Srinagar 27Aug: Over the years land grabbing has been a serious concern in the Kashmir valley both to the locals and govt officials.Several allegations came up that constructions on government land have been made in some areas of Srinagar’s city in connivance of the concerned officials.A delegation from Syedpora Hamchi area of Dargah Hazratbal today alleged that one local namely Abdul Gani Mir has illegally constructed a structure in the area despite complaints having been filed against it before the SMC, Revenue and crime department.“The concerned authorities have done nothing against the “influential family” despite knowing that they are doing illegal construction in brazen violation of norms’ ‘said Ghulam Nabi Teli.They alleged the owner of the structure had bribed some SMC officials, who are misleading their higher ups. “We have informed every officer from concerned departments but no action has been taken on the ground, they said Official documents reveal that enforcement officer and Municipal ward officers have already demolished the part of the structure and directed MIR from taking the structure further.Concerned Municipal ward officer while speaking to said that while conducting on ground inspection of the said property, the owner provided us revenue records which clearly show the area in the outer limits of Municipality and accordingly correspondence letter under 147/148 dated 21-8-2021 was proceeded further.According to the officials, the Srinagar administration has issued instructions to the concerned departments to take “serious and definite” action involving initiation of criminal proceedings and eviction of encroachments and illegal constructions on government land.Meanwhile, Concerned Patawari said that he has submitted his report to the higher officials.“He has only constructed a boundary wall for his lawn on govt land but as per records, the structure is on his Milkiyat land and has no authorization to do the demolishing as one of their old structures already existed there,” he added.The district’s Revenue Department has also identified more than 1,000 hectares of encroached land and is initiating relevant action as part of the first-phase of the drive, they said.Locals have urged the higher authorities to take necessary immediate action against the persons involved. Under the existing land laws, local revenue officials are empowered to conduct inquiries on suspected encroachments on commons, eject encroachers and impose fines of up to Rs 2000(CNS)
