested lands that are under protection. Only two days ago in Mahasamund, law enforcers cleared out about 94 hectares of forest cover and arrested 52 individuals who were illegally encroaching on the forest areas. The accused in that case had allegedly cut down green trees in the reserved forest compartments to turn the land into farm land.
The same has been done in Dhamtari previously where massive eviction of illegal occupations in forest areas was carried out.
According to the forest officials, they will keep toughening on the encroachers in a bid to conserve the delicate ecosystems and wildlife habitats in the region.