4,400 hectares of land freed from encroachment along Ganga

News:

• About 4,400 hectares of land along the Ganga has been freed from encroachment in Uttar Pradesh and the Centre has started planting saplings on it as part of a special afforestation drive.
• Land mafia allegedly had encroached upon the flood plains by forging land records and got the plots transferred in the names of private individuals. Thereafter, these plots adjacent to the river stream were converted into private land and cultivation started to take place there.
• The land was freed from encroachment recently following the intervention of the Muzaffarnagar district administration. Before being encroached upon, the land was with the state forest department and under gram sabhas.
• Of the 6,000 hectares of land, 4,400 hectares has been recovered so far. Process is underway for recovering the remaining encroached land as well.

Source: ET