UP: Encroachment removed from 'Brahmavart Teerth' in Sambhal, restoration work to begin

The district administration in Uttar Pradesh's Sambhal removed encroachments from the ancient Brahmavart Teerth, a traditional pilgrimage site, to restore it to its original form.

The district administration in Uttar Pradesh's Sambhal on Wednesday removed encroachments from the ancient Brahmavart Teerth, considered one of the district's 68 traditional pilgrimage sites, officials said.

Authorities said the site, spread over around 2.5 hectares in Mujahidpur Sarai village, would now be restored to its original form and beautification work would begin shortly.

Sub-Divisional Magistrate Nidhi Patel said the action was part of an ongoing district-wide drive to identify and restore ponds, lakes and traditional water bodies under the directions of the district magistrate.

She said three ponds and lakes had already been freed from encroachment in the past week and beautification work on them had started through the development department.

Patel said temporary encroachments had been made around the Brahmavart Teerth site, where villagers had allegedly dumped waste and occupied portions of land.

Revenue and development department teams carried out demarcation work at the site during the anti-encroachment drive, she said.

According to local belief, the Brahmavart Teerth has religious significance and devotees used to visit the site to perform ''tarpan'' rituals for their ancestors.