*Div Com seeks action plan for removal of encroachments
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Oct 20: In a major development, a Joint Commission constituted to look into encroachment of State/Nazool land by the land mafia has been asked to prepare a list of encroachers of State land in Jammu Khas area and submit the same to the Divisional Commissioner along with suitable action plan for removal of the encroachments. Moreover, directions have also been issued for submission of reports about encroachments in other areas.
Keeping in view the instances of encroachment of State and Nazool land in and around Jammu city by the land mafia and other persons, Divisional Commissioner Jammu, Dr Pawan Kotwal vide order No.901/CC/Jammu/730-34 dated September 17, 2015 had constituted a Joint Commission headed by the then Regional Director, Survey and Land Records Jammu to identify encroachments particularly in and around Jammu city and Khasra No 301, 302 and 303 situated at Jammu Khas near village Nandini (adjoining fourth Tawi bridge).
Later the head of the Joint Commission was replaced with Deputy Commissioner Jammu with the direction to identify all encroachments and suggest immediate legal action against the encroachers.
The Joint Commission headed by Deputy Commissioner Jammu, Simrandeep Singh and comprising of Assistant Commissioner (Revenue) Jammu, Sachin Dev Singh, Assistant Commissioner (Nazool), Deepraj and Director Land Management Jammu Development Authority, Rishpal submitted the report to the Divisional Commissioner vide communication No. DCJ/2016-17-PS/909-14 dated September 19, 2016 to the Divisional Commissioner.
“Now, after detailed analysis of the report of the Joint Commission, the Divisional Commissioner has issued directions for preparation of list of the encroachers in Khasra No. 302 and 303 of Jammu Khas and submission of the same to him as early as possible”, official sources in Divisional Commissioner’s office told EXCELSIOR.
“The Joint Commission shall also deliberate on the eviction aspect of the matter and submit a suitable action plan for removal of the encroachments in these Khasra numbers”, sources said quoting the communication of Divisional Commissioner’s Office to the head and members of the Joint Commission.
Stating that the report submitted by the Joint Commission about these Khasra Nos of Jammu Khas would be treated as a preliminary report, the Divisional Commissioner has issued directions for submission of similar reports about encroachments in other areas. “The Joint Commission was required to identify all encroachments on State and Nazool land in all the areas and suggest immediate legal action against the encroachers but because of the quantum of work it has confined the enquiry work to only Khasra No. 301, 302 and 303 of Jammu Khas”, sources said further quoting the Divisional Commissioner’s observations.
Disclosing that steps towards ensuring compliance to these directions and observations of the Divisional Commissioner have already been initiated, sources said that Joint Commission will submit more reports about encroachments on State and Nazool land in near future. “The initiative of the Divisional Commissioner will go a long way in preventing the land mafia from spreading its tentacles provided seriousness is shown in planning and then starting eviction drive on a large scale that too without succumbing to pressure from any quarters”, sources said.
“If the administration fails to start eviction drive even after receipt of list of encroachers then the entire exercise of identifying the encroachers would be a futile exercise. Moreover, this will give a message to the land mafia that Government lacks determination to punish them”, sources remarked.
They further said, “the action becomes imperative as in the order whereby the Joint Commission was constituted it was explicitly mentioned by the Divisional Commissioner that illegal acts of land mafia and other persons in encroaching sizable parts of State and Nazool land are causing serious loss to the interests of the State and all such illegal activities are required to be curbed under due process of law promptly”.
As already reported exclusively by EXCELSIOR the Joint Commission has detected massive encroachments in Khasra No. 302 and 303, which happen to be State land and recorded as Gair Mumkin Tawi under the possession of Flood Control Department.
According to the report, there are about 27 illegal structures in Khasra No.302 (State land) and 157 structures in Khasra No.303 (State land). Moreover, no one having possession over Khasra No.302 and 303 was able to produce any document in support of their claim over the land before the Joint Commission during the course of detailed enquiry.
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