Authorities of Bhitarkanika National Park in Odisha’s Kendrapara district Tuesday carried out an eviction drive, demolishing all illegal structures within the park area, an official said.

Roadside eateries, shops and houses that had come up illegally on land close to the mangrove forest were demolished with the support extended by local police, said Tehsildar of Rajnagar, Jishukrishna Das.

The eviction drive was carried out strictly in conformity with the law. The structures were illegal as these were built on encroached forest or revenue land, he said.

The encroachers were served notice asking them to produce lawful ownership rights of the land. They failed to furnish ownership proof within the stipulated time. Therefore, the encroached land was freed from occupation by the ongoing evi

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