The ball is now in court of DM, Jammu, Avny Lavasa who is known for tracking complaints personally and ensuring prompt action besides no leniency towards encroachers.
JAMMU: Much to the utter dismay of aggrieved pining high hopes on government tall claims of ensuring accountability and transparency in government departments with an aim to eradicate corruption and render instant action, the authorities in Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) have least bothered to endorse direction of the LG Grievances Cell pertaining to a long pending complaint of nallah land grabbing by one influential resident of Karan Nagar, opposite Central Jail, Amphalla.
The chronology of complaints, follow up, communications and trail of reminders addressed to the JK Grievances Cell and JMC apart from showing grim face of grievances redress mechanism existing in government departments evidently shows absence of grit among officers to take cognizance of encroachment on nallah land resulting in shrinking of residential lane in Karan Nagar.
Apprehending friendly approach of JMC as well as Revenue authorities towards alleged influential nallah encroacher in Karan Nagar, the aggrieved raised the matter to JK Grievances Cell on 14/9/2021 with endorsement No 466402.
Ironically, undermining the spirit with which LG Manoj Sinha has established the JK grievances cell, the officers managing the same fail to wake the JMC authorities from deep slumber in more than one year despite repeated reminders and follow up by the complainant.
“Perusal of the correspondence between JK Grievances Cell which vouches for LG Manoj Sinha’s strong resolve to act upon complainants in a speedy manner within a stipulated time, it seems there is no care taker for much talked about Awam Ki Awaz portal” rues complainant.
Interestingly, the matter of alleged encroachment of nallah land was brought into notice of JMC on February 2020 through complaint bearing No JMC15046. In addition, the then Commissioner Avny Lavasa was also apprised about the matter personally on her email and whatsapp number.
Since then except issuance of notice bearing No JMC/CEO/467 dated 13/8/2020 to Sunil Chander Kotwal r/o H.No 25 A, Lane No 1, Karan Nagar directing him to furnish documents of ownership of land to verify its title to ascertain the factual position of land, the JMC authorities tried to evade on the issue despite endless reminders by the complainant.
Following defiance to scrutiny of documents by the alleged encroacher, the JMC vide letter bearing No JMC/RB/8476-78 dated 29/9/2020 directed the Assistant Commissioner (Rev) for demarcation of land of Sunil Kotwal along with his brother in Karan Nagar as per revenue records.
Strangely, the JMC officers setting a record of new low in efficiency and transparency neither abled to get demarcation of land nor acted against the land grabber despite knowingly that it is clear case of encroachment of nallah land.
“The lackadaisical approach of JMC as well as Revenue Deptt is obvious as the alleged encroacher is a retired officer of JMC whose father served as Tehsildar, Jammu for good length of time”, says reliable sources in JMC adding “There is a lobby of corrupt officers in JMC administration that is scuttling the punitive action against nallah encroacher”.
Recently, the DM, Jammu Avny Lavasa was also apprised about encroachment of state land as well as nallah land by owner of H.No 25 A Karan Nagar on her official emailed on 30/7/2022 which is our only last hope of action against the willful encroacher, avers complainant.