JAMMU’S SATELLITE TOWNSHIP
VIVEK SHARMA
JAMMU: Despite whistle blowers making rounds of the Jammu Development Authority (JDA) and Sidhra Police Post for over three months with information about 10 kanals of land having been grabbed by a Gujjar family at Majheen, the government tends to look to the other side thus facilitating loss to the state exchequer.
The land grabber is all set to alienate tge state land for Rs 50 lakhs, which may keep changing hands till it fetches Rs 2 lakh a Marla during Durbar Move, as per sources, who have been keeping track of such deals.
This is not an isolated case. Many of such land grabbers are operating in Sidhra, Majheen and Ragooda, the areas awarded to JDA for developing colonies for allotment to public.
“The JDA is sleeping while the land grabbers are minting money”, said the sources, adding that 5,700 Kanals, out of 15,000 Kanals earmarked for the so-called Sidhra Satellite Township has been encroached while the grabbers are eying on rest of the land.
However, in the instant case involving 10-Kanal land, the local residents of Majheen area have informed the police and JDA about the recent encroachment by one Jamal Din alias Jami, son of Ghulab Din alias Gogu, resident of Ragooda. No action has been taken so far as the JDA and Police have started indulging in blame game, said the residents, who have jointly filed an application against the land grabbers.
Reliable sources informed that the J&K government has asked JDA to prepare a list of land grabbers who have encroached the land at Sidhra area. The letter marked to the Vice Chairman JDA has been forwarded to the Director Land Management, who further sent it to Secretary JDA. Ultimately, the case is now pending with the Chief Khilafwarzi Officer permanently, sources informed.
In all, 2,379 Kanals and 2 Marlas of land, falling under Majheen Part-1 and 2,793 Kanals under Majheen Part-II had been awarded to JDA for allotment to people for residential purposes. While nearly 1500 Kanals situated at Majheen Part -I on Tawi side opposite ASSCOM Hospital have been encroached, over 1,500 Kanals of land has been encroached at Majheen Part 11, adjoining the hospital. The land grabbers have not even spared the land adjoining the newly constructed Police Control Room (PCR) near Majheen. Rest of the land is being encroached by Gujjars, who have raised kullas and kacha houses for cattle. Several concrete houses have been constructed on most of the JDA land in Sidhra, Mahjeen and Ragooda area.
According to some residents, the Jammu leadership has failed to rein in the grabbers, who have been making this land available to the people from Kashmir Valley, some of whom have already constructed palatial houses on the encroached land.
