STATE TIMES NEWS
Srinagar: The State Industrial Development Corporation (SIDCO) on Monday said that Gujjars have encroached 536 Knals of Industrial land at Lasipora Pulwama belonging to the Corporation (SIDCO).
Quoting top official of SIDCO, a Srinagar based news agency has reported that the land measuring 536 Kanals have been encroached by the displaced Gujjars at Industrial area Lasipora Pulwama.
“Though the Gujjars were allotted 100 Kanals of land by the government in 90’s but with some political influence they have illegally encroached 536 Kanals of land,” the official said .
Meanwhile, the insiders of the corporation alleged that these Gujjars are enjoying the patronage of politicians and have encroached upon government land. “I can tell you that politicians are helping the Gujjars to encroach more land in the area,” one of the insiders said and added that the community has illegally erected makeshift huts in the area.
The insiders further said that even the government’s repeated efforts to evacuate land encroachers from the area have yielded no concrete results. “It is difficult for us to vacate encroached land without the support of the government,” they said.
When contacted General Manager of SIDCO Ajaz Ahmad admitted that the Gujjars have encroached 536 Kanal land belonging to the SIDCO. “It is true that the Gujjars have encroached the land but we have taken up the case with the Divisional Commissioner Kashmir and have requested him to look into the matter,” he said.
