THE SAMBHAL district administration has issued notices after identifying 34 structures, including several houses and a mosque, built illegally on government land in the Laxmanganj area. The action follows a recent survey conducted by the Revenue Department in response to complaints of illegal construction on government land. Officials found that more than six bighas of government land had been illegally plotted and sold in the area. Several permanent structures, including a mosque, were constructed on the encroached land. Confirming the action, Sambhal District Magistrate Dr. Rajender Pensiya said, “Notices have been served to the owners of the structures as well as the concerned authorities. They have been directed to remove the encroachments.” According to sources, the Revenue Department submitted its report to the Nagar Palika after completing the survey. Following this, the local body issued formal notices to the individuals involved. An inquiry is underway to determine how the land was illegally sold and developed. Authorities are also investigating the role of officials, if any, in allowing the encroachments. In a related case, a similar incident was recently reported in the Bahjoi area of Sambhal, where a portion of a mosque was found to have been built on government land, including a portion of a state highway. Sub-Divisional Magistrate Vikas Chandra said the Public Works Department (PWD) had informed mosque authorities about the encroachment. After being notified, the mosque committee requested time and has since started removing the encroached section voluntarily. The district administration has made it clear that such “encroachments” would not be allowed and appropriate action would be taken against all violators.
