In one of the biggest demolition drives inside Sanjay Gandhi National Park in the past two years, authorities on Friday cleared illegal structures near Vihar Lake, close to Sahibangoda, spread over 100 acres—equivalent to 5 Oval Maidans. Close to 700 personnel, including forest staff, police and a team from the State Reserve Police Force took part in the daylong drive, officials told mid-day.

Activists have been raising concerns over unauthorised hutments mushrooming inside the protected forest. Often, the land mafia clears land by starting fires, they said, adding that such attempts became more frequent during the Covid lockdown.