Jharigaon: At Hatibadi under the Jharigaon Gram Panchayat of Jharigaon Block in Nabarangpur district, the Forest Department took action and demolished houses and shops that were illegally constructed on forest land. The department is currently in “action mode.”
The Jharigaon forest range and Jharigaon beat identified illegal structures—both residential and commercial—built on forest land on both sides of the Hatibadi main road. Starting from 10 AM, under tight police security, the illegal encroachments were demolished.
In the presence of officials from the Revenue Department, Police, and Forest Department, a total of 28 unauthorized houses were demolished. Earlier, on May 18, notices had been served to the illegal occupants as per the rules of six forest ranges under the Nabarangpur jurisdiction.
These encroachments were reported in areas like Kodigaon, Dabugaon, Umerkote, and Raighar, while in Jharigaon subdivision, unauthorized constructions were carried out along the Chandahandi Road and the Dabugaon Road in government forest range areas.
Today, the demolition operation was overseen at the site by Forest Department officials, including Shubendu Prasad Behera, and Forest Guard of Nabarangpur District. Also present were Jharigaon Tahsildar Sumanta Patra, Forest Officer Subash Chandra Khuntia, and others from the Revenue Department, who ensured prompt implementation of the eviction.