Meerut, Jan. 14 -- The district administration in Sambhal on Tuesday initiated a detailed land survey to verify alleged encroachments over a government pond, in the Sarai Tareen area, officials said. The action is part of an ongoing anti-encroachment drive and was carried out in the Wajidpur Sarai locality in Sambhal tehsil. According to officials, around 40 houses are suspected to have been constructed on pond land recorded under Gata number 332. A 25-member revenue team was deployed along with police personnel from five police stations. PAC personnel were also stationed at the site as a precautionary measure. The revenue team comprised four kanungos and nearly 20 lekhpals. Using official revenue maps, the team identified the pond land, measuring approximately five bighas, and carried out house-to-house measurements with a measuring tape. As the exercise progressed, a large number of local residents gathered at the spot. Naib Tehsildar Jurail said the action was initiated following complaints regarding illegal occupation of the pond land. "The total area of the pond is around 3,320 square metres, nearly five bighas. This land is recorded under Gata number 332. A detailed measurement is being conducted by revenue officials," he said. Official records mention the area of the pond as 0.332 hectares. Jurail further clarified that after completion of the survey, notices under Section 67 of the Uttar Pradesh Revenue Code would be issued to the occupants. "They will be given an opportunity to present their case before the court. Further action will be taken only after following due legal process and on the basis of eviction orders," he said. Meanwhile, local residents have raised objections to the action. Mohammad Imran Qureshi, a resident of the area, claimed that the settlement was more than a century old and disputed the classification of the land. "According to old records, this area falls under Mauja Ghughavali. Our ancestors lived and died here. There is now a dispute between older records and new complaints," he said. Officials said the survey near Wajidpur Sarai Road is part of a broader district-level campaign against encroachments on government land, and further legal action will be taken based on the findings of the ongoing measurement exercise....