Around 45-50 unauthorised structures were removed in a mega demolition drive on Bet Dwarka island in Gujarat on January 11. The state government’s bulldozers were deployed in Gujarat’s ‘Devbhoomi’ Dwarka district, targeting illegal residential and commercial constructions in the Balpar area of Bet Dwarka. The operation began early Saturday morning to remove unauthorised structures and preserve the sanctity of the region.
The demolition drive in Bet Dwarka began in 2022, with similar operations conducted in districts such as Kutch, Porbandar and Junagadh. This latest operation marks the second phase of demolitions in Bet Dwarka. Following the initial 2022 drive, a re-survey identified additional unauthorised structures, necessitating the continuation of the cleanup initiative.
Gujarat’s Minister of State for Home, Harsh Sanghvi, expressed the government’s commitment to preserving the sanctity of Bet Dwarka. On X (formerly Twitter), he stated, “Bet Dwarka is a land of faith for millions of people across the country. No illegal encroachment will be allowed on the land of Krishna. It is our responsibility to protect our faith and culture.” He further lauded the Bhupendra Bhai Patel-led government for its “zero tolerance” policy towards illegal encroachments.
The operation is being conducted under tight security, with over 1,100 police personnel deployed to ensure law and order. Reports suggest that an illegal religious structure in the area is also slated for demolition. However, this action has been delayed due to a court-imposed stay order, with the matter scheduled for a hearing after January 20.
District Collector (in charge) and SDM Amol S. Awate provided updates on the progress, stating, “The action began this morning, and around 35 houses built on Gauchar land belonging to the Gujarat government have been demolished. As per Section 185 of the Gujarat Municipality Act, 1963, two notices were served earlier. Following this, a Jan Sunvayi (public hearing) was held on January 8 and 9 to verify documents. Houses without authorised documentation were identified for demolition. The action will continue for another two days until all illegal encroachments are cleared.”
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