Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 31: Minister for Hajj, Auqaf and Horticulture, Abdul Rehman Veeri today called for expediting recovery of rent arrears from various State and Central Government Departments and other agencies who are in occupation of Wakf land.
Chairing a high level meeting here today to discuss the issues pertaining to occupation of Wakf land by various Government departments and other agencies, the Minister said the Government would initiate proceedings to get all such Wakf estates vacated, if the occupants fail to pay the rent arrears within the stipulated time. He said all such Wakf properties which are under illegal occupation would be retrieved and put to productive use.
The Minister took a strong note of the non-recovery of rent arrears and delay in disposal of rent assessment cases. He gave directions to the concerned to ensure speedy disposal of pending cases relating to the Wakf properties.
The meeting was informed that the Wakf land was being used by Education, PHE, Agriculture, Health, Home, Rural Development Departments, Defense, Railway and the Jammu and Kashmir Bank. It was also informed that the Education Department has recently released Rs 58 lakh on account of rent arrears.
Mr Veeri directed the State Wakf Council to ensure proper fencing of Wakf land presently under the occupation of Sericulture Department in Marh area and submit a report in this regard within a month.
Principal Secretary, Home R K Goyal, Commissioner Secretary Education, Shaleen Kabra, Commissioner Secretary, Agriculture M A Bukhari, Secretary, Rural Development, Khurshid Ahmad, Secretary, PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control, Parvez Ahmad Malik, Secretary, Revenue, Mohammad Afzal, Defence, Estates Officer, Jammu, Himanshu Sharma, Special Secretary, Health and Medical Education, Rajinder Singh Tara, Conservator of Forests Jammu East, B M Sharma, Special Officer Auqaf J&K and other concerned officers were present in the meeting.
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