Acting on the directions of the District Magistrate, the district administration on Tuesday cleared nearly 42 acres (approximately 300 bighas) of encroached land falling within the limits of the Pilibhit Tiger Reserve. The land is situated near Phagunia Ghat Gaushala river in Akhtiyarpur village under Powayan tehsil of Banda police station area.

According to official sources, certain villagers had allegedly been in possession of the land for over five decades. Following the District Magistrate’s directive, the Forest Department, in coordination with heavy police deployment and the Revenue Department team, launched a joint enforcement drive to reclaim the protected forest land.

Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Powayan stated that the land forms part of the notified Tiger Reserve area and had been encroached upon illegally. During the course of the operation, heated exchanges were reported between some farmers and the joint team of police and forest officials.

SDM Chitra Nirwal said the action was undertaken in compliance with the District Magistrate’s orders to remove encroachments from the Tiger Reserve land. She asserted that any form of illegal occupation on protected forest land would not be tolerated and that the entire process was carried out strictly in accordance with legal provisions.

### Significance of the Tiger Reserve

It is pertinent to note that the Pilibhit Tiger Reserve is among the prominent protected forest areas of the country and was accorded the status of a Tiger Reserve in 2014. The reserve plays a crucial role in tiger conservation and the preservation of biodiversity. Forest officials maintained that encroachments within protected areas could have serious implications for wildlife and ecological balance.

Following the operation, the situation in the area has been reported as peaceful. While some farmers have indicated that they may escalate the matter to higher authorities, the administration has reiterated its firm stance against encroachments on protected forest land.