Market complexes have been built on Government land at different panchayats under Jharbandh tehsil limits in Bargarh district.
According to the sources, some land mafia have encroached forest and pasture land in the area by force. At Putuka village under Jharbandh Block, some even have built homes on Government land.
A man of Dhaurabhata village under Jagdalpur police station limits of Jharbandh Block encroached eight acres of Government land and later sold it. More than 50 acres of forest land have been encroached at Ghuchapali village, some of which have been also sold to Chhatishgarh residents, said sources.
Meanwhile, Jharbandh tehsildar said that more investigations were going on to free Government land from encroachment and action would be taken against the encroachers.