JAMMU : Much hyped eviction drive is the talk of the town but paradoxically, there is an enigmatic silence about the retrieval data as well as action against VVIP land grabbers especially those affiliated with Bhartiya Janta Party.
There is no denying the fact that as per reliable government data, the Jammu region has earned ignominy for encroaching upon state land as compared to Kashmir region. However, the general public is still unaware of land retrieved in Jammu region from the clutches of big sharks which raises eyebrows about the honest claims of powers that be.
Elaborating the modus operandi, reliable sources in administration said “Encroachment of state land and human habitation on it is an organized crime which is executed at the behest of land mafia that enjoys patronage in the system. Later on, the encroached state land is sold to common man on affidavit for raising residential and commercial structures without approved permission in connivance with municipal authorities”.
To set the record straight, there is several hundred kanals of prime state land worth crores under encroachment within the vicinity of the river Tawi ranging from Sitli in Nagrota as well as Phallian Mandal and Nikki Tawi. In addition, huge chunk of land is under illegal occupation in Marh, Paloura, Jakh Ragoora, Majeen, Bajalta, Sunjawan, Bhathindi, Greater Kailash, Delli, Janipur and Chowadhi.
Entire Rajeev Nagar and its adjoining areas notoriously known as ‘Bhalley Ki Lanka’ were sold on affidavit to outsiders. Similarly, prime chunk of state land measuring several kanals adjoining 3rd Tawi bridge near IMPA, Jammu University was allowed to encroached upon with impunity and outsiders were settled as dummies on it.
Sharing inputs, reliable sources said “Along National Highway 44 in the vicinity of Toll Post Nagrota an entire colony (Bazigar Basti) was established on encroached land and steadily its boundaries now stretching further towards the river Tawi area. But, strange enough this patch of prime encroachment allegedly escaped the attention of authorities. Similar game plan is under way in Phallian Mandal, several pockets of Jagti and adjoining areas”.
Not only this even in sharp contrast to transparency claims in the functioning of government departments there is complete opacity pertaining to the retrieval details in the public domain.
On being contacted, Commissioner Secretary, V.K.Bhiduri admitted though retrieval data is not in the public domain yet, it is being compiled on daily basis. He further added “The government is resolved to retrieve 100 percent encroachment and no one will be spared whether it is Bazigar Basti at Nagrota or Phallian Mandal etc.”