Excelsior Correspondent
SAMBA, Apr 27: Minister of State for Hajj & Auqaf, Farooq Ahmad Andrabi today chaired a meeting to review functioning of Auqaf Islamia and activities being carried out in district Samba.
Deputy Commissioner Samba, Sheetal Nanda, CEO J&K State Wakaf Council Raj Mohammad Malik, ADC Tilak Raj Sharma, ACR Waseem Raja Khan, Administrator Auqaf Islamia Samba and tehsildars of district Samba were present in the meeting.
During the meeting, Administrator Auqaf Islamia apprised that there are 2692 kanals notified and 3000 kanals non-notified land of Auqaf Islamia in the Samba, while it also takes care of 82 Masjid Shariefs, 56 graveyards and 18 Eidgahs in the district.
Further, it was informed that around 172 kanals land is being utilized by various Government departments and 150 kanals has been encroached by people.
Administrator Auqaf Islamia raised various points including demarcation of Auqaf land at various places, vacation of land under Forest Department, handing over of possession and management of Khanqah (Baba Chamliyal) Ramgarh to Auqaf, payment of rent by Government departments using Auqaf land for its further utilization for welfare and common activities, retrieval of Auqaf land from private encroachers and others.
Addressing the meeting, the Minister asked the revenue officers to coordinate with Auqaf Islamia and get the demarcation work done in time bound manner. He asked the Auqaf to immediately start fencing work on the land after the revenue department provides demarcation report.
The Minister asked the revenue officials to put in their sincere efforts in protecting Auqaf land and asked the district administration to look seriously into the cases of encroachment by the people.
He said that issue of rent for Auqaf land being utilized by Government departments will be taken up with concerned quarters for early release so that it can be utilized for welfare activities. He directed the Administrator Auqaf to create durable assets including Banquet Halls, Shopping Complexes on the Waqaf land which can benefit the people and also earn revenue.
Later, the Minister chaired a meeting to review the functioning of PHE, PDD, Irrigation & Flood Control and Industries Department.
The meeting was attended by Chief Engineer PHE, Sushil Aima, Chief Engineer I&FC Rajeev Gandotra, Chief Engineer PDD Ashwani Gupta, Executive Engineers, GM DIC Samba and other senior officers.
During the meeting, the Minister was apprised of power and water scenario in the district including ongoing projects and special provisions being made to cater to the needs of the people during summer season.
The Minister directed the PHE and PDD to gear up their men and machinery to provide uninterrupted power and water supply to the people during summer season. PDD was asked to create transformer bank for immediate replacement in case of damage. Directions were given to PHE department to start tanker supply in the areas where tap supply is insufficient.
“Water and power are essential services and it is the duty of both the departments to put in their sincere efforts to avoid inconvenience to the people in hot climatic conditions”, the Minister said.
Irrigation & Flood Control department was asked to complete all ongoing works before commencement of monsoon season to avoid damages of any kind.
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