100 acres of ‘encroachments’ demolished at Gujarat’s Kandla Port
The demolition, centred around the Mitha Port area, was jointly carried out by Deendayal Port Authority (DPA) and Kutch (East) Police
The Deendayal Port Authority (DPA), formerly known as the Kandla Port Trust, and Kutch (East) Police collectively demolished residential and commercial encroachments, with the operation involving around 40 officers and 500 personnel. (Express Photo) The Deendayal Port Authority (DPA) and Kutch (East) Police demolished residential and commercial encroachments on 100 acres of land at Kandla Port on Monday morning.
The demolition was centred around the Mitha Port area, and around 40 officers and 500 personnel were involved in the operation.
Officials said that not only were the structures over 100 acres of land “illegal”, but were a “threat to national security”, with some homes owned by history-sheeters.
Around 4,000 to 5,000 people lived in this area near the coastline over a 100-acre piece of land valued at Rs 250 crore.
“The Mitha Port encroachment is an area with physical and property related encroachments by accused and known bootleggers. The number of crimes related to the Petroleum Act and the Damage to Public Property Act is especially high,” said a statement from the police on Monday.
For this operation, the authority used around 20 JCBs, 20 Hitachis, 40 loaders, 40 dumpers, and 100 tractors. Further, drones and cameras were used to capture video footage of the entire operation.
Speaking to The Indian Express, SP Sagar Bagmar of Kutch (East) said, “The Mitha Port stretch encroachment is right next to the shoreline and is all on port land. Many residents are also on the police list of miscreants whose illegal properties were to be demolished anyway. We have not touched any religious structures as of now.”
He further added, “These encroachments being on the shoreline was a national security threat and there have been several incidents of pilferage from oil pipelines passing through this area.”
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