PIL against land grabbing

Div Com submits recent report

In the a lot of publicized Public Interest Litigation (PIL) highlighting land grabbing at the behest of high-ups and in league with land mafia, Division Bench of State High Court comprising Acting Chief Justice Virender Singh and Justice Muzaffar Hussain Attar nowadays granted 2 weeks time to the petitioner to reply to the recent standing report filed by the Divisional Commissioner in response to earlier order of the Court.

The two weeks time was granted once Advocates Virender Bhat and Sheikh Shakeel Ahmed showing for the PIL filed by Prof S K Bhalla submitted that they need received the copy of the recent standing report filed by the Divisional Commissioner this morning.

According to the standing report, Satish Kumar, son of Madan Lal had applied for forty one kanals of State land falling below Khasra No. 424 min in village Lalyal for grant of possession rights below J&K State Lands (Vesting of possession to the Occupants) Act 2001 popularly called Roshini theme however a similar has been rejected by the authorities.

The girdawari entries over State land measuring fifty kanals falling below Khasra No one (25 kanals) and Khasra No 127/1 Min (25 kanals) situated in village Suray Chak, that was within the name of 1 Vijay Kumar alias Babbi, are expunged, the report said.

According to the report, Yaseer Nifar Wattali, son of Ahmed Shah Wattali has twenty nine kanal and ten marla of land in Khasra Nos 2438 and 2440 at Amb and whole land has been sold by the seller. Similarly, Jahwas Ahmad Wattali, son of Haji Ghulam Nabi Shah Watali has land in Khasra No 2442 & 2449 measuring forty nine kanal and ten marlas situated at Amb and also the whole of the land has been sold by the seller.

Sasba Begum, wife of Jahwas Ahmed Shah Watali has land in Khasra Nos 2442 & 2449 measuring twenty kanal at Amb. Jawas Jahoos Shah Wattali, son of Jahwas Shah Wattali has land in Khasra Nos 2442 & 2449 measuring thirty kanal and ten marla at Amb and also the whole of the land has been sold by the seller. Zanib Shamas Wattali, wife of Shokat Wattali has land in Khasra No 5291 measuring nine kanal and a pair of marla at Bhalwal and owner is in possession.

The report said that Madan Lal Sharma, son of Gushu Ram has fifteen marlas of land every at Paloura and Muthi. he's additionally in possession of ancestral land acquired through sale deeds and measuring nine kanal and a pair of marla and eighty kanal and a pair of marla at Plattan, Pallanwala.

Sham Lal Sharma, brother of Madan Lal Sharma is owner in possession of measuring eight marlas of land at Paloura below Khasra No 152 Min. he's additionally owner in possession of thirty three kanal of land at Kot below Khasra Nos, 956, 957, 958, 960, 961, 1240 and 1230. he's additionally stated to possess acquired the ancestral land through sale deeds measuring 104 and twenty four kanal and eighteen marla at Plattan, Pallanwala however Khasra numbers aren't mentioned. he's additionally in possession of land measuring five kanal and fifteen marla at Muthi and out of this land one kanal and eight.5 marla has been sold by the seller.

According to the recent standing report, Ankush Sharma, son of Sham Lal Sharma is owner in possession of land measuring ten kanal below Khasra Nos 956 and 1240 at Kot. he's additionally having land measuring one kanal at Muthi and seven marla has been sold by the seller.

The report said that land measuring seven kanal and seven marla situated at Manda, Akhnoor belonging to Sanjay Sharma alias Sanju, who has been declared as proclaimed offender, has been connected by the order of Principal Sessions choose, Jammu.

Land Scam in Kashmir

8330 kanals of Tawi land encroached

8330 kanals of Tawi land encroached

Chargesheet against land grabbers

Crime Branch today filed chargesheet in a court against six persons in a case of alleged encroachment and subsequent illegal change of land records in Samba district.

Official reports said that chargesheet was filed in the court of Anti-Corruption Judge by the Crime Branch, in case FIR number 50 of 2007 under section 447-A, 466, 468 and 120-B RPC read with section 5(2) PC Act Svt 2006.

Chargesheet has been filed against Narinder Singh son of Abhay Singh and his brother Pritam Singh, Pramod Singh son of Teja Singh, Ashok Singh son of Durga Singh of  Birpur all residents of Birpur (Samba) and Jamal Din son of Rukam Din of House number 74 Ward number l, Bari Brahmana the then Girdawar Halqa Birpur (now retired) today.

On April 24, 2007, the police forwarded a written complaint filed by Bishan Singh Jamwal son of Thakur Sharda Singh of 327/D Lower Shiv Nagar near A.G’s office, Jammu, to the Crime Branch in Jammu.

The complainant alleged that Narinder Singh along with his associates in connivance with Patwari and other revenue officials started the encroachment and clandestine sale of government land. They also constructed a shed, fencing in government land and engaged labour for doing reclamation of 300 kanals of land under Khasra number 579 at Pratapkote in village Birpur, Samba and in the periphery of the said land, there exists about 94 kanals of state land.

The complainant also alleged that Narinder Singh one of the co-sharers of private land falling under Khasra number 579 by manipulating Fard in with the connivance of Patwari showed his possession of the state land. On this, a case was registered.

During the course of investigation, revenue records as well as report of Patwari concerned and Tehsildar JDA was obtained and seized. Statements of prosecution witnesses were recorded under section 161 CrPC.

From perusal of seized records and investigation conducted, it was found that illegal entries of land measuring 215 kanal of state land adjacent to Khasra number 579 were made illegally by the then Girdawar Jamal Din on the name of the accused persons which they managed in connivance with the Girdawar Halqa Birpur, the chargesheet said.

The revenue official had facilitated the encroachment on the state land by abusing his official position thereby causing loss to the state exchequer, said the chargesheet.The next date of hearing in the case has been fixed for May 9.

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President in another land row

President Pratibha Patil was at the centre of yet another controversy over her post-retirement home in Pune.

An organisation of ex-servicemen in Pune has alleged that over five acres of land had been alloted for purpose of her residence after she demits office later in July this year when her five-year term ends.

Suresh Patil, a retired Lt Col of the Pune-based ‘Justice for Jawan’, part of NGO ‘Green Thumb’ group, who has accessed details about the Government’s measures for providing her housing in Pune, claims that a large extent of land measuring over 2.60 lakh square feet has been alloted to her in Khadki cantonment in Pune.

He claims that a house with a plinth area of 4,500 square feet is being built for her by bringing down two British-era county bungalows.

The former Army official questioned why such a large extent of land was being fenced to protect this house for Pratibha Patil, who recently made news when an RTI application brought out the fact that over Rs 205 crore were spent on her foreign travels.

However, Rashtrapati Bhavan maintains that there has been no wrong doing or violation of rules. All rules were being strictly adhered to for a post-retirement house for the President.

Under rules, a former President is entitled to a furnished bungalow anywhere in India of his or her choice. In places where Government accommodation is available, it should be comparable to the highest type of residence available to the Union Ministers. 

Where it is not available, the size of residence should not exceed 4,500 square feet with a living area not exceeding 2,000 square feet. The privilege is extended to the spouse after the death of the President or a former President.

Col Patil said that he had sent several RTI applications to the Army’s Southern Command seeking reasons for fencing the entire five acre land with a wall but failed to get any response.

Reacting to the allegations, Rashtrapati Bhavan spokesperson Archana Datta said "the land in question is a defence land. The question of transfer of land to any individual does not arise."

She said the house will remain with the President till her life time and go back to the defence.

Asked about the new construction being undertaken at the site, she said "It was not a vacant land and there is no new construction taking place. Its only a renovation."

To a question about the allegation that around five acres of land had been fenced for the President’s house, the spokesperson said that Ministry of Defence would be an appropriate authority to reply on this. "I maintain that no rules have been violated."

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1,72400 kanal of evacuee land under illegal occupation

Over 1,72,400 kanal of evacuee property land is either under the illegal occupation of various persons or situated in unsafe places and Revenue Department has already issued directives to subordinate field agencies to initiate eviction proceedings against them.

This information was given in a written reply by Minister of Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation, Raman Bhalla in State Assembly to the Starred question of Ch Zulfkar during the just concluded Budget session.

The Minister said out of this 164,400 kanal of land is illegally occupied in Jammu Division alone while 8065 kanal is in Kashmir Valley. The Department has so far retrieved 405 kanal of land in Kashmir Valley and 905 Kanal and four marla of land in Jammu Division. Besides 3269 kanals of land was made immune from further encroachments, he added.

The Minister said 14,11,763 Kanal and five marla of land have been notified as evacuee property in Jammu Division upto date while 58,428 kanal of land have been notified in Kashmir Valley so far, he added.

The Minister said that land measuring 57051 kanal and 17 marla in Jammu Division and 236 kanal and 11 marla in Kashmir Valley are in the occupation of Army and para military forces.

The Competent Authority for purposes of granting administrative approval for creation of new assets/ reconstruction vests with the administrative Revenue Department after having the project vetted by the Joint Development Committee (JDC) Works. However the powers of reconstruction / re-erection exercisable by the Government under J&K Evacuee Administration & Property Act 2006 have been delegated to the Custodian General, he added.

The revenue generated from evacuees property since 2007 till January 31 this year is Rs 40 8151890.70 while Rs 179878655.00 were involved in expenditure on management of this property since this period.

The year wise revenue generated is Rs 10,37,94,658.00, in 2007-08 Rs 6,90,41,162.00, in 2008-09, Rs 9,85,41,313.00, in 2009-10, Rs 8,16,49,028.73, in 2010-11 and Rs 5,51,25,729.00, in 2011-12.

While the revenue generation was highest in 2007-08 it was lowest in 2011 –12.

Land Scam in Kashmir

VC JDA DC Jammu detect encroachments on Govt land

Jammu Development Authority (JDA) vice chairperson Sarita Chouhan and Deputy Commissioner, Jammu, Sanjeev Verma today visited various areas of Jammu tehsil along with a team of senior officers to take stock of illegal encroachments on public land including State and JDA land.

During their joint tour, the DC Jammu and the VC JDA retrieved 220 kanals of state land in Bhalwal area. Entry of the land was expunged from the Government record.

The team also detected some encroachments at Bhalwal, Gharota, Majeen, Ragoora and adjoining areas of Jammu.

During the visit of Majeen and Ragoora, the VC JDA and the DC Jammu observed constructions on JDA land. The VC directed the concerned officers to initiate action against the land grabbers.

Preliminary enquiry revealed that illegal sale and purchase was taking place in such areas.

According to official sources, public land had been illegally encroached upon by Ghulam Mohammad and Bashir Ahmad at Majeen and Ragoora areas.

In Bhalwal and adjoining areas, the land had been encroached upon by Sukhdev Singh, Kaku, Babu Singh, Darshan Singh, Bhagwan Singh and Krishan Singh.

The VC JDA and the DC Jammu directed the officers to take necessary action against all persons found involved in encroachments. They decided to punish the officers and officials found involved in encouraging the menace of encroachment.

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Encroachments of Wet Lands

Bhalla denies charges, to visit spot

Speaker to depute Assembly panel to probe encroachments of wet lands

 People’s Democratic Party (PDP) MLA and former Minister Moulvi Iftikhar Hussain Ansari today alleged that 500 kanals land worth Rs 5 crore was being encroached upon by filling wet land in his Pattan constituency and other places. He got instant support from Speaker Mohammad Akbar Lone, who said, he too had reports of similar nature and no action has been taken despite the fact that he spoke to Deputy Commissioners of Baramulla, Bandipora and Srinagar besides the Divisional Commissioner of Kashmir.

Even though Mr Lone had asked Revenue Minister Raman Bhalla to come up with a statement in the House tomorrow, the Minister made the statement in the Assembly in second sitting today itself denying any encroachments.

The Speaker, however, said that a three member House Committee would visit the spot to assess the situation. Mr Bhalla as also Minister of State for Home Nasir Aslam Wani announced that they would be visiting the spot personally to assess the situation.

Mr Ansari raised the issue in the Assembly after the Question Hour saying the Revenue Department was charging Rs 1 lakh per kanal for filling. "About 500 kanals land was being filled in my segment, which means that Rs 5 crore have been charged by the Revenue Department

"I spoke to the Deputy Commissioner but he said it was private land. Our agriculture land, water land are evaporating. Please save Kashmir from party politics. Encroachers are looting the State. The Chief Minister should give a directive for stopping encroachments of land. If the issue was not resolved within a week, I will go on fast-unto-death’’, Mr Ansari said.

The Speaker said he too had reports of clear cut violations of all revenue and other land records. Revenue bodies have also connived even as it was a case of water bodies protection, he added and said the land was also serving as protection for flood.

"I had talked to Deputy Commissioner, Baramulla, Bandipora and Srinagar and then the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir. There appeared to be some lacunas as no action was taken. It (the encroachments) was a continued process’’, Mr Lone said.

Mr Bhalla assured Mr Lone and Mr Ansari of an inquiry into the entire issue. He said the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir and all concerned Deputy Commissioners would be directed for action.

The Speaker directed Mr Bhalla to seize all vehicles engaged in construction activity even if the land was Government or private and report to the House tomorrow. Title of the land shouldn’t be changed strictly, he said.

In his reply to the House during second sitting of the Assembly, Mr Bhalla said land measuring 118 kanals at village Trigam, 237 kanals in Rakh Asham and 13 kanals, 18 marlas at village Shilvat were recorded as wet land (Gair Mumkin Talab).

The Revenue field agency was deployed on spot for stopping conversion of land, if any. However, no such encroachment by way of filling was carried out on the locations. Moreover, previously filling in village Shilvat was started by some land owners, which has already been stopped. At present no such encroachment on wet land was reported in Tehsil Sonawari, district Bandipora, Mr Bhalla said.

He said the DC Baramulla has reported that Reyaz Ahmad Bhat and others had approached the office of the DC with an application for allowing them for improvement of their land making it cultivable by way of earth filling as they intended to convert Banjar land into orchard by earth filling.

"A report in the matter has been obtained from Tehsildar Pattan, who reiterated that the land under reference was barren—Banjar Qadeem and was not agricultural. Besides, it remained filled with water supporting the growth of ‘Pechi’. The application under reference was forwarded to Tehsildar Pattan for taking necessary action under Land Revenue Act subject to the condition that Section 133 of the Land Revenue was not violated and to ensure that the matter was not sub-judice before court of law’’, the Revenue Minister said.

He added that the applicants had sort the permission on the basis of an order issued by the Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar pursuant to the order issued by the division bench of the High Court in similar cases falling at village Rambirbagh adjacent to the land under reference.

"The MLA Pattan (Mr Ansari) has already been apprised about the facts when he had expressed his resentment on this issue. It is worthwhile to mention here that the Court of J&K had restrained the office of Deputy Commissioner for taking any further action in the matter by virtue of order dated 19-9-2011 in the case Reyaz Ahmad v/s State and others.

"As per the report of Tehsildar South, Srinagar, no encroachment by way of filling is going on in Halqa Panzinara, which was adjacent to Pattan and Sonawari. However, a road was under construction from Mirgund to Trigam under MGNREGA scheme, where filling was going on’’, Mr Bhalla said.

He added that explicit instructions have been issued to the Deputy Commissioners to restrain the people in general and miscreants in particular from violation of provisions of Section 133 of Land Revenue Act.

After Mr Bhalla’s statement, the Speaker decided to constitute a 3 member committee, which would inspect the places in Pattan constituency where some persons were allegedly filling wet lands, thereby posing a threat to ecology and environment.

Mr Ansari contested the statement of Mr Bhalla saying that the report given by the Revenue officers was not based on facts. He suggested that a committee of members should be deputed to assess situation on spot and stop filling of wet lands in the area.

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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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37 Lakh Worth Scam in Kishtwar

Two officials abscond with record

Two Government officials including a Junior Engineer have gone underground along with official record after ` 37 lakh worth scam surfaced in construction of Community Information Centre at Drabshalla block in Kishtwar district.

Police have registered a case in the scam. Preliminary investigations, however, revealed that a number of officials were involved in the embezzlement of Government funds.

Police sources said Mohammad Ashraf Mir, a Junior Engineer then posted at Drabshalla and presently at Thathri block in Kishtwar district and Chet Ram, a Senior Assistant of Nagseni block have gone underground after registration of FIR against them along with official record.

Ashraf Mir had withdrawn ` 4.88 lakh worth Government funds on his own name, police said.

"So far, we have registered a case against Ashraf Mir, Chet Ram and Prabhu Dayal, a retired Block Development Officer (BDO) of Drabshalla’’, police said, adding more officers including Mohammad Yasin Mir, another retired BDO were likely to be incorporated in the FIR during ongoing investigations in the case.

A FIR in the scam has been registered at Kishtwar police station vide No. 40/2012 under Sections 420, 467, 468, 407 and 409 RPC.

Police said the Government had sanctioned Community Information Centre and a Multi Purpose Building at Drabshalla block under Government of India’s Community Development Programme.

A contractor, Mohammad Sabir of Nalli, Bonjwah, who was allotted the work also didn’t get his due amount. Instead, the bills against his name were got encashed by subsequent BDOs, JEs and other officials of Drabshalla block.

On spot investigations and analysis of the building by police revealed that an amount ranging between ` 10 lakh to ` 12 lakh only had been spent on the building as against ` 37 lakh shown in the official records. Majority of the amount had been swindled by the officials by withdrawing it from the treasuries on different names.

Sources said during raid in the offices of JE and BDO besides other concerned officials at Drabshalla block, police didn’t come across any documents pertaining to purchase of material, approval of works and permission of Drawing and Disbursement Officers (DDOs) for withdrawal of funds, which indicated that bulk of ` 37 crore worth funds had been swindled by the officers.

Police said they conducted raids in offices and houses of Mohammad Ashraf Mir and Chet Ram but both of them were absconding with official records. Majority of record was missing from the offices, police said.

DySP Kishtwar (Headquarters) Abrar Choudhary was investigating the case under the supervision of DIG Doda-Ramban range Manish Kumar Sinha and SP Kishtwar Bhim Sen Tuti.

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Tehsildar Patwari others booked by CB in land scam

The Crime Branch of State Police has booked the then Tehsildar, Patwari and some private persons in connection with a major land scandal.

On the basis of a complaint, the Crime Branch Jammu has registered a case under Section 420, 467, 471, 120-B RPC red with 5(2) PC Acxt Svt 2006 against Daya Singh, the then Tehsildar Settlement and Darshan Lal Patwari, Tara Chand, Sardari Lal, Sant Ram, sons of Kesar, Ratan Singh, Raghuvir Singh, Haqiqat Singh, Joginder Singh, Surjeet Singh, sons of Shanker Singh, Vikram Singh and Waryam Singh, sons of Ghasitoo, all residents of Nandni in tehsil Jammu, for changing thr ownership rights of complainants over the major chunk of land measuring 153 kanal and eight marlas.

Giving brief facts of the case, an official spokesman said that a written complaint was forwarded by the Chief Judicial Magistrate Jammu to the Crime Branch wherein the complainants, Sukhdev Singh and others had alleged that Dhan Devi, daughter of Amar Singh was the owner of land comprising Khasra Nos. 32, 32 min, 38, 39, 59, 107, 108, 109, 109 min and 153, measuring 243 kanal and 8 marla, situated at Nandni, in tehsil and district Jammu. After her death, her estate developed upon her son Sukhdev Singh and one Lakhan Singh. Lakhan Singh also expired after some time and his estate developed upon complainant Prem Singh and his four brothers, mother and sisters in equal share. Prem Singh, his mother and sisters had appointed Bharat Singh as attorney to look after and protect their interests.

One Daya Singh, the then Tehsildar Settlement Jammu and Patwari Darshan Lal entered into a criminal conspiracy with the accused and by sheer abuse of their official position attested mutation No. 61 dated 20-3-1095, changing the ownership rights of complainant over 153 kanal and 8 marlas of land and conferred the ownership rights upon the accused persons mentioned in the complaint. They even allegedly tampered the record for monetary gain and further attested mutation No. 111 dated 26-8-1998 with respect to land measuring 32 kanal in Khasra No. 32. The said mutation was attested by invoking section 121of the Land Revenue Act even when there was no settlement going on in village Nandni. Similalry 44 kanals 8 marlas of land in Khasra Nos 107, 108, 109 and 153 and 9 kanals of land in Khasra No. 109 was illegally mutated by invoking Section 121 of the Land Revenue Act.

On the receipt of the complain an inquiry initiated by Crime Branch found that these Revenue officials by misusing their position changed the nature of land from Gair Mumkin Choi to Warhal Awal in the revenue record with intention to give undue benefit to the accused persons. 

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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.