53 arrested for forest encroachment in Udanti Sitanadi Tiger Reserve on December 16

Key facts

• Forest authorities in Chhattisgarh arrested 53 individuals for attempting to encroach upon protected land within the Udanti Sitanadi Tiger Reserve (USTR).
• The Udanti Sitanadi Tiger Reserve (USTR) serves as a critical catchment for the Mahanadi River and a vital habitat for tigers, elephants, and leopards.
• The enforcement operation was conducted in the Sitanadi core zone, specifically in the Ghotbeda area of reserve forest compartment number 323.
• The joint forest team was led by Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) Bholanath Singh Rajput, Ranger Kushal Kashyap, and Deputy Ranger Lokeshwar Chauhan.