Phagwara: Encroachment removed, park to be constructed on reclaimed land

In a significant development, the panchayat of Dhak Pandori village in Phagwara block successfully reclaimed nearly three kanal of illegally occupied panchayati land today in the presence of officials of the civil administration and police.

The anti-encroachment drive was carried out peacefully under the supervision of Tehsildar Jaswinder Singh, Block Development and Panchayat Officer (BDPO) Rampal Rana, Panchayat Secretary Malkit Chand, and the revenue officials concerned. According to village Sarpanch Vijay Kumar, the land had been under unauthorised occupation for a long time, with residents having placed fodder stacks, tethered cattle and stored agricultural equipment there.

Despite repeated written complaints to the BDPO, Phagwara, DDPO, Kapurthala, and other departments, the encroachers were unwilling to vacate the premises voluntarily. Today’s action involved clearing all such illegal structures and reclaiming the land for public use.

Speaking on the occasion, Sarpanch Vijay Kumar revealed that the panchayat plans to construct a public park on the reclaimed land, dedicated to Guru Nanak Dev. “Due to illegal encroachments, the proposed park project had been stalled. With the land now freed, construction will soon begin with the support of the Punjab government,” he stated.

Panchayat members Satpal, Balwinder Kumar, Prem Kumar, Surinder Kaur and Nirmal Kaur also expressed satisfaction over the successful operation. They emphasised that the upcoming park will serve as a vital recreational space for villagers of all ages, from children to the elderly.

Officials present at the site confirmed that the operation was conducted smoothly and affirmed their commitment to supporting future community development initiatives.