Encroach JDA land on sale in Bahu Jurisdiction

JAMMU : With impunity, the land grabbers are selling encroached Jammu Development Authority (JDA) land reportedly at the rate of Rs 1 lakh per marla in several pockets falling under the jurisdiction of Bahu Tehsil.

The rate is three time high for prime piece of land located opposite Bagh e Bahu Police station and adjoining Gujjar Nagar bridge road opposite rear gate of Jammu University in Kalka Colony.

Explaining modus operandi adopted by the land grabbers in Rajeev Nagar, Sheikh Nagar Nagar, Bagh e Bahu and Kalka Colony, reliable sources in police department told JK Global News, “Entire stretch of JDA land located along nallah is openly on sale. In an organised way, the land grabbers comprising locals goons, street urchins, henchmen of politicians and a few cops at initial stage settled rag pickers hailing from Rajasthan, Punjab and UP as tenant by raising tin sheds.” Later, after few years they sold it to gullible buyers hailing from Rajouri, Poonch, Bhaderwah and Doda region besides locals for amount ranging from Rs 1 lakh to 3 lakhs per marla.

Sharing pictures, sources further said, “To keep intact operation of government land loot, the land mafia then relocate the same set of rag pickers to fresh patches of encroached land”.

Blaming field officials of JDA for bolstering unlawful acts of land grabbers, the locals says, “From tin sheds to concrete residential as well as commercial structures, this unstoppable encroachment on JDA land in Bahu Tehsil cannot prosperous without active involvement of JDA officials”. 

Frequently team of JDA’s field staff keep roaming in the area but their silence on this money minting business as well as failure to demolition the structures raised on JDA land at initial stage indicts prevalence of corrupt practices at massive level, said another resident of Rajeev Nagar.

Referring to a recent futile demolition drive of JDA in Rajeev Nagar as an eye wash exercise to protect corrupt officials, aggrieved locals said, “Where was JDA field staff when encroacher was constructing 6 shops on JDA land in broad day light”. It is strange to see that the team of JDA led by Tehsildar Megha Gupta despite support of 40 police personals left the spot sans demolition on flimsy ground, added residents of Rajiv Nagar.

Further accusing the JDA officials allegedly for patronizing construction on encroached JDA land, a resident of Kalka Colony, Bagh e Bahu asserted, “From Director Land Management to concerned Khilafwarzi Inspector, we informed the JDA functionaries on December 30th about fresh construction on JDA land but nothing has happened despite lapse of 5 days”, adding “The concerned Khilafwarzi Inspector namely Rajinder Kumar who was initially apprised about this encroachment brag of enjoying blessings of all higher ups in JDA”.

Insiders in JDA revealed that in the recent past there is sudden rise in construction of concrete structures on encroached JDA land existed on both sides of deep drain stretching from Rajeev Nagar upto Gorkha Nagar. Interestingly, none of the officials so far faced action for failure to act against constructions.

Right under the nose of administration, the land mafia is actively involved in sale of encroached JDA land at prime location in city. This is a serious lapse and deserve registration of FIR and investigation by Anti Corruption Bureau, avers an officer of JDA, preferring anonymity.

Multi level commercial and residential buildings are allowed to construct on encroached prime JDA land located along roadside behind Jammu University gate facing Gujjar Nagar bridge. Even, the well connected land grabbers mocking the administration has openly raised several tin structures on JDA land opposite Bagh e Bahu Police Station, said an official of JDA, confiding anonymity.

The Director Land Management, Garbi Rashid when apprised about rampant constructions on encroachment JDA land in Bahu Tehsil said, “Merely by raising a structure unauthorised possession cannot be legalised. In records, these structures always remained illegal”.