Forest officials undertook an eviction drive and freed all encroached lands in the Dagara- Chaumukh beach area at Baliapal from illegal settlers on Monday.
The local tehsildar and police assisted forest staffs in undertaking the eviction drive led by DFO HB Udgata.
The beach area, which comes under Forest Department, was not only occupied through construction of thatched huts but also by cultivation of betel vines and vegetables. Dumping of wastes had also destroyed the beautiful and serene environment of the beach.
As many as 18 huts were destroyed and about 200 acres of forest land were restored during the eviction drive, officials said.
“Villagers had illegally occupied the forest reserve land. While some of them had betel vine farms, others had grown vegetables. A total of 18 structures and huts were pulled down,” said the DFO.