Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Sept 28: High Court was today informed that the committee of four members stands constituted in order to ascertain the actual quantum of leased land, the land originally leased and land under occupation in Pahalgam and all the three aspects have been ascertained by the committee. However, the court directed for report regarding other aspects as recorded in the previous order.
The Division Bench of Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice Puneet Gupta sought report from Pahalgam Development Authority (PDA) regarding other aspects apart from quantum of leased land, originally leased land and land under occupation.
The committee comprising of four members, two from Revenue Department and two from the PDA has been constituted to ascertain the facts of encroachments and other aspects of leased land in Pahalgam tourist resort.
Previously court had said that the occupants of Government land in Pahalgam have failed to produce documents in support of legality of their occupation and directed for immediate action against them for illegally occupying the Government land.
DB has sought report from PDA with regard to occupants of the Government land as they have failed to submit their documents including leased papers in support of legality of their occupation and their claim on the land which is under their occupation.
If these persons do not have any documentation in support of the legality of the occupation and are under unauthorized occupation of the Government land have no legal right to occupy the same.
PDA is under direction to take immediate action against these illegal occupants and has to give the details of the Government land, Forest land and Wildlife land within the jurisdiction of PDA which is comprising of 18 villages and amongst it 518 Hectares are Government land, 4341 is Forest land and 2725 is under Wildlife.
599 Kanals of state land stands transferred to PDA and has been fenced and developed into recreational parks, parking places etc. PDA has also acquired 297 kanals of proprietry land and 208 kanals maize farm from SKUAST Kashmir, for expansion of the 9-Hole Lidder Valley Golf Course into 18-Hole Golf Course, occupying the total area of 1186 kanals of land.
PDA has also given details of leases from 1935 with encroachments, subsisting of lease and expiry of lease, date of renewal, etc and the matter was placed on 8th board meeting of PDA in 2017 under the chairmanship of the then Chief Minister and it was decided that the Deputy Commissioner Anantnag will furnish a detailed report to Government for consideration of the cabinet. Despite repeated reminders from PDA no action has been taken by the DC.
Government land comprising 222 kanals in encroached by hotels, huts, residential houses and agriculture land and 2470 kanals of Forest land. However, no details of occupants and action taken against them have been mentioned before the court.
Municipal Committee PDA has to report the court with regard to managing the solid waste as the management of Solid Waste is a municipal function and all over the country is undertaken by the municipal committees and corporations.
They will also report with regard to fencing boundaries of Government land, Forest land and Wildlife land so that further encroachments are prevented is also to be submitted before the court on next of hearing.
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