The Bihar government is contemplating taking over the land worth about Rs 7,960 crore, belonging to the erstwhile estate of Bettiah Raj, one of the largest zamindaris of the state, a large part which was encroached upon, an official said. The move is being made to ensure 'effective protection and management' of the nearly 15,358 acres of land, mostly in Bihar's East and West Champaran districts and in Uttar Pradesh, the senior official said. The estate is currently managed by the Court of Wards, Board of Revenue of the Bihar government. According to data compiled by the Board of Revenue till December 13 last year, which is in the possession of the PTI, of the total land belonging to Bettiah Estate in West Champaran district, 6,505 acres (around 66 per cent) have been encroached upon. On the other hand, 3,219 acres or around 60 per cent of such land in East Champaran, have been encroached upon. Chairman-cum-Member of the Board of Revenue, K K Pathak, in an October order pertaining