# Bulldozer Razes 200-Year-Old Mazar on Moradabad's Kanwar Route Early on Somvati Amavasya

> Citing its anti-encroachment drive, the Moradabad administration demolished a roughly 200-year-old mazar beside the Moradabad-Haridwar highway in Harthala to clear and secure the path ahead of the upcoming Kanwar Yatra.

**Type:** article · **Category:** Uttar Pradesh · **Published:** 2026-06-15 · **Source:** TrendKia
**Canonical:** https://trendkia.com/en/uttar-pradesh/muradabada-kanvara-marga-para-badha-bani-do-sadi-purani-majara-para-chala-bulado-963 · **Language:** English
**Tags:** Moradabad, Kanwar Yatra, Mazar Bulldozer, Anti-Encroachment Drive, Harthala, Moradabad-Haridwar Highway, Somvati Amavasya, Uttar Pradesh

In Uttar Pradesh's Moradabad, the administration carried out a major operation on the day of Somvati Amavasya. In the city's Harthala locality, a roughly 200-year-old mazar standing beside the Moradabad-Haridwar highway was brought down by a bulldozer in the early hours of Monday. Officials say the move was part of an anti-encroachment campaign aimed at keeping the route of the approaching Kanwar Yatra free of obstructions.

## Why the bulldozer moved in
According to officials, the mazar stood right in the middle stretch of the highway and had become an obstacle, repeatedly disrupting the flow of traffic. This portion of the highway is already quite narrow, and the risk of accidents here had long been a concern. With the Kanwar Yatra drawing near, the administration feared the blockage could cause trouble for Shiv devotees travelling as Kanwariyas, and so it decided to clear the path.

During the operation, not just the mazar but also a room attached to it was demolished. The entire matter falls within the Harthala area under the Civil Lines police station limits, located on the Moradabad-Haridwar highway.

## Who led the operation
The action was carried out under the leadership of Additional Municipal Commissioner Anil Kumar Singh. The administration argues that illegal structures and obstructions on public roads must be cleared, as removing them had become necessary for road widening and for improving the traffic system. Officials stress that this was not a one-off step but part of a wider drive to clear encroachments from public routes.

## What local residents say
Local residents, however, see the matter differently. They say the mazar had been present here for a very long time and had gradually become part of the area's identity. According to them, it was believed to be around 200 years old.

## Tight security arrangements
Given the sensitivity of the matter, a heavy police force was deployed at the spot during the operation. Police and administrative officers remained present throughout to deal with any untoward situation or tension. Even after the mazar was removed, police deployment has continued in the area to maintain peace and law and order.

## What this means for you
**Why this news matters to you:**

- **Across India:** For Shiv devotees setting out on the Kanwar Yatra, this stretch of highway should now be wider and safer, making movement easier.
- **In Moradabad:** Residents of Harthala and the Civil Lines area may face continued police deployment and traffic changes for some time even after the demolition.

## Questions & Answers

### 1. Where and when was the mazar in Moradabad removed?
The mazar beside the Moradabad-Haridwar highway in the Harthala area was removed in the early hours of Monday, the day of Somvati Amavasya.

### 2. How old was the mazar said to be?
According to local residents, the mazar was around 200 years old and had become part of the area's identity.

### 3. Why did the administration carry out the demolition?
Officials say the mazar had become an obstruction in the middle of the highway, and it was removed under an anti-encroachment drive to make the Kanwar Yatra route smooth and safe.

### 4. Who led the operation?
The action was carried out under Additional Municipal Commissioner Anil Kumar Singh, with a heavy police force deployed at the site.

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