Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 21: Tightening noose on land mafia, Minister of Forests and Social Welfare Bali Bhagat today declared that up to March next year Government will retrieve 5000 acre of forest land from the clutches of land mafia.
Addressing a public meeting at Durga Nagar near here, today which was organized by BJP Displaced Unit and Durga Nagar Development Committee jointly, he said so far 3100 kanals of forest land has been retrieved by the Government.
Bali Bhagat said Forest Department has been given clear cut instructions to remove the encroachments from its land in entire State and Government will deal firmly with land mafia how influential and powerful they may be.
He warned those trying to politicize the issue saying that freeing the forest land is in the overall interests of the people of the State and nation. Maintaining that the Government will retrieve entire forest land grabbed by land mafia, he said to save themselves the mafia groups are giving communal tinge to our action but the Government will not be cowed down by this and his Ministry will definitely achieve target fixed by it.
Reiterating the Government’s commitment regarding establishment of separate AIIMS for Jammu, he said the issue has been settled after the Government has given a assurance to the Coordination Committee in this regard.
He warned those trying to spread canards and mislead the public in this regard and said that the issue has already been taken up by Deputy Chief Minister, Dr Nirmal Singh with Union Government.
He said that the Social Welfare Ministry has taken up many welfare programmes in hand. The Old age pension scheme has been simplified so that people get pension without problem. The ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padao’’ scheme has been enforced in the State to benefit the girl child, he added.
Moreover, the Social Welfare Department will come to door steps of the people in solving their problems and unlike past people have not make trips to the Departmental for redressal of their grievances. Now the medical certificates, death certificates and Income certificates will be issued by the Departmental officers at the door steps of the people, he added.
The Minster also gave instructions to the JMC authorities to construct a park in the area which was a long pending demand of the people. He assured overall development of the Ward.
BJP MLC Surinder Ambardar who also addressed the meeting said that he will take up the problems of the people of Ward 64 with Government on priority basis. He announced one transformer for the area on spot from his Constituency Development Fund.
The BJP Displaced Unit president, T N Bhat, M L Pandita, Roshan Lal Raina, president Welfare Committee, D N Kissu, Sheela Handoo, M L Bhat, C L Koul, and Ramesh Ji also spoke on the occasion. The vote of thanks was proposed by P L Sudeshi while PK Raina managed the stage.
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