Despite being criticised for the move that has taken a serious toll on the flood-displaced, the bulldozers of District Forest Office (DFO), Banke, tore down the illegal structures in the community forest area with the help of Nepal Police, Armed Police Force and Armed Forest Guards.

The DFO team demolished 253 structures at the Durga Mata Community Forest in Gangapur, 46 at the Pokhari Mata Community Forest in Phattepur VDC, 83 at the Bhalgadiya and 75 at Ram Janaki Community Forest on Monday. DFO chief Jaya Mangal Prasad claimed that they have started razing the illegal structures as the settlers have started evacuating the area on their own.

The DFO team including security personnel deployed for the campaign since Friday had pulled down 115 illegal structures in Mandwa and Ram Janaki Community Forests across Rapti river on Sunday. The DFO stated that they had successfully removed illegal structures in Siddheswor, Kusumiya and Bhagwati Community Forests. It said that about 1,123 illegal structures were built encroaching 122 hectares of forest land in 10 community forests across Rapti river by individuals posing as flood victims.

While the directive issued by Appellate Court, Nepalgunj in the name of Chief District Officer (CDO), District Police, District Forest and Area Forest Office to stop the encroachments have emboldened the spirit of government officials, flood victims are having a hard time coping with the situation with the onset of harsh Tarai winters.

While the flood victims have been complaining of unfair treatment by the government, Banke CDO Bed Prasad Lekhak said that they were only honouring the court’s directive. He said that the local political parties have also been helping them in the drive. Meanwhile, the flood displaced whose makeshift huts were demolished complained that the authorities were victimising them without any fault of theirs and have forgotten their earlier assurance to arrange alternative settlement for them.