19 lakh kanalForest land under encroachment

Admitting that unscrupulous elements have been making attempts to encroach upon land in and around major cities of the State, Government today said that about 19 lakh kanal State, Forest and Kahcharai land is under encroachment across the State.

In response to a question of CPM MLA, Mohd Yousaf Tarigami, Minister for Revenue, Raman Bhalla, admitted in the Lower House that unscrupulous elements have been making attempts to encroach upon the State/Kahcharai/ Forest land in and around major cities of the State. He, however, said that efforts are made from time to time to evict the encroachers and restore the land to its original position as and when such encroachments are noticed.

"So far as Kahcharai and forest land is concerned, the same is retrieved by revenue and forest agencies from time to time and eviction proceedings are a continuous process", he said, adding "but an extensive exercise is yet to be carried out so as to ascertain the exact quantum of land which is under illegal occupation of the un-authorized occupants".

As per the tentative details provided by the Minister, over 14 lakh kanal State land is under encroachment across the State. In Jammu district, over 32995 kanal of State land has been encroached by the mafia while as in Srinagar, over 36394 kanal of land is under the illegal occupation of unscrupulous elements.

Over 392247 kanal State land is under encroachment in Ramban district, 109629 kanal in Ramban, 71201 kanal in Reasi, 62327 kanal in Kishtwar, 25015 kanal in Samba, 90089 kanal in Udhampur, 116174 kanal in Doda, 64552 kanal in Poonch, 57215 kanal in Kathua, 33710 kanal in Anantnag, 27947 kanal in Budgam, 24533 kanal in Ganderbal, 41011 kanal in Pulwama, 93426 kanal in Baramulla, 29114 kanal in Kulgam, 34752 kanal in Shopian, 47763 kanal in Bandipora and 55721 kanal in Kupwara.

As far as Kahcharai land is concerned, over 3.4 lakh kanal is under encroachment across the State. Over 3495 kanals is under encroachment in Rajouri, 514 kanals in Ramban, 2730 kanals in Reasi, 2648 kanals in Kishtwar, 853 kanals in Samba, 9131 kanals in Udhampur, 362 kanals in Doda, 4122 kanals in Poonch, 6609 kanals in Jammu, 3553 kanals in Kathua, 25189 kanals in Anantnag, 23640 kanals in Srinagar, 39534 kanals in Budgam, 16473 kanals in Ganderbal, 33233 kanals in Pulwama, 40396 kanals in Baramulla, 23940 kanals in Kulgam, 39136 kanals in Shopian, 15647 kanals in Bandipora and 53743 kanals in Kupwara.

Leh and Kargil are the only districts in the State where neither State nor (Kahcharai) land is under encroachment.

According to the details, over 13360 hectares (1.06 lakh kanals) forest cover is under encroachment across the State. In Jammu Forest Division, 186.4000 hectares of forest cover has been encroached by the unscrupulous elements, 235.1000 hectares in Ramnagar, 37.5000 hectares in Kathua, 221.6000 hectares in Billawar, 14.1975 hectares in Udhampur, 1533.1000 hectares in Ramban, 411.4650 hectares in Batore Forest Division, 385.6500 hectares in Doda forest division, 615.7500 hectares in Bhaderwah, 278.5700 hectares in Kishtwar, 4.5000 hectares in Marwah, 2201.6500 hectares in Rajouri, 1792.6500 hectares in Poonch, 546.9140 hectares in Nowshera, 125.4400 hectares in Reasi and 879.000 hectares in Mahore Forest Division.

In Kashmir region, 56.39 hectares of forest land is under encroachment in Langate, 387.59 hectares in Jehlum Valley, 18.198 hectares in Kamraj forest division, 26.24 hectares in Kehmil, 994.65 hectares in Anantnag, 376.51 hectares in Lidder, 624.46 hectares in Shopian, 333.50 hectares in Special Division Kulgam, 413.95 hectares in Sidh, 148.76 hectares in Bandipora, 386.46 hectares in Pir Panjal forest division and 123.90 hectares in Special Division Tangmarg.

Land Scam in Kashmir

200 acres of land encroached near Srinagar: BJP

Alleging that biggest defense land grabbing scam has taken place in Kashmir Valley in which 200 acres of land has been transferred near IAF station, Srinagar in Budgam district by private parties in connivance with Government officials, the BJP today demanded the CAG and the Ministry of Defence probe into the matter.

"It is the biggest defence land scam by the private persons in connivance with defence and State Government officials in grabbing of 200 acres of land near IAF station in Budgam district," BJP national secretary Kiriti Somaiya told reporters here.

Somaiya, who released an eight-page document regarding alleged land scam, said two private players connived with defence and revenue officials in transferring the plots to 61 people. This is a serious issue as there is every apprehension that this land might have been transferred to the anti nationals and terrorists. And the land being near IAF station can put the national security to a grave risk, he added.

He also accused the State Government of not cooperating on the issue in investigating the matter and alleged that the revenue officials would have never transferred the land with out the backing of higher ups in the Government. There should be a proper investigation that whose hand in Government is behind this land mafia, he added.

Besides Budgam the defence land grabbing scams have surfaced in two other districts of Valley, Somiya said.

The land grabbing and its illegal transfer had taken place between 2006 and 2010, he said, adding that No Objection Certificates (NOCs) were "silently" issued for the purpose by revenue officials.

He demanded CAG and MoD should setup high-level probe teams, depute them to Srinagar and conduct investigation.

The BJP leader demanded Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to direct the Deputy Commissioners in all the districts to help armed forces in the land grabbing matter.

He said that State Government should immediately scrap the revenue records, "illegally prepared by the land grabbers" and also order a high level probe to punish the guilty.

A high-level BJP team will visit the spot and would hold talks with the officials of defence forces and the district administration in this regard, he said.

Earlier Mr Somaiya addressed a party rally organised by BJP’s Akhnoor district at Nagbani against corruption, black money and price rise. He said while BJP has intensified its campaign against corruption, price hike and black money inside and outside the Parliament, the party will now take up the issue of corruption and scams in J&K.

The rally among others was addressed by BJP state president Shamsher Singh Manhas, Party national Executive Member, Dr Nirmal Singh, BJP national executive member and chief spokesperson, Dr Jitendra Singh, general secretary Sat Sharma (CA) MLA Jugal Kishore Sharma, Col (retd) Uttam Singh, Suraj Parkash Padha, Karan Singh, Capt (retd) Kasturi Lal, Mukesh Sharma, Sheela Handoo, Joginder Singh, Rajinder Singh and Kuldeep Sharma. 

14,359 hectares forest area encroached

A total of 14,359.62 hectares of forest is still in the process of invasion of the State and 1009.27 acres of land won in the last five years.

This was informed by the Minister of Forests, Mian Altaf in response to a question from Congressman Bhaderwah, Mohd Sharief Niaz today in the Legislature. Total forest area of the invasion, is 9481.98 hectares in 4877.62 hectares in Jammu and Kashmir. In Jammu, the maximum area for the invasion of Rajouri district (2748.56 ha) followed by the Ramban district of which is covered 1919.97 hectares of forest area under the intervention.

A total of 1797 hectares of forest has been spent in the district of Poonch, 1004 Reas hectares, 813.79 hectares of Doda, Kishtwar in 503.42 hectares, 184 hectares in Jammu district, 20.10 acres in Samba, 220.16 hectares Kathu 270.38 hectares in Udhampur district.

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In Jammu region fell from 15 hectares of forest area was recovered in the past two years.

In the province of Kashmir, the maximum area of ​​forest encroachment of which falls in the district of Anantnag (1885.57 ha). A total of 158.50 hectares of forests in accordance with the invasion of Bandipora, Baramulla 719.88 hectares, 393.48 hectares of Budgam, Kupwara 57,978 hectares, 365.55 hectares Kulgam, 489.95 hectares and 806.71 hectares Ganderbal Shopian.

A total of 518.38 hectares of forest invaders in the past two years in the Kashmir valley has been cleared, the minister said, adding that any new intervention has been reported due to the strict measures were taken by the Forest Service .

Because the forest is open and the treasure are susceptible to damage caused by unscrupulous elements of society, the various measures taken to control this trend, he said, adding that keeping a strict vigil attempts to prevent invasion of illegal logging and reforestation in degraded forest areas in the various plans and programs.