Haldwani, Aug. 5 -- A joint team comprising officials from multiple government departments has launched a comprehensive survey in the Jawahar Nagar area of Haldwani to identify and demarcate encroachments on railway land. The drive is part of a broader effort to facilitate the proposed expansion of the Haldwani and Lalkuan railway stations. Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Rahul Shah, who is supervising the operation, said the survey was carried out on the instructions of the Nainital district magistrate. "A joint team from the district administration, railways, police, revenue, municipal corporation, irrigation, water works, forest, food supply, and power departments conducted the survey in the Jawahar Nagar locality. Using railway records and supporting documents from other departments, the team identified and marked areas under encroachment," he said. As part of the verification process, officials also examined property ownership-related documents held by the residents occupying the land. "We checked electricity bills, house tax receipts, water tax records, Aadhaar cards, and ration cards to assess the legitimacy of occupancy," Shah added. Preliminary findings of the survey suggest that many of the people currently living on railway land had purchased the plots without legal ownership, and most of them are originally from Bareilly and Rampur districts in Uttar Pradesh. The SDM confirmed that the survey will continue on Tuesday, and the final report will help determine the course of action for removing illegal structures and reclaiming the land. According to officials, the Indian Railways had requested assistance from the district administration to clear the encroachments as part of infrastructure expansion plans. Two teams, led by the SDM, have been constituted to carry out the task. These teams include personnel from key departments such as the railways, police, forest, food and civil supplies, electricity, and water supply. Authorities have indicated that after the survey is completed, notices will be issued to those found occupying land illegally, paving the way for a phased eviction drive....