Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, June 17: A senior Minister in the coalition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) Government and two former Ministers besides two Government officials and hotels have been accused of encroaching forest land in Jammu and Kashmir.
This information was given by Minister for Forest Choudhary Lal Singh, in reply to a question by Shakti Raj Parihar in the Legislative Asssembly today.
The reply said that an area of 26.20 kanals of forest land in compartment V-4C Sedev of Shopian forest division in South Kashmir was found to be encroached by former Minister Taj Mohi-ud-Din (Congress). Under Section 48 (a) of Jammu and Kashmir Forest Act, eviction notices have been served upon Mohi-ud-Din for vacating of the encroachment.
However, he has filed an appeal in Jammu and Kashmir Special Tribunal Srinagar where the matter is under trial, the Minister said in the reply.
He said present Minister in the Coalition Government Abdul Gani Kohli, has constructed an educational institution in Khasra number 356 about 15 years back. A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed in the High Court.
Recently, the Vigilance Organisation (VO) has sought the information regarding status of the land. When the demarcation was done by the forest department, it was revaled that about 2 kanals of forest land was under encroachment of Kohli.
However, the Revenue Department had submitted its report stating that the educational institution owned by Kohli falls in State land under Khasra number 264. The matter is now sub-judice before the High Court, the reply said.
The reply said there are 98 kanals and 10 marlas of forest land in Sunjwan, Jammu. 27 kanals and 10 marlas is under encroachment.
He said per Nishandehi carried in 2007 by Revenue Authority, 23 kanals were encroached upon.
The reply said that former Minister Bashir Ahmad and Farida Begum have encroached 4 kanals and 10 marlas of land respectively. Presently Tavneer Ahmad, Yasir Bashir, Naseer Ahmad, Sajjad Ahmad, sons of Bashir Ahmad are in possession of the 4 kanals of land. In 2008 High Court was approached and case is under trial in the court of law.
The Minister said that there was a forest land under Khasra number 371. A plot of the area about 22 kanals was allotted by the Government to R P Sharma under a Government order on July 3, 2006. However, he sold the plot in parts to many influential people and some of them have constructed houses on the land which was allotted to Sharma.
The reply said that allotment of forest land was challenged in a PIL in the High Court which quashed the Government order allotment of land to Sharma. However, Sharma has filed a review petition in the Supreme Court where the case is pending.
But, he said, illegal constructions have come up on the land since many years and the Forest Department has issued notices to illegal occupants in some cases and have dismantled their illegal encroachments. However, certain cases are before the courts, the reply said, adding that the Forest Department has now prevented fresh encroachments in the remaining part of the land.
The reply said that Shapoo has also purchased 7 malras from the same land from one Abdul Majid. However, he tried to take possession of the land a FIR was registered against him in February this year.
Shapoo has, however, produced revenue papers and claiming that the land was under the entry of Majid.
However, in order to cancel the illegal Girdawari and illegal entry in Revenue records, Court of Deputy Commissioner, Jammu was approached by the Forest Department and subsequently in May this year DC issued an order on May 27,2016 cancelling the illegal entry in the name of Majid and has set aside the illegal entry of Girdawari done by the revenue Department.
The reply said Hotel Khyber Resort in Gulmarg has encroached approximately one kanal of forest land in compartment 39/Gul for which legal eviction notice has been issued to hotel. The land will be got evicted in due course of time after completing all legal formalities.
Six hotels have also encroached forest land in Jammu region, he said adding that Hotel Pine View has two marlas, Hotel Mount Shivalik one kanal and nine marlas, Hotel Subash Palace construction of road leading to hotel, hotel Green Top 2268 square feet in road and 1415 square feet floral bed and shopping complex and Hotel Forest View 1-2 marlas under road leading to hotel.
Proceedings under J & K Public Premises (Eviction of unauthorized occupants) Act 1959 were initiated and cases are under litigation in different courts.
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