Inhabitants of Talab Khatikan protest over illegal construction on Govt land

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, June 9: The inhabitants of Talab Khatikan and its adjoining areas today held a protest here at Exhibition Ground against the role of Commissioner, Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) in the illegal construction on the notified land by a political worker, thereby shrinking the road leading to the Jamia Masjid.
The inhabitants alleged that a political worker namely Ashiq Hussain Khan is doing illegal construction on the notified land, which actually belongs to the Custodian Department and was handed over to the JMC for road widening purposes. They said that the structures on the land were also demolished and the money was also paid to the Custodian Department.
The protesting people said that the JMC authorities seems to be hand in glove with the owner who has been allowed to construct the building on the said notified land which was meant for road widening with the result the purpose of road widening has been kept aside without any reason only to favour a political worker.
“It is also astonishing that the Commissioner, JMC took up the matter with the Deputy Commissioner for de-notification of the land which process has never been undertaken. We approached the Governor who took the matter with the Commissioner/Secretary, Revenue Department, who in turn sought report from the Custodian General but for their personal interests the case is pending for cancellation since long and the matter is being tried to hush up,” they added.
They appealed the Governor to cancel the proposal of Commissioner, JMC for de-notification of the land already acquired by the JMC pending with the Deputy Commissioner Jammu, besides cancelling the illegal allotment made by Custodian Jammu in favour of Ashiq Hussain and others.
The protestors also demanded cancellation of illegal map passed by the JMC Commissioner, demolition of illegal structures on the land and its restoration for the purpose it was initially acquired.