PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE | Ramnagar
Continuing its action against illegal religious structures in the State, the local authorities demolished three such illegal structures constructed inside private resorts in the Ramnagar area of Nainital district on Saturday.
According to sub divisional magistrate Pramod Kumar, the administration had received confidential information regarding illegal religious structures — one located inside a resort in village Dhikuli and two others in separate resorts in the Dhela area. Acting swiftly, the authorities deployed mechanical excavators early in the morning to demolish all three structures. Heavy police presence during the demolition operation ensured that the law and order situation was not disturbed.
It is pertinent to mention here that under chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, the State government has taken concrete action against what it terms land Jihad. More than 7,000 acres of land has been freed from illegal religious structures encroaching on land in various parts of the State. The chief minister has repeatedly stressed that the State government will not allow land Jihad and other forms of illegalities to alter the original essence and character of the State. This also gains significance considering the strategic importance of Uttarakhand which shares borders with China and Nepal while also being the State where the Ganga and Yamuna rivers originate, in addition to being the location of a number of ancient sacred pilgrimage sites including the Char Dham.
