India, July 13 -- The Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (Yeida) said on Sunday that it has launched an anti-encroachment drive on the green belt, freeing around 200,000 square metres (sqms) of land worth an estimated Rs.700 crore from encroachers.

To begin the drive, the Authority on Saturday freed green zones at two locations. In the first operation at Chapargarh village, Yeida officials freed 50,000 sqm of land worth around Rs.250 crore, located on the 60-meter green belt, officials said.

Some people had encroached the land which was already acquired by the Authority and whose possession was taken in the past, said officials.

The second drive was conducted in the Tappal area of Aligarh district, where another 150,000...