Officials of the Revenue Department and Ballari City Corporation, with the police protection, carried out the eviction drive in Ward No. 16 following complaints from local residents regarding the encroachment.
According to the officials, agricultural activities had been carried out illegally on the government land and sewage water from the lake had been pumped onto the land using motor pumps.
Acting on the complaints, the officials went to the spot with earthmovers and cleared the encroachments by removing the illegally laid irrigation pipes and motors. A warning board stating that the land belonged to the State government and that the encroachment of government property was a punishable offence was also installed at the site.
Additional Deputy Commissioner Mohammed Zuber warned that strict legal action would be taken against those encroaching upon government land, lakes and other public properties. “There will be no compromise on encroachment of public property. Such acts will not be allowed under any circumstances,” he said.
Ballari Tahsildar T. Rekha, Deputy Director of Land Records Pramod, officials of the Revenue Department, surveyors, personnel from the local police station and village accountants participated in the eviction drive.
