Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, June 28: The State Government today ordered a high-level probe into land grabbing at Humhama on outskirts of city here after legislators created uproar in the Upper House.
The issue was raised by ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) lawmaker, Saifuddin Bhat in House soon after conclusion of Question Hour. Bhat said nearly 200 kanals of grazing land is under illegal occupation at Humhama and State’s failure to retrieve the land is causing huge losses to exchequer.
He demanded that the Government should probe the whole matter. Bhat was supported by legislators from all parties including Opposition National Conference and Congress with members demanded constitution of House panel to probe entire issue.
“It is a serious issue which needs the attention of the House. The Government should find out who these thieves are,” said another PDP legislator Yasir Reshi while demanding constitution of House Comm-ittee.
Reshi was joined by Congress legislator, Ghulam Nabi Monga, BJP’s Vibodh Gupta and NC’s Bashir Ahmad Veeri, who all supported the demand of House Panel constitution.
Monga of Congress said the land has been encroached by influential persons and sought a probe into the matter. “State land has been encroached, but unfortunately the Governments over the years have failed to retrieve it,” he said.
Supporting the demand, National Conference Legislator, Bashir Ahmad Veeri said that the Government from time to time has been assuring the House that the enquiry would be conducted but so far there is no conclusion or any report about the encroachments done at Humhama.
“There is a need to set up House Committee to probe the land grabbing being raised by the members of the House,” he said adding that the legislators are the custodian of the State property and it is their right to protect them. He said that there is no party politics in this issue and our motive is to get the land free from the encroachers.
Amid noisy scenes, the Chairman Anayat Ali tried to pacify the legislators but the members continued pandemonium, prompting Minister for Revenue and Relief, Basharat Bukhari to intervene. He assured the House that the encroached land would be freed. “I am ordering a high-level enquiry to probe the land grab at Humhama and following the panel’s report, action as per law would be initiated against violators,” he added.
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