Over 3.89 lakh kanals of State, Kahcharai land retrieved across Kashmir valley

Majority of eviction made from politicians, retd bureaucrats

*2.74 lakh kanals more land to be taken back from encroachers
Mohinder Verma

JAMMU, Feb 6: Over 3.89 lakh kanals of encroached State and Kahcharai land has been retrieved from the encroachers mostly politicians, their relatives and retired bureaucrats across the Kashmir valley till date and drive will continue without any break till remaining 2.74 lakh kanals of land is taken back from the grabbers.
As per the official figures available with EXCELSIOR, a total of 2,16,683 kanals of State land has been retrieved from the encroachers in 10 districts of the Kashmir valley till date and majority of the encroachers were influential persons, who by misusing their power and connections had constructed different types of structures on the encroached land patches.
In Anantnag district, encroachments have been removed from 28132 kanals of State land while as 8928 kanals of State land has been retrieved in Kulgam district. Similarly, 26603 kanals of State land has been taken back from the encroachers in Pulwama and 11341 kanals of land in Shopian district.
A total of 2415 kanals of State land has been retrieved from the encroachers in Srinagar district while as in Budgam district a total of 21698 kanals of State land has been taken back from the encroachers by the administration.
In Ganderbal district, encroachments have been removed from 12110 kanals of State land while as in Baramulla district 51975 kanals of State land has been taken back from the encroachers during the massive anti-encroachment drive. A total of 27497 kanals of State land has been retrieved in Kupwara district and 15992 kanals of State land has been taken back from encroachers in Bandipora district.
As far as Kahcharai land is concerned, encroachments have been removed from 1,72,907 kanals in 10 districts of the Kashmir valley.
As per the figures, 28891 kanals of land has been retrieved in Anantnag, 14705 kanals in Kulgam, 23568 kanals in Pulwama, 10509 kanals in Shopian and 3484 kanals of Kahcharai land has been retrieved in Srinagar district.
Likewise, 17211 kanals of Kahcharai land has been retrieved in Budgam, 6256 kanals in Ganderbal, 21526 kanals in Baramulla, 28919 kanals in Kupwara and 17568 kanals in Bandipora district.
According to the figures, a total of 1,41,587 kanals of State land and 1,31,459 kanals of Kahcharai land is yet to be recovered from the encroachers across the Kashmir valley as such there will be no let up in the ongoing anti-encroachment drive, which is being monitored constantly by the Lieutenant Governor and Chief Secretary.
A total of 5481 kanals of State land is yet to be retrieved in Anantnag, 4437 kanals in Kulgam, 22003 kanals in Pulwama, 7693 kanals in Shopian, 12867 kanals in Srinagar, 17251 kanals in Budgam, 5764 kanals in Ganderbal, 29352 kanals in Baramulla, 25209 kanals in Kupwara and 11530 kanals in Bandipora.
Likewise, 5418 kanals of Kahcharai land is yet to be retrieved in Anantnag, 7911 kanals in Kulgam, 26969 kanals in Pulwama, 9005 kanals in Shopian, 6696 kanals in Srinagar, 19033 kanals in Budgam, 2735 kanals in Ganderbal, 25950 kanals in Baramulla, 24423 kanals in Kupwara and 3319 kanals in Bandipora district.
As far as State land is concerned, 39.53% of total encroached land is yet to be retrieved by the administration in Kashmir valley while as 43.19% of the total encroached Kahcharai land is going to be retrieved in the coming days.
It is pertinent to mention here that directions for 100% retrieval of encroached State and Kahcharai land were issued to all the Deputy Commissioners of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir by the Government on December 10, 2022 and since then the anti-encroachment drives are being conducted without any break.