Yogi Govt’s Big Land Mafia Crackdown: 2.08 Lakh Acres Freed, 144 Land Mafias in Jail
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By AMIT KUMAR
More than 84,005 hectares of land has been freed from illegal occupation, while 4.31 lakh of 4.34 lakh complaints registered through the Anti-Land Mafia Portal have been resolved.
Lucknow, August 12, 2026 — The Uttar Pradesh government on Wednesday claimed to have freed more than 84,005 hectares of land, equivalent to approximately 2.08 lakh acres, over the past nine and a half years. The state Revenue Department said that the land was retrieved as part of the state’s crackdown on illegal land encroachment.
The government said the campaign against land mafias has been strengthened through a combination of administrative action, legal proceedings, criminal cases and online monitoring of complaints.
The freed land is also being viewed as a potential resource for industrial development, infrastructure expansion and employment generation across Uttar Pradesh.
Over 99% of Anti-Land Mafia complaints resolved
According to the Revenue Department, a four-tier Anti-Land Mafia Task Force has been constituted at the state, divisional, district and tehsil levels to tackle illegal encroachment on public properties.
The task force follows a structured process involving identification of illegal occupation, initiation of action against encroachers and restoration of government land.
The state has also developed an Anti-Land Mafia Portal for online registration and monitoring of complaints.
A total of 4,34,016 complaints relating to illegal encroachment have been received through the portal. Of these, 4,31,697 complaints, or more than 99%, have been resolved, while 2,319 complaints remain pending.
The government said the online mechanism has created a system for continuously monitoring complaints from registration to final disposal.
Thousands of cases registered against encroachers
The campaign has also resulted in legal and criminal proceedings against identified encroachers.
According to the Revenue Department, 25,068 revenue cases, 1,168 civil cases and 4,751 FIRs have been registered as part of the action against illegal land occupation.
A total of 1,413 people have been identified as land mafias, of whom 144 are currently in jail, the department said.
The government has also initiated action under several legal provisions.
According to the department, 1,621 cases have been registered under the Indian Penal Code, while action has been taken against 109 people under the Code of Criminal Procedure, three under the National Security Act, 70 under the Gangsters Act, 206 under the Goonda Act and 1,745 people under other relevant provisions.
Freed land to strengthen UP’s land bank
The state government is developing land freed from illegal encroachment as a government land bank that can potentially support industrial investment and infrastructure development.
The Revenue Department said the land can be systematically identified and made available for industries, pharmaceutical and manufacturing units, logistics parks, universities, medical colleges and other major investment proposals.
The government believes that making such land available can accelerate the process of allotting land for investment projects and help create new employment opportunities.
The campaign is therefore being positioned not only as an anti-encroachment drive but also as part of the state’s broader development strategy.
“Development will not be halted”
The Yogi government has maintained that illegal occupation of public land cannot be allowed to obstruct development projects or the expansion of infrastructure.
The Revenue Department’s statewide action is intended to ensure that government land remains available for public purposes and future development.
The government said the continued campaign against illegal encroachment, combined with online monitoring and legal action, has strengthened its mechanism for dealing with land mafias.
The freeing of more than 84,005 hectares of land is expected to provide a significant additional land resource for industrial and infrastructure projects while creating opportunities for investment and employment across Uttar Pradesh.
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