Monday, March 19, 2012

8330 kanals of Tawi land encroached

While the department of Irrigation and Flood Control was in process of reclaiming thousands kanal of land in river Tawi by raising bunds, out of 9042 kanals of land reclaimed from the river so far, nearly 8330 kanals and 15 marlas has been encroached upon by people including some influential persons.

While the Revenue department has yet to make any entry of this reclaimed land into its record, nearly 4902 kanals and 18 marlas of land in Sidhra and Dwada belonged to the Forests and Jammu Development Authority. While some land in question falls in Sidhra nearly 2522 kanals of land is located near Dwada village, adjoining under construction Golf Course at the bank of river Tawi. This total area has recently been notified under Section 4(1) of the Land Acquisition Act by Collector Irrigation and Flood Control for development of infrastructure, in addition to the total reclaimed land.

Member Legislative Council, Murtaza Khan, raised the issue during a discussion in the Upper House today. He pointed out that Government deliberately or otherwise, failed to make entries of this reclaimed land in the Revenue record and huge land has been grabbed by some influential politicians, top officers and many of them have even raised farm- houses. He said as per claim of PHE, I&FC Minister land being reclaimed from river will be more than 5000 kanals and will the Government give exact status and whether it is being added to the Revenue record or not. He sought the detail of such people who are in possession of this land. NC legislator Ajay Sadhotra also expressed serious concern over the issue and said that as per claim of PHE and Flood Control Minister thousands of kanals of land is being reclaimed from Tawi what will be the fate of such land. Why Girdawri of such land was not conducted. He said there was threat of grabbing of this land which is still in the process of reclamation and what steps will be taken to vacate that land. Whether Government intended to get the grabbed land vacated, he asked.

Minister for Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation, Ram Bhalla while replying said that Government as per its clear policy, was committed to get the land vacated from the illegal occupants. He assured the House that encroached land will be got vacated. At the same time he sought cooperation from all quarters in this regard. He claimed that a Task Force headed by Divisional Commissioner, Jammu and involving DC and other officers from Housing, Forest and Police has been framed.

Mr Bhalla admitted that nearly 9042 kanals and 18 marla of land has been reclaimed so far from river Tawi. 712 kanals and 3 marla of land belonged to Niabat Jammu Khas, 8192 kanals 2 marla under Niabat Gho Manhasan and 139 kanals and 13 marlas under Gole Niabat. He said Irrigation and Flood Control department is in process of re-claiming land from the river by raising protection bunds and the process of bringing the said land on record has been started. A field survey is also being done. It is vast area and extensive exercise is required for it.

Revenue Minister further clarified that out of this total area reclaimed, 4902 kanals and 18 marlas belonged to JDA and Forest/WL and it was through a notification acquired by Collector I&FC for development of infrastructure. He however, claimed that no land has recently been reclaimed and entered in record. Bhalla said 8330 kanals and 15 marlas of land was in illegal occupation of many persons and from time to time notices were served to many of them. He said 3575 kanals of encroached land falls in and around Makwal Tawi island, 672 kanals at Singhu Tehra, 937 kanals Tehra, 1712 kanals at Thub, 422 kanals at Raipur Jagir, 869 kanals at Haripur, 138 kanals at Gole and other places. Mr Bhalla said 712 kanals of Land falling in Jammu Khas also belonged at JDA/Forests, out of which 73 kanals and 14 marlas of land is under Park and land measuring 625 kanals situated at Majeen- Sidhra is under Golf Ground. And 23 kanals of land at Bain Bajal is under JDA.

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