Seven islands in the Devbhoomi Dwarka district have been completely freed from illegal encroachments. These uninhabited islands are of immense importance for Bharat’s maritime security and have been under restricted access.
The large-scale demolition drive, carried out jointly by the district administration, police, and forest departments, targeted 21 islands in the region, of which seven have now been fully cleared. The operation, involved the removal of a total of 36 unauthorized constructions. The cleared islands include Kharachusna, Mithachusna, Ashaba, Dhoryo, Dhabdhabo, Samyani, Bhaidar.
On the ecologically critical Pirotan Island, 4,000 sq feet of area was cleared of encroachments, including religious structures. In all, around 24,000 sq feet of government land, valued at Rs 35 crore, was reclaimed, authorities said.
Fifteen illegal constructions were demolished on the Kharachusna and Mithachusna islands alone. The encroachments consisted of religious and commercial structures that had been unlawfully established on these critical maritime zones. Prior to the operation, the district administration conducted comprehensive surveys to identify and map unauthorized structures.
The 21 uninhabited islands in the maritime area of Devbhoomi Dwarka hold strategic significance for national security due to their location and restricted access.
In light of the ongoing demolition drive, access to Bet Dwarka – a popular tourist destination – has been temporarily restricted. Barricades have been set up to prevent entry, though regular worship at the temple in Dwarka remains uninterrupted. This temporary measure ensures the safety of tourists and facilitates the smooth execution of the operation.
State Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi took to social media platform X to announce the successful clearance of the seven islands, declaring them 100 percent free from encroachments. He also shared aerial footage showcasing the restored beauty of the islands.
District Collector and local authorities emphasised that notices had been issued earlier regarding unauthorised encroachments on government land. Following the expiration of the deadlines, legal action was initiated, leading to the current demolition drive.
Investigations are ongoing to identify the individuals and groups responsible for the unauthorized constructions on these restricted islands. The administration is scrutinizing how these encroachments were facilitated, despite stringent restrictions on access.
The anti-encroachment drive in the region is the latest in a series of similar actions that started in October 2022, just two months before the assembly polls. In September last year, tempers had flared in Gir Somnath district as the administration demolished illegal residences, nine mosques and shrines in the coastal areas surrounding the Somnath Temple. This land belonged to government agencies and the Somnath Temple Trust, of which Prime Minister Narendra Modi is the chairman and former deputy prime minister L.K. Advani and Union home minister Amit Shah are among the trustees.
In Junagadh in March 2024, a dargah and temple encroaching on government land were razed. Similar drives have ensued in Kutch and Porbandar to free the coastal districts of illegal structures and to allow the police to regulate movement of unauthorised individuals given the sensitivity of the region for national security and the recent spurt in narcotics trade.
