The eviction drive in the Lutumari Forest Reserve entered its second consecutive day on Sunday, 30 November, as authorities continued clearing illegally constructed homes from protected forest land. The operation forms part of a large-scale effort to reclaim nearly 5,962 bighas of encroached territory that had been gradually settled by around 1,700 families over several years.
Officials said the Forest Department and local administration had issued multiple notices to the settlers, urging them to vacate voluntarily. While many occupants complied ahead of the operation, a significant number remained on the land, prompting the deployment of bulldozers once again on Sunday. Nearly 1,200 families were evicted on the first day of the drive, with the remaining households removed during the second phase.
A moment of emotional significance unfolded during the demolition when a mosque within the encroached zone was dismantled. Before its demolition, several residents gathered at the site to offer prayers one last time amid the ruins.
Authorities stated that the eviction policy applies uniformly to all settlers, including those who had paid land revenue or held landless certificates, as no form of occupation is legally permissible within reserved forest areas. Forest officials added that the operation aims to reclaim the land and safeguard the reserve’s ecological balance. Discussions on possible relocation arrangements for the evicted families are currently underway at the administrative level.
