Despite measures teken by the authorities, a sizable stretch of forest land spread over an 20,000 hectares on Khadar area (low-lying) near the banks of the Ganga river and its other tributaries in nine western UP districts has been encroached by powerful land mafias and others. The forest land also covers the land demarcated for the development of the Hastinapur wildlife sanctuary. Senior forest official said the continuous encroachment on the land has virtually stalled the development of the ambitious sanctuary project.