GAIGHAT: Public land is shrinking at a rapid rate in several parts of Udayapur district, thanks to rampant encroachment.

Public land in western and eastern parts of the district as well as in Triyuga municipality is being encroached on a large scale. Encroachment is rife on the bank of Triyuga and Baruwa rivers. Deforesting the community forests in wards 2, 3, 5, 6 and 7 in the municipality, landless people have been building huts. Some unscrupulous people are also involved in public land encroachment. More than 100 huts have already been erected on over 200 bighas of public land at Triyuga-3. Although the municipality has tried to remove people occupying the public land, the effort got a blow due to pressure by political parties. meanwhile, locals also are protesting the encroachment, but they complained that nothing would happen until the higher authorities take notice.