Kendrapara, May 21: Illegal settlements within the core area of the Bhitarkanika National Park have become a cause of concern for the forest department.

Nearly 10 acres of forest areas in Rupei block within the national park have been encroached upon. However, the authorities’ move to evict the encroachers has faced opposition from various quarters.

With the polls approaching, all political parties, with an eye on the vote bank, have protested against the eviction drive, said an official.

Last year, the national park authorities had served eviction notices on 71 families that had unlawfully settled in the forest. But, the drive failed to take off.

“Eviction orders have been issued against the illegal settlers in accordance with the provisions of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. Those against whom notices were served had been asked to submit land records within a fortnight. But they did not have such records with them. They were asked to voluntarily vacate the land. However, the illegal settlers are yet to vacate the plots on their own,” said divisional forest officer Manoj Kumar Mahapatra.

“We have decided to launch an eviction drive. However, the timing of the drive to oust the encroachers has not yet been finalised. Later, we have plans to take up a mangrove regeneration project on the reclaimed land,” said the divisional forest officer.

The wildlife sanctuary houses a number of villages. But Rupei falls within the national park boundary line. About four families had settled in the said forest areas in the aftermath of the 1971 cyclone.

“The district administration plans to rehabilitate the people displaced by the eviction drive on humanitarian grounds. The encroachers have no legal right to dwell in the national park area,” said Kendrapara additional district magistrate Ashok Kumar Panda.