People show resentment
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 4: The residents of Chann Roudian of Kathua district including the women in large number showed their serious resentment against the demolition drive launched by District Administration and Irrigation Department. The drive was launched after the Irrigation and Flood Control Department raised objections over the encroachment of Irrigation Department land besides the canal passing through the Chann Roudian village.
The joint team led by SDM Hiranagar, Suresh Kumar, SDPO Hiranagar, Ravinder Singh , Executive Engineer, Irrigation Department razed more than one dozens of structures which included the shops and residential houses. The affected families including women in large numbers were seen tearing and helpless to get any relief as they have to invest their hard earning money on construction of pacca structure with lakhs of rupees. The women Kanta and Kamla while sobbing pleaded before the demolition team to stop the drive as they have no place to take shelter.
They raised the question before team that when they raised structures why not they were stopped at that time? Where was Revenue and Irrigation Department?. Why not Government has taken action against them? They alleged that erring and corrupt officials had collected money at that time. They said that they have purchased the land from local people. The women alleged that the Administration adopting discriminating attitude with poor and helpless people and rich and influential people were spared. They said that the big businesses and politically influential people raised buildings and commercial complexes, Marriage palaces on State land and they have been left scot free. The Administration did not turn towards such influences people, they added. The Gujjars have thousands Kanals of State land in Hiranagar but Administration has no guts to take action against them. They demanded the compensation of their building structure which were damaged.
Following the situation heavy deployment of police force was enforced to defuse any untoward situation. A JCB was put on job and razed more than one dozen of the structure in Main Bazar Chann Roudian. The SDM, Suresh Kumar said that the people have encroached the land of Irrigation Department creating problems in distilling and passerby. The remaining areas will be vacated soon, he added.
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