Uttarakhand: A preliminary investigation by the state’s forest department found that over 35 unlawful mosques, over 300 unapproved mazaars (tombs of religious figures), and two gurdwaras have been built inside the state’s forests in contravention of the law. At an event in Kumaon last week, chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami declared that at more than 1,000 locations, either a’mazaar’ or other such illegal structures have been constructed and promised to take tough action against encroachments to end land jihad. The survey results were released about a week later.
There are close to 115 unlicensed temples
According to the preliminary study, there are 155 unauthorised temples, two gurdwaras, and 10 mazaars in the four important circles of the Garhwal region: Garhwal Circle, Bhagirathi Circle, Shivalik Circle, and Yamuna Circle. According to the assessment, there are close to 115 unlicensed temples spread across the Kumaon region’s 10 forest divisions. These include well-known ones like the Garjia temple and the Purnagiri temple in Tanakpur, Champawat, which each year organises a lavish three-month fair.
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New data is still being gathered from the area
The survey in Kumaon only included information about temples, no other sites were included. According to officials, new data is still being gathered from the area. The forest department has recently released a new form that frontline workers must fill out with information about unlawful structures that are within their purview in both the Garhwal and Kumaon regions.
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