LUCKNOW, Aug. 13 -- The Uttar Pradesh government plans to make land freed from illegal encroachment available for major investment projects, including industries, pharmaceutical and manufacturing units, logistics parks, universities and medical colleges. According to the revenue department, more than 84,005 hectares-equivalent to about 2.08 lakh acres-has been freed from illegal encroachment across the state over the past nine and a half years. A government spokesperson said the land would help provide a thrust to investment and development. The state has also taken legal and criminal action against identified land mafias. A four-tier Anti-Land Mafia Task Force operates at the state, divisional, district and tehsil levels to identify encroachments and ensure their removal. The Anti-Land Mafia Portal has received 4,34,016 complaints, of which 4,31,697, or over 99%, have been disposed of. As many as 2,319 complaints remain pending. The government said the campaign has created a land bank that can be utilised for development projects, while an online monitoring mechanism tracks complaints and action taken on them. htc...