A significant anti-encroachment initiative has been initiated to reclaim approximately 3 hectares of land situated behind the revered Somnath temple in Gujarat’s Gir Somnath district, a task shared between the temple trust and the state government, as per officials' statements on Saturday.
According to Collector Harji Vadhvaniya, a comprehensive demolition effort is underway targeting 21 houses and 153 huts that have been erected without authorization, to reclaim the land owned by the Shree Somnath Trust and the state government. This massive undertaking commenced Saturday morning under the supervision of five 'mamlatdars' and about 100 revenue officials, with strict security measures in place to ensure a peaceful execution.
The identified land parcel, spanning 3 hectares (approximately 7.4 acres), will undergo clearance of encroachments and subsequent fencing as outlined in a circular issued by the state revenue department.
Situated in Prabhas Patan near Veraval town along the Arabian Sea coastline, the Somnath temple holds immense religious significance as the foremost among the 12 jyotirlinga shrines dedicated to Lord Shiva, serving as a vital pilgrimage destination and tourist attraction.
"The objective is to eliminate unauthorized residential encroachments in adherence to the directives outlined by the revenue department, followed by securing the area with fencing. Before commencing the operation, a meeting was convened with representatives of the encroachers on January 25 to provide them with a comprehensive understanding of the process," affirmed the collector.
He further emphasized the provision of tractors and laborers to assist encroachers in relocating their belongings, along with arrangements made for distributing food packets during the process.
"The encroachments were concentrated in two areas – 21 structures occupying 700 square meters of land, and 153 constructions spanning over 3 hectares," informed Vadhvaniya during interactions with the media.
To ensure the smooth conduct of the operation, Gir Somnath district Superintendent of Police Manoharsinh Jadeja confirmed the deployment of a substantial police force. The operation is expected to conclude by evening, with strict vigilance maintained over the area to prevent any untoward incidents.
"The land in question is the property of both the government and the temple trust. We have stationed two SRP (State Reserve Police) companies and deployed 500 police personnel on site. Access points to the area have been sealed off, and additional emergency response teams, including firefighters, Rapid Action Force (RAF), and Quick Response Team (QRT), are on standby," asserted Jadeja.
