Stop illegal encroachments on Nallahs, Nikki Tawi: Yudhvir Sethi in Assembly

STATE TIMES NEWS

SRINAGAR: MLA Jammu East Yudhvir Sethi on Tuesday raised serious concerns in the Legislative Assembly regarding the ongoing encroachment of Nallahs by land grabbers in the Nikki Tawi and Bajalta areas, warning that unchecked construction on these water channels could lead to yet another flood disaster in the region.

Sethi pointed out that the floods last year had caused massive destruction in these areas, washing away nearly 70 houses, most of which were built illegally on encroached land.
“Last year, around 70 houses were swept away during the floods, and all of them belonged to encroachers who had constructed on the Nallah land,” he said, adding that despite the devastation, the same people have once again started building houses inside the same Nallahs. Expressing concern over the recurring pattern, Sethi cautioned that allowing such illegal constructions to continue will only result in repeated losses in the future.
“If the same situation continues, these houses will again be washed away in the next flood, causing not only property loss but also endangering lives,” he warned.
He urged the administration to take immediate preventive action to avert future tragedies. “I request the concerned minister to instruct the Divisional Commissioner Jammu and DC Jammu to issue strict instructions ensuring that no encroacher is allowed to build houses inside the nallahs,” Sethi said.
He emphasized that stopping illegal encroachments now would save both lives and government resources later, as compensation and relief funds are repeatedly spent on the same avoidable incidents.
The MLA also appealed to the government to strengthen monitoring and enforcement mechanisms to prevent future encroachments and to take firm action against violators.
“Preventive measures today will safeguard the people of Jammu East from future calamities,” he added.